128 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



survive the bli^htinc: influence of neglect. To keep our hearts warm and open to the 

 refreshing Influences of Nature amid the cares and labors of life is one of the most 

 desirable of human attainments. 



To secure this condition our children should be encouraged to observe the different 

 kinds of objects around them, especially to study plants and trees, to collect speci- 

 mens of them in different stages and compare them with each other, so as to become 

 acquainted with their distinctive characters. 



For farmers and farmer's sons, it would seem that this information would be almost 

 indispensable, and no institute for Agricultural Education should graduate any student 

 without a good, practical acquaintance with the prominent vegetation of the country 

 in which he lives; with the different varieties of grasses growing in his fields, their 

 habits and peculiarities ; and also with the shrubs and trees which he will meet with, 

 in the every day business of life. 



It is surprising to notice the very general ignorance which prevails with respect to 

 the great variety of our native forest trees. 



Perhaps no state in the Union is more favored in this respect than our own. True, 

 we have extensive prairies entirely destitute of trees, but they are intersected with 

 rivers and streams, which are bordered with a fine growth of trees ; then we have in 

 different parts of the State a great diversity of soil, surface and climate, with a corres- 

 ponding diversity of productions ; often presenting extensive forests of valuable trees 

 for building material and for use in the mechanical arts. 



In order to impress this subject more permanently, and to elicit information, I here 

 present a list of the principal forest trees of this State, and will occupy your attention 

 with some remarks concerning them. 



( Magnolia acuminata Cucumber tree. 



( Liriodendron tulipifera Tulip tree. 



Asimina triloba Papaw. 



Tilia Americana Linden. Bass wood. 



Aesculens glabra Buckeye. 



Acer Sacchariuum Sugar Maple. 



Acer dasycarpum White or Soft Maple. 



Acer rubrum Red or Swamp Maple. 



Negundo aceroides Ash-leaved Maple. 



Black Maple is a variety of Sugar Maple. 



Robinia pseudacacia Black Locust. On Ohio river. 



Cercis canadensis Red bud. 



Gymnocladus canadensis Coffee tree. , 



Gleditschia triacanthus Honey Locust. 



Gleditschia monospenna .... Water Locust. Southern. 



| Primus Americana Wild Plum. 



Primus chicasa Chickasaw Plum. 



Primus Pennsylvauica Wild Red Cherry — only in the North . 



Primus serotina Wild Black Cherry. 



Cratcgus coccinnea Scarlet fruited Thorn. 



Crategus tomentosa Black or Pear Thorn. 



Crategus crusagalli.. Cockspur Thorn. 



Pyrus coronaria American Crab. 



^Pyrus augustifolia Narrow-leaved Crab — Washington County. 



Liqnidambar Sweet (him: 



j Cornus tiorida Dogwood. 



( Nyssa multiflora Black Gum. 



Diospyros Virginiana Persimmon. 



Bumelia lycioides Southern Blackthorn. 



Bumelia languinosa Southern Buckthorn. 



Catalpa bignonioides Catalpa. 



