FOBEST TREES. 285 



chiefly used by the Indians for basket making. A tree 

 is cut down, and after having been macerated in water it is 

 beaten with the poll of an axe until the wood peels off in 

 narrow ribbons, which the Indians dye and weave into 

 baskets. Ash trees of both kinds indicate a poor soil. 



Ulmaceee. 



The white elm (Ulmus Americana), a magnificent tree, 

 that grows in rich intervale lands, generally near the banks 

 of rivers or creeks. 



The rock elm (Ulmus racemosa) grows chiefly in 

 Canada West, in the same sort of land as the foregoing. 

 Both these elms are very valuable wood. 



Tiliacese. 



Basswood (Tilia Americana}. A very soft wood, some- 

 thing like our sycamore ; useful for turning and carving ; 

 also used in furniture and machinery. 



Salicacese. 



The American poplar, aspen, or popple (Populus tre- 

 muloides). This tree is commonly found occupying the 

 place of the old pine forests that have been destroyed by 

 fire. It is a very soft wood, of not much value. The 

 lalm-of-Gilead is a variety of the above. The seed 

 coverings of this tree are a sort of down or cotton, which 

 falls in the summer like snow. 



Juglandaeess. (Not found in the northern forests.) 



The black walnut (Juglans nigra) grows only in Canada 

 West. A very valuable wood, used chiefly by furniture 



