98 CONVERSATIONS ON THE 



of the Southern States. — It is very common 

 all over the country, except in the mountain- 

 ous districts ; and it is as useful as it is com- 

 mon. The leaves are four or five inches long, 

 and of different shapes on the same tree ; 

 some you will find oval, with plain even 

 edges ; some divided into three parts by 

 deep notches in the edges ; and some with 

 only one notch. The flowers are greenish 

 yellow, small, and grow in little clusters. 

 The fruit or seed is a small oval berry of a 

 deep blue, contained in a bright red cup ; the 

 birds are very fond of them, and they soon 

 strip the trees. The bark of the young 

 branches is of a beautiful green, but that of 

 the trunk is gray and full of deep cracks. 

 The wood is not at all strong, and is of a 

 reddish colour ; but -it rots very slowly and 

 is not attacked by worms, and for that reason 

 makes very good posts and rails for fences ; 

 and it is said that bugs are never found in 

 bedsteads made of it. But it is as a medi- 

 cine that the sassafras is most prized ; you 

 know what a pleasant smell it has, and I 

 dare say you have tasted the bark ; oil is 

 made from the bark of the roots, and from 

 the flowers a tea is made which is thought 



