MAY. 
175 
except for its fruity, which is by no means equal to an 
English walnut. 
C. — I notice the leaves of a shrub which grows abun- 
dantly in the upland woods ; the common people call it 
moosewood. The leaves are large and heart-shaped, and 
much wrinkled. 
F, — I know the bush well ; it is a species of Guelder- 
rose f Viburnum Lantanoides J : the moosewood of botanists 
is a species of maple f Acer Striatum J, This plant bears in 
autumn clusters of round berries, which are at first green, 
then bright red, and when ripe shining black. They are 
hard at first and astringent, but become farinaceous ; they 
are not very pleasant^ though some persons eat them. Its 
leaves expand very rapidly. The Basswood, or Lime (Tilia 
Glabra J is at length bursting its glutinous leaf-buds. This 
tree frequently attains a great height, but though its trunk is 
usually remarkably straight, round, and pillar-like, and its 
outline good, the foliage is never beautiful. The leaves are 
always corroded or distorted in some way, so that among 
many trees I have often vainly searched to find a perfect leaf, 
except such as were just unfolded. The cause of this I do 
not know, unless it be produced by minute insects : few 
caterpillars feed on the basswood, and as the tree is so com- 
mon^ their ravages could be easily discovered ; whatever the 
cause, the effect is greatly detrimental to the beauty of the 
tree. The outer bark of this species is rough and stringy, 
the inner bark is viscid and sweet, the twigs and buds are 
likewise very glutinous when chewed ; cattle are fond of 
them, and in severe winters, when fodder is scarce, it is 
common for a farmer to drive his stock into the woods of a 
morning, and cut down a basswood or a maple, on which 
they eagerly browse, and which proves nutritive. 
C. — Is the wood of this tree of any service ? 
F, — It is extremely soft and white when green ; when 
