LETTEES FEOM ALABAMA. 
159 ' 
tlie skin becomes shrivelled. It grows rapidly, but 
does not attain a great altitude. It is said to be 
native of Persia. 
Shade is a luxury in this hot climate, and 
therefore trees are in much request around the 
house ; the oaks, and the sycamore, seem to be 
generally preferred, doubtless on account of their 
dense and massy foliage. The latter, the Button- 
wood of the northern states [Flatanus occidenta- 
Us)^ is inded a noble tree, probably the most 
noble of our forests. Growing in the rich black 
soil of the deep swamps, the accumulated vegetable 
mould of uncounted ages, it acquires a diameter 
and an altitude which entitle it to be called the 
forest king. Here it often shoots up its columnar 
trunk to the summit of the surrounding trees, before 
it begins to branch ; and then its tall pyramidal 
head of foliage towers far above^ appearing when 
viewed from an elevation, like a tree growing on 
the surface of the forest. It is sometimes subject to 
remarkable swellings and distortions of the trunk ; 
I have seen some, hollowed by decay, as capacious 
as a small room, while from one side up shoots 
the fair green trunks like a tall chimney. I have, 
been told of one not far distant, in the hollow of 
which, it is said, a man may turn round, with 
a rail on his shoulder (a rail is from ten to four- 
teen feet in length) ; I have not, however, seen this 
tree myself, but I consider it as by no means 
improbable. The leaves are of a fine green, six or 
eight inches in width, somewhat triangular, with 
projecting pointing lo]3es, indented or heart-shaped 
at base. They hang in broad dense masses, with 
large intervals of dark shadow, giving by the fine 
contrast of light and shade, a very picturesque 
