TTMBEE OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA 115 
varieties are excellent and durable timber ; some consider 
the black cypress the better wood. 
A good many fine specimens of this swamp cypress, 
which grows best where the roots are always in contact 
with water, are to be found in Great Britain growing to a 
height of 100 ft. The timber is said to last well in 
fencing, but we have not had much experience of it. 
Persimmon, the Virginian date plum (Diospyros virginiana), 
a tree of 30 to 50 ft. high and 18 to 20 inches in 
diameter, is noted chiefly for its fruit, but it produces a 
very hard and elastic timber of considerable value, some of 
which comes in small pieces into the English market. The 
colour of the wood is brown, sometimes almost black, with 
rather broad, cream coloured sap, very close grained, tough 
and strong, but liable to split. It is used in turnery and 
now largely as a substitute for box — especially the black or 
Mexican variety — and a good deal in shuttles for weaving 
purposes, shoe lasts, etc. It does best in the lower Ohio 
valley, but is found from New York to Texas. The tree is 
also found in various parts of the world, including Japan. 
The annual rings are distinct, and medullary rays very 
fine. It somewhat resembles hickory, but is of finer 
texture. 
Locust or False Acacia grows extensively in the southern 
States and also in Canada, and produces a timber of 
greenish yellow colour with reddish or brown markings. 
It is very durable, heavy, fairly hard and tough, rivalling 
some of the best oak in this latter quality, makes good 
treenails and durable fencing posts and door sills, and is a 
good deal used for fretwork. The timber has great 
torsional strength, excelling most of the soft woods in 
this respect. There are several varieties. 
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