CHAPTER XXXI. 
THE TUPELO. 
The Tupelo, Black Gum, or Pepperidge.—Its Variety and Allied Char- 
acteristics. Their Floral Fragrance —How Raised, Size, and Range 
of Growth.—Texture of its Wood and for What Esteemed.—Its Two- 
fold Property.—Its Variety of Name.—Description of its Berries 
and their Sustaining Usefulness.—Its Attainable Height and Places 
Favorable to its Growth.—Its Uses in Virginia.—The Wild Lime- 
tree.—Its Resemblance to the Black Gum-tree, and Exception.— 
Description and Uses of its Wood.—Buoyant Property of its Roots. 
—The Esteemed Delicacy of its Fruit.—Its Height and Size. 
TUPELO, BLACK GUM, OR PEPPERIDGE. 
Tue tupelos are deciduous trees of North America, with 
characteristics so nearly allied that I have called them 
only two distinct varieties. They produce an agreeable, 
fragrant flower early in the spring, and are well described 
and beautifully expressed by Cowper : 
“Though leafless, well attired, and thick beset 
With blushing wreathes, investing every spray.” 
This tree is middle-sized, and is found from Massachu- 
setts to Illinois, and from thence south to the Gulf of 
Mexico. It is raised from seed generally, but the first 
year the seed does not vegetate. Its grain is so inter- 
woven that I am afraid even the patience of Job, famed 
in Biblical history, would give way under such a task, 
and he would fall from grace, or, in other words, he 
would swear, had he been compelled to cut some of the 
black gum. It is held in high estimation as wagon-hubs, 
rollers, and cylinders; it is also fit for turning-work, and, 
to my notion, would make first-class ornamental work, as 
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