CHAPTER L. 
THE GORDONIA. 
The Woolly-flowered Gordonia.—Its Attainable Height.—Its Southern 
Nativity.—Its General Appearance Described.— Description and 
Uses of its Bark and Wood.—Its Botanical Description.—Its Agree- 
able Floral Production.—Soil Suited to its Thrift.—Its Artificial 
Raising.— How Propagated.— The Pubescent-leaved Gordonia.— 
Where Indigenous.—Its Ornamental Value and Extensive Culture. 
—Its Floral Bearing.—Its Foliage Described. 
THE WOOLLY-FLOWERED GORDONIA. 
Tuis is a sub-evergreen tree, and attains the height of 
from fifty to sixty feet, with a diameter of stem eigh- 
teen or twenty inches. It is a native of low latitudes, 
and appears to be confined to the maritime parts of the 
United States from Virginia to lower Louisiana. Its 
growth is straight and clear of shoots to about half 
its height, where its branches diverge regularly, and, 
as they ascend, spread more loosely, forming an exten- 
sive spread of foliage. The bark on old trees, which is 
used in tanning, is thick and furrowed, but is smooth 
while the tree is young. The leaves are toothed on the 
edges, from three to six inches in length, alternate, oval- 
acuminate in shape, and smooth and glossy on the up- 
per surface. It blooms about the middle of July, and 
its flowers, which are broad, white, and sweet-scented, 
come forth in succession during August and September. 
This tree possesses the singularly agreeable property of 
bearing flowers when it is only three or four feet high. 
The wood of the gordonia is light, of a mahogany hue 
and silky texture, which fits it for use in the inside of 
furniture. It is, however, liable to decay when exposed 
