292 



MANUAL OF THE APIARY. 



THE SOUR-WOOD TREE. 



The sorrel tree {Oxydendrum arbor eum) (Fig. 117), so 

 called because of the acidity of the leaves, is a native of 

 the South, but has been grown even as fa' north as New York. 

 Fig. 117. 



It often attains no mean dimensions in its native home along 

 the Alleghanies, often reaching upward more than fifty feet, 

 and acquiring a diameter of twelve or fifteen inches. 



The flowers are arranged -in racemes, are more drooping 

 than represented in the figure, are white, and with the beau- 

 tiful foliage make an ornamental tree of high rank. The 

 bark .is rough, and the wood so soft as to be worthless, either 

 as fuel or for use in the arts. As a honey tree, it is very 

 highly esteemed ; in fact, it is tbo linden of the South. 



