TREES OF AMERICA, 211 



near as large : but the most curious thing 

 about it is a sort of fungous wing, like what 

 boys call punk, that grows on each side of the 

 branches through their whole length : it is of 

 a pale brown, and has a very singular ap- 

 pearance." 



"What makes it, Uncle Philip? What is 

 it for ?" 



" I do not know, my dear ; some people 

 suppose that it is caused by insects that lay 

 their eggs in the bark ; but I suspect that it 

 grows naturally. What the use of it is I have 

 not the least idea. 



" There is another tree resembling one of 

 the species of European elm, that is some- 

 times found in the Southern States ; but it is 

 very scarce, and has no common name, 

 Botanists call it the planer-tree. The leaves 

 are quite small, of a lively green, and shaped 

 somewhat like those of the European elm ; 

 but the seeds are like hops, and not flat, like 

 the seeds of the elms. The wood is very 

 hard and strong, but too small and too scarce 

 to be made any use of. 



" I have one more class of trees to tell you of 

 before we come to the numerous family of the 

 pines ; but it consists of only three varieties. 



