122 FRUIT AND ITS CULTIVATION. 



exist, the fruit is highly esteemed for its delicious, re- 

 freshing juice, whether for dessert, for tarts, or, in many 

 cases, when made into wine. Mulberry wine and cider, 

 indeed, make a delicious drink. 



Propagation. Mulberries may be reared from seed ; 

 but, as seedlings take an average lifetime to come into 

 bearing, this method is not worthy of ccnsideration. The 

 best methods are by cuttings or layers. Cuttings should be 

 taken from shoots of the current year's growth that are 

 about a foot long, and be removed with a " heel " of two- 

 year-old wood about 3in. long. Insert such cuttings in 

 a shady position outdoors in October or November, and 

 bury them so that only about two to three of the upper 

 eyes show through the soil. They will then form roots 

 by the succeeding autumn, and can be lifted and re- 

 planted elsewhere. 



Another method is to saw off a good-sized branch, 4ft. 

 to 6ft. long, trim off the lower branches so as to leave a 

 stem i8in. long, then insert this firmly i8in. deep wher- 

 ever the future tree is expected to grow. Do this in 

 October. The branch, called a " truncheon," will root 

 without fail, and form a fruitful bush in a year or so. 



To layer a branch, simply bend a low branch to the 

 soil, cover a portion of it with a few inches of soil, and 

 peg it down firmly. If this is done in summer or early 

 autumn, the branch will be sufficiently rooted to sever 

 from the parent the following autumn. 



Soil and Situation. The Mulberry requires a rich, deep 

 loamy soil. Shallow, gravelly soils, unless near the 

 margin of a pond where the roots can get moisture in dry 

 weather, are quite unsuitable; and so, too, are chalky 

 soils. The roots like a fair amount of moisture. As 

 regards the situation, the Mulberry does best on a southern 

 aspect, and better fruit is always obtained from trees 

 grown in cultivated soil than on lawns or in grass. In 

 the North the Mulberry requires a south wall. 



