312 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[JutV, 
Downing’s Mulberry. 
Although originated by Charles Downing 
some 15 years since, this variety usually 
called “Downing’s Everbearing” has not 
been widely disseminated. Unlike some 
other nurserymen we wot of, Mr. Downing is 
very cautious in extolling his own produc¬ 
tions, and in the latest edition of his “Fruits 
and Fruit Trees of America” he thus mod¬ 
estly describes it. “ Originated here fiom 
seed of the Multicaulis. Tree very vigorous, 
and very productive, an estimable variety, 
surpassed by none except the Black Eng¬ 
lish, and possesses the same rich sub acid 
flavor. It continues in bearing a long time. 
Fruit cylindric, one and a quarter inches 
long, and nearly half an inch in diameter. 
Color, maroon, or an intense blue black at 
full maturity. Flesh juicy, rich, sugary, with 
a sprightly vinous flavor.” 
A lady who has cultivated this fruit for sever¬ 
al years writes to the “Rural New-Yorker,” 
from which we borrow the above cut_“I have 
never before known a fruit that gave such uni¬ 
versal delight, suiting all palates, and equally ex¬ 
cellent with cream and sugar for the table, or 
freshly gathered from the tree to eat from the 
hand. In puddings they are very good, in pies 
unsurpassable.. .The trees are picturesque, hardy 
and rapid growers. They give fruit early, which 
improves in quality and size as the trees advance 
in age, and never fail of yielding a profuse crop 
for more than two months of the season when 
such fruit is most wanted.” 
The cut shows the fruit near two inches in 
length, or much longer than Downing describes 
it, but we are assured that in favorable situations— 
a rich, deep and rather sandy soil—and under 
good culture, the fruit reaches the size here rep¬ 
resented. It begins to ripen at the close of the 
strawberry season, and shows fruit in all stages 
of growth. Besides making a palatable dish of 
sauce, or a fine pie in its ripening season, the ber¬ 
ries can be put in cans, or bottled and kept as 
other fruit. 
The trees are quite ornamental, with their 
dark green and very large leaves, forming hand¬ 
some objects upon the lawn. Unfortunately they 
have not been cultivated to much extent except 
by a few nurserymen, foremost among whom is 
Dr. Grant, and are still held at a high price—$1.50 
to $3.00 each, we believe. Perhaps unpleasant 
recollections of the “multicaulis fever” have 
created an unjust prejudice against the mulberry. 
So palatable and wholesome a fruit should be 
more generally cultivated, particularly when 
borne on a tree of desirable shading qualities. 
Were the excellence of the berries generally 
known, they would be in demand for marketing 
—as it is, we have not seen them offered for 
sale. The trees can be multiplied by grafting, 
or budding them upon the common white mulber¬ 
ry, but can not be produced true to kind from seed, 
although new seedlings of value may be obtained. 
Kansas Correspondence. 
COMPLAINTS AGAINST EASTERN NURSERYMEN. 
To the Editor of the American Agriculturist: 
I have just received a lot of trees from an 
Eastern nursery. Many of the apple trees have 
bunches or wart-like substances on the roots, 
varying in size from a walnut upwards. These 
are the first I have ever seen, and I wish to know 
the cause, the future effect upon the trees, and 
what will cure them. And further, can you tell 
us of a nursery from which we can get such things 
as are asked for. The orders sent from this 
place to-, amounted to $1,500, and the 
returns were anything but satisfactory. For Ap¬ 
ples, instead of Winesap, Limber Twig, Yellow 
Bellefieur, etc., we got It. I. Greening, Baldwin, 
Northern Spy, Itambo, etc., condemned by West¬ 
ern pomologists. For Catawissa and Allen’s 
Raspberry, the Red Antwerp was sent us. We 
sent for the Duke Cherries, and got Bigarreaus, 
not but that the latter are better, for many pur¬ 
poses, but when one orders a specific variety, he 
wishes to obtain it. For Wilson’s Albany, Ho- 
vey’s, Longworth’s and other Strawberries, vari¬ 
eties were sent us which were almost unknown, 
and wholly unfit for garden or field culture. The 
same may be said of Peaches, Pears and Plums, 
a Peach Plum being sent out instead of a Green 
Gage which had been ordered. 
Now, Mr. Editor, if I order a thing and pay for 
it I want that thing notwithstanding something 
else may be equally as good. If I send for a 
particular fruit tree it is because I wish for that 
variety, and think I can tell what will suit my 
palate and our climate, better than the seaboard, 
or even Lake-girt nurserymen. 
Nemaha Co., Kansas. Kansas Complaineb. 
Remarks. —1 . The warty excrescences may or 
may not do serious injury, but we should be 
afraid of them, and unhesitatingly condemn any 
nurseryman sending them out. They are seldom 
found in a well regulated, well cared for nursery, 
and an honest dealer or one who regarded his 
reputation would not let them be seen. We know 
of no remedy. If such trees must be used, it is 
better to cut off the roots so affected, or at least 
pare off all the warts, if it can be done without 
entirely spoiling the trees. At a distant point, 
where it is difficult to get other trees at once, it 
may not be expedient to throw them away, but 
give them a trial. With a paring ofTof the warts, 
and a change of soil, the defect may rvot be a fatal 
one. You should write to the nurseryman who 
sent them, and his answer, if not satisfactory, 
should be published. 
S. The large changes made in your order were 
an imposition, if you ordered specifically, and 
left no discretion with the dealer. A single sub¬ 
stitution may sometimes be made by a nursery¬ 
man, with the best of motives and for specific 
good reasons ; but a wholesale one, as in your 
case, can not be excused. No honest dealer 
would do it. He would fill the order as made 
out, getting the desired varieties of others if he 
did not have them, or he would hand the order 
over to a reliable man, or frankly return the re¬ 
mittance. There can be no dispute on this point. 
In buying trees and plants, it is always best to 
send only to parties you can depend upon; and 
also to be explicit, naming exactly what you want, 
or giving just so much discretion to the dealers 
as you are willing to allow them. We can not 
undertake a commission business, but in special 
cases, where subscribers live at remote points, 
and have no means of forming an opinion of the 
character of a dealer, we shall not object when 
it is especially desired, if a subscriber sends his 
order to our care, to be forwarded to the party 
named, or to some other party, in case we deem 
it better for the purchaser. In any such case, let 
the order be full and explicit; and let the author¬ 
ity for us to change its direction be clearly anh 
briefly stated, so that it may involve as little care 
and labor on our part as possible. 
3. We could name a dozen nurserymen 
whom we know to be reliable, but this would be 
unjust to many others equally reliable and every 
way worthy. We hope no complaints can be 
made against any of those who have lately ad¬ 
vertised in the Agriculturist —for, some time since, 
we commenced rejecting advertisements from 
parties whom we had reason to suspect of want 
of integrity or want of care. Our business col¬ 
umns are open to the public, however, and we 
can not always discriminate between the good 
and bad. A few well authenticated cases offraud, 
or unfair dealing, on the part of nurserymen or 
others, will always be sufficient ground for de¬ 
clining their advertisements, no matter what price 
they may offer, or what may be the pecuniary 
loss to ourselves. We have only space for good 
advertisements, and we mean to charge such a 
price as only those who have a permanent busi¬ 
ness and character to maintain, can afford to pay. 
—--»-•<- mm m m --- 
He that never changes any of his opinions, 
never corrects any of his mistakes. 
