280 FIRST BOOK OF FORESTRY 



2. BALSAM POPLAR (Populus bahamifera) (balm of Gilead) : Medium- 



to large-sized tree. Common all along the northern boundary of 

 the United States. 



3. BLACK COTTONWOOD (Populus trichocarpa) : The largest deciduous 



tree of Washington ; very common. Northern Rocky Mountains 

 and Pacific region. 



4. COTTONWOOD (Populus fremontii var. wislizeni) : Medium- to large- 



sized tree, common. Texas to California. 



5. POPLAR (Populus grandidentata) (large-toothed aspen): Medium- 



sized tree, chiefly used for pulp. Maine to Minnesota and south- 

 ward along the Alleghenies. 



6. ASPEN (Populus tremuloides) : Small- to medium-sized tree, often form- 



ing extensive forests and covering burned areas. Maine to Washing- 

 ton, south in the western mountains to California and New Mexico. 



RED GUM. (See GUM.) 



SASSAFRAS. 



SASSAFRAS (Sassafras sassafras) : Wood light, soft, not strong, brittle, 

 of coarse texture, durable; sapwood yellow, heart orange brown. 

 Used in cooperage, for skiffs, fencing, etc. Mediu in -sized tree, 

 largest in the lower Mississippi valley. From New England to 

 Texas and from Michigan to Florida. 



SOUR GUM. (See GUM.) 

 SWEET GUM. (See GUM.) 

 SYCAMORE. 



1. SYCAMORE (Platanus occid entails') (buttonwood, buttonball tree, water 



beech) : Wood moderately heavy, quite hard, stiff, strong, tough, 

 usually crossgrained, of coarse texture, and white to light brown 

 color; the wood is hard to split and work, shrinks moderately, 

 warps and checks considerably, but stands well. Used extensively 

 for drawers, backs, bottoms, etc., in cabinetwork, for tobacco boxes, 

 in cooperage, and also for finishing lumber, for which it has too 

 long been underrated. A large tree, of rapid growth. Common 

 and largest in Jie Ohio and Mississippi valleys, at home in nearly 

 all parts of the eastern United States. (The California species). 



2. Platanus racemosa, resembles in its wood the eastern form. 



