VALUABLE NATIVE TIMBEE TREES. 57 



Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii Watson). 



Although not specifically determined, it is probable that the Fremont 

 cottonwood takes the place of the common species west of the one 

 hundredth meridian in Texas. Cottonwood of largesize occurs about 

 springs and in watered canyons in all of west Texas and up the Rio 

 Grande to El Paso. In some of the side canyons of the Rio Grande it 

 has been found as large as 5 feet in diameter. The wood of the west- 

 ern specimens presumably the Fremont cottonwood is of liner 

 quality than the eastern, and is higher priced. 



Range.- — Western California to Lower California, and eastward to 

 central Nevada, southern Utah and Colorado, western Texas, and 

 Northern Mexico. 



River birch ( Betula nigra Linnaeus). 



In Texas the river birch is one of the river-bottom species, fre- 

 quenting especially the higher river banks. It does not appear to 

 reach large dimensions, but information as to its occurrence is meager. 

 The wood is used for furniture, woodenware, wooden shoes, ox yokes, 

 turning, etc. 



Range. — Massachusetts to Florida, and west to Nebraska and to the 

 Trinity River in Texas. 



Hornbeam (Oslrya virginiana (Miller) Koch). 



The hornbeam is rather abundant in the river bottoms of the lob- 

 lolly belt and Big Thicket country, but docs not often exceed 1 foot 

 in diameter. The wood is heavy, very strong, hard, tough, very close- 

 grained, compact; light brown in color, or often nearly white, like the 

 sapwood. It is used for posts, levers, mill cogs, wedges, mallets, and 

 the handles of tools. 



Range. — Nova Scotia to northern Florida, and west to Dakota and 

 eastern Texas. 



Ironwood, blue beech. (Carpinus caroliniana Walter). 



Abundant and well developed in eastern Texas. It is known espe- 

 cially in the Big Thicket country. It prefers thick, shady woods and 

 wet, alluvial soils. The wood and its uses are much the same as of 

 the preceding. 



Range. — Much the same as that of the hornbeam. 



Beech. (Fagus atropunicea (Marsh.) Sudworth). 



The beech is common along the east Texas streams except where 

 the ground is swampy. It appears to average 40 to 60 feet in height 

 and 1 to 2 feet in diameter. The wood is not used here. 



Range. — Nova Scotia to Lake Huron (north shores) and northern 

 Wisconsin; south to western Florida, and west to southeastern Mis- 

 souri and eastern Texas (Trinity River). 



