OF OHIO 



37 



TABLE XVII. Birches 



GUMS 



Black gum is a common name given in various localities to the 

 three gum trees, cotton gum or tupelo (Nyssa aquatica), water gum 

 (Nyssa biflora}, and black or sour gum (Nyssasylvatica). Red gum, 

 though it bears the name, botanically is not a relative of these 

 species and therefore has been treated under a separate heading. 

 Two of the above named species, cotton and black gum, are used in 

 Ohio, but only the latter {Nyssa sylvatica) grown within the State. 

 It is found frequently in wet lowlands, but also thrives on slopes. 

 Its bright green foliage attracts attention in the summer and in the 

 fall it yields clusters of two or three oblong berries of black color 

 and sour in taste. The wood of the black or sour gum has an inter- 

 laced fibre and is difficult to split and work, which makes it valuable 

 for particular uses, as for vehicle hubs, pulleys, mine rollers, mauls 

 and mallet heads and cogs. In the form of veneer it goes into 

 wooden dishes, berry cups, fruit baskets and veneer boxes. None 

 of these uses were shown for it in Ohio, the entire quantity, as lum- 

 ber, was reported for boxes and crates. Tupelo too was used for 

 boxes and box shocks, but its greatest demand was for cigar boxes 

 in the form of veneer. As lumber it went into cistern pumps, 

 furniture and kitchen cabinets. 



TABLE XVIII. Gums (black and cotton) 



