TUJJP-TREE. 241 



It is hardly possible to contemplate this 

 noble tree, without having all sordid and 

 angry passions driven from the breast, and 

 exchanged for those of peace and philan- 

 thropy. We wonder, therefore, that the 

 poets, who are naturally lovers of trees, and 

 have awakened our interest so much in favour 

 of most others, should so long have neglected 

 to sing the praise of this sylvan wonder of 

 the new world, as to leave us without a head 

 to our chapter. 



Michaux tells us, in his work on the Forest 

 Trees of North America, that the middle and 

 western states abound with the Liriodendron 

 tulipifera, some of which he measured, that 

 were twenty-two feet and a half in circum- 

 ference, five feet from the ground, and from 

 one hundred and twenty to one hundred and 

 forty feet in height. He tells us, that the 

 timber is one of the most useful species of 

 wood, being smooth and fine grained, easily 

 wrought, and not liable to split, therefore 

 desirable for the turner, as also for carving 

 ornaments, pannels of coaches, chaise bodies, 

 &c. It is also used for forming canoes : and 

 frequently the trees are of sufficient size to 

 hollow into the shape of those boats, so that 

 they are of one piece of timber. Kalm 

 speaks of having seen a barn of considerable 



vol. it. R 



