GETTING AC^AINTED WITH THE TREES 



with its fellow of the swamp, save perhaps 

 when winter has bared its peculiar winged and 

 strangely "corky" branches. 



These odd branches bear, on 

 some trees particularly, a notice- 

 able ridge, made up of the same 

 substance which in the cork- 

 oak of Europe furnishes the 

 bottle- stoppers of commerce. 

 It makes the winter 

 structure of the sweet- 

 gum most distinct and 

 picturesque, which ap- 

 pearance is accentuated 

 by the interesting little 

 'f^/^ seed-balls, or fruits, 

 rounded and spiny, that hang 

 long from the twigs. These 

 fruits follow quickly an incon- 



The star-shaped leaves SpicUOUS floWCr that in April 

 and curious fruits of the ^^ ^ J^^g ^^^^ '^g f^j-'^f 



liquidambar, late in the "^ 



summer. pcarancc, and they add greatly 



to the general attractiveness of the tree on 

 the lawn, to my mind. Years ago I first made 

 acquaintance with the liquidambar, as it ought 



222 



