January 22, 1890.] 



Garden and Forest. 



4i 





Fig. 9. — Celtis occidentalis: Entire-leaved form. 



Fig. 11. — Celtis occidentalis: Lower Rio Grande Valley. 



Fig. 10. — Celtis occidentalis : Dwarf form. 



Celtis occidentalis : Arizona. 



rugose on the lower. This plant taken by itself might well 

 be mistaken for a distinct and well marked species, but it 

 is connected with the entire leaved form of the Mississippi 

 Valley by innumerable intermediate forms which vary in 

 the thickness of their leaves in proportion as the region in 

 which they grow is unequally and insufficiently supplied 

 with moisture. 



The range of the American Nettle-tree is from the valley 

 of the St. Lawrence to eastern Oregon, and to Florida, 

 northern Mexico and south-eastern California. 



The wood of the Nettle-tree possesses a good deal of 



value, and it is destined, as better known woods become 

 scarce or are exterminated, to be used more in the future 

 than it has been in the past. It is strong, not very hard, 

 and easily worked. The color is a pleasing light yellow, 

 but its appearance is injured by the large number of open 

 ducts which mark the layers of annual growth. It has 

 always been used for fuel, as the tree is easily put and the 

 wood splits well ; and of late years it is coming into use 

 in some parts of the west for the manufacture of cheap 

 furniture. 



The ornamental value of the Nettle-tree is great ; the 



