DENDROLOGY. 129 



It seldom arrives to more than 35 or 40 feet in height and 12 

 or 15 inches in diameter, and commonly not exceeding half these 

 dimensions. In the winter this tree is recognized by a smooth, 

 grayish bark, finely divided, and detached in strips not more 

 than a line in breadth. The leaves are alternate, oval-acuminate, 

 and finely and unequally denticulated. The fertile and barren 

 flowers are borne at the extremity of different branches of the 

 same tree, and the fruit is in clusters like hops. The small, 

 hard, triangular seed is contained in a species of reddish, oval, 

 inflated bladder, covered at the age of maturity with a fine down, 

 which causes a violent irritation of the skin if carelessly handled. 

 The wood is perfectly white, compact, fine-grained and heavy. 

 The concentric circles are closely compressed, and their number 

 in a trunk of only four or five inches in diameter evinces the 

 length of time necessary to acquire this inconsiderable size. To 

 its inferior dimensions must be ascribed the limited use of the 

 tree, the superior properties of whose wood are attested by its 

 name. In New England the iron wood is used for levers, 

 brooms and scrubbing brushes. Though its uses are unimportant, 

 they might probably be more diversified ; it is Veil adapted for 

 mill cogs, mallets, etc. 



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