IN BXTKA-TROPICAL CODNTKIBS. 189 



extraordinary breadth of alluvial or manured land in a marvel- 

 lous short space of time. At Sydney Mr. Brady can provide 

 leaves from this Indian variety all through the year by the 

 removal of cuttings, which will strike their roots almost at any 

 season. It also ripens seeds readily and should be kept at 

 bush size. It requires naturally less space than the other 

 kinds. A fourth variety comes from North China; it has 

 heart-shaped, flat, thickish leaves, which form very good food 

 for the silkworm. Mr. Brady, as well as Mr. Martelli, recom- 

 mends very particularly the variety passing under the name of 

 Morus multicaulis for the worms in their earliest stages. The 

 former recommends the Cape variety also j the latter wishes 

 also the variety called Morus Morettiana to be used on account 

 of its succulent nutritious foliage, so well adapted for the in- 

 sect while yet very young, and also on account of producing 

 the largest amount of food within the shortest time. The 

 Manilla variety, known as Morus multicaulis, comes several 

 weeks earlier into bearing than most other sorts, and should 

 therefore be at hand for early hatched worms. 



The Muscardine Disease is produced by Botrytis Bassiana, while 

 the still more terrible Pebrine Disease is caused by a minute 

 vibrio-like organism. Countries like ours, happily free from 

 these pests, can thus rear healthy silk ova at a high premium 

 for exportation. 



The White Mulberry Tree with others, offering food to the silk- 

 worms, such as the Osage-orange, should be planted copiously 

 everywhere for hedges or copses. 



Morus celtidifolia, Humboldt. 



From Peru to Mexico, ascending to 7,000 feet. The fruit of 

 this Mulberry Tree is edible. M. insignis, Planchon, from 

 New Granada, is a similar species. 



Morus nigra, Linne.* 



The Black Mulberry Tree. South Russia and Persia. Highly 

 valuable for its pleasant refreshing fruits. It is a tree of 

 longevity, instances being on record of its having lived through 

 several centuries. It is also very hardy. Mr. John Hodgkins 

 regards it as a superior tree for sandy coast ridges. The leaves 

 also of this species afford food for the ordinary silk moth. The 

 tree occurs usually unisexual. M. atropurpurea, Eoxb., from 

 Cochin China, is an allied tree. The cylindrical fruit spike 

 attains a length of 3 inches. 



Morus rubra, Linne. 



The Red Mulberry Tree of North America; the largest of 



