MULBERRY 81 



Mulberry trees are still to be found growing. Even 

 at the present time lessons on silk-spinning are given 

 in the pretty little Arbour Square Gardens by a retired 

 naval officer to the numerous children who congregate 

 during play hours in this little-known East End 

 retreat. Two healthy specimens of the Mulberry 

 may be seen in these gardens, and several of much 

 larger size were uprooted when a building close at 

 hand was erected. In a builder's yard near by is 

 another giant tree of the same kind. Old gardens in 

 the Maida Vale district contain some large specimens 

 of the Mulberry. 



In Dean's Yard, Westminster, in the grounds of 

 No. 36, there is a Mulberry of goodly dimensions, 

 though growing in a rather dark and cramped position. 

 The stem, which is leaning somewhat and supported 

 by an iron post, girths 37 inches at a yard from ground- 

 level, while the branches have a spread of 30 feet in 

 diameter. This tree may be seen from Great Smith 

 Street ; in fact, some of the branches had to be removed 

 in order that the 'bus traffic there should not be 

 interfered with. In the grounds of Chelsea Botanic 

 Garden there are two very fine specimens of the 

 Mulberry. 



Some of the largest and healthiest Mulberry trees 

 in the City are those in Finsbury Circus, the stems of 

 which are unusually clean, one of the largest girthing 

 39 inches at a yard up, the branch spread extending 

 to 27 feet. Three are still remaining, one of the 

 largest having been removed a few years ago. 



The Ruskin Park Mulberry tree is 40 feet high, 

 with a stem 6 feet 7 inches in girth at 3 feet. 



Vauxhall Park, 30 feet high, 6 feet 5 inches at 

 2 feet. 



