STUDIES OF TREES IN WINTER 



ing from the trunk all the way up. This ex- 

 current characteristic of the linden is especially 

 marked in young trees which have grown in 

 open situations, but even when the trunk has 

 divided into large branches, or has grown in 

 the forest shaded by other trees, and has lost 

 its excurrent shape, the small branches growing 

 directly out of the trunk distinguish it from 

 other trees. The color in the young stems 

 and buds is another means of its identification, 

 and in early spring the deepening color in the 

 twigs from the rising sap, shows that the linden 

 is almost as responsive as the willow to warm 

 rains and sunshine. 



The wood is soft and white and close-grained. 

 It is used for carving in the interior finish of 

 houses, and for making wooden ware and cheap 

 furniture. Sugar has been made from the sap, 

 and the inner bark is made into a coarse 

 cordage and matting, and in Europe a coarse 

 cloth is made from it. 



The Latin generic name probably comes 

 from ptilon, the Greek word for a feather, in 

 allusion to the feather-like bracts on the clus- 

 ters of the flowers. The specific name, ameri- 

 cana, was given to our native linden to 

 distinguish it from the European species. 



The linden is found growing wild in rich 



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