260 



INDUSTRIAL PLANTS- 



Sassafras (Fig. 160) though neither hard, strong, nor es- 

 pecially pleasing, is exceptionally durable and comparatively 

 light. Hence it is valued in cooperage, for skiffs, and for 

 fencing. Chests made of the wood are said to be somewhat 

 proof against insects on account of the peculiar odor which 

 is supposed' to be repellent to them. 



Fig. 246. — Black Walnut {Jwjlans nigra, V\ ahiut Family, J uglandacece) . 



Leaf, 3. Staminate flower-cluster. Fruit. Nut with husk removed. 



(Britton and Brown.) — Tree growing 45 m. tall; bark rough, brown; 



leaves downy at least beneath; flowers greenish; fruit brown. Native 



home, Eastern North America. 

 Fig. 247. — Wild Black Cherry (Prunns serotina. Rose Family, Rosacece). 



Flowering branch, j. Fruit-clu.ster. (Britton and Brown.) — Tree 



growing about 30 m. tall; bark rough and black; leaves smooth above; 



flowers white; fruit dark purple or black. Native home, Eastern 



North America. 



Hickory (Fig. 30) is one of the very toughest and strongest 

 of our woods, and has the advantage of being straight- 

 grained. Its liability to decay or to be attacked by insects 

 when buried or exposed makes it unsuitable for many pur- 

 poses, but does not prevent its being an invaluable wood 

 for carriage and wagon stock, for parts of implements and 

 machinery, for tool-handles and timber-pins, and in harness 

 work and cooperage. Several species are used. 



Walnut, especially black walnut (Fig. 246) has long been a 

 favorite ornamental wood jiarticularly well adapted for join- 



