History Of Mulberry Trees, Morus Alba, Morus Rubrum, And Morus Nigra
Mulberry trees were well known in the ancient civilizations of the world. They were famous fruit trees, because of the delicious berry fruits that were abundantly produced by fast growing treesloaded with huge green leaves that were eaten by livestock, along with the berries, and the leaves were used in the Orient to fatten silkworms for the silk trade. General Oglethorpe, in 1733, imported 500 white mulberry trees to Fort Frederica in Georgia to encourage silk production at the English colony of Georgia.
William Bartram, the famous early American explorer and botanist, described his encounter with mulberry trees near Mobile, Alabama, in his book, Travels, in the year 1773.
Princes Nursery in 1774 offered for sale 500 white mulberry trees, Morus alba and 1000 black mulberry trees, Morus nigra, at Flushing, New York. Documents show that Americas first President, George Washington, bought fruit from this nursery.
Mulberry trees were planted in the landscape of President Thomas Jefferson 20 feet apart, and the fruit trees lined both sides of the road that extended around the house at...