342 THE GUMS 



ground, but does not reach so large a size there. It prefers 

 a deep, rich soil. Its companions are Oak, Elm, Mocker- 

 nut and Shagbark Hickories, White Ash, and occasionally 

 Black Walnut. 



When young and growing in the open, it forms a reg- 

 ular conical crown, quite like a conifer, and is frequently 

 grown as an ornamental tree. It is emphatically light- 

 demanding, and in this respect is as exacting as any other 

 broadleaf tree. When grown in a stand, even moderately 

 dense, it will send up a straight stem free from limbs to an 

 unusual height for a broadleaf tree. There have been found 

 trees one hundred and fifty feet high, with a diameter of 

 five feet, but this is far above the average, as the tree 

 varies much in size and vigor according to soil and locality. 

 It has a peculiarity not common to other species. When it 

 attains its height growth, its stem is much given to separat- 

 ing into two branches, and it then throws out a spreading 

 crown. This forking appears to be quite general, no matter 

 in what locality the tree may be found. 



The wood is heavy, moderately hard, close-grained, stiff, 

 fairly straight-grained, not strong, and easily worked. The 

 heartwood is bright brown, tinged with red, with thin and 

 nearly white sapwood. It is claimed that the heartwood is 

 as durable as Red Oak. Its general use is for outside and 

 interior finish for houses, for furniture, mouldings, handles, 

 fruit and vegetable crates, veneers, and many other like 

 purposes, and, like Tupelo, supplies "Circassian Walnut." 

 It takes glue, stain, and paint well, and, when properly 

 " filled " and varnished without stain, gives a satiny and 

 transparent finish. When quarter-sawed its beauty is mani- 

 festly enhanced. While shrinking and warping badly when 

 not properly handled, modern methods of seasoning have 

 nearly if not quite overcome these defects. It should be 

 known that, while the wood is only moderately heavy when 

 dry, green logs will sink. This can be overcome by cut- 

 ting them when the sap is down and letting them* season 

 for a few months. 



