92 LIFE ON THE FARM. 



joyful songs, gentle social influences, and beauti- 

 ful plumage. 



INDIVIDUAL TREES. 



Since the subject of trees has become such an 

 important study, it is well to know something about 

 individual trees, so that their names and character- 

 istics may become more familiar. 



It is no easy matter to say w T hat trees are of the 

 most importance, because that depends largely 

 upon taste and the uses for which they are planted. 

 A few of the common trees of central United 

 States will be given here. 



THE ELM. 



The Elm Tree family is a large one, but its mem- 

 bers have so many points in common that a descrip- 

 tion of one will give a tolerably clear image of all. 



The common American elm may be taken as a 

 type. This elm tree grows to a height of from 

 fifty to more than one hundred feet. The bark is 

 rough, and dark gray in color. The wood is red- 

 dish brown, and rather soft in its nature, but diffi- 

 cult to split on account of its interlacing fibers. 

 For this reason the young trees are used for the 

 hubs of wagon and carriage wheels. 



The elm is one of the easiest trees to identify 

 because of its shape. It rises as one central shaft 

 for a considerable distance, then divides into 



