XL. 2. THE TULIP TREE. 531 



white, soft, smooth, fine-grained, and is very easily wrought, 

 and bent to any required shape. It comes into Massachusetts 

 from New York, usually in square cornered boards 3 feet wide 

 and 12 feet long. 



Considerable numbers of this tree are found in several towns 

 on Westfield River, particularly in Russell. It is also found 

 native, very rarely, in the eastern part of the State. 



The tulip tree is found abundantly in Canada West, and 

 the Western States, where it sometimes reaches the height of 

 120 or 140 feet with a diameter of 5 or 6. In New England, 

 and along the Atlantic coast to Florida, it does not reach these 

 ample dimensions, but is still a very noble tree. Michaux 

 thinks that, next to the buttonwood, it attains, in favorable sit- 

 uations, in a deep, cool, moist soil, the largest size of any tree in 

 the United States. 



The tulip tree is readily propagated by seeds, which require 

 a fine, soft mould, and a cool and shady situation. If sown in 

 autumn, they come up the succeeding spring, but if sown in 

 spring, they often remain a year in the ground. Varieties are 

 propagated by layers or by budding or grafting. This tree, like 

 the magnolias, has few fibres on its roots, and is, therefore, not 

 readily transplanted. 



