TREES OF AMERICA. 93 



not the cones, and the leaves are notched at 

 the edges, instead of being smooth: and so 

 they have been placed in a distinct class by 

 themselves." 



^•And do they grow about here. Uncle 

 Philip r 



" No, not unless they are planted ; but in 

 the Southern States they grow wild. The 

 loblolly bay is fifty or sixty feet high, and 

 from sixteen to twenty inches in thickness ; 

 the trunk is perfectly straight ; the wood is 

 rose-coloured, and very fine-grained, but it 

 lasts only a short time, and is therefore of 

 no use, not even for fuel. The bark, though, 

 is good for tanning, and, as the red oaks are 

 scarce in those parts of the country where 

 this tree is most common, the people use a 

 great deal of it in their tan-yards." 



" Oh, I am so glad, Uncle Philip ; I am glad 

 to find one of the beautiful trees useful for 

 something. Is it as handsome as the other 

 magnolias ?" 



" Very nearly : the leaves are ever-green, 

 smooth^ and shining on the upper side, and 

 whitish below : and the flowers are white and 

 very sweet-scented. The fruit is small, and 

 oval iR s/^ape.wJ^V?^^ i^lo five pey.ii_:wbidli. 



> > >' I ) > 



'?>::• 



