OLMSTED COUNTY. 331 



Trees.] 



numerous now than then. The suppression of the prairie fires, and the 

 reservation of large areas for the purpose of growing timber, added to the 

 trees that have been artificially raised on the open prairies, have served 

 to favor the forest growth. The brush and the "openings" have been 

 cleared off, but on every prairie farm have been raised hundreds ot cotton- 

 woods or poplars, or willows, or maples, box-elders or elms, which have 

 probably more than equalled the number of trees cut for fuel and for farm- 

 ing. The following trees, shrubs and twining plants were observed in the 



survey of the county. 







I. Trees of Olmsted county. 



Tilia Americana, L. Bass wood. 



Acer saccharinum, Wang. Sugar maple. 



Acer rubrum, L. Red maple. 



Acer darycarpum, Ehr. Soft maple. 



The first two maples do not usually attain any considerable size, while the soft maple, in a 

 state of nature, becomes a large tree. 



Negundo aceroides, Moench. Box-elder. 



This tree is common along streams, and is a favorite in cultivation. In transplanting it is 

 trimmed up too much to easily take root. It is a pretty tree, of a pleasing form and a full light- 

 green foliage. 



Fraxinus Americana, L. White ash. 



Ulmus f ulva, Mich. Slippery elm. 



Ulmus racemosa, llumias. Corky, or rock, elm. 



Of the latter elm several trees are seen in the streets at Rochester. It is a common species 

 in dry woodlands. 



Ulmus Americana, L. (pi. Clayt.),-Willd. American elm, or white elm. 



Juglans nigra, L. Black walnut. 



A grove of these trees was seen in Kalmar. 



Juglans cinerea, L. Butternut. 



Carya amara, Nutt. Bitternut, or hickory. 



Of the hickory only very small trees were seen. It is said to be winter-killed before reaching 

 a mature size ; further it is extensively cut when small for round barrel-hoops for the large export 

 of Minnesota flour. 



Quercus macrocarpa, Michx. Bur oak. 



Is very abundant. On prairies it is low, 3-8 feet high, forming extensive thickets and fruit- 

 ing abundantly. In more favorable localities protected from fire it becomes a large tree. 



Quercus alba, L. White oak. 



Is hard to distinguish at a distance from the last. Undoubted specimens were seen near 

 High Forest. 



Quercus coccinea, Wang., var. tinctoria, Gray. Black oak. 



Like all the species of this group of oaks, this tree is hard to identify. It is very common, 

 but its largest specimens are disappearing with the advent of civilization. It is frequently seen 

 dead or dying without apparent cause. 



Betula papyracea, Ait. Paper birch. Small, along streams in the western part of the county 



Populus tremuloides, Michx. American aspen. Very common, usually less than six inches 

 in diameter. 



Populus grandidentata, Michx. Great-toothed aspen. 



Populus monilifera, Ait. Cottonwood. A great favorite in cultivation. 



Populus balsamifera, L. Balm of Gilead. 



Populus alba, L. Silver poplar. 



