THE FOEEST. 379 



The box elder, lioiiey maple, or asli-leaved maple (Keguudo aceroides), grows 

 sparingly in the south half of the lower peninsula along streams. It does not 

 generally make a straight, nice tree in our State, but farther south and Avest of 

 us it thrives better, and is sometimes recommended for cultivation for timber. 



The red bud or Judas tree (Cercis Canadensis) attains the diameter of six or 

 eight inches in the south tier of counties in rich soil. Where hard}', it is wor- 

 thy of cultivation, on account of its red purple flowers, which a2)pear quite early 

 in spring before the leaves. 



The Kentucky coffee tree is not well known by the mass of the people. It is 

 remarkable for its few thick, stumpy limbs and large compound leaves. The 

 bark is quite rough. Tjie tr^e sometimes bears large, thick, heavy pods an inch 

 and a half v/ide by four inches in lengtli, containing several hard beans the size 

 of lima beans. 



It grows in the south part of the State to Ionia, and sometimes attains a diam- 

 eter of eighteen inches. Tlie wood is rose colored, showing the grain well. 



The honey locust is still more limited in its growth. It is found in rich Avoods 

 in the south tier of counties, especially along the rivers Eaisin and Kalamazoo. 

 The pods are often eight inches long, an inch wide, and quite thin. The tree- 

 usually bears brandling thorns, but sometimes no thorns are produced. It is 

 valuable for hedges. 



Two species of mountain ash grow in the north part of the State, some- 

 times attaining a diameter of eight inches or more. 



The j^epperidge, known also as sour gum tree, tuj^elo, grows about the mar- 

 gins of swamps in the south jiart of tlie State. The wood is usually very diffi- 

 cult to split, but some of it splits easily. The limbs stand out horizontally in a- 

 peculiar manner, some like those of tlie beech. The leaves turn bright crimson 

 in autumn. Tlie tree liecomes twenty inches or more in diameter, and is worthy 

 of use as an ornamental tree. 



There are two elders scattered all over the State, one bearing a flat cluster of 

 black berries, the other a conical cluster of red berries. 



Tlie largest sjiccimen of elder conies from Grand Traverse, and is about five 

 inches in diameter. 



The red ash and green ash are both doubtful species. They are rather rare,, 

 small trees, found along streams. Tliey resemble vdiite ash too closely. 



Sassafras is well known, usually as a shrub, but I hear of it over two feet 

 through in the south and in the southwest part of the State in quite a number 

 of places, and in one case in Allegan county four feet four inches in diameter. 



The moosewood or leatherwood has the softest wood and the toughest bark of 

 any Avoody plant in the State. It sometimes attains a diameter of two and a^ 

 half inches. 



The Sliepherdia is one of the rarest shrubs in the State, groAving along the 

 margins of lakes on graA'elly banks. It bears insipid yellowish red berries the 

 size of currants. The leaves are coA^ered Avith rusty scales, especially on the 

 under side. 



The hackberry, sugarberiy, nettle tree is sparingly found as far north as Mid- 

 land, and perhaps considerable farther, tAvo feet or more in diameter. I have 

 met but few people who knew the correct name for it. In three counties I hear 

 it called shittim wood. I liaA'e often been asked about it. It has rough bark, 

 Avliich turns over in thin rolls. The tree looks some like its cousins, the elms, 

 having its simple leaves in two roM's along opposite sides of the stem the same as. 



