328 MISCELLANEA, 1917 — 192I 



record that sucii a high death rate has occurred here in 

 Tyneside. 



There must have been an uncommonly large congregation 

 of frogs in this little pond in the winter 1916-1917, for after 

 taking out tlie 54 dead there were still the usual score of 

 living, and the spawn appeared in abundance in the fourth 

 week of March. Nicholas Temperley. 



Ancient Mulberry Trees in Tyneside. 



Disappearance of the last one. 



(Note written in 1917 by Mr. Nicholas Temperley). 



In 1872 the late Mr. G. C. Atkinson recorded in the 

 Transactions of the Natural History Society, vol. V., the 

 existence of many important trees in the two counties of 

 Northumberland and Durham. Among these were four 

 ancient mulberry trees, with details as follows, the girth being 

 measured at 4 to 5-ft. from the ground : — 



(i) At Axwell Park, girth about 8-ft,, spread of branches 

 trifling, height 1 5-ft. ; generally bears fruit which is used in 

 tarts, but in fine seasons it ripens and is eaten at dessert. 

 Bole about 3-ft., then divides into three spreading limbs. 



(2) At Byivell Hall, guih 7-ft. 7-ins., a ruin, bears a few 

 berries occasionally. 



(3) At Felling Hall, east of the old residence of the 

 Brandlings, now a public-house, called the "Mulberry Inn"; 

 girth 5-ft., spread of branches trifling, height 12-ft. ; suffocated 

 by smoke and chemicals ; has one branch to the north 

 vigorous. Has not fruited for many years. The maid of the 

 inn, when asked, said she could not tell its age, but they once 

 hanged a monk on it. 



(4) At Saltwellside, near Gateshead, girth 6-ft. 4-ins., 

 spread of branches 8 yards, height 15-ft., a fine, fairly healthy 

 tree. 



From Loudon's Aboretiun, vol. iii, p. 13 14, we learn that 

 James I. in 1605 recommended the cultivation of silk-worms, 



