OF FOREST-TREES. 



43 



CHAP. II. 

 The MULBERRY. 



IMoRUS, the MULBERRY It may possibly be wondered by some cHAP. II. 

 why we should insert this tree amongst our forest inhabitants ; but we ^-^•'V^ 

 shall soon reconcile our industrious planter, when he comes to understand 

 the incomparable benefit of it, and that for its timber, durableness, and 



' Of this GENUS there are six species : 



1. MORUS (nigra J foh'is cordatis scabris. Lin. Sp. P]. 1398. Mulberry' rviih rough, 

 heart-shaped leaves. Morus fructu nigro. C. B. P. 459. Mulberry with a black fruit. 

 The black mulblrry. 



This is the common Black Mulberry-tree, which is cultivated for the delicacy of its fruit. 



It grows naturally in Persia, from whence it was first brought to the southern parts of Europe, 

 but is now become common in every part of Europe, where the winters are not very severe ; 

 for in the northern parts of Sweden these trees will not live in the open air ; and in several 

 parts of Germany they are planted against walls, and treated in the same way as the Peach, 

 and other tender fruits, in this country. 



2. MORUS C RUBRA ) foliis cordatis subtus villosis, amentis cylindricls, Lin. Sp. Plant. 

 1399. Mulberry Tvith heart-shaped leaves, which are hairy on their under-side, and cylindrical 

 calkins. Morus Virginiensis arbor, loti arboris instar ramosa, foliis amplissimis. Pluk. 

 Phyt. Tab. 246. Virginian Mulberry, branching like the Nettle-tree, having very large leaves. 

 The riRGiNiAN mulberry. 



This tree will grow to the height of thirty or forty feet. It sends forth many large branches ; 

 and the bark of the young shoots is of a blackish colour. The leaves are larger than the 

 common Mulberry, and rougher, though in other respects they somewhat resemble them. 

 It produces plenty of catkins,, in shape like those of the Birch-tree ; and the female flowers 

 are succeeded by a dark reddish fruit. This is a scarce plant at present, notwithstanding it 

 bears the severity of our climate extremely well. 



3. MORUS (alba ) foliis oblique cordatis Isevibus. Lin. Sp. PI. 1398. Mulberry with 

 oblique, smooth, heart-shaped leaves. Morus fructu albo. C. B. P. 459- Mulberry with a 

 fvhite fruit. The white mulberry. 



This tree will grow to a large size, and is very proper for walks and avenues, or for clumps 

 or standards, either in fields or parks. The leaves are of a clear, light green, and the fruit 

 is of a paler colour than any of the other sorts, which makes it take the name of the White 

 Mulberry. This tree possesses the peculiar property of breeding no vermin, either when 

 growing or cut down ; neither does it harbour any caterpillar, the silk-worm excepted. — 

 This species is cultivated for its leaves in France and Italy, to feed silk- worms ; and, whei} 



