THE FOREST. 381 



MOST COMMOX TREES 



of the State stand tlie beech and sugar maple. They are all over the southern 

 peninsula on what is known as timbered land. They are well known everywhere 

 by the same common names for their valuable fire wood. Red beech grows 

 among other trees and has much heart wood ; white beech is the same kind of 

 tree grown in more exposed places. There is a similar difference in our species 

 of hickory and American elm. Beech and maple are very perishable when 

 exposed to the changes of the weather. 



The sugar maple grows on good land. It is used for wagon axletrees, shoe- 

 lasts, shoe-pegs, ox-yokes, some parts of chairs, for boards and timber not 

 exposed to weather. Sugar is made of the sap. Much of the sugar maple in 

 the north part of the State is curly or birds-eye. It is very nice for furniture 

 and for finishing buildings and railway coaches, especially when used as a veneer. 

 It is a prominent and favorite shade tree. 



The white oak is another very valuable tree, found in great abundance in most 

 parts of the southern peninsula. It disappears as we go north among the forests 

 of pine. It is one of our most valuable trees for a great many purposes ; for 

 floors, doors and furniture, especially when cut to show the silver grain or med- 

 ullary rays. It is much used for rails, posts, railroad ties, bridges, planks and 

 hewn timbers, piles, ship building and many other uses. Some of it is very 

 tousrh, and valuable on this account. 



White ash is also widely distributed, prominent and well known all over the 

 State, except limited localities. It stands without a rival for farm implements, 

 for cabinet ware, oars, for floors, for finishing off churches and dwelling houses. 

 It is remarkable for its elasticity, strength and beauty. It grows rapidly to a 

 large tree. 



Black walnut is still quite abundant in some parts of the State. It disappears 

 as Ave go north into the pine timber. Its great value is well known to all for 

 furniture, finishing houses inside. The price has rapidly increased within a few 

 years. The fashion for walnut has not abated. 



Black cherry, the timber of which is red, is found with black walnut and 

 farther north. It is not very abundant nor so large as the walnut, oak or white 

 ash. It is not so much used for furniture and finishing churches as formerly. 

 Much school furniture is made of cherry. Perhaps one reason why it is not so 

 fashionable as formerly is that it can be so easily imitated by stainmg white j^ine, 

 which is very common and more easily worked. It is much like Mahogany. 



Vast forests of nice white pine give Michigan the highest rank as a lumbering 

 State. This is either scattered with other timber north of a line running 

 through Lansing, or in some places it forms large tracts as almost the only tim- 

 ber. The uses of pine are almost endless. It is a general favorite. 



Rock or white elm is a very valuable timber on account of its toughness. It 

 is found in the same country with pine and farther south. Large, straight, 

 beautiful trees are found, some of which will make good axe-helves, wagon 

 spokes, fills, farm implements, and it is fit to use in any place where strength 

 and toughness are required. 



Shag bark hickory and one or two others which rank as species are very valua- 

 ble for wagon-makers, esj^ecially the second growth, or those trees which grow 

 in exposed places. It is widely distributed, but seldom makes a very large tree. 



Black ash is gaining favor. Some of it is considered equal or superior to 



