180 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



imparting scent to some sorts of tobacco and cigars, also for keep- 

 ing moths from woollen clothing. Its use in medicine is more 

 limited than in perfumery. 



Liquidambar styraciflua, Linne. 



The Sweet Gum-tree. In morasses and on the springs of the 

 forests of North America, with a wide geographic range. Endures 

 severe frost. The crown of the tree attains vast dimensions ; the 

 stem 10 feet in diameter. The terebinthine juice hardens on 

 exposure to a resin of benzoin odour. Wood fine-grained. The 

 bark contains about 8 per cent, tannin. 



Liriodendron tulipifera, Linne. 



The Tulip-tree of North America. One of the largest trees of 

 the United States, and one of the grandest vegetable productions of 

 the temperate zone. In deep fertile soil it attains a height of 

 sometimes 140 feet, with a straight clear stem up to 9 feet in 

 diameter. The Tulip-wood, also inappropriately called Poplar, is 

 highly esteemed and very extensively used wherever this tree 

 abounds, uniting lightness with strength and durability. It is of a 

 light-yellow colour, fine-grained, strong, compact, is easily worked, 

 and takes a good polish. It is employed for honse-building, inside 

 as well as outside, for bridges, furniture, coach-building, imple- 

 ments, shingles, carriage-panels, and a variety of other purposes. 

 From its uniformity and freedom from knots and disinclina- 

 tion to warp or shrink it is much used in Canada for railway-cars 

 and carriage-building, chiefly for the panelling (Robb). The bark 

 yields 8 per cent, tannin. As this tree is difficult to transplant, it 

 should be grown on the spot where it is to remain ; it would be a 

 great acquisition for the rich lands of our mountain forests. Pro- 

 fessor Meehan observes that it is of quicker growth than the 

 Horse Chestnut-tree and many Maples. 



Lithospermum canescens, Lehmann. 



North American Alkannet. This, as the vernacular name indicates 

 offers a dye root. 



Lithospermum h'rtum, Lehmann. 



North American Alkanna. A showy perennial herb ; the root 

 yields a red dye. 



Lithospermum longiflorum, Sprengel. 



North America. A red pigment can also be extracted from the 

 root of this species. 



