50 



together demand over six and one-third million feet of cottonwood, of which 

 74 per cent, is used by the box industry, nearly 8 per cent, for laundry ap- 

 pliances, and 6 per cent, by the furniture makers. 



Table 32. Consumption of Cottonwood, year ending June, 1912. 



THE GUMS. 



Black gum is the common name given in various states to three trees, 

 black or sour gum (Nyssa sylvatica) , cotton gum or tupelo (Nyssa aquatica) , 

 and water gum (Nyssa U flora ), all belonging to the dogwood family. Red 

 gum, though it bears the name of "gum" does not belong to the same family 

 and, therefore, has been discussed under a separate heading. One of the 

 above named species, the black or sour gum, grows within the State. It is 

 found in wet lowlands and along the slopes of the foothills and mountains. 

 It is not abundant and only a little over 5 per cent, of the total of nearly 

 5,000,000 feet used by 11 industries is State-grown wood. It attracts atten- 

 tion by its bright green summer foliage, which in the autumn turns to brilliant 

 yellow and red, and also by its clusters of two or three oblong berries of 

 bluish black color and sour taste. The wood of this tree has an interlaced 

 fiber and is difficult to split and work; hence it is valuable for certain special 

 uses, such as vehicle hubs, pulleys, mine rollers, mauls, mallets, and cogs. 

 In the South it is cut into veneer and goes into wooden dishes, berry cups, 

 fruit baskets, and veneer boxes. 



