LAUREL. 



(Magnolia, Rhododendron, Arbutus, etc.) 



The name Laurel applies locally or botanically to a number 

 of American plants, several of which attain to the dignity of 



trees. 



The Big Laurel or Magnolia (M. grandiflord) is an orna- 

 mental tree of the highest rank, extensively planted in parks 

 and gardens of American cities as far north as Washington, 

 and also grown in Europe. The wood is suitable for interior 

 finish and is also used for fuel. The California Laurel (Umbel- 

 lularia californica) and the Madrona or Madrona Laurel 

 (Arbutus menziesii) are Pacific coast species of beautiful 

 appearance, the strong, heavy, hard woods of which are of 

 economic importance. Professor Sargent considers * that the 

 former is the most valuable interior -or cabinet wood produced 

 by the forests of the Pacific coast. The wood of the Madrona 

 has little or no place in construction, but its charcoal is used 

 in the manufacture of gunpowder. The wood of the Great 

 Laurel or Rose Bay (Rhododendron maximum} has been used 

 as boxwood. The gnarled roots of the Mountain Laurel or 

 calico bush (Kalmia latifolia] are used for rustic hanging- 

 baskets, seats, and the like. 



All of the kinds here noted have evergreen foliage. 

 * Page 69, "Catalogue Jesup Collection," Sargent. 



California end Florida are particularly rich in tropical and semi-tropical trees 

 transplanted from many parts of the world. Most of them are landscape exhibits 

 or experiments, rather than commercial successes or necessities, but some are speci- 

 ally noticeable. ("Olive," see footnote page 34, "Pepper," footnote page 115, 

 "Orange," footnote page 34, "Camphor," footnote page 99, etc.) 



Rubber Trees. Commercial rubber is afforded by trees of several genera as 

 Ficus, Hevea, and Castilla. The Assam rubber tree (F. elastica), a native of trop- 

 ical Asia, is particularly valued for rubber. This species, as well as F. macro- 

 phylla, F. rubiginosa, F. glomerata and others, grows in Florida anJ California, 

 where they are all valued only in landscape effects. Some American specimens 

 are fifty or more feet in height. Small rubber plants are used in house decora- 

 tion. Para rubber is afforded by H. braziliensis and related species, Mexican 

 rubber by Castilla alba and related species. Rubber is secreted only under favor- 

 able conditions. Also see Cook, U. S. Bureau Plant Industry, Bulletin 49, "India 

 Rubber World," etc., etc. 



