[medieval knievel]

i've been around online forums for a long time, and researchers joining to ask questions, and quite often, look for subjects/volunteers for TV shows, is part of the territory. i suppose the frequency at which you would get such requests depends on how specialised the forum is, and this one is quite specialised.

[Liparis]

And greetings to you walltoall. I am very aware of your nationality and your pride. I fail to see what that has to do with my comments, not ranting. While I sit here in my completely rural setting I can see 6 Magpies, 4 Hooded crows have just left my property and all have shared the food tables with the Great tits, Greenfiches and Chaffinches. Only on two ocassion have I seen a problem and that was when my daughters rabbit was taken from it's run, along with it's kittens, by a Badger. The other time was when a Sparrowhawk removed a Chaffinch from the bird table. I hold no grudge against either as I don't against the Magpies, which incidently nest in a Sycamore some 200 meters from a pair of wood Pigeons. But again I point out your contradiction about Magpies being scavengers and yet claim they contribute nothing to the surrounding fauna and flora!! A photograher (Amateur) doesn't moan about the weariness in his legs when he trecks for miles to get that picture, A mountaineer doesn't complain about the tiredness he suffers when climbing. They know it's a part of their hobby and accept it.
At no point in my post did I claim that a private gardener can grow vegetables for nothing! Not even myself, who is a whole five years short of your 60 years as a complete country dweller.
The aches in our bones and muscles are not a cost, it's part of the hobby, we're getting fit. But, if you suffer that day in day out then pack in the hobby, after all those years you should have got used to it. I certainly don't suffer aches and pains from gardening anymore unless I've slacked for a while, but it goes again. at 80, my father is still out there digging, he never complains about aches and pains!
Two things happen and it doesn't really matter which country you live in or were born in, these rediculous accusations are merely the result of hand-down. It happened to the fox, everywhere. They were no good, they killed sheep, lambs etc all they did was badness. I have a friend, a Shepherd, who won the Times essay prize in the early 70's when he studied foxes and proved beyond doubt that they did more good for shepharding than they could ever do harm. His studies were scientifically upheld yet he was ostracised (woops! did I spell that right?) by the farming community. My views on Magpies recieve the same treatment, as you have just proved. Take your blinkers off and look properly.
Now, all that apart, my main concern was your appalling behaviour towards the journalist. I think, regardless of whether these people are allowed to make such posts or not, it was handled badly, rudely and was downright bullying. No one would be treated like that on my forum, if anyone did, they would soon be told, not only by me but by the majority of the members, by the way, journalists are encouraged for whatever reason to post on my forum and we have assisted them in publishing articles etc in many countries.
I have nothing more to say on this, I will continue reading and posting and replying here and enjoying the forum, along with your posts, even although we will continue to differ on Magpies, but please, do not try and patronise me again.
Bill.

[verge]

Right everybody this thread has gone wildly off topic and I probably should have reined it in earlier, but at this stage it seems to have genetically modified itself into sometime completely different. But because it has sparked debate moreso than the usual 'What tree will grow in my damp soil' type questions, I will let it run for a bit longer.

But remember one of the main posting guidelines on internet forums is 'Attack the post, not the poster'. You can disagree with the post, but never personally attack the poster. Anything outside this guideline can result in locking of threads/and or bannings.

I don't know what next to expect from this thread, possibly GPI proclaiming he is More Irish than everyone on here due to the fact he was born on on a mound of shamrock atop the hill of Tara during Winter Solstice.

[Gautama]

Which in the UK recently did analysis on the cost benefit of "grow your own mushroom" kits. They cost about ten times the price of supermarket mushrooms.

[walltoall]

Ha! Ha! I know where you're coming from. I've a mulberry tree, cost me between £30 @ £40 four years ago. This year for the first time, it's fruited. TWO mulberries. Saturday I noticed one of the mulberries had gone AWOL. Today a sparrow flew into the tree and ate the second one. I SAW him devouring £20 worth of mulberry in 4 seconds. I bet he got the first one also.

[michael brenock]

i thought mulberries were for the silkworms or was it the leaves of the trees.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

[walltoall]

You're very close Michael. In proper conditions, the silkworm makes it's coccoon in the leaves of mulberry and the silk used is harvested and woven. The tree produces a fruit like a large loose blackberry and with a unque and succulent taste. Takes years before it fruiting reliably usually between ten and fifteen. An old one (supposed to be over 100) produces regularly by the kilo in a public park in central London. But no silk!

Within the terms of the thread heading, mulberry is an extreme rarity of a fruit which would be hard to justify on price alone. But, I've yet to see them for sale at London markets, so I justify the possibility od over dosinbg on mulberries before I pass to the great garden in the sky. I can't be bothered produced mainstream fruits or vegs. while they are cheap in the shops. But I like exotics and my mulberry wil get cheaper as the years pass. Incidentally my fig is producing about five or six very large fruits per week now. I've actually managed to attach a picture made with a mobile phone last May.

[michael brenock]

that mulberry tree looks more like a todler than an adolescent to me , give it a few more years.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

[ian]

Hi Michael, you are right about mulberry and silk production, but like King James you seem to have mixed up the White Mulberry with the Black. He attempted to start a silk industry in England (early 1600's i think) and ordered in thousands of Mulberries.
Unbeknown to King James the silk worm will only eat White Mulberry and he had proliferated Black Mulberry far and wide, engaging the help and support of his aristocracy in this ill-conceived folly.
Regards, Ian.

[Garlicbreath]

In the grounds of County Hall in Worcester there is a mature mulberry tree that has lots of fruit every year. The fruit is delicious! Sweet and juicy and an intense blood red that stains everything it touches. When I worked there I think I was the only person who ever picked the fruit. There is a wonderful walnut tree too.

[ian]

that tree looks about 450 years old , could be one of 'oul jimmy's!