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XXI. On the Culture of the Mulberry, and on forced Straw- 

 berries bearing a second Crop. By John Williams, Esq. 

 of Pitmaston, near Worcester. 



Read June 1, 1813. 



Th e Mulberry, although a native of the warmer parts of 

 the earth, accommodates its habits so much to our climate, 

 that it rarely opens its foliage till the severe spring frosts 

 are over, and, as its leaves are not attacked by insects, or 

 injured by mildew, or sudden heat, it affords a crop of fruit 

 when at a bearing age in most seasons. The fruit, however, 

 does not attain that size or richness of flavour, when ripened 

 on a standard, which it does in the south of Europe. But it 

 may be greatly assisted by being trained to a south or west 

 wall, where it experiences a longer and warmer summer. 

 Cultivated in this way, it will grow with very great luxuriance ; 

 but it requires some nicety in the pruning, or it will not bear 

 fruit. The following method has succeeded in my garden 

 for several years past. All the annual shoots, except the 

 foreright, are neatly trained to the wall, and these last must be 

 left to grow till towards midsummer, and then be shortened 

 about one third of their growth to admit light to the leaves 

 beneath. By the end of August the foreright shoots will 

 have advanced again, so as to obstruct the light, and they 

 must then be shortened nearer to the wall than before. In 

 the month of March, or beginning of April, the ends of the 



