56 



Quercus Sundaica, Blume. 



One of the oaks from the mountains of Java, where several other 

 valuahle timber oaks exist. 



Quercus Toza, Bosc. 



South Europe. One of the handsomest oaks, and one of the quickest of 

 growth. Foliage evergreen. 



Quercus virens, L.* 



The Live Oak of North America, evergreen, 50 feet high. Supplies a 

 most valuable timber for shipbuilding ; it is heavy, compact, fine- 

 grained ; it is moreover the strongest and most durable of all American 

 Oaks. Like Q. obtusiloba, Michaux., it lives also on seashores, helping 

 to bind the sand, but it is then not of tall stature. Of many of the 300 

 Oaks of both the Western and Eastern portion of the Northern hemis- 

 phere, the properties remained unrecorded and perhaps unexamined ; 

 but it would be important to introduce as many kinds as possible for 

 local test-growth. The acorns, when packed in dry moss, retain 

 their vitality for some months. The species with deciduous foliage are 

 not desirable for massive ornamental planting, because in this clime 

 they shed their dead leaves tardily during the very time of our greatest 

 verdure. 



Rhus vernicifera, Cand. 



Extends from Nepal to Japan. It forms a tree of fair size, and yields 

 the Japan varnish. 



Rhus succedanea, L. 



The Japan Wax tree, the produce of which has found its way into the 

 English market. The Sumach (Rhus coriaria, L.), and the Scotino 

 (Rhus Cotinus, L.), both important for superior tanning and for dyeing, 

 thrive here quite as well as in South Europe. They are more of shrubby 

 growth. 



Robinia Pseudacacia, L. 



The North American Locust Acacia. Height to 90 feet. ' The strong 

 hard and durable wood is for a variety of purposes in use, and par- 

 ticularly eligible for tree nails. The roots are poisonous. The allied 

 Robinia viscosa attains a height of 40 feet. 



Sassafras officinale, Hayne. 



The deciduous Sassafras tree, indigenous from Canada to Florida, in 

 dry open woods. Height 50 feet ; leaves lobed ; wood and bark medici- 

 nal, and used for the distillation of Sassafras oil. 



Sophora Japonica, L. 



A tree of China and Japan, resembling the Laburnum, up to 60 feet 

 high ; wood hard and compact, valued for turner's work. All parts of 

 the plant purgative ; the flowers rich in a yellow dye. 



Salix alba, L.* 



The Huntingdon or Silky Willow of Europe and Middle Asia. Height 

 80 feet, circumference of stem 20 feet ; wood light and elastic, available 

 for carpenter s work and implements, bark for tanning. The golden 

 Osier (Salix vitellina, L.), is a variety. The shoots are used for hoops 

 and wickerwork. 



Salix Babylonica, Tournefort. 



The Weeping Willow, indigenous from West Asia as far as Japan. 

 Important for consolidating river banks. 



