260 



they were made by Mrs. Montague, who 

 presented the first pair to Queen Elizabeth. 

 Thus silk has gradually come into use, and 

 it is now so common in this country, that it 

 would be difficult to find a female servant in 

 the streets of London, or any part of the king- 

 dom, who had not some portion of her dress 

 composed of silk. 



The alba, or white mulberry, is a native 

 of China. 



The nigra, or black mulberry, is the tree 

 of the largest size, and the fruit is of a black- 

 ish red colour, and from it a good wine is 

 made : this variety is a native of Persia. 



The rubra, or red mulberry, is a native 

 of Virginia. 



The Japan mulberry-tree is called Papy- 

 rifera, from the bark of which a kind of paper 

 is made. 



The mulberry-tree's seldom producing fruit 

 until it has arrived at a considerable age, has 

 been much against it's cultivation ; but it is 

 now discovered, that by grafting it from the 

 aged trees, or, to use a common phrase, put- 

 ting an old head on young shoulders, it soon 

 becomes fruitful. 



