Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-07
MuLnrRErrs .Rr /, GOOD FRUIT
The Mulberry Craze of Long ago-Hsv shs
Brrrie. Are Grown.

The agricultural station at Cornell University
has been going into the culture Of rnuIberrie-.
which the experts in charge declare to be .
neglected fruit. II the growing Of trees q this
kind were taken up very dslicious orchard
product might b. added 10 the number Of such
Injuries available for the table. 10 affords IN
excellent dessert, whether served an naturel or
in various other WAYS. and it, culture is very
easy. the production continuing throughout Q
period OF two TO four months every wear
With the failure Of early attempts at siIk cui-
ture in this country mulberries almost disap-
peared. Many people now living remember
the ''rnulticaulis craze" Of the thirties Thi.
tree. the ''morus muiticaulis" of botany. was q
Chinese mulberry. brought 20 America In 1850.
Ii was the variety on which siik worms are
raised IN China. The fame Of IL spread rapidly.
and there arose fever OF speculation such 40 has
never been known in any other horticultural
venture in this country. h almost ~ bad
the famous tulip frenzy m Europe. The
record Of what followed read like fiction. Many
nUrseryIncn gave UP all other business that the,
might grow the mulberry. aud they realized
enormous profits. The secret of the Chine-e
silk had been discovered. IL imagined
Every available acre from New England 20 the
gulf must be covered with the marvellous herb
age Of this plant. and men must train their
hands 20 the breeding Of the worms and The
spinning of silken threads.
One nurserynan who l. still living went 70
of the West Indies that he might grow hundreds
thousands Of the trees during the winter -ea-on
SO great WAS the haste FOR plants. Planters al
over the country were eager TO secure trees 81
any price. Then came the reaction. The mar.
ket was supplied and soon overstocked. A dis
case appeared. The winters % New England
were too severe. One man near Hartford lost
nearly 10. 900 trees from cold. Men lost their
fortunes. In 1883 the bubble burst One man
near Philadelphia sold go. 900 trees "a one suc-
ton in the fail OF that wear. realizing - cent?
each. Thousands. il not millions, of trees were
never replan tied after they were taken out of tks
ground in the autumn Of 1883.
SO the silk worm mulberry passed from sight
and the present generation knows nothing Of IL.
No nurseryman grows it. The last specimsn In
the east, so far any one knows. was cut down
nearly ten wears ago. Ii stood on the old battle
ground at Germantown. Only one tangible re-
suit of this great contagion remains Charles
Downing. whose name will long remain Q houss-
hold word among those who love garieus, pre-
duced by grating the mulberry which stil
bears his name.
Anybody who wishes can procure mulberry
station The tree when mature Is nc big 20 an an
pie tree. The fruit falls il Is ripe. In
Europe cress is sometimes sown under the trees
in late spring to AFFORD a temporary carpet 70
catch the fruit. The tree il grown for fruit
ornament, hedges and small timber as well a.
for silk The mulberries may be used for
making jellies and preserves. They are good
also for poultry and for pigs.