MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, &c. m 



that were ftunted and fickly. After thefe operations they put 

 forth vigorous branches, and bore excellent crops of fruit, 

 more than double the fize of that which they produced in 

 their former ftate. 



I would advife thofe, who have any old decayed Mulberry- 

 trees, to treat them in the fame manner ; but thofe which are 

 very much decayed fhould be headed down ; this will throw 

 them into a healthy bearing ftate, and in two or three years 

 they will produce plenty of fine fruit. 



In the lawn in front of the houfe of John Grove, efq. at 

 Little Chelfea, there are four old Mulberry trees, which a few 

 years ago were fo very much decayed, and fo full of wounds 

 and dead wood, that they produced very little fruit, and that 

 of a fmall fize. I had all the decayed and rotten wood care- 

 fully cut out, and the branches trimmed, and then the Gom- 

 pofition applied. In the firft feafon they fent forth fine fhoots, 

 and in the fecond produced plenty of fruit, of a better flavour, 

 and double the fize of that which they formerly bore. 



As old Mulberry-trees produce, not only a greater quantity 

 of fruit, but alfo much larger and of a finer flavour, than 

 young ones, it is well worth while to take fome pains to 

 repair the injuries which they may have fuftained by accidents 

 or age. 



I am forry to fay, that this pleafant and valuable fruit is 

 but very little cultivated in this country *. 



* Gerard, in his defcription of tfie Mulberry-tree, has the following curious paragraph : 

 " Hexander in Atheneus affirmeth, that the Mulberry -trees in his time did not bring- 

 forth fruit in twenty years together ; and that fo great a plague of the gout reigned and 

 raged fo generally, as not only men, but boys, wenches, eunuchs, and women, were 

 troubled with that difeafe." 



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