MEDLARS, MULBEBBIES. AND MELONS. Ill 



Chapter XV.— medlars and mulberries. 



It is unnecessary, I think, to devote a lengthy chapter to either of these 

 fruits. If a gardening editor were to judge of the popularity of a fruit by 

 the number of inquiries he had about it (and there might easily be worse 

 tests), he would probably say that neither Medlars nor Mulberries stand very 

 high in public favour. 



So far as the Medlar is concerned, we have a fruit of the most trivial 

 importance and economic value. A few people like Medlars, and a great 

 many other people make a hollow pretence of doing so, who, if they 

 expressed their real feelings, would declare that a half-rotten Pear is a 

 luxury to them. A Media;- is supposed to be just right for eating (other 

 people would say for flinging into the nearest dustbin) when it is " blotted," 

 which means when it is in a state of decay. 



Those people who boast a partiality for Medlars should get Ihe variety 

 called the Nottingham. One way of describing its flavour would be to say 

 that it is the best of all the Medlars ; another that it is the least like a 

 putrid fruit of the worst Apple in cultivation. 



Medlars are not difficult to grow, inasmuch as they will thrive in soil 

 that suits most respectable fruit trees. As for propagation, it may be 

 effected by grafting them on Pear stocks. 



The Mulberry is a very interesting if not a particularly valuable tree. 

 We come across antiquated specimens in old-fashioned gardens, and we 

 look at them, and talk about them, and think how capital it would be to 

 have them ourselves. And then we go and fill up all our space with Apples 

 md Pears and Plums and Cherries, and forget all about the Mulberries. 

 Old trees in pleasure-grounds look very cool, and not a little picturesque, in 

 the summer time, with their dark, fich leafage. But they bear fruit some- 

 times, and we even see them grown for their fruit quite successfully, as they 

 are by the Duke of Portland at Welbeck. It is important to add that there 

 the trees are trained to walls. I am afraid that anyone residing in the 

 Midlands or the North would come to grief if he attempted to grow and 

 ripen Mulberries in the open. 



The Mulberry of our gardens is the Black Mulberry, Morus nigra. It is 

 propagated in various ways, but quite easily by layering or inarching. 

 Pruning is the point least understood. Most people let the trees grow at 

 their own sweet will, which is right enough if a big, shady tree is wanted, 

 but wrong if ripe fruit is required. For fruiting purposes Mulberries should 

 be spurred, that is, the shoots stopped in summer and shortened back in 

 winter, very much like a Pear. If they are allowed to become smothered 

 with shoots they will not ripen much fruit. 



Chapter XVI —melons. 



Those who are familiar with American humour of the broader sort, and 

 bearing on the gastronomical weaknesses of the negro, cannot have failed 

 to find many references to one particular species of Melon, namely the 

 Water Melon. Sambo Jumbo is supposed to have a pronounced partiality 

 for this fruit, and to have a way of disposing of a 7-pounder for his luncheon 

 with roUed-up eye and rapturous gurgle. 



