128 OSAGE ORANGE, OR YELLOW-WOOD. 
in the garden of Mr. Chouteau, at St. Louis, which were 
raised from seeds collected in the country of the Osages. 
It was afterwards introduced into the garden of the late 
Mr. M‘Mahon of Philadelphia, from seeds collected by 
Governor Lewis. The largest tree I have seen in cul- 
tivation is in the garden of Mr. Thomas (now David) 
Landreth, in Federal Street, Philadelphia. It is about 
20 feet high and 5J in circumference. This tree has for 
many years borne fruit, but the seeds have only of late 
been perfected, in consequence of the absence of the 
staminiferous individual, on the accession of which, how- 
ever, it produced abundance of seeds nearly as large 
as those of the Orange, and much of the same form; 
these were indicated in the fruit by an unusual projec- 
tion of the external tubercles. 
The wood of the Maclura is solid, heavy, and elastic, 
of a fine yellow colour, which, like the Fustic, it readily 
communicates to water, and it might consequently be 
used as a dye. It is also capable of receiving a fine 
polish, and resembles satin-wood by its brilliant gloss. 
The elasticity and durability of its wood has long been 
celebrated by the Indians, who, from its use, have be- 
stowed upon it the name of Bow-wood, and the Cana- 
dians, who traversed these regions in quest of furs, 
knew it long by the name of the Bois (Parc. The bark, 
as in Broussonetia, affords a fine white flax. Another 
important use of the Maclura, in this climate, is that of 
forming live fences or hedges, for which purpose it is 
well adapted, as it bears cutting, grows close, and is 
very thorny, as well as free from the attacks of blight 
and insects; it has all the advantage of keeping for a 
long time green, and appears, in all respects, as elegant 
a fence as that of the Wild Orange in the south. It 
has, besides, an additional recommendation in its use 
