128 



TRKKS GROWING IN MOIST SOIL. 



ehi-'ap kind of fiiniiinrt' is made. C'cltis is the ancient name of 

 the (irecks f(jr the h)lus. 





kS'^M 



J- 



RED nULBERRY. (^PlaU LX.) 

 Moms rubra. 



FAMILY SHAPE HEIGHT RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Miillurty. I/,ui(i, toil ii({, </i'iiSi\- \ybo/ii'l. U'l-i/i'H .\',:ii /\/ii;/ti>li/, Aprils M,iy. 



/nanchcs, s/>ri\uii>if. iouthwaid aiui 



iveitivarci. 



Bark: urcyisli hrovvM ; rouj^li aiul separating into plates. Leaves: three to 

 seven inches long; sim|)le; alternate; ovate; approaching orbicular, with 

 pointi-'il apex and rather cordate base; or fretinenliy occurring wilii unequal 

 lobes at the sidis when tiie sinuses are rountled; coarsely serrate; tiiin ; yellow- 

 greun and rough on tiie upper surface when young, becoming ilark bluish green 

 and sniootii ; paler and downy or sniocjth below. Ribs: whitish and tlistinct. 

 Flo7ve)s: growiiiL; in axillary, catkin-like spikes; eitlier dioecious or nioncccious, 

 usually the latter. Fniil : similar in a])pL'arance to a long, wild blackberry; red, 

 turning when ripe to a rich, dark purple; edible; sweet. 



A homely barnyard scene, 

 where chickens and pigs rove 

 ^ ... about at will and a lordly tur- 



key gobbler exercises a sur- 

 veillance over all, is hardly 

 complete without the shade of 

 a red mulberry tree. No doubt 

 it has been planted there by the 

 farmer or his predecessor who 

 knew that its juicy fruit would 

 fatten his hogs and nourish 

 well his poultry. The flavour 

 is a trifle insipid, but these ani- 

 mals are not over discriminating and root and scratch under 

 the tree when the berries are falling until the ground is often 

 stained to the same deep, blood hue. The juice of the tree 

 itself is milky. Horticulturists have paid little attention to 

 Morus rubra as a fruit tree although it would seem as though 

 it had possibilities for a better development. The tree is very 

 ornamental. In early summer the green of its leaves is par- 

 ticularly enchanting and can hardly fail to attract the attention 





Minis rubra. 





