and with much adoe being planted, and it is a great while in growing before it be∣come
great, and therefore is no shame that there are so f••w, it being so vnapt of it
selfe to grow being planted of plants and siences, as also propagated and multiplied
vnder the earth, with the stocke that bare it, euen as is vsed to be done with the
white ones, which yet doe grow infinitely euerie where, as well planted of shootes,
and propagated, as sowne: both the one and the other doe loue a hot ayre, or at the
least a temperate, a ground that is fat, and well battled with dung, and labour at
the foot, and to be kept cleane from mos••e and caterpillers, and without any dead,
wood. They are planted, especially the white, either of shoots or of roots, or buds,
and that in October and Nouember, even in like manner as the figge-tree. In plan∣ting
of them, you must make them deepe and large pits, and couer them with earth
mixt with ashes: they may be grafted vpon the chesnut-tree, apple-tree, wild peare-tree,
cornaile-tree, elme, or white popler (and then they will beare white mulberries)
and this must be in the cleft; and vpon the figge-tree in the scutcheon-like graft:
they may also be grafted vpon themselues, and the one vpon the other, as the vvhite
Mulberrie-tree vpon the white, and the blacke vpon the blacke, and that chiefely
and principally after the pipe or flute-like fashion: in what manner soeuer you graft
them, the grafts must be chosen of a good thicknesse, and from such Mulberrie-trees
as beare fruits full of good seed and kernells. It would be but labour lost to sow
them vpon kernells in the nurcerie in this cold Countrie, for besides that but a few
Mulberries haue seed, yet those which haue, doe bring forth neither tree nor fruit al∣most
that is any thing worth. But whatsoeuer it is, or in what place soeuer you plant,
graft of sow them, let it be farre from houses, to the end that the infinite number of
flies which flocke thicker when the fruit is ripe, may not become tedious to the in∣habitants,
but yet let it be in such a place as that the hennes may eat them when they
fill downe, because this victuall doth fat and feed them verie mightily. It buddeth
the last of all Trees, as we haue said, but for a recompence it becommeth ripe by
and by.
The mulberrie-tree hath alwaies beene of great request and great profit in coun∣tries
where cloth of silke is made, as at Luckes, Geynes, Almerie, Granado, Auigni∣on,
and afterward at Tours and other places, because the small wormes making silke,
are brought vp and nourished of the leaues of this tree: which for the same purpose
are carefully sought of them which doe make account to draw silke into a fleece:
whereupon it is come to passe, that there are to be seene in many places about the
said townes of great Mulberrie-trees, as it were little wings of forests, the said Mul∣berrie-trees
being planted after a just and due proportion and leuell of line, and most
exquisitely maintained and looked vnto by them which owe them: for from hence
they reape large summes of money, selling the leaues yearely for the purpose before
spoken of; for as for the fruit, they make no great purchase of it, because the Mulber∣rie-tree
will not be robbed of his leaues, for so it would come to passe that it should
not bring forth fruit, of the value of three halfe pence.
The wood of the Mulberrie-tree is good to make chests, forkes, and compasses of;
and such other workes as must yeeld and be pliant: it is also good about ships and
boats.
Mulberries must be eaten before all other meats, and that without bread, or else
but with a verie little, because if they be mixt with other victualls they doe but cause
them to corrupt: it is true that they coole and moisten verie much, and doe also loo∣sen
the bellie.
Mulberries put into a glasse vessell well stopt and couered with their juice may be
kept a long time.
The juice of Mulberries halfe ripe mingled with honie of roses, is a singular re∣medie
for the inflammations of the mouth and throat, as also for the pu••rified teeth
and exulcecrated gums.