DECIDUOUS TREES. 
419 
and bears delicious fruit from the middle of July till autumn. It is 
not perfectly hardy in a colder climate than that of New York City, 
though planted with more or less success all over the northern 
States. It becomes a beautiful tree where not killed back in winter. 
The Black Mulberry. Morus nigra. — This is supposed to 
be a native of Asia, but has been so long known in Europe as to 
be thought by some indigenous there. It is a low rugged-branched 
tree, with yellowish-brown bark, broad heart-shaped leaves, une- 
qually serrated, and very rough. The fruit is large, dark purple, and 
excellent. The tree is a slow grower, and forms a broad low head. 
Pliny makes the following curious allusion to this tree ! “ Of all the 
cultivated trees, the mulberry is the last that buds, which it never 
does till the cold weather is past; and it is therefore called the 
wisest of trees. But, when it begins to put forth buds, it despatches 
the business in one night, and that with so much force that their 
breaking forth may be evidently heard.” Loudon says that in 
England the fruit is generally eaten at the dessert ; and it is con- 
sidered of a cooling aperient nature ; that it forms an agreeable 
sweetmeat, and that, mixed with fresh cider, it makes a strong and 
agreeable wine. Where fine fruit is an object, it derives the same 
benefit from culture and manuring as the apple. It is a tree of 
great durability, but the slowest grower of the mulberries. In 
time, however, it attains a great breadth ; the finest specimens in 
England being from thirty to forty feet high, with tops varying from 
forty to seventy feet in breadth. 
The Paper Mulberry. Broussonetia.—K rapid-growing small 
tree from China and Japan, which was formerly much planted in 
the middle States for avenues ; but its popularity seems to have 
waned with its novelty. It is certainly an interesting small tree. 
Few trees develop their beauties more quickly, yet it 
is not quite hardy, and is addicted to throwing up 
suckers. Though not a true mulberry, it is always 
associated with them from its great resemblance to 
the Morus family. The leaves assume a great va- 
riety of forms, being heart-shaped, two-lobed, and 
Fig. 135. 
