168 TREES AND TREE-PLANTING. 
THE CAROLINA LAUREL. 
This species of laurel is indigenous to the Southern 
States,and is found in abundance in the maritime dis- 
tricts of Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana. It is 
an associate of the water oak and red maple, and attains 
its most vigorous growth the more southern is its field 
of propagation. It requires a cool and humid soil as 
an essential to its thrift, and is often found in swamps. 
Its wood is rose-colored, strong, and durable, with a 
fine, compact grain. Being susceptible of a brilliant 
polish, its wood is highly valued for the manufacture 
of furniture requiring a high degree of beauty, and 
might be substituted for mahogany. Its leaves, which 
are about six inches long, oval-acuminate, and glaucous 
on the under surface, diffuse a strong odor, and may be 
used in cookery. 
This tree is of elevated growth, sometimes attaining 
to a height of from sixty to ninety feet. It flowers in 
May. The female flowers occur in loose bunches, while 
those of the male occur in long clusters from the axils of 
the leaves. The varieties of this tree differ distinctly in 
their characteristics according to the latitude in which 
they grow. They may be propagated from seed, cut- 
tings, or layers. 
