CUCUMBER 327 



burnt umber. Occasionally it may have a tinge of olive 

 green. The sapwood is thin and of a yellowish white. There 

 is little distinction between spring and summer wood. It is 

 used for furniture, especially for bottoms and sides of 

 drawers, interior finish, pump stocks, and for most purposes 

 for which White Pine can be used, except where strength 

 is required ; and it is more durable when exposed. It takes 

 glue, paint, and stain well, but shows a rather dull finish 

 under varnish. It is rated in the market as about equal to 

 Yellow Poplar in quality and value, except for pump stocks, 

 for which it is preferred. 



It is not a frequent seeder, nor is it a prolific one. When 

 ripe, the fruit is a brilliant red, and generally crooked and 

 distorted in shape. The seeds are a bright scarlet, and sus- 

 pended from the fruit by a white thread an inch or more 

 long. They should be gathered as soon as ripe and stratified 

 in moist sand and kept in a cool place. Freezing will not 

 harm them. Seeds should be sown in the nursery the 

 same as those of Ash or Maple. The plants grow quite 

 rapidly after the first year and may be transplanted into 

 the forest when two years old, although it would be best to 

 place them in the transplant nursery for another year. The 

 roots are brittle and few fibrous ones are developed, which 

 makes transplanting into the forest difficult and uncertain. 

 The tree grows rapidly when young, and it maintains its 

 vigor quite well for a long time. The value of the wood will 

 justify an earnest effort to propagate it. Scarcity of seed 

 and its low percentage of fertility are serious hindrances 

 to its propagation. If injury occurs to a tree in its early 

 life, sprouts will be thrown up from the stump, but these 

 seldom attain a size large enough for the saw, and when they 

 do they are generally decayed at the butt. The same treat- 

 ment should be accorded it in the nursery and in transplant- 

 ing it into the forest as is given to Yellow Poplar, White 

 Ash, and Maple. Probably the plants would best be planted 

 about six feet apart, but in rich soil seven feet would be 

 advisable. It cannot be ascertained that any experience has 

 been had in planting it in the forest. 



