47 



about as good as the best, unless some particular property 

 is required ; but it does uot run even in color. Some trees 

 have wood much darker than others, and where printing 

 and stenciling of the packages are necessary, the mag- 

 nolia must be graded, and the dark wood thrown out. 

 Some of it is sufficiently white to meet all requirements 

 of a good stenciling wood. Now and then the wood of 

 a certain tree contains hard, flinty streaks which may be 

 objectionable, and there may be black knots which de- 

 tract from appearance and value. 



Black gum is used in less quantity than any other wood 

 on the box maker's list. It is plain material, never sought 

 after, but is cut when it is found among other woods. 

 In some localities the name black gum is applied to tupelo 

 and water gum, but never under the mistaken notion that 

 they are the same species. Their leaves bear some re- 

 semblance, but the characteristic swell in the tupelo +rnnk 

 near the ground is not found in the black gum. 



The abundance and cheapness of cypress in Florida 

 ought to lead to its more extensive employment by box 

 makers. 



