15 



takes on a brownish hue. It is easily worked. It is used 

 for boxes, wagon bodies, and interior finish. It does not 

 last in contact with the ground; but it makes a durable 

 shingle. 



71. The tulip-tree is widely distributed over the State, 

 usually on deep, rich, moist soils. It grows rapidly and at- 

 tains very large dimensions. It has been claimed for it that 

 it is the largest tree east of the Mississippi. It is often 

 called Yellow Poplar, probably with reference to the color of 

 the wood. 



72. Sweet gum, Liquidambar styraciflua.— -The 

 leaves are palraately lobed, light green in summer, turning 

 crimson in autumn. The branches have corky wings, re- 

 sembling those of the wing elm. The seeds are borne in 

 heads about an inch in diameter, which remain on the tree 

 through the winter. When the bark is broken a balsam is 

 exuded, which gives the tree the name of sweet gum. 



73. The wood weighs 36 pounds to the cubic foot. It is 

 rather hard to season and must be carefully stacked to pre- 

 vent warping. It is used for wooden-ware and furniture. 

 As other woods become scarcer the demand for sweet gum is 

 increasing. 



74. It occurs throughout the State on rich bottom lands. 

 It is sometimes sold on the lumber yards under the name of 

 Red Gum. 



75. Sycamore, Plat ANUS Occident alis.— The outer 

 bark sheds, leaving smooth green or white trunk and limbs. 

 The fruits are balls, about 1 inch in diameter. The seeds 

 are very small and are provided with tufts of hair which fa- 

 cilitate their distribution by the wind. 



76. The wood weighs 36 pounds to the cubic foot. It 



