1360 



Rural School Leaflet 



mercial importance in the State on account of its limited distribution 

 and its small size. The seeds furnish a valuable food for birds, while 

 the wood, the bark, and the roots, yield an aromatic oil extensively used 

 to flavor medicine and candy and to perfume soaps. The wood is also 

 used for posts, rails, furniture, interior finishing, and making barrels 

 and casks. The sassafras tree grows rapidl}' and thrives on a rich sandy 



loam. In autumn when the 

 leaves turn yellow and red, it 

 is a picturesque tree. 



SHADBUSH 



The shadbush is a small 

 tree from ten to twenty-five 

 feet in height, with a diameter 

 of from two to twelve inches, 

 and is often found in open 

 situations and in moist soils. 

 It is often called service berry 

 and June berr^^ In the early 

 spring the shadbush is very 

 attractive because of the 

 beautiful white flowers that 

 appear before the leaves, and 

 it is ver}^ common in the un- 

 derstory of hardwood forests. 

 The wood is heavy and hard, 

 and checks and warps easily. 

 The close-grained wood takes 



polish readily, and for this 



Branch of witch-hazelin blossom •. • ■, • 1 r 



reason it is used mamly for 



turned articles. Because of its small size and little value commercially, 



the shadbush is used chiefly for ornamental purposes. 



SYCAMORE 



The sycamore, or buttonwood, can readily be distinguished in summer 

 by its massive form and by the whitish, yellowish, or greenish bark of the 

 upper branches, which at times are covered with large, thin, dark brown 

 scales of outer bark. The shedding of the bark makes the tree easy to 

 identify, since the process is more noticeable than in an}- other species. 

 The sycamore may also be distinguished by the fruit, which is borne 

 singly in browil heads about one inch in diameter, suspended from a 

 slender stalk. The fruit matures in October but often persists far into 



