CHAPTER XXXIV. 
THE HACKBERRY. 
Its Attainable Height and Size.—Its Appearance and Characteristics. 
—Description and Uses of its Wood.—Its Odorous Production. — 
Its Range of Growth.—The Largest of its Species, Where Grow- 
ing.—How Propagated.—Its Enemies.—The Red-bud.—Its Stunted 
.Growth.—Its Floral and Seed Productiveness.—How Propagated. 
—Similarities of its Species, and Distinguishing Features.—Use of 
its Bark.—Culinary Usefulness of its Flower, Bud, and Pod. 
THE HACKBERRY. 
Tus tree, which rises to the height of from eighty to 
ninety feet, with a diameter of eighteen to twenty-four 
inches, and a trunk straight and undivided for a great 
height, is supported on all sides by great roots that 
project two feet or more from the ground. The wood 
splits very easily, and is of a clear white color; it can- 
not stand much exposure to the weather. It has been 
used for inside work, but has been found to warp and 
become so crooked that its use for that purpose has been 
discontinued. This is a fine tree, but cannot be safely 
recommended for cultivation for the sake of its timber, 
as it is only fit for making flat barrel-hoops. The bark 
of this tree is of a grayish color, and covered with as- 
perities which are scattered unevenly over the surface. 
The flowers, which appear in May, are a small white 
variety, with a very fine odor. The banks of the Dela- 
ware, just above the city of Trenton, New Jersey, may 
be considered as the northern limit of this tree: it is 
found in narrow stretches east of the Alleghanies, but 
west of them it exists profusely all over the broad val- 
leys and rich bottom-lands. The largest tree of this 
