The Black Mtdberry. 147 



Among the valuable importations from 

 North America, at the end of the sixteenth 

 and opening of the next century, was the 

 Common or Black Mulberry tree, a fruit-bearer 

 of slow growth in a strange climate, but 

 precious on account of its fruit and foliage. 

 We do not hear much of the former, however, 

 which constitutes its chief attraction in our 

 eyes; nor do I, I confess, subscribe to the 

 conjecture (for it is apparently no more) 

 that the pyne of the ancient Nominalia 

 is identical herewith ; but about 1607 an 

 energetic endeavour was made to propagate 

 the tree throughout England for the sake 

 of breeding the silkworm, and establishing a 

 native manufacture of the produce. James I., 

 however, requested lieutenants of shires to 

 co-operate in this enterprise. Instructions 

 for the planters were printed ; and Olivier de 

 la Serre, a Frenchman residing in London, 

 and Nicholas Goffe prepared between them 

 a substantial volume on the subject, with an 

 address to the reader, dated from Bacon 

 House, May 2oth, 1607, almost as if the 

 owner was one of the prime movers in the 



