OF MULBERRIES. 235 



As old Mulberry-trees produce, not only a greater 

 quantity of fruit, but also much larger and of a finer 

 flavour than young ones, it is well worth while to 

 take some pains to repair the injuries which they 

 may have sustained by accidents or age. 



I am sorry to say, that this pleasant and valuable 

 fruit is but very little cultivated in this country.* 



* Gerarde, in his description of the Mulherry-tree, has the 

 following curious paragraph ; — '* Hegesander in Atheneus 

 affirmeth, that the Mulberry-trees in his time did not bring forth 

 fruit in twenty years together ; and that so great a plague of 

 the gout reigned and raged so generally, as not only men, but 

 boys, wenches, eunuchs, and women, were troubled with tliat 

 disease." P. 1325. edit. 1597. 



