Handbook of Trees of the ISToethekn States and Canada. 193 



The Hackberry in the forests of the rich 

 bottom-hinds of ine Ohio River basin some- 

 times exceeds 100 ft in height and its trunk 

 is sometimes 4 or 5 feet in diameter, but when 

 in dryer soil of regions more unfavorable to 

 its growth it is a much smaller tree. When 

 isolated it develops an ovoid or oblong top of 

 many small branches and fine branchlets. It 

 is abundant in the Mississippi basin, but in 

 the northeastern states and Canada so uncom- 

 mon or local in its distribution as not to be 

 generally known by the country people when 

 it is observed, and strange names are often 

 given to it. Two large trees having considera- 

 ble local celebrity as "Unknown Trees" (one 

 near Palatine Bridge and the other near Sehuy- 

 lerville, N. Y. ) I have found upon examina- 

 tion to be of this species, ana my father has 

 told me of having had several similar ex- 

 periences. 



The leaves of the trees of this species in 

 the Black River valley of northern New York 

 commonly show an interesting variegation in 

 mid-summer and becoming more marked as 

 the season advances. This I am informed by 

 Dr. B. T. Galloway is due to a parasitic fungus, 

 known as the Phyllosticta Celtidis E. & K. 



The wood is rather heavy, a cubic foot when 

 absolutely dry weighing 45.40 lbs. and is used 

 in the manufacture of furniture and agricul- 

 tural implements, for fuel, fences, etc.2 



Lrnrps inequilateral, ovate, more or less falcate, 

 rounded or cordate or tapering and oblique at base, 

 coarsely serrate, tbin, prominently reticulate, 

 Ii?ht green and smootli or roughisb above, paler 

 and glabrous ar nearly so beneath. Flowers as 

 described for the genus. Fruit subglobose or ob- 

 long, about M- in. long, with thielc dark purple 

 skin, yellowish flesh and smooth pit.'' 



Var. pumila Gray, is a shrubby form of the 

 Southern states, through Missouri and westward, 

 with small and more rugose leaves. 



1. Including C. crassifulia Lam. and C. caniiia 

 Raf. Some botanists consider these distinct, but 

 tenable directive characters do not seem to exist. 



2. A. VV., I, 12. 

 8. For genus see pp. 432-433. 



