14 THE MULBERRY TREE. 



VARIETIES OF THE MULBERRY. 



These varieties may be divided into two general 

 classes, comprising such as are, and such as are not 

 valuable on account of their foliage as food for the 

 silk worm. The former class includes the White 

 Italian the Shining Leaved the Tartarean the 

 Dondolo and the Chinese the latter has three known 

 varieties, the Morus Multicaulis the Morus Cucal- 

 latta and the Perrottet Mulberry. The latter class 

 includes the Black, Red and Japan Paper Mulberry, 

 which are considered not worth cultivating for the 

 purpose of foliage. 



Of all the species of the Mulberry there is no doubt 

 that the Chinese is to be preferred, if it can be made 

 to endure our climate, and of all its varieties the Mul- 

 ticaulis should be chosen on account of the quantity 

 and quality of its foliage, and the facility with which it 

 is gathered. We regret, however, to discover a dis- 

 position in many places, to neglect the cultivation of 

 the White Mulberry. There is no doubt the foliage 

 of the Chinese Mulberry is altogether superior to that 

 of the White, and that the tree is to be preferred on 

 all accounts. That this w r ill ultimately be the case, by 

 acclimation, we hope and believe ; but we cannot say 

 that we are without our fears. The extensive destruc- 

 tion of the Chinese Mulberry the last winter, we do 

 not consider as deciding the question against its abil- 

 ity to withstand our ordinary winters. The last win- 

 ter was uncommonly severe, and many of the most 

 hardy indigenous trees and shrubs were destroyed 

 root and branch. But notwithstanding the extreme 

 cold, some of this variety of the Mulberry survived it, 

 even in locations peculiarly unfavorable. We hope, 



