MULBERRY. The black or common mulberry is the fruit of uterus nigra. It is a native of Persia, and its indigenous range ap pears to be extensive. Its introduction to this country dates about the middle of the lOth century. Under great vicissitudes it proves very tenacious of life; and under ordinary cir cumstances it attains, even in this climate, a considerable age, for some trees planted in 1548 are still alive. The fruit is used in me dicine. It contains much mucilage, with an astringent resin, and is sweetish and subacid, owing to the presence of some malic or tartaric acid. As the cooling properties depend on the acid, the fruit should he gathered before it is quite ripe. It may either be formed into a syrup, or a vinegar may be made with it similar to raspberry vinegar.
But a more important species is the Me rus albs, or White Mulberry. This is a native of China, where it forms a small tree, and whence it has been gradually carried west ward, till it has become a common plant in most of the temperate parts of the Old World, forming in the south of Europe a pollard-tree by road sides. It is on this species that the
silkworm is chiefly fed ; and in silk countries many varieties are cultivated for the purpose, some of which are said to be much better than others. Some years since a mulberry was in troduced into France from Manilla, whence it has gained the name of the Philippine Mul berry, the great excellence Of *Odell fleeftla universally acknowledged: It growl winch faster than the White mulberry, aid strikes from cuttings as freely as a Willow, 'which it not the Cate with the white Mulberry: The abund &Me of its 1(100 is ranch greater than in any other knbWn and it is not only freely eaten by the but perfectly agrees With them, Its cultilte la new superseding that dell others iii the South Of Europe, and it is even taken ha a Stock On Which to graft the cowmen White mulberry, When the latter is wiShed for: