THE LINDEN OR BASSWOOD 



THROUGHOUT a large part of its wide range, which extends from New Brunswick 

 south to Georgia, and west to Nebraska and Texas, the American Linden is 

 most generally called the Basswood. It is a well-known tree, growing in a 

 variety of situations and having such definite characteristics that it is easily distinguished 

 by everyone. In earliest spring when drops of dew or rain stand upon the red buds, one is 

 reminded of Tennyson's fine phrase concerning the European Linden: 



"A million emeralds break from the ruby-budded lime." 



A little later the young leaves push out from these buds in a most interesting man- 

 ner, and as they develop one can see in the thin blades wonderful adjustments to light, 

 each leaf so placing itself that it will get the largest possible amount of sunshine. The two 

 sides of the obliquely heart-shaped leaf differ greatly in size, that nearest the branch being 

 almost always the larger. Early in summer the curious clusters of blossom-buds appear. 

 They start from the branch as broad yellowish bracts, from near the middle of which the 

 main flower-stalks arise. The flowers are of a greenish-yellow color and secrete nectar in 

 great abundance, to gather which the bees swarm upon them to such an extent that Bass- 

 wood honey is a recognized product in most apiaries. The poet Bryant wrote : 



' ' The linden in the fervors of July 

 Hums with a louder concert." 



As the summer passes these blossoms gradually develop into curious nut-like fruits 

 which are often called by children "monkey-nuts." These remain upon the tree to a 

 considerable extent after the leaves have fallen, each nut being greenish brown in color 

 with a woody outer covering and generally one seed in a cell inside. Presumably the 

 large bracts help in their dispersal by the wind. 



The bark of the Linden-tree is grayish in color, characteristically smooth in young 

 trees and more or less vertically striate in older trees. The wood is so soft that it has long 

 been used for various purposes in cabinet work and in the manufacture of many kinds of 

 woodenware. It is like the European Linden in this respect, of which someone has written: 



" Smooth linden best obeys 



The carver's chisel ; best his curious works 



Displays in nicest touches." 



Our American Linden is a very useful tree for ornamental planting and is largely 

 utilized for that purpose. There are certain horticultural varieties sometimes planted, 

 these varieties being mostly forms of the European Linden. Our native species, however, 

 is better adapted to our region, as it is less subject to attack by borers and other insect 

 enemies. 



(250) 



