February 7, 1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
113 
and on gravelly loams incumbent on a well-drained substratum' 
On deep and moist loam it grows more freely, but the growths’ 
especially late, are liable to be damaged by severe frosts. The 
leaves of the hardily grown tree, that on gravelly well-drained 
soil, are far better food for silkworms—that is, the worms are 
healthier, have sturdier bodies, better coloured parts, and produce 
finer cocoons of the substance called silk, than caterpillars fed on 
the leaves of the white Mulberry tree growing in deep loam and a 
somewhat damp situation. This is a point worth knowing in con¬ 
nection with vegetable pathology, and it is still further worth 
recording that the worms prefer the sappier leaves to the drier 
foliage as food. Such phenomenon are little noted, but the 
importance of such items are far reaching and of consequence to 
cultivators. 
The black Mulberry is not only the hardiest in deep somewhat 
moist soil, but really requires such, and a favoured situation to 
produce full crops of the finest fruit. It succeeds admirably in 
Huntingdonshire on the oolite—a light gravelly loam, 2 or 3 feet 
deep, with a gravelly or sandy substratum and water therein, often 
within 6 feet of the surface. The black Mulberry also thrives on 
the old red sandstone, as in Herefordshire and Worcestershire’s 
fruit-growing, cider, and perry-making districts. Similar remarks 
apply to Gloucestershire, Somersetshire, and Devonshire. It also 
thrives on the new red sandstone, some fine trees existing at one 
time in the environs of York, also within that city. This is about 
its northern limit as a free and certain fruit-bearing tree. 
On the calcario-silicious loams, incumbent on chalk, in Hertford¬ 
shire, it produces enormous crops of fruit. In the neighbourhood 
of London, on the free loams overlying the London clay, it 
succeeds and ripens its fruit well as a standard. Similar remarks 
apply to all the more favourable parts of the midland counties and 
to Wales. In Kent and the southern counties the black Mulberry 
thrives in all but elevated and cold situations and soils. But iu 
the north of England and in Scotland a warm aspect and a wall is 
necessary to secure satisfactory crops of fruit. In certain favoured 
places in these parts it, however, succeeds fairly well as a standard, 
and is well worth growing as a shrubbery or lawn tree. It is the 
latest of all trees in putting forth its ample and distinct foliage ; 
and it parts with them early in autumn, not in a littery mess 
prolonged over many weeks, but in a hearty manner quickly, and is 
as distinct in wood as in leaf from other trees. 
The black Mulberry, commonly called the “ Large Black,” can 
be procured of all the principal nurserymen, especially those 
making a speciality of fruit trees, in the form of pyramids for 
gardens, dwarf fan-trained for walls, and standards for orchards, 
lawns, or select spots in parks. Trees of bearing size are some¬ 
times comatable. These are of course more costly than younger 
ones, but they are most profitable from a fruit-growing point of 
view, as young trees often continue sterile for years. Once the 
trees commence bearing they continue fertile. The older the trees, 
as a rule, the finer and higher flavoured the fruit. 
In the matter of pruning, standard trees need little after the 
crown is formed. Of course, an excessive number of limbs is unde¬ 
sirable ; this should be guarded against by timely attention to 
thinning the growths. The branches will only need shortening to 
secure an evenly balanced crown, which is important, as the Mul¬ 
berry, left to itself in its early years, pushes a few growths that 
take the lead and become limbs, and these become so ponderous in 
time that they cannot support their own weight, hence fall without 
apparent cause as regards wind and weather. The Mulberry, how¬ 
ever, is more apt to be wrecked by wind than perhaps any other 
tree ; therefore it should be carefully trained in its early years, 
and be given a sheltered situation. 
Pyramids can be treated similarly to Red Currants, for though 
the fruit is produced from young shoots as well as spurs they seem 
to acquire the habit of bearing on spurs or short stubby shoots, 
and a mere shortening and thinning of the growths in summer, 
with the needful adjustment of them when the leaves commence 
falling, is all the pruning required. By cutting out overgrown 
spurs, or shortening so as to keep the trees fairly open and com¬ 
pact, pyramid Mulberry trees are singularly tractable. The chief 
point is to induce them to bear, which is, perhaps, best effected 
by lifting, firm and not over-rich soil. 
Fan-trained trees on walls may be treated similarly to Plums, 
both of which are better for reducing the old wood frequently and 
encouraging young and sturdy spurs. It must not, however, be 
overdone, or sappy, irrepressible shoots will be the result, and it is 
then farewell to health and good bye fertility. This may, to some 
extent, be counteracted by lifting and root-pruning ; but the better 
way is to provide a firm soil and so prune as to maintain health 
and fruitfulness. 
In cold localities the Mulberry is best grown under glass. It 
succeeds admirably in pots, producing much finer and better 
flavoured fruit than outdoor trees, except in the case of highly 
favouring sites. The trees may be grown in either pyramid or 
standard form ; the latter is best, as the heads are nearer the light, 
and the more they have of that the better. 
Mulberries may also be forced. Mr. T. A. Knight was the first 
to show the way in this country. Established trees in pots, started 
with Vines in January, ripen their fruit about the same time— 
that is, in June. He says, “ A tree . . . when fully loaded 
with fruit presents at least as agreeable an object to the eye as 
many plants which are cultivated for ornament only.” Thus, 
Mulberries may be had by forcing, culture in orchard houses and 
outdoors from June to October or November ; but the fruit does 
not keep long, requiring to be used without delay, for an appa¬ 
rently white fungus fastens on it soon after it is gathered. The 
fruit, however, ripens in succession, maintaining a supply for a 
month or more. 
The fruit falls when ripe, and on grass plats there is little 
needed for its protection. But it is this bruising that gives the 
fungus such a ready grip of the fruit as to cause it to become 
white with mould in a few hours. On bare ground, which is 
better, perhaps, for the trees bearing after that habit is established, 
as manure, both in solid and liquid form, can be readily supplied 
as the crop and season require ; a clean cloth must be spread on 
the ground to receive the fruit as it falls, but it is better to use 
small mesh netting suspended a few inches from the ground to 
prevent the fruit being blemished. 
The tree, as before stated, is liable, as a standard, to accidents 
from high winds, and to lose limbs from sheer weight of leaves and 
fruit. Too much care cannot be bestowed on shaping the crown, so 
as to balance its boughs as evenly as possible. Timely attention 
must also be given to propping up overweighted limbs, but these 
are very unsightly and intolerable on lawns. It is best, therefore, 
to use chains. These should be attached before an accident occurs, 
taking the chain round the main boughs, and so that one cannot 
become detached without bringing away in an upward direction its 
opposite, which is just the thing that does not happen, therefore 
neither come to grief, as the one helps the other. There is no 
need to trouble about the chain hurting the tree, for the more it 
is allowed to grow into the wood the sturdier the tree becomes, and 
the more and finer fruit it produces. As the tree advances in 
growth more chain support must be provided, each time higher 
up the limbs, and the chains being galvanised there will be no 
wreckage ; but as the years roll round, and generations come and 
go, the tree will improve, gladdening by its bounteous produce and 
associations. 
The choicest and ripest “ berries ” are esteemed by some for 
dessert. Only the blackest fruit answer for table use, as the semi- 
ripe are too sharp in flavour for most palates. It should be served 
on its own leaves, and has a pleasing effect at dessert, as the fruit 
contrasts well with the yellowish leaves. The black Mulberry 
makes first-rate puddings, excellent pies, high-class jam, and capital 
syrup. The fruit is esteemed very wholesome by the medical 
profession. Its juice, diluted with water, is sometimes used as a 
beverage in fevers, from its cooling and laxative properties. The 
juice is used to give a dark tinge and a pleasant vinous flavour to 
liquors and confections. When properly fermented and prepared 
the fruit yields a pleasant vinous liquor, known under the name of 
Mulberry wine. This, however, does not keep long, but that 
depends upon the manufacture and the amount of spirit added. 
In the cider counties Mulberries are sometimes mixed with Apples 
to form a beverage known as Mulberry cider. 
The wood of the tree is yellow, tolerably hard, and may be 
applied to a variety of purposes in turning and carving. It is, 
however, necessary to steep it in water before it is worked, in order 
to remove the tough and fibrous bark, which is capable of being 
converted into strong cordage, ropes, and brown paper. Finally, 
the bark of the root has an acrid, bitter taste, and is a powerful 
cathartic—hence it has been successfully used as a vermifuge in 
doses of a scruple in powder.—G. Abbey. 
THE FLORISTS’ TULIP. 
[By James W. Bextley, Hon. Secretary to the Eoyal National Talip Society.] 
Chapter IV. 
(Continued from 2 >age 557.) 
When the petals are falling and the beauty of the bloom is 
over all the canvas and calico screens should be removed, so that 
light and air can have free access to the plants. The glass-lights 
should, however, be allowed to remain over the beds until the 
bulbs are taken up. Most growers, as soon as the flowers fade, 
remove all protective appliances and allow the beds to have all the 
weather that comes, under the idea that by so doing the bulbs will 
be strengthened and improved. In my opinion there is no good 
