82 Trees, Stars, and Birds 



the eastern part of the United States, even when they 

 grow in the forest, produce so clean a trunk as the tulip 

 tree. 



Names and uses of the wood. Tulip trees are still 

 an important source of lumber, which is sold under the 

 name of " yellow poplar," although the tree is quite 

 different from a poplar. Like basswood, the wood of 

 the tulip tree is often called " whitewood," but neither 

 of them is as white as holly or spruce. Tulip wood is 

 light, soft, and easily worked, nails well, and does not 

 split or warp readily ; hence it is used for interior finish, 

 boat building, carriage bodies, pumps, woodenware, 

 shelves, the bottoms of drawers, and many other pur- 

 poses. The Indians used the trunks of these trees 

 to make canoes or dugouts, for they are large, long, 

 straight, and much easier than most trees to hollow out 

 with stone tools and fire. Paint adheres to the wood 

 of the tulip tree much better than to hard pine or some 

 other kinds of lumber, and " poplar " boards are a favor- 

 ite material for siding houses. 



The tulip tree as a shade tree. The tall, straight 

 trunk, light green foliage, and showy blossoms of the 

 tulip tree entitle it to distinction among ornamental 

 trees. It should be planted more generally, as it has 

 few insect enemies, grows well in moist, well-drained, 

 deep loam, and is very handsome even when not in 

 blossom. It endures smoke but needs plenty of light, 

 and it does not stand severe pruning. It cannot be 

 transplanted successfully in the fall, for its roots "are 

 very tender and should have a chance to grow imme- 

 diately after the tree is transplanted. 



