INDIGENOUS TREES AND SHRUBS. 19 



black. Its peculiarities command attention, and its augmenting utilities 

 in the manufacturing and chemical arts entitle it to special planting and 

 protection. 



ash-leaved maple or box eldeb, Negundo aceroides. 



This is one of our reliable pioneer trees. Indigenous to the whole state 

 where our native woods abound, except at the extreme north, but can be 

 propagated there, for it is a success across the boundary line in Manitoba. 

 In the alluvial soils of the upper Mississippi, Otter Tail and some of the 

 other northern rivers, it sometimes attains two to three feet in diameter. 

 It is characterized with green twigs, drooping clusters of small greenish 

 flowers coming out earlier than the leaves. Even when growing in our 

 native woods it tends to a broad head with dense foliage; hence one of our 

 best shade-needing trees. It sprouts largely from the crown of its roots, 

 interlacing among its companions, climbing to the light, and therefore 

 forms a very compact and solid wind-break. This and the ashes and elms 

 belong in the list of the reliable trees of the prairied West. As yet it is 

 not much used in the manufacturing arts. The seeds are encased in long 

 shells, protruding into rudder-like wings. Sugar and syrup of excellent 

 quality can be made from its sap. 



JUQLANDACEyE. WALNUT FAHILY. 



butternut, J. ciiieria. 



Otherwise called the Oil Nut and White. Walnut. Once common south- 

 ward; mostly cut off there for lumber, yet quite extensive on the Snake 

 and upper Mississippi rivers and their tributaries. It is a national tree, 

 belonging mainly in the north. It generally branches out at a small 

 height, mostly horizontal, forming a large tufted head in fine balance. 

 When young it resembles the Black Walnut, but they are unlike in maturi- 

 ty especially in the woods the Butternut being light in weight; of little 

 strength and reddish in color, while the Black Walnut is heavier, stronger 

 and of a dark color. No panels are prettier than the butternut. It is a 

 very popular wood for furniture and house finishing. Vegetates early iu 

 the spring. Each leaf has seven to eight pairs of leaflets with a terminal 

 odd one. They are lance-like, toothed and slightly downy. The barren 

 flowers in single catkins are attached to the shoots of the preceding year; 

 the fertile flowers on shoots of the same spring, and at their extremes. 

 The fruit is commonly single, oily and palatable. The nut itself is hard, 

 oblong, round at the base, pointed at summit; the surface furrowed ir- 

 regularly and rough. The bark possesses medical properties, regarded as 

 the best of cathartics. The tree is hardy; will do well even on the prairie 



