FOREST TREES. 149 
calyx, in three rows, the three inner with a pair of 
stalked glands at the base of each; anthers, four- 
celled, four-valved; fertile flowers with six rudi- 
ments of stamens and an ovoid ovary; berry, ovoid, 
blue. 
Sassafras officinale—Sassafras. 
Leaves, ovate, entire, or some of them three-lobed, 
soon smooth; buds and pedicels, downy. 
The Sassafras is common over a large portion of 
the United States. It varies greatly in size in differ- 
ent situations. Growing in poor soils, or produced 
by suckers from the roots of old trees, it seldom 
attains a considerable magnitude. It reaches its full 
development only in rich soils. I have seen it in the 
State of Mississippi, three feet in diameter; and it 
was formerly sometimes found of large size in the 
forests of Illinois. The wood is not very strong, but 
is fine-grained and durable. It is valuable for cabi- 
net work, but is not much used for that purpose on 
account of the scarcity of stocks sufficiently large. 
It is said that bedsteads made of it are never infested 
by vermin. 
The bark of the root was formerly highly valued, 
and much used for medicinal purposes, but is at 
present less esteemed. It is a handsome ornamental 
tree, and will thrive in any good soil that is not wet. 
lt is propagated by suckers, or by seeds, which should 
be put in the ground when ripe. They will not, 
however, always vegetate the first year. 
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