FOA'EST TREES. 



197 



The green unseasoned Basswood burns badly, and when quite dry- 

 too rapidly to be profitable for fuel ; but if it has its bad qualities, it has 

 far more valuable ones to balance them. The inner bark of the tree 

 abounds in bast cells and the fibrous bark is used for mats, the Indians 

 braid it into flexible ropes for various purposes ; they iise the inner bark 

 largely in their simple basket work, and have great faith in the healing 

 qualities of the leaves and bark — in scrofulous swellings and other 

 ulcers. The cattle eat the shoots and tender branches, in the early 

 Spring time, when green fodder is not accessible ; and later the large 

 tender green leaves in the forest and sprouts thrown up at the root of 

 the stump, form a favourite repast. In remote, newly cleared forest 

 lands, before grass and straw can be raised for the support of the oxen 

 and cows, the beasts live chiefly on freshly cut branches of the Maple 

 and Basswood, or " browse " as the settlers term such food for the cattle. 



The average height of a full grown x\merican Basswood is from 100 

 to 120 feet, with an average height from the root to the first limbs of 

 60 to 70 feet, and a diameter of 25 to 40 inches or more. 



The Basswood is found all over the Province of Ontario ; west- 

 ward, and eastward through Quebec. Its range extends to the Lake of 

 the Woods, and it is found more dwarfed in stature, as far northward as 

 Lake Winnipeg, and Norway House. It also occurs in the Valley of 

 the Assinaboine, as ascertained by the botanical researches of Professor 

 Macoun, and from information I have received from friends resident in 

 Manitoba and the North-west. 



White- Wood. — Tulip Tree. — Liriodendrou Tiilipifera, (L.) 



The Tulip-tree opened in airs of June, her multitude 



Of golden chilices, to harmony of birds, 



And silken winged insects, of the sky. — Bryant. 



The Tulip-tree is only found west of Toronto — not beirg found 

 anywhere eastward in the Province. It is a noble tree, attaining to 

 upwards of 100 feet, often 70 feet to the first branches, and 36 inches 

 in diameter or even larger. The wood is easily wrought and used for 

 many purposes in cabinet and house carpentry. In the vicinity of the 

 Great Lakes this beautiful tree is chiefly to be found. There is a fine 

 specimen of the Tulip-tree growing at Waltham Abbey, in England, 

 supposed to be of great age. It forms one of the rarities of that place. 



The Tulip-tree is so little known by the generality of readers, that 

 I shall give the botanical description, as it may prove both interesting 

 and instructive. 



Sepals, 3 reflexed ; Petals, 6 in two rows forming a bell-shaped 

 corolla ; anthers, linear, opening outwards : pistils, flat and scale-form,. 



