Adam in Eden, or, Natures paradise the history of plants, fruits, herbs and flowers with their several names ... the places where they grow, their descriptions and kinds, their times of flourishing and decreasing as also their several signatures, anatomical appropriations and particular physical vertues together with necessary observations on the seasons of planting and gathering of our English simples with directions how to preserve them in their compositions or otherwise : ... there is annexed a Latin and English table of the several names of simples, with another more particular table of the diseases and their cures ... / by William Coles ...

CHAP. XLII. Of the Mulberry Tree.

The Names.

THe tree is named in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Morea and Sycaminus in Latine; Morus à Morâ, from its slownesse to put forth its Leaves, for of all trees it buddeth last, which it seldom doth before May, the cold weather being past; and therefore the old Writers were wont to call it the wisest tree. It is called in shops Morus celsa quasi excelsa, as a di∣stinction between it and the Bramble Cubus, whose Berries are also called Mora, but b••••i is added to know them by.

The Kinds.

Parkinson hath but three sorts hereof. 1. The common black Mulberry tree. 2. The white Mulberry tree. 3. The Virginian Mulberry tree. Besides which, as I have been informed, there is a wild kind which putteth out leaves somewhat like the former, and about the same time; and hath fruit not much unlike, but it never bringeth it to perfection.

The Form.

The Common black Mulberry tree groweth very great and tall, the body and the greater arms being covered with a thick rugged bark, the younger boughs and branches being smoother, whereon are broad roundish leaves, set pointed at the end, and dented about the edges like Mint leaves, but that they are far big∣ger and smoother. The bloomings or flowers are downy like Catkins, after which immediately followeth the fruit made of many grains, set together of a pale green colour at first, then red when they are harsh and sowre, but afterwards black when they are full ripe, being full of a sweetish Juyce, which will die the fingers and mouths of them that gather and eat them; wherein ly divers small seeds: the root groweth not deep, but spreadeth far, being of a yellowish colour.

The Places and Time.

The two former sorts are nourished up in woods, or great Orchards in the Levant or Eastern countries to nourish their silk Worms, where they keep them in abundance; and may peradventure be natural in some of these places, they are plentiful nursed up in Italy for the same purpose, and might have been very numerous here in England; if the Letters of King James to the Lords Lievte∣nants of the several shires for the increasing of Mulberry trees, and the breeding of Silk worms in his Kingdom, had taken their wished effect, which they did not, because they had not the instructions to that purpose annexed to them. But now the way then thought of, is revived by that industrious Common wealths∣man, Samuel Hartlib Esquire, of propagating them by seed; to whose book cal∣led the Reformed Virginian Silkworm, I refer you: whereas formerly there was no way of propagating but either by slips, grafting, or inoculation, which seldom ••ook effect. The biggest of them that ever I saw, groweth in New Colledge in Oxon, in a place between the great Quadrangle and the Garden. The third as the name importeth came from Virginia where it groweth hugely, with great store of great leaves, and small store of fruit, but in the season with the other

which in August and September. The wild kind groweth, along the Mount••••ce in Merton Colledge Orchard, half a dozen at least close by one another which never perfecteth its fruit, as I said before.

The Temperature.

The Mulberry is of different parts, the ripe berries by reason of their sweetnesse and slippery moisture opening the belly, and the unripe binding it; especially when they are dryed: and are then good to stay fluxes, and lasks, and abundance of Womens courses; but the bark of the root hath a stronger purging quality and a bitternesse withall; the leaves and young tender tops have a middle or temperate faculty,

The Vertues and Signature.

The Juyce of Mulberries or syrrup made of them, helpeth all inflammation•• and sores in the mouth or throat, and the Uvula or Palate of the mouth when ••t is fallen down. The Juyce of the leaves is a remedy against the biting of Serpents; and for those that have taken Aconite or Wolfsbane. The leaves beaten with V••∣negar is good to lay on any place that is burnt with fire. A decoction made of the bark and leaves, is good to wash the mouth and teeth when they ake. It is reported that if the root be a little slit or cut, and a small hole made in the ground next thereunto in the harvest time, it will give out a certain Juyce, which being hardned is the next day of good use to help the Toothach, to dissolve knots and purge the belly; the leaves are said to stay bleeding at mouth and nose, or the bleeding of the Piles, or of a wound being bound unto the places. A branch of the tree taken when the Moon is at full, and bound to the wrist of a Womans arme, whose courses come down too much, doth stay them in short space. The bark of the root killeth the broad worms in the bodies of men or children. The leaves of the vine of the early Fig, and of the Mulberry boyled in Rain water is good to wash the hair, and to make it have a clear and fair co∣lour. The ripe berries if they be taken before meat, do make passage for what followeth; but if after meat, and passe not quickly away, they corrupt in the sto∣mach, and draw the rest on to putrifaction with them, otherwise they trouble lit∣tle. There be growing upon the Cods, and about the Breech of some people certain tumors like unto Mulberries, which the powder of those berries and leaves doth cure by Signature. The leaves of this tree, are the most natural food of Silk worms, as you may gather by what hath gone before: of which there might be great profit made here as, well as in Italy, Spain and France, if we had been as industrious as they in nursing up these kinds of trees; but it is not too late to learn any thing that may make for the attainment of nationall and private profit and riches. When the Mulberry tree begins to put out its buds, then the Silkworms Eggs begin to hatch, as the nature of this wise creature is, when he•• food begins once to appear she comes forth of her shel; so that if a Mu••berry leaf be laid upon them they will come upon it instantly; and after that they have been sed with fresh leaves about fourty five daies they will begin to spin their Silk bottom.