THE ROMANCE OF OUR TREES 



fissured, and rugged, in the latter perfectly smooth 

 and gray-green. Many are familiar with the dark, 

 fissured bark of the valuable Black Walnut but fewer, 

 perhaps, with that of the American Persimmon 

 (Diospyros virginiana). In this tree the bark is al- 

 most black and is deeply fissured, both longitudinally 

 and transversely, in such manner that the trunk is 

 studded with close-set rectangular knobs which form 

 a perfect mosaic. Among trees I know of only one 

 other, the Korean Cornel (Cornus coreana), that 

 has this peculiar and striking kind of bark. In 

 conclusion it may be said that nearly every kind of 

 tree has its own peculiar form of bark, differing 

 slightly or conspicuously from that of its neigh- 

 bours. Quite often the bark is remarkable for its 

 colour or form, and in winter it is especially attrac- 

 tive and beautiful. 



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