PREFACE. 



This manual is intended to aid the amateur botanist and na- 

 ture student in identifying the trees of Ohio and surrounding 

 territory. There are many books which treat entertainingly of 

 the trees of our region, and these may be of great profit to such 

 as know the plants described. Without such knowledge the read- 

 ing of popular or scientific descriptions can not be of very much 

 value. The real student desires more especially a first hand ac- 

 quaintance, and it is hoped that the present volume will be of 

 service to those who wish a direct contact with nature. 



The keys have been made very complete so that no difficulty 

 should be encountered in identification except in the case of 

 closely related species. No elaborate technical descriptions have 

 been given but a few brief notes are added in connection with 

 each species, calling attention to economic, ecological, or other 

 data of general interest. Characters given in the keys are usually 

 not repeated in the descriptions. 



A single English name is given for each species. These 

 names have been taken mainly from Sudworth's "Check List of 

 tile Forest Trees of the United States," which on the whole seems 

 to be a very satisfactory basis for an appropriate list. Synonyms 

 will be found in the index. The nomenclature used is essentially 

 ihat of Britton's Manual. 



Most of our common, cultivated, exotic trees have been in- 

 cluded, since these form an integral part of the landscape, in 

 many places more conspicuous than the native species. No at- 

 tention has been paid to the recent effusive treatment of Cratae- 

 gus. All the trees known to occur in Ohio have been especially 

 mentioned as such. 



The study of trees may be made a pleasant and profitable 

 pastime at any season of the year for all who have an interest in 

 nature. When the tree has once been identified its peculiarities 

 should be learned by direct observation until its individuality be- 



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