The white mulberry tree in Gardinovci, a settlement in the municipality of Titel, is one of the rarely preserved and still vital examples of mulberry trees in Vojvodina, whose age is estimated at over 200 years. Due to its great age, imposing growth, vitality and as a genetic base, it deserves special attention. It has an impressive growth and a beautiful habit. The crown is regular and very lush, although it was subsequently formed because the original branches were cut, and new ones were formed at their intersections, the mulberries are dark red in color, which gives this white mulberry tree a special characteristic.
Mulberry as a type of tree is closely related to the history of rural agriculture both in Vojvodina and in the wider Pannonian Plain. Raised as a basis for the improvement of silk production - the leaves are the only food for silkworm caterpillars, but also for some other branches of crafts (painting, dyeing, etc.), rows of mulberry trees in village yards and ataris were a basic and specific feature of the Vojvodina plain in the last century. . Today, they are mostly cut down in the fight against bagpiper ( harmful insect, dudovac ), because of the quality of the wood or because they have dried out due to old age. Only a small number of still-preserved specimens of old mulberry trees testify to their existence in the past of Vojvodina settlements. Mulberry wood is similar to acacia, very resistant and easy to iron. It can be used in carpentry, wheelwrighting and the wood industry, especially for making barrels. As it has a well-developed root, it is suitable for binding mobile soils (landslides) as well as for agricultural protection belts. The fruit is eaten and sometimes used to make alcoholic drinks (mulberry brandy).
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