No. 133.] 415 



CUTTONWOOD (platakus occidentalis). 

 Presehts, when growiug luxuriautly by itself, a most magnifi- 

 cent appearance, ami is remarkable for the auiplitude ot its im- 

 mense branches. . It is known by many names, for example, in 

 New- York is buttonwood ; in Ohio, sycamore ; in Virginia, water 

 beech ; in Canada, cotton tree, and by others the plane tree, 



COMMON LOCUST (robinia tseudo acacia.) 



The locust grows in some situations 93 feet high, and ranks 

 amonsc our most superior timber trees. It enjoys a rich sandy 

 loam in a sheltered situation, and is much used by ship carpen- 

 ters, being considered by them as durable as any of the oaks. As 

 its grows old, it increases in durability. For fence posts it is 

 superior to all other timber; the grain is fine, almo:*t equal to 

 boxwood, instead of which it is frequently used by cabinet ma- 

 kers. No park or lawn should be without this beautiful and 

 highly ornamented tree. 



THE WILD CHERRY (cerasus avium ) 



Frequently grows to the height of sixty feet, and is an exceed 

 ingly picturesque tree. The wood is reddish, strong and close 

 grained, ca];able of a high polish, and much sought after by ca- 

 binet makers. In France wine casks are made of it, as it is 

 imagined to improve the wine. I have a tree on njy farm, eighty 

 feet high, and seventeen feet in circumference. The lamented 

 Downing remarked, when he saw it, that it was the finest speci- 

 men he had ever seen. All fruit farms should possess this tree, 

 as it alf.)rds food for multitudes of birds, and they devour count- 

 less milli'^ns of insects. A poisonous substance is made by dis- 

 tilling the leaves, known as the laurel water. They are supposed 

 to be injurious to stock. 



THE MULBERRY (morus.) 

 The fruit and leaves of this admirable and exceedingly valuable 

 tree, do not receive with us the attention they deservedly enjoy in 

 many parts of the world, because we do not understand the in- 

 conqtarable benefit of it. In Europe the leaves are fed to the silk 

 worm, and the joiner and carpenter consider its wood sufficiently 

 durable to make bows, hoops, wheels, ribs for small vessels, &c., 



