234 



TREES GROWING IN SANDY SOIL. 



mon has a very acrid taste, as those find that have been unable 

 to curb their impatience and have allowed its prettiness to 

 tempt them to " try and see." But as 

 it grows older, perhaps knows life bet- 

 ter, and has been mellowed and turned 

 to a rich, reddish orange or brown by 

 the unrelenting touch of Jack Frost, it 

 becomes sweet and agreeable. It is 

 also not until after the tree is a hun- 

 dred years old that it develops its 

 heart-wood. Then it is nearly black, 

 very firm and hard. From it shuttles 

 and shoe lasts are made. In fact, al- 

 most all the parts of the tree are use- 

 ful, as was well known by the Indians. 

 They, in some way, dried its fruit and afterwards made it into 

 beer. Combined with hops it is still brewed into domestic beer, 

 and it is manufactured into brandy. Tannin is also found in 

 the fruit which is possessed of a colouring matter, service- 

 able in making indelible ink. The seeds have been roasted as 

 a substitute for coffee. From the bitter bark a strengthening 

 tonic is produced. 



Throughout the southern part of the Atlantic and Gulf 

 states the tree is very common, and many of them are often 

 found growing thickly together in a shrubby form. The Duke 

 of Argyle presented a persimmon tree to George the Third, 

 and it is said to be still contentedly growing in the old abore- 

 tum at Kew. 



Diostfros Virginiana. 



CALIFORNIA MAHOGANY. {Plate CXXVII.) 

 Rhus integrifblia. 



Bark : reddish or greyish brown ; rough and ridged. Leaves : simple ; al- 

 ternate ; with short, pubescent petioles ; oval ; rounded or pointed at the apex 



