CHAPTER XV.

OF BARBERRIES.

The Different Sorts, and their Culture.

THE Barberry is useful for preferving and pickling, and for garnishing of dishes; the trees alfo have a fine effect in shrubberies and pleasure grounds, being beautiful flowering fhrubs. In Autumn and Winter they have a delightful appearance, from their various-coloured fruit. I would, therefore, recommend planting them in all shrubberies and pleafure grounds. Those who are fond of the natural harmony of finging-birds will find Barberries well adapted for attracting them to the spots where they are planted, most birds being very fond of them. They fhould not, however, be planted near the fides of public walks, as the flowers emit a very ftrong and rather disagreeable smell.

The

The Barberry is ranged, by Linnæus, in the first order of his fixth Clafs, entitled Hexandria Monogynia.

The following Sorts are most esteemed for their Fruit, viz.

1. The Red Barberry without ftones, which has an agreeable flavour when full ripe.

2. The White Barberry.

3. The Black Sweet; which is the tenderest of them, and should be planted in a warm fituation.

4. The Common Red with ftones. This is planted more for ornament than use, on account of its beautiful red berries.

The Barberry is a native of England.

Of Raifing and Pruning Barberries.

Barberries are very eafily propagated from fuckers and layers, and require the fame management in pruning as other flowering fhrubs. I would always recommend planting them in pleature-grounds, and not in kitchen-gardens. On grass lawns, in pleasure-grounds of small extent, they have a fine appearance, and are frequently planted in fuch situations as ornamental flowering fhrubs; they are also planted frequently in clumps.

When you wish to increase them, encourage the finest and cleanest shoots in Summer, by trimming all the fide branches off thin; and when you dress the shrubberies in Winter, lay

down

down the strong fhoots, which will take root, and be fit to transplant in Autumn following. When defigned for, use, they should be trained up as standards and half standards, and they will grow from fix to twelve feet high. In Summer, trim off all the straggling and superfluous fhoots; so as that they may make fine handsome heads.

Barberries may also be raised from feed; but fuckers and layers are best for preserving the forts distinct.

CHAPTER XVI.

OF MULBERRIES.

Different Sorts cultivated in England-Propagating, Planting, and Pruning of them—Of Refloring old and decayed Trees.

THE Mulberry, Morus, is a native of Perfia; whence it was

introduced into the Southern parts of Europe, and is now commonly cultivated in England, Germany, and other countries where the Winters are not very fevere. It is ranked in the fourth order of Linnæus's twenty-first class, Monœcia Tetrandria.

We are informed, that Mulberries were first introduced into this country in 1596; but I have reafon to believe, that they were brought hither prior to that period, as many old trees are to be seen standing at this day about antient monafteries and abbeys; from which it is at leaft probable, that they had been introduced before the diffolution of those houses.

Four large Mulberry-trees are ftill standing on the site of an old kitchen-garden, now part of the pleafure-ground, at SionHoufe, which, perhaps, may have ftood there ever fince that houfe was a monaftery. The late Duke of Northumberland has been heard to fay, that thefe trees were above 300 years old.

At the Priory near Stanmore, Middlefex (the feat of the Marquis of Abercorn), there are alfo fome antient MulberryThe Priory was formerly a religious house.

trees.

In a very old garden at Chelfea, which belonged to the late John Browning, efq. (who was a very good botanist, and had a large collection of trees and plants) there is one of the largest Mulberry-trees that I ever faw, and which appears to be extremely old.

Gerard, who published his History of Plants in 1597, fays, in that book, that Mulberry-trees then grew in fundry gardens in England.

"Thofe commonly cultivated in this Country are,

1. The Common Black Mulberry-tree, which is much efteemed for its delicate fruit. This is now common in most parts of Europe, except where the Winters are very fevere. There is a variety of this with jagged leaves and smaller fruit; but Mr. Miller fays, that it is a diftinct species, a native of Sicily; and that the fruit has no flavour; consequently, it is not worth cultivating. There were fome of these trees in Chelfea-gardens.

2. The White Mulberry. This tree is raised in great abundance in Italy, and other fouthern countries, for the

leaves,