the Osage Orange, ^'c. 83 



The Osage orange is a beautiful tree; its leaves bear striking 

 resemblance to those of the orange tree, and the wood, like that 

 of the orange, is armed with long sharp spines. At Philadelphia 

 it is asserted that it makes the finest, the strongest, and most 

 beautiful hedge in the world, being set out in a single row, at the 

 distance of twelve or fifteen inches asunder. 



As to the timber, my authorities are, the Hon. Mr. Sevier, 

 late member of Congress from Arkansas, and Mr. Flint, who 

 wrote the account of the Western States, who assert that the 

 wood is remarkably tough, strong and elastic, and is preferred 

 by the Indians to all other wood for bows, and hence its name of 

 boiD ivood. The timber admits a fine polish, and is useful as 

 such to the cabinet maker. For timber, they assert it is one of 

 the strongest and most durable in the world, and is preferred, in 

 the construction of steam-boats, even to live oak. 



Observing the remarkably hard texture of the three-thorned 

 acacia, I had suggested that this wood promised to become a 

 most valuable timber tree, like some others of the same tribe; 

 but this suggestion was contradicted in some of our eastern jour- 

 nals, where it was asserted that the timber was worthless. But 

 Mr. Flint has assured us, in his work on the western country, 

 that the three-thorned acacia is one of the strongest and best of 

 all the varieties of timber, and is much used in the construction 

 of steam-boats on the western waters. 



It is truly said by artificers in wood, that for many purposes a 

 pound of wood is stronger than a pound of iron. In regard to 

 strength^ the oak, the shagbark, and the ash are among the most 

 valuable known with us, in our climate, and are applied to an in- 

 finite variety of uses. The ash, though less durable than the 

 oak, is light and strong, elastic, and works very smooth, and is 

 therefore very superior to oak for a variety of uses; for the shafts 

 and springs of riding carriages particularly. There may be, 

 however, some kinds of wood even superior to the ash for all 

 these purposes. I have observed, for this last purpose, that the 

 lance wood has lately been used, a tree which grows in the West 

 Indies, and is far superior, stronger, more firm and elastic, inas- 

 much as the shafts and springs of chaises formed from this mate- 

 rial required but half the volume or thickness as ash; iron or 

 steel could not for these purposes supply its place. I know that 

 the wood of tropical countries is more solid and compact gene- 

 rally than ours, but I hope some kinds may be found in our own 

 extensive country equally as good and far superior to our native 

 timber, and adapted to our climate. 



Respectfully, your friend, 



William Kenrick. 



JVonantum Hill, JS^ewton, Jan. 1837. 



