MULBERRY. 309 



Propagation. By seeds or by cuttings. 



Properties of ivood. Light, soft, not strong, rather tough, 

 coarse grained, and very durable in contact with the soil. Spe- 

 cific gravity 0.5898; weight of a cubic foot 36.75 pounds. 



Uses. The Red Mulberry is sometimes used in the Middle 

 and Southern States as an ornamental tree, where it forms a 

 large spreading tree forty feet high. It well deserves a place 

 on lawns or in parks, but is not very hardy in Minnesota. The 

 wood is valued for fence posts, and is used in cooperage; in 

 the Southern States it is often used in boat building. The 

 inner bark is fibrous, and was used by the Indians of the South- 

 ern States for making a coarse cloth; in early days this fiber; 

 was used for cordage. The leaves have been largely experi- 

 mented with as food for silk worms, but they are not so good 

 for this purpose as those of the White Mulberry (Morus.alba). 



Morus alba tartarica. Russian Mulberry. 



Leaves thin, smooth, glabrous and somewhat shining on both 

 sides, heart-shaped, ovate or orbicular, generally deeply lobed 

 and dentate. The same plant will often have leaves of several 

 forms. Flowers appear with the leaves, generally dioecious 

 or monoecious, but rarely polygamous. The fruit ripens early 

 in July, and is white or purplish in color, and varies from three- 

 fourths to one and one-half inches in length. As commonly 

 seen it is a low-growing, very bushy-topped, small tree with 

 light gray bark and spreading branches. 



Distribution. Native of central Asia. 



Propagation. By seeds, cuttings, layers or graftage. The 

 seeds, if sown as soon as gathered, will make plants about one 

 foot high the first season. 



Properties of wood. Probably much the same as those of the 

 Red Mulberry. 



Uses. The Russian Mulberry was introduced into the West- 

 ern States by the Russian Mennonites, who esteem it very 

 highly for its many good qualities, among which is the ease 

 with which it is propagated, its rapid growth, the value of the 

 leaves as food for silk worms, its fruit, ornamental appearance 

 and the durability of the wood in contact with the soil. It is 

 not perfectly hardy in this section, but generally holds on well 

 as far north as St. Paul, although it generally kills back con- 



