104 THE TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



pairs, of a dark blue color, borne on a common stem 

 from i to 1 inch long. The \yooc1 of this tree has its 

 fibres so interwoven in various directions as to make 

 it nearly impossible to be split, and it is therefore 

 used (especially the yellow variety, known as the 

 Yellow Gum) for the hubs of wheels. It is also 

 employed for making hatters' blocks, the cogged 

 cylinders in mills for beating rice, and for caps to 

 masts. The roots are in domestic use for large 

 corks, for which, on account of their compressibility 

 and lightness, they answer very well. The crimson 

 hue of the foliage, after frost, of this and the next 

 species, contributes much, with that of the Red 

 Maple^ Sassafras^ etc., to give that peculiar brilliancy 

 to our autumnal scenery so often noticed by for- 

 eigners. 



2. (N. multiflora, Wang.) — With us this tree 

 seems to be entirely confounded with the preceding, 

 and is also called Black or Sour Gum, In some of 

 the States it is also called Tupelo or Pepijeridge. 

 This tree, however, grows mostly in the uplands in 

 rich, generally moist, soils, and is larger every way. 

 It is from 30 to 60 feet liigli, and 1 to 2 feet in diame- 

 ter. The leaves are 2 to 6 inches long, with a white 

 down underneath, especially when young, rather 

 thick, and shining. The berry is about \ inch long. 

 The wood is like that of No. 1. 



3. Cotton Gum. (N. uniflora, Walt.) — This is a 

 Southern tree, having its Northern limit in South- 

 eastern Virginia, and confined to the deep swamps of 



