128 THE TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



gum is the hardened juice. This is a beautiful tree, 

 especially in Autumn when the dying foliage has 

 taken its hue of deep crimson, and should be oftener 

 seen in private grounds. 



Tulip Tree, or Poplar. (Liriodendron Tulipi- 

 fera, Linn.) — This tree is rarely surpassed in elegance 

 of form, in size, beauty of foliage, or showiness of 

 blossom, by any tree of the American forests. In 

 some of the Northern States it is called White Wood 

 and Canoe Wood. In Europe, where it has been long 

 and extensively introduced, it bears the name of Tu- 

 lip Tree (which has been adopted to some extent in 

 this country), from the resemblance of its flower to 

 that of a Tulip. This is much preferable to that of 

 Poplar (which it bears in this and the Western 

 States), because it has but little resemblance in any 

 particular to the true Poplars. It is native in all 

 parts of the State, but is not so common in the Lower 

 District as in others. It is from 60 to 100 feet high, 

 with a very straight tapering trunk, and has a diam- 

 eter of 2 to 3 feet. There is a stock on the South 

 Fork of Toe River, which is near 9 feet in diameter. 

 The wood is fine grained, works easily and takes a 

 ^ood polish. It is heavier and more compact than 

 that of the Poplars, The heart is yellowish, and the 

 sap-wood white, though when grown in dry gravelly 

 soils the whole wood is white and coarser. These 

 are distinguished as Yellow and White Pojjlar, the 

 former being most valuable. For the rafters and 

 joists of buildings the timber is the best substitute 



