318 , Xi:\V EXGLAXD TP.EES IX "WIXTEE. 



genera I izL'd featnns of a iroe in the laiulseape wliieh may l)e 

 reeoo-nized at a disiauee. Init wliieli are ditlieult of analysis. 



P>AliK — Altlioiiyli it is upon tlie appearance of tlie baric more 

 than upon any other eharaeter that the woodsman depends in his 

 reeognitiou of tindiiT trees, the liark shares with the haliit the 

 misfortune of lieiiig ditfieull of jireeise description. A stiidv of 

 the photographs, however, in connection with the description of 

 the color and textuie will enalile one to recognize a large propor- 

 tion of our trees liy the appearance of the hark alone. Thev 

 have hecu taken from mature trees of moderate size which have 

 develope(f the characteristic sctilptnring of the hai'k rather than 

 from those of larger size which are less fre(juently seen. A tape 

 measuri' surrounding the trunk or in some instances a penknife 

 stuck into tlie bai'k niav serve to give an idea of the relative size 

 of the markings on the trunk. The licading "Bark" is used 

 throngliont the descriptions in reference to the trunk and larger 

 limbs and not to the twigs which are described under another 

 heading. 



The color of the outer Ijark is an im})ortant mark of distinction 

 and is the chief means of separating the different species of the 

 Birches (p. 41.1-45.")). The ciilor and taste of the inner layers 

 of the l.iark are in some cases also characteristic. The Black 

 Oak for example is liest distingttished from other Oaks by the 

 vellow and intensely bitter inner bark. Similarly, the 

 Black Birch, the Sassafras and the genus Pritniis including 

 the C'heri-ies liave barks with characteristic flavors. The swamji- 

 loviug I'oison Sumach (p. .531)) is tlie onlv poisonous tree 

 in Xew England so that after this shrulibv fonii is known there 

 need be no fear of tasting l)ark and twigs of any unknown tree- 

 like SJiecies. 



The Ijark varies in character according to the age of the tree. 

 In the )-oung tree the bark is smooth, but, as the trunk expands 

 from the growth of the wood within, the covering of dead liark 

 outsiile is forced to crack in a varietv of wavs giving rise to 

 characteristic fissures and I'idgcs which liecome more prominent 

 as the tree grows ohler. The bark of i\'\v ti-ees such as the Beech 

 (p. 43'.t) and the American ITornfieam (p. 4i:i) remain smooth, 

 theii' outer layers expanding -with tlie growth of the tree. 'Hie liai'ks 

 of othi'rs as tlic Taper and Yellow Bircli (p. 417) stretch and iieel 



