MISCKLLANEA, 1917 — 1921 329 



ami offered packets of seeds of the mulberry to all who would 

 sow them. No doubt this rendered the tree fashionable, as 

 there is scarcely an old-fashioned garden without one. 

 Moms nigra, the black-fruited mulberry, was introduced into 

 England in 1548. In Britain it assumes a dwarf or stunted 

 character, spreading into thick arms or branches near the 

 ground, and forming an extremely large head. It is a tree of 

 very great durability : the specimens at Syon House, on the 

 Thames, are said to be over 300 years old, and some at 

 Oxford are of nearly equal antiquity. In warmer countries 

 silk-worms are fed on the leaves. In the south of England it 

 ripens its fruit, but here in the north only rarely, and that in 

 very warm summers. 



We have every reason to be confident that the four aged 

 mulberry trees referred to in tiiis note represent those dis- 

 tributed by King James I., for local tradition has it that 

 these came as saplings. 



Let us see how ttiese four trees have fared in the interval 

 between 1872 and 1917. 



(i) At Axwell Park the tree has entirely vanished, 

 possibly in some alterations in the grounds. 



(2) I learn from my friend Mr. Thomas Sisterton, who 

 recently held a celebration with four score candles on his 

 birthday cake, and who has been parish clerk at Bywell for 

 sixty-six years, that in his early days he had eaten the ripe 

 fruit of the mulberry tree that stood in the Park there. It 

 lived carefully propped up for. many years,' and at last was 

 blown over about twenty years ago, and has disappeared 

 entirely. 



(3) The Felling tree has likewise gone. Its name alone 

 survives in the rebuilt " Mulberry Inn." 



(4) The ancient tree at Saltwell has outlived its con- 

 temporaries, but the fierce tempest this autumn has been fatal 

 to it. After the Saltwell estate was acquired by the Gateshead 

 Corporation for cemetery purposes, the aged tree lying almost 

 horizontal was carefully propped up and surrounded by an 



