218 



NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. 



Part I. 



THE CEDARS. 



HOOP ASH. 



SHADE TREES. 



mon upnn our lills and momitains, and 

 by transijlaiitinn- )S i'nnnd to tiuu'e v/ell 

 in all parts of the slate. It seld'Tn ex- 

 ceedji 2i) feet in height, or 4 or 5 inches 

 in diameter. It is generally known by 

 the name of Mountain Jlsk, but is not un- 

 frequently called .Monsemissa. No use is 

 made of the wood, bat the bark affords an 

 agreeable bitter, and is considerably used 

 as a tonic. But this tree is oiiiefly valued 

 as an ornamental shade tree, and its beau- 

 tiful white blossoms, its pinnated globrous 

 leaves, and bunches of red berries, which 

 remain upon the tree during the winter, 

 make it much admired for tliat purpose. 



WHITE CEDAR, or ARBOR VITAE. 

 Thuija occidentalis. 

 This tree is found growing only in 

 swamps, and along the rocky banks of 

 streams and ponds, and is universally 

 known in Vermont by the name of While 

 Cedar. It was originally very abundant 

 in the northern and western jiarts of the 

 state, and is still found in many places in 

 considerable quantities. The wood of this 

 tree is nearly white, with a slight tinge 

 of red. It is very light, soft, fine-grained 

 and somewhat odorous. For durability 

 it ranks next, among our forest trees, to 

 N the red cedar, and is extensively used for 

 posts and rails for fences. 



RED CEDAR.* 



Juniperus Vlrginiana. 



Red Cedar formerly existed in some 

 quantities along the banks and islands of 

 lake Champlain, but on account of the ea- 

 gerness with which it has been sought 

 for posts and other purposes, it has now 

 become exceedingly scarce. Trees v/ere 

 formerly found .30 or 40 feet in height and 

 10 or 12 inches in diameter, but few now 

 remain which are more than 10 or 12 feet 



* Our out W.1S made from a young villous branch, 

 chich differs materially from that of the old tree. 



high, and their growth is so very slow 

 Ui.it there seem.? to be-litlie prospect of a 

 supply by reproduction. 



The perfect wood of this tree is of a 

 bright reddish tint and hence it is called 

 Rui cedar. Tile wood is compact, tine 

 grained and very liglit, though heavier 

 and stronger tlian tiie White cedar. It 

 contains an essential oil, which exhales 

 considerable odor, and which serves as 

 a protection both against insects and mois- 

 ture. The recent clilps and splinters of 

 this wood are often placed in drawers 

 with woollen cloths and beneath carpets, 

 and they are found to be a very sure pro- 

 tection against moths. The wood is also 

 much used In making black lead pencils. 

 But the quality which renders the Red ce- 

 dar most valuable is its durability; and 

 f )r this it excels every other wood found 

 in the state. Tiiere are red cedar posts 

 which have been standing in the common 

 fences in Burlington and other places for 

 50 years, and which are now, excepting 

 the mere surface, as sound as when set. 

 These are eagerly sought out and prefer- 

 red to new posts of any otiier kind, for 

 fences, where great durability is desired. 



HOOP ASH, OR HACKBERRY. 



Ccllis occidentalis. 

 This tree is found very sparingly in 

 Vermont. In favorable situations, at 

 the south and southwest, it grows to 

 the height of 70 or iSO feet, and with 

 the dlsproportional diameter of not more 

 than 18 or 20 inches. Tlie wood is neith- 

 er strong nor durable, but where plenti- 

 ful, as It is easily split, it is much em- 

 ployed for the rails of rural fences. 



For some notice of the Northern Cork 

 Elm, Uliivus rccceriiosa, and the Poplars, 

 see page 174. 



Shade Trees. There are few if any of 

 the forest trees which we have described, 

 which are not more or less employed for 

 shade, or ornament, about our yards and 

 dwellings ; but there are some which 

 seem to be much more suitable than oth- 

 ers for this purpose. Among these are 

 the sugar maple, the elm, and the moose- 

 missa, or mountain ash. To the growth 

 of these, the soil and climate of most parts 

 of the state are well suited, and they are 

 all transplanted without difficulty. The 

 larch too makes a beautiful shade tree, 

 and so do several of our evergreens ; but 

 their transplanting is attended with much 

 more difficulty. The best time for trans- 

 planting trees generally is believed to be 



