TRUE WOODS 259 
in heavy construction, and handsome enough to be substi- 
tuted for oak not a little in cabinet work and interior finish. 
Elm (Figs. 236, 244) has a beauty of grain, especially on 
the tangential section, which is just beginning to be appre- 
ciated by joiners, though on account of its exceeding tough- 
ness and non-liability to split the wood has long been highly 
prized by car-, wagon-, and ship-builders, harness-makers, 
coopers, and turners. It is unexcelled for hubs. 
Fic. 244.—American Elm (Ulmus americana, Elm Family, Ulmacee). 
Leafy branch, 3. Flower-cluster. Fruit-cluster. Single fruit. (Brit- 
ton and Brown.)—Tree growing 36 m. tall; bark gray, flaky; leaves 
slightly rough; flowers greenish; fruit yellowish brown. Native home, 
Eastern North America. 
Fic. 245.—White Ash (Fraxinus americana, Olive Family, Oleacee). Leaf, 
about 3. Fruit-cluster. Fruit. (Britton and Brown.)—Tree growing 
40 m. tall; bark gray, furrowed; Jeaves dark green above; flowers 
bronze-green; fruit buff. Native home, Eastern North America. 
Yellow locust (Fig. 182) closely resembles elm in its phys- 
ical properties and is much used for many of the same pur- 
poses. It makes the best treenails (for fastening together the 
beams of vessels) and in this form is largely exported. 
Ash (Figs. 237, 245) has a wide range of uses because it is 
at once hard, strong, stiff, tough, straight-grained, easily 
split, often beautifully figured, and susceptible of a good 
polish. It ranks among the most valued woods for interior 
finish, furniture, parts of implements, machines, harness, 
carriages, wagons, cars, and ships; and for staves, hoops, 
oars, tool-handles, clothes-pins, and various toys. 
