116 TIMBER TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



dark bark which resembles that of the cherry on the branches and 

 on young trees, and a large oval crown, reaching a height of 80 

 and a diameter of 5 feet. (Plate XII.) 



It occurs from Newfoundland and the valley of the Saguenay 

 river westward through Ontario to the islands of Lake Huron, 

 southward to northern Delaware and southern Indiana, and along 

 the Alleghany mountains to western Florida, and westward to 

 middle Kentucky, and Tennessee. 



In North Carolina, where it reaches an average height of 60 to 

 80 and an average diameter of 2 to 2? feet, it is confined to the 

 mountains. (Fig. 30, p. 115.) 



It produces seed once in 3 or 4 years. Young seedlings, which 

 are common in damp cool woods, are short lived if very heavily 

 shaded. Old specimens, over 2 feet in diameter, are often 

 unsound. Young trees sprout from the stump. 



The ovate or oblong-ovate leaves are finely pointed, heart- 

 shaped at the base, and sharply and irregularly toothed. The 

 fruit is cylindrical or elliptical, with rounded ends, 1 to li inches 

 long, and made up of small closely set scales. The buds are con- 

 ical and pointed. The cherry birch has a superficial root system, 

 although in young growth there is a prominent tap-root. 



The wood is heavy, very strong and hard, close-grained, com- 

 pact ; dark brown in color; the sapwood light brown or yellow. 

 It takes a beautiful polish, and is used for furniture and fuel, and 

 in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for shipbuilding. Birch beer 

 is made from the sap of this species. In some parts of North 

 Carolina considerable quantities of cherry birch have been cut 

 for lumber. 



Salix nigra, Marshall. 



(WILLOW. BLACK WILLOW. RIVER WILLOW.) 



A small tree, with a large oval crown, dark rough bark on the 

 trunk, and smooth light brown bark on the spreading branches, 

 reaching a height of 50 and a diameter of 2 feet, or towards its 

 southeastern limit a mere shrub. 



It occurs along streams from New Brunswick and Lake Superior 

 south to Florida and Texas, and in the valleys of the Sacramento 

 river, California, and the Colorado river, Arizona. 



