LUMBER TREES 113 



and such like instruments. The chestnut makes 

 railroad ties that are thought to have no equal 

 and telegraph poles of requisite strength and 

 straightness. 



Then there are other families that have their 

 valued representatives. The hickories have al- 

 ready been referred to. The maples must not be 

 overlooked, as they furnish highly prized woods 

 to the cabinetmaker. The tulip tree supplies a 

 light-colored wood used by cabinetmaker and 

 coach builder. The basswood or linden gives a 

 wood of peculiar fiber that meets the needs of 

 carvers and instrument makers. The willows 

 and their allies; various members of the birch 

 family; the button wood tree or sycamore; and 

 the locusts and their allies are other native trees 

 that are of value as they stand and are well worth 

 developing. 



The plant experimenter who works with these 

 different trees, being guided by their botanical 

 affinities, but making careful tests even where he 

 doubts the possibility of hybridization, will be 

 almost certain to have his efforts rewarded by the 

 production of some trees of new varieties that 

 will not only duplicate the unexpected qualities 

 of the hybrid walnuts, but will doubtless also 

 reveal unpredicted traits that will give them 

 added value. 



