TREES. 101 



The blossoms appear in early spring before the 

 leaves are fully out. They hang in aments. When 

 the. seeds are ripe they are surrounded by a tuft of 

 long, white hair resembling cotton; hence the 

 name. By means of this cottony substance the 

 seeds are carried long distances by the wind. 



The bark is rather light in color, even on very 

 old trees, giving them a cheerful appearance. 

 Solitary old cottonwood trees can be found in 

 many sections of the country. They have few, but 

 large branches, which extend upward nearly par- 

 allel with the trunk. With their large arms they 

 stand out in rugged beauty, catching every passing 

 breeze with leaves high in the top, and indicating 

 that activity and mirth are possible, even in old age. 



HICKORIES. 



Hickory Trees belong to the family of walnuts. 

 They all bear nuts and compound leaves, making 

 it easy to distinguish them. The leaves are pin- 

 nately compound, ending in a single leaflet, which 

 form is known as odd pinnate. The number of 

 leaflets varies from five to twenty-three; the true 

 walnuts having more than the hickories. 



The wood of the whole family is very valuable. 

 Walnut timber is now very scarce, owing to the 

 great demand for it in cabinet work. The wood of 

 the black walnut is very dark, and ranks among the 

 most costly of woods for fine cabinet work and 

 furniture. 



