66 



NORTH AMERICA. 



extremely light as well as strong. The wood of the black birch {B. lento) is superior to that of 

 either of the other birches, and it takes a good polish, whence it is often called the mahogany birch. 

 The red bay {Laurus Carolinensis) of the southern States, attains the height of 70 feet, and its wood 

 takes a fine polish. The sassafras {L. sassafras) abounds in all parts of the country, and its wood, 

 particularly the root, has a fragrant odor and aromatic taste, and is much used for medicinal purposes. 

 The American holly {lUz opaca) is most abundant in the central regions of the country; the wood is 

 used by cabinet makers, and the keys of piano-fortes are often made of it. The persimon [Diospy- 

 rus Virginiana), and the papaw [Asamina triloba), are confined to the southern part of the country, 

 and are esteemed for their fruits. Several species of poplar are found in the United States, among 

 which the Carolina poplar (Populus angulata) and the cotton-wood [P. Canadensis), are the largest; 

 these abound chiefly on the southern and western rivers. The aspen {P. trcmidoidcs) is a smaller 

 tree. The palmetto or cabbage-tree (Chamaerops palmetto) is a palm growing along the Atlantic 

 coast in the Carolinas and Georgia. The American chestnut {Castanea Americana) is one of our 



Holly. Carolina Poplar. Palmetto. Chestnut, 



loftiest trees ; its fruit though smaller, is sweeter than those of the European species. The chin- 

 quapin ( C. Pumila) is merely a shrub, but it produces a pleasant fruit. The nut of the hazel 

 [Cori/lus Americana) is also very delicate. The red beech {Fagus ferruginea) is confined to the 

 northern parts of the United States and the British Provinces; the wood is tough and durable. The 

 white beech [F. Americana) is more widely diffused. The hop-hornbeam {Ostrya Virginica), or 

 iron wood, so called from its weight, is also widely diffused. The dogwood [Cornus jlorida) occurs 

 from Massachusetts to Florida; it is a small tree, but it makes a fine appearance in the spring, when 

 covered with a profusion of white flowers. The sour gum (^Nyssa villosa), and the great tupelo 

 (iV. dcnticulata), are southern trees, and reach a great height; but the black gum {N. bijlora), or 

 tupelo, is much smaller. The American nettle-tree {Celtis occidentalis) abounds in the southern 

 and western States, and grows to the height of 70 feet. The hackberry or hoop-ash (C. crassifolia) 

 is peculiar to the western States, and exceeds the nettle-tree in height; its wood is used for making 

 chair-bottoms, and by the Indians for baskets. The red mulberry {Morus rubra) is rare in the At- 

 lantic, but abundant in the western States. Its fruit is agreeable, and the wood very durable. The 

 white mulberry [M. alba), and the black mulberry are exotics from Italy and China, and are begin- 



Red Beech. Dogwood. JYettle Tree. White .Mulberry. 



ning to be cultivated for feeding silk-worms. There are five or six species of ash in the United 

 States, among which are the white ash (Fraxinus acuminata), one of the most beautiful and valuable 

 trees of the American forest, chiefly confined to the northern States and the British Provinces ; the 

 blue ash {F. qnadrangulata) of the western States, and the black ash {F sambucifolia), also a 



