JKods and Hod Material. 135 



tire length of the trunk. It is well known, being men- 

 tioned by most travellers who have recorded their expe- 

 riences in that country. The wood resembles lanoewood 

 somewhat in appearance, but is deeper in tint, inclining 

 to a salmon or flesh color, and is neither so close in the 

 grain nor so hard. 



All authorities unite in assigning to it great strength 

 and elasticity, while some say that it possesses these 

 qualities in a degree unequalled by any other material 

 not exceeding it in weight. 



BOIS D'ARC. 



Specific gravity, 0.9690. 



This wood is a native of the South-western portion of 

 the United States. It is also called " Bodock," obviously 

 a corruption of the above, as well as the " Osage-orange," 

 from the combined facts that it produces an inedible 

 orange-like fruit, and that it was first noticed by French 

 Canadian trappers in the country of the Osage Indians. 

 These Indians employed it for bow-making, whence the 

 name first given. Though it will live anywhere south 

 of New York, and is not uncommon elsewhere, still it 

 attains its maximum development in Texas, Arkansas, 

 and the Indian Territory. There it attains a height of 

 from fifty to seventy feet, and a diameter of from three 

 to four feet. When growing alone it branches rather 

 close to the ground, but when shaded, shoots upward 

 towards the light, as do other forest-trees, and then the 

 branches start at a somewhat greater height. The bo- 

 tanical name is Machura aurantica. 



The wood resembles locust closely in appearance, be- 

 ing yellow, hard, and extremely durable and elastic. It 

 is much prized for wagon-building. The sap wood should 



