The leaves are the most important part of it--for it is upon these the silkworms feed, spinning their fine threads out of the milky juice, which in its properties resembles the juice of the caoutchouc tree.

It is true that the silkworm will feed upon the other species of mulberries, and also upon slippery elms, figs, lettuce, beets, endive, and many kinds of leaves besides; but the silk made from all these is of an inferior quality; and even the varieties of the white mulberry itself produce different qualities of this beautiful material.
"This tree has other uses.

Its wood is compact and heavy, weighing forty-four pounds to the cubic foot.

In France it is much used in turnery; and wine-casks are made from it, as it gives to white wines an agreeable flavour of violets.

Vine-props and fences are made from its branches; and out of its bark--by a process which I have not time to describe--a cloth can be manufactured almost as fine as silk itself.
The fruit of the white mulberry--where it grows in warm climates--is very good to eat, and makes an excellent syrup.
"The white mulberry, it is supposed, first came from China, where it is still found growing wild; and the Chinese first cultivated it for feeding silkworms as early as 2700 years before the Christian era.