In season: September and October.

There are three distinct species of Mulberry - the white, the black, and the red. The white mulberry is the tree on which the silkworm lives. It is scarcely ever grown in England.

The black mulberry is said to be a native of Persia, but was early brought to Europe, and was introduced into England long before 1573, as many large trees were then in existence in our country. The leaves of the black mulberry - the one generally found in our gardens - are not good for silkworms, nor are those of the red mulberry, the fruit of which is not good. Only lettuce leaves should be used for silkworms in England. The mulberry is later in coming into leaf than any other tree, but when its buds once open the leaves expand, and the fruit forms very rapidly. It needs very little care from the gardener, and?w pruning. The fruit drops off as soon as it is ripe; therefore it is usual to plant the tree in the centre of a soft lawn, that the berries may fall without being bruised. The juice of the mulberry extracted as a syrup is good for colds and sore throats.