206 WISCONSIN AGEICULTUEE. 



stock through the long winter months. Great numbers of fine 

 large trees were cut down for no other purpose than to afford 

 a bite for the cows and oxen. The tender branches and the mu- 

 cilaginous buds are excellent for this purpose. It is said that 

 in some countries the leaves are annually gathered for fodder, 

 as regularly as we make hay for the same purposes. 



There are other g 'nera and quite a number of species belong- 

 ing to this famil}^, but Tilia is the only genus found in our cli- 

 mate and latitude ; all the others belong to the more southern 

 climes. There are four species of Basswood in the United States, 

 one of which {T. heteropliylla^ Vent.) is found growing naturally 

 in the rich bottom lands in the Ohio river valley. This species, 

 with the leaves white and downy beneath, is larger and more 

 ornamental than the common Basswood, and should be intro- 

 duced among our ornamental trees. As it grows so near us it 

 would doubtless do very well in Wisconsin. 



Order II. Sapindace.«.— The Sopeberry Family. 



Under this Family botanists now arrange the Maples (Acer- 

 ineae), as a section or sub-order. 



2. Acer Pennsylvanicum^ of Linnoeus. — Striped Maple. 



The Striped Maple is so called on account of the dark stripes 

 or lines on the bright green bark. 



The racemes of flowers are drooping, and loose. In other res- 

 pects, this small and slender tree resembles the Mountain Maple. 

 It is found in the vicinity of Lake Superior, and Avill undoubt- 

 edly be detected within our State, when the natural productions 

 of the interior and northern counties come to be examined. 

 This tree is often called Moose- wood — the young branches being 

 eaten (in winter especially,) by the Moose. It would make a 

 most beautiful ornament in any of our yards and gardens. 



8. Acer Spicaium, of Lamarck. — Mountain Ifaple. 



The Mountain Maple, is so small as hardly to deserve the 

 name of a tree. It grows about wet, springy places on hill sides, 



