TRUE WOODS 



259 



in heavy construction, and handsome enough to be substi- 

 tuted for oak not a httle in cabinet work and interior finish. 



Elm (Figs. 236, 244) has a beauty of grain, especially on 

 the tangential section, which is just beginning to be appre- 

 ciated by joiners, though on account of its exceeding tough- 

 ness and non-liability to split the wood has long been highly 

 prized by car-, wagon-, and ship-builders, harness-makers, 

 coopers, and turners. It is unexcelled for hub.s. 



Fig. 244. — American Elm (Ulinus americana. Elm Family, Ulmacea). 

 Leafy branch, 3. Flower-cluster. Fruit-cluster. Single fruit. (Brit- 

 ton and Brown.) — Tree growing 36 m. tall; bark gray, flaky; leaves 

 slightly rough; flowers greenish; fruit yellowish brown. Native home, 

 Eastern North America. 



Fig. 245. — White Ash (Fraxinns americana, Olive Family, Oleacea). Leaf, 

 about 3. Fruit-cluster. Fruit. (Britton and Brown.) — Tree growing 

 40 m. tall; bark gray, furrowed; leaves dark green above; flowers 

 bronze-green; fruit buff. Native home, Eastern North America. 



Yellow locust (Fig. 182) closely resembles elm in its phys- 

 ical properties and is much used for many of the same pur- 

 poses. It makes the best treenails (for fastening together the 

 beams of vessels) and in this form is largely exported. 



Ash (Figs. 237, 245) has a wide range of uses because it is 

 at once hard, strong, stiff, tough, straight-grained, easily 

 split, often beautifully figured, and susceptible of a good 

 polish. It ranks among the most valued woods for interior 

 finish, furniture, parts of implements, machines, harne.ss, 

 carriages, wagons, cars, and ships; and for staves, hoops, 

 oars, tool-handles, clothes-pins, and various toys. 



