Milton's Mulberry Tree

Milton's Mulberry Tree has stood for over 400 years in Christ's College Fellows garden, Cambridge. It was planted during the reign of James 1st, in 1609 ( the year of John Milton's birth) in order to encourage the silk industry, as this was the diet of silk worms. In 1625 to 1629, John Milton, who became one of the greats of English literature, attended the college. It is said he spent hours creating many of his greatest works, while writing in the shade of this mulberry tree. Although it is now banked and propped up, it still produces a good crop of fruit which is made into jam by the college. While I was there, many tourists were tasting the mulberries from the tree.