380 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



elms. The tree bears small sweet berries the size of peas. The wood is of little 

 value except for firewood. 



The red mulberry is a rare tree, never growing in groves or clusters that I 

 have heard of in our State. It has milky juice, attains a diameter of nearly 

 two feet. Tlie wood is yellowish and pretty. It grows in rich woods in the 

 southern part of the State. 



The western shell bark hickory (Carija sulcata) is the one bearing very large 

 nuts with thick shells of a dull yellowish color. It thrives only in the southeast 

 part of the State, so far as I can learn. 



The chestnut is confined to the highest land in the southeast part of the State 

 in limited quantity, in Oakland, Washtenaw, "Wayne, Monroe and St. Clair 

 counties. It grows well when planted on the sandy land at the Agricultural 

 College, one of the coldest portions of our State. 



The white birch (Betula alba) is found north of the central part of the sonth- 

 ■ern peninsula. The leaves are small, triangular ; the bark is white, not peeling 

 into rolls very freely. 



The paper or canoe birch (Betula impyracea) also has a white outer bark, 

 -whicli peels freely in thick or thin layers from around the tree. The leaves are 

 larger. It is often confounded with Betula alba, both going by the name of 

 white birch. 



The balsam poplar grows in the southern peninsula, but scattering, sometimes 

 attainino- a diameter of two or even four feet. 



The gray or scrub pine (Pinus Bankdana) grows from south of Lake Michi- 

 gan along the western part of the State to the northern part. It also grows 

 ^loug the eastern side, especially to the north, and occasionally on poor land 

 north of the central part. 



The yellow pine (Pinus mitis) I hear of at Ludington and Elk Ilapids. It 

 ■doubtless occurs in other portions of the State. 



White spruce is quite rare. Our fine sample comes from Ludington. It 

 _grows in swamps at the north. 



Black spruce grows common in swamps at the north, but disappears a little 

 south of Lansing. 



Balsam fir is found with sj)ruce and arbor vitae sparingly, but does not get as 

 far south as these trees. It is a most beautiful tree while young, but when 

 twenty or more years old it begins to grow slowly, lose its lower limbs and look 

 forlorn. 



White cedar or C}qire33 ( Oiq^ressus tliyoides). I have looked and inquired in 

 vain for this beautiful tree, but can get no trace of it in Michigan. 



Arbor vitse is very common in the swamps at the north, and is usually known 

 as white cedar. It makes our telegraph poles and many fence posts. I think 

 it is over rated as an ornamental tree, especially on thm sandy land. It is a good 

 tree to trim into ornamental hedges. 



Ked cedar is found in quite limited quantity along streams and about lakes, 

 Iiere and there all over the State, at least in the southern peninsula. The best 

 trees are nearly all gone. Its timber is a great favorite for pails and tubs and 

 other purposes on account of its color, odor and durability. It grows quite fast 

 with good culture, and even with its brown color in winter is a good tree to plant 

 for ornament. 



Among the 



