﻿2cS hi l.l.l > an li FOREST. 



(3.) The theor\ iif arlilirkil inl rodin lion is greatly weakened by the 

 fact that the earliest settlers found it abundant in the midst of the 

 forest ; and should the eircunistance that it is most often seen growing 

 in open places which are apparently old settlements or clearings, then 

 there is as good reason for assigning the wild cherry and persimmon 

 to the catagory of introduced trees. The Aborigines would scarcely 

 h;ive cultivated it for ornament, and no other quality is likely to hue 

 recommended it to their attention. Even the enlightened and cultured 

 people, who have supplanted the rude red man, prize it far less for 

 ornament than for economical purposes, for, though its great beauty 

 is well appreciated, this tree becomes infested with a repulsive 

 caterpillar which completely strips the foliage, and, falling to the 

 ground crawls over the grass, as well as the neighboring fences and 

 buildings. The timber, however, is greatly esteemed for its durability, 

 when exposed to constant moisture, and on this account is constantly 

 cut to supply the demand for fence posts and railroad ties. In conse- 

 quence of this popularity, the larger trees are growing every year less 

 plentiful, while in some localities the only evidence of its former ex- 

 istence are the growing sprouts from old stumps, bearing the huge, 

 heart-shaped, light green leaves, so characteristic in their size and 

 peculiar shade of color. The most common name of this tree is Ca- 

 talpha or Patalplia, (an evident corruption of the proper term,) but it 

 is occasionally, though not often, called " Indian Bean " or "Cigar 

 Tree." Trees of the original growth are now quite rare, but may yet 

 be found scattered sparingly through the forest, while at intervals, like 

 other species, it is to be found greatly multiplied locally, so as to pre- 

 dominate over all other species of restricted areas. I remember 

 such an instance near the town of Mt. Carmel, on the Illinois side of 

 the Wabash, where Catalpas of considerable size formed an extensive 

 grove, with only scattering trees of other species, the most common 

 associates being Sweet Gums, Honey Locust and Water Oak, (Quercus 

 palustris,) with a few Sour Gums, (Nyssa.) These trees, we believe, 

 have now been all destroyed. The size of this tree has been like that of 

 very many of our native trees, greatly underrated. No authority 

 gives its maximum height at more than sixty feet ; but, however 

 true this may be of other localities, this is scarcely more than the 

 average elevation of the larger growth in the district under con 

 sideration, where fifty to seventy feet is the ordinary variation. Trees 



