DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 189 



The Peperidge when of moderate size, is not difficult to 

 transplant, and we consider it a handsome tree, both on ac- 

 count of its beautiful, dark green, and lustrous foliage in sum- 

 mer, and the brilliant •fiery colour which it takes when the 

 frost touches it in autumn. In this respect it is fully equal 

 in point of beauty, to that of the Liquidambar or Sweet gum, 

 and the maples which we have already described ; and so 

 fine a feature do we consider this autumnal beauty of foliage' 

 that we would by all means advise the introduction of such 

 trees as the Peperidge, into the landscape for that reason alone, . 

 were it not also valuable for its peculiar form and polished 

 leaves, in summer. 



Besides the Peperidge there are three other Nyssas, natives 

 of this continent, viz: the Black gum, (N. sylvatica.,) a tree 

 of greater dimensions, and larger, more elongated leaves, 

 whose northern boundary is the neighbourhood of Philadel- 

 phia ; the Large Tupelo, (iV. grandidentata,) a tree of the 

 largest size, with large coarsely toothed foliage, and a large 

 blue fruit, three-fourths of an inch long, which is sometimes 

 called the wild olive ; and the sour Tupelo, [N. capitata,) 

 with long, smooth, laurel-like leaves, and a light red, oval 

 fruit, called the Wild Lime, from its abounding in a strong 

 acid, resembling that of the latter fruit. Both the latter trees 

 are natives of the southern states, and are little known north 

 of Philadelphia. 



The wood of all the foregoing trees is remarkable for the 

 peculiar arrangement of its fibres ; which instead of running 

 directly through the stem in parallel lines, are curiously 

 twisted and interwoven together. Owing to this circum- 

 stance it is extremely difficult to split, and is therefore often 

 used in the manufacture of wooden bowls, trays, etc. That 

 of the Peperidge is also preferred for the same reason, and for 

 its toughness, by the wheelwrights, in the construction of the 

 naves of wheels, and for other similar purposes. 



