FORESTRY - º º - º ±22：39:2:：3×3×××××××××××>:>::>:>::>:>::>:>::>:：>:>:：>:>:：>:>::>:>::>:>:：>:：>:>::>:>::>:>:：>:>::>::>:>::>:>№ Heº : DºDºº Hº:S: 3D jº O º © Pº º: ROSTON, MASS. 3Dº © © © º * > e “№ ſae. №º. *** 2D 25°º: S:3: oA Pocket Manual ‘BY D. A. CLARKE, UNDER ‘DIRECTION łº TREES OF MASSACHUSETTS OF F. W. RANE, STATE FORESTER STATE HOUSE Hºº º º *> Yºº * ºp FOREST HOW YOU MAY KNOW THEM łº D *\ te \ Qo \ 23 Dº¿£àº！º aeº. № №ao）… • №ºaeſ ） ºf №ºaeae, º aeº ſaº 4）！\，•∞,∞.<%、、{}{}■ģ'n ſytytyſſaecae:© &#ą?¿xºſ• • • • • • • • ø • • • • • • • * •§§łį*-->ſae&#################。&&&&&&X， & & & &§§§Oe• ××××××。、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、ę************************************&&&&&&************ț¢ ${3}（?:（?:\ſ*$ $ $ € £ ¥ $ ¢ £ €************|-№saeſae*********��ſaeae:：∞ ####################################-->##############################################################§§§ #######################∞########################################################################## 、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、、。ſae§§§§§łºś#####ſaeiſae###########################××8×。§§§ * &&** * * * * · * * * * · * **、。################################ĒĒĒĒĒ#################################### ###################→######################################################################### ≡§§§§§§§§§§§########• ••-->§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ →##∞# ################~ && &&-& • →→**«№#####© ®&&&&&&ſae §§§ <> №ſ șaeºsº ######### ț¢&########### §§ §§→ #################### ####################### ±±±±± 4.s …« » «， ！» « » « »（głºſºſ####€.######،##########$$$$-№ №#####§ł ***: ****** ** *********•#########----:，： ， «（ * & * & * & → -->•########################################################### «»， «4* * *！！！，，，############################################################## -##############ë3;*######§§§§§§§§{{################Ë��####§§#¿ ș####################################################±±±±，±,±，±，±，±，±，±,±）， *********************; CONTENTS = #ssesssssssssssssssssss PAGE PAGE Pine Trees. Key for identifying . . .5|Beech Tree ... e * . . 35 While Pine Tree Chestnut . . . . . 36 Red Pine or Norway . . . 8|Oak Trees. Key for identifying . 37 Pitch Pine • *. . . •. . . . 9|White Oak . . . . . 38 Tamarack or Larch © te . 10 | Chestnut Oak. tº tº e . 39 Spruce Trees. Key for identifying . l l Swamp White Oak. ë g . 40 ; 6 Black Spruce . ę tº © . 12 | Red Oak e * > e gº . 41 Red Spruce . . . . . 13|Scarlet Oak . . . . . 42 Hemlock te gº * tº . 14 || Yellow or Black Oak . e . 43 White Cedar . . . e . 15 | Elm Trees. Key for identifying . 45 Red Cedar or Juniper . . . 16 | Slippery Elm . e e tº . 46 Walnut Trees. Key for identifying . 17 | White or American Elm . . . 47 Butternut * > * * te § . 18 || Hackberry . • © & . 48 Black Walnut . . . . 19|Sasaſas Tree e tº * . 49 Hickory Trees. Key for identifying . 20 |Sycamore or Buttonwood Tree. . 50 Bitternut Hickory . te & . 21 | Wild Red Cherry . tº º . 5 | Shagbark Hickory . dº & . 22 | Black Cherry . gº e e : 52 Mockernut Hickory. . . . 23 | Locust Tree . . . e . 54 Pignut Hickory tº g g . 24 || Maple Trees. Key for identifying . 55 Poplar Trees. Key for identifying . 25 | Striped Maple e gº e . 56 Aspen (American). e ſº . 26 | Sugar or Rock Maple . e . 57 Aspen (Largetooth). {e . . 27 | Silver or Soft Maple i. . . 58 Birch Trees. Key for identifying . 28 || Red Maple º © tº e . 59 Gray Birch . e tº tº . 29|Basswood or Linden Tree º . 60 Paper or While Birch . . . 30|Black Gum or Tupelo . . . 61 Yellow Birch . ę e e . 31 | Ash Trees. Key for identifying . 62 Sweet or Black Birch . . . 32 | Black Ash . . . . . 63 Hop-Hornbeam or Ironwood . . 33 | White Ash . te wº g . 64 Blue Beech or Hornbeam g . 34 | Red Ash • • & tº . 66 s § §§§§§§§§§§§§ THE COMMERCIAL {FOREST TREES' - OF MASSACHUSETTS ºś ; -** § láz § - --- 3: & * | § HOW YOU MAY KNOW THEM sº A POCKET &ANUAL By D. A. Clarke, under the direction of F. W. Rane, State Forester, State House, Boston, Mass., U. S. A. º BOSTON : WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING COMPANY, STATE PRINTERS, THIRTY-Two DERNE STREET, NINETEEN HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN. * Fook 7// ED/77OA/ ... L * APPROVED . *::: : By the supervisor of ADMINISTRATION *** * * - %-3 v - ". . . . . ," ST) . 3% (.2 , Miff ^ 4 wº, |*|& MAssACHUSETTS FOREST TREES - ºsº PURPOSE OF THIS HANDBOOK THIS handbook has been planned and pub- lished by the State Forester in order to have a practical working description of the commercial trees at the command of Massa- chusetts citizens. Technical terms necessarily used in botanical and forestry books are bewildering to the prac- tical, everyday lumberman, farmer or average person. The attempt, therefore, of this treatise , is to point out clearly how one can tell the Jºcommercially valuable trees of Massachusetts § in a plain and untechnical manner. * } g The really most important points or charac- iters the tree has, which distinguish it from all * others, are first pointed out. This will be all Sºmany persons may care to know. If five needles growing in a cluster always denote a white pine, for example, and people have their atten- tion called to it, few will ever mistake that tree for others. They can settle the matter easily by examining the tree for themselves. Likewise, other trees can be told by following the same plan of identification. JAcknowledgments Mr. Daniel A. Clarke, a Harvard instructor and man of recognized experience and ability in forest botany, was selected to prepare this manuscript. The individual characteristics for identifying each species are Mr. Clarke’s arrangement. MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES #3 º §§§º The cuts illustrating the foliage and seed production were kindly loaned the State For- ester by Director J. L. Hills of the Vermont Experiment Station. These cuts were used to illustrate a bulletin on “The Trees of Ver- mont,” prepared under the direction of Prof. L. R. Jones of the University of Vermont. The cuts illustrating the winter twigs and buds are from originals made by Miss Helen B. Mason, from carefully-selected specimens collected by Mr. Clarke. - Six cuts, credited under each, are from Sargent’s “Manual of the Trees of North America,” by permission of Houghton, Mifflin & Co. - - -*.*. 2.92. -*. *. ~42. -: ~~~ tº . . º. 3. * § 2. *: ***, Žº sº &ºs Jººs º ºx ºr º *:::::: ić Åiº -- ~~ -º-a% ºf , 3. - - - ..? : ...’r . . . . y : * > **CŞ:... . ..º.º.º. ºf : ºft.*.*, *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*, *::::::::::::::A; 3º; vº ºf ºz º. º. 2). §º º, º ºſº tºº w - *.x; ' ' " ' " : * : - x-ºf- ~1%. - + xii. -- ~ * POPLARS How to know the Poplars Aspen (American) Largetooth Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) - (Populus grandidentata Michx.) Leaves Leaves Roundish. Margin finely to oth ed. Broadly egg-shaped. Margin coarsely .* Upper surface lustrous. scalloped. Upper surface not lustrous. Winter Buds Winter Buds Conical, lustrous and somewhat sticky. Broadly egg-shaped. Not sticky and covered with whitish, matted hairs. Bark Bark Very bitter. Not bitter. Note. — Introduced species. – In addition to these native Poplars, two Euro- pean species are very commonly planted— the Lombardy Poplar (P. migra Italica), recognized by its tall, spire-like form, and the White Poplar (P. alba), easily distin- guished by its leaves, green above and very white-cottony beneath. The Poplars belong to the Willow family and resemble the Willows, especially in flower and fruit characters. The nodding, worm-like, staminate and pistillate catkins are borne upon different trees and, opening before the leaves, are conspicuous in early spring. The Poplars are quite widely distributed, extending from the Arctic y circle to Mexico and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The wood of Poplars is very soft and light and especially liable to warp, but is cheap and useful for making toys, boxes and smaller furniture. Much of it now goes to the pulp mills. - The Poplars, like the Willows, can be propagated easily from cuttings. MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES º, º, º, º, º sº. §º, º, $3, $3, §. §§, º, º, º, . 3. iºš lº º º # §§ § ºt § *ś, 㺠ºść §§§§ §º. $4. icº. -'º --- ~~-x- ...}}. -*. *::: -***'. lº. -ºšº lſº -elºk. -ºk. lº -kº, -ºši. Jº -*. * -aº - ...º.º. G's. ---º'- J& ...º. -ºš. ASPEN (American) (Populus tremuloides Michx.) THE Aspen is a rapid-growing tree common to all parts of Massachusetts, thriving in many soils and situations but preferring a moist, somewhat sandy soil. It is frequently the first tree to take possession where forests have been burned or cut off. Here it is a small, graceful tree, seldom exceeding a height of thirty to forty feet and a diameter of eight to fifteen inches. The branches are slender, extend at right angles to the stem, are slightly pendulous toward the ends and form a narrow, round head. The bark is smooth and pale green, marked with patches of dark brown. On the old trunk it is ash- gray, although at the base of the tree it is almost AMERICAN ASPEN Leaves and flowers; I staminate, 2 pistillate. One-third natural size. black and conspicuously ridged. The bark is very bitter and has a taste similar to that of quinine. The leaves are simple, alternate, roundish, about two inches in length, finely toothed, and dark green and lustrous on the upper surface. The leaf stalk is flattened at right angles to the blade of the leaf. The flowers are in catkins and appear in April before the leaves. The wood is soft, weak and very perishable when exposed to the weather. It is of little value although it is used to a certain extent in the making of paper pulp, box-boards and occasionally for fuel. 26 MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES tºść LARGETOOTH ASPEN (Populus grandidenta Michx.) THE Largetooth Aspen is of common occurrence throughout the State, growing in various soils and situations, but preferring rich, sandy soil in the vicinity of streams and swamps. It is a quick-growing tree, very similar in habit to the Aspen. Naturally it attains a height of thirty to forty feet and a trunk diameter of twelve to twenty inches. * The bark is smooth and greenish-gray in color. On old trees it is somewhat darker and divided into broad, flat ridges. LARGETooth ASPEN Leaves and flowers; pistillate above, staminate below. One-third natural size. The leaves are simple, alternate, broadly egg-shaped, three to four inches in length, coarsely scalloped on the margins and dark green on the upper surface. The leaf stalk is flattened at right angles to the blade of the leaf. The flowers are in catkins and appear in March or April, before the leaves. The wood is similar to that of the preceding, being light, soft and of little value. It is used for paper pulp, box-boards and sometimes for fuel. 27 MAss ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES BIRCHES How to know the Birches sº Gray Birch (Betula populifolia Marsh.) Bark Grayish-white and chalky on the outer Paper or White Birch (Betula £apyrifera Marsh.) Bark Creamy-white and lustrous on the outer Yellow Birch (Betula lutea Michx. f.) Bark Silvery-gray or light or ange in SWeet Or Black Birch (Betula lenta L.) Bark Dark, almost black and without lustre. surface and orange surface and orange | color. Separates Broken into large, on the inner. Does on the inner. Sep- into thin, persistent irregular plates. not separate into arates readily into layers. On young Onyoung branches papery layers. thin layers. branches aromatic. aromatic. : Leaves Leaves Leaves Leaves Triangular, 1 on g- || Egg-shaped and not Egg-shaped to ob- | Egg-shaped to ob- pointed and coarsely long-pointed. Usu- long. Sharply long. Sharply doubly to oth ed. ally doubly toothed. | doubly toothed. toothed. Lustrous on upper | Not lustrous. surface. F10 Wers Flowers Flowers Flowers W in ter catkins borne singly or in pairs. W in ter catkins borne in clusters of three. W in ter catkins not cluste red. Three to four on a shoot. W in te r catkins not clustered. Three to four on a shoot. Note. — The European White Birch (B. alba), an introduced species, is com- monly planted for ornamental purposes. the native White Birch. There are numerous horticultural varieties, some with finely-cut leaves and pendulous branches. The wood of Birches is valued chiefly for cabinet-making, for spools and other small articles. It is a beautiful tree, closely resembling Birches yield quantities of seed and are extremely valuable in reseeding waste and barren lands, and rendering the conditions favorable to White Pine coming in. The White Pine then replaces them in clean stands. When young, the saplings of all the species look more or less alike. * Y. MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES sº GRAY BIRCH (Betula populifolia Marsh.) Th; Gray Birch grows abundantly in all parts of the State, thriving on the poorest sandy soils, yet by no means limiting itself to such unfavorable situa- tions. This is the tree that is usually the first to take possession of fields or pastures that have gone into disuse, mingling with other plants of similar desires or taking possession of many areas by itself. As commonly found, it is a small, slender, pyramidal tree, from twenty to twenty-five feet in height. The trunk as a rule a scends obliquely. Branches are short, slender and * often pen- dulous and clothe the trunk to theground. . The whole appearance of the tree is light and airy. The bark on the trunk is grayish- white and chalky on the outer surface and orange on the inner. Unlike some of the other birches, its bark does not easily sep- arate into layers. The branches are black- ish and the young shoots are brown. The leaves are simple, alternate, triangular, GRAY BIRCH long-pointed, two and one-half to four W.s inches in length, coarsely toothed and dark nº. green and glossy on the upper surface. º The flowers are in catkins. The sterile ones appear in the fall and are usually solitary. The wood is light, soft and not durable. It is used in the manufacture of spools and shoe pegs and is useful for summer fuel. The tree is chiefly valuable for the rapidity with which it grows on poor soil. GRAY BIRCH Leaves and fruit. One-third natural size. sº 29 MASSA CHUSETTS FOREST TREES ***śāº PAPER OR WHITE BIRCH (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) IN Massachusetts the Paper Birch, so called because of the use to which the early settlers put the bark, grows commonly in the middle and western parts of the State and is very infrequent in the eastern sections. Wherever found, its favorite home is the vicinity of streams and swamps - and the damp, wooded slopes. In habit it is a pyramidal tree of raceful appearance g pp *...* white or PAPER BIRCH commonly attaining Leaves and fruit. 8. height of about One-third natural size. fifty feet and a diameter of one to two feet. The trunk is usually continuous, though it may sometimes divide, and the slender branches are horizontal or slightly pendulous. When old or crowded, the Paper Birch loses its lower branches and assumes a small, round head. The bark on the trunk is white and lustrous on the outer surface and orange on the inner. It separates freely into thin, papery scales. The leaves are simple, alter- warre ' nate, egg-shaped, apex not long-pointed, °º g - BIRCH three to four inches long, doubly toothed and Winter twig dark, lustreless green on the upper surface. "...; The flowers are borne in catkins. The sterile * catkins which appear in the fall are mostly in clusters of three. The wood is light, strong and hard. It is used for spools, shoe lasts, pegs, in the making of paper pulp and for fuel. 30 MASSA CHUSETTS FOREST TREES *ś YELLOW BIRCH (Betula lutea Michx. f.) HIS Birch is common throughout Massachusetts, inhabiting the low, rich woods and hillsides or mountain slopes. N It is the largest of the native birches and often attains a height of fifty to sixty feet and a trunk diameter of two to three feet. Usually the trunk divides at a considerable dis- tance from the ground, continuing in a two or three large limbs. The branches º are numerous and slender. In the woods the head is small and irregular, while in the open it is broad and round. The bark on the trunk is silvery-gray or light orange in color and separates into thin, persistent layers. On very old trees the trunk is rough, gray or blackish and without lustre. The young twigs are light brown, lustrous and aromatic, but to a less degree than those of the Sweet Birch. / The leaves are simple, alternate, egg- shaped or approximately oblong, doubly toothed, three to five inches long and dark green and lustreless on the upper surface. The flowers are in catkins. The winter catkins are three to four in number and not in clusters. The wood is heavy, strong, hard and flexible. It is used in the making of furniture, in the building of carriages, for flooring and for fuel. When this species is in clear stands YELLow it should be thinned as soon as it gets ... ** large enough for use, as it is attacked ". º by a fungus which depreciates the value of the stand for future results. This species takes on a deep bronze when very old. * 31 MAssACHUSETTS FOREST TREES Fº SWEET OR BLACK BIRCH (Betula lenia L.) HE Sweet Birch is of frequent occurrence through- out the State, though it rarely grows in the vicinity of the coast. Its favorite habitat is the rich, moist soil of woods or the banks of streams. As commonly found, it is a medium-sized tree, having a height of about fifty feet and a trunk dia- §, & meter of one to two feet, although specimens may exceed these dimensions. The trunk is upright and the branches are slender, extending al- most horizon- tally, with the lower ones often some- what pendu- lous. In the open the tree develop s a symmetrical, round head. The bark on the trunk is dark, almost black, dull and broken into large, ir- regular plates. On old trunks it very much resembles that of the Sweet Cherry, wherefore the term Cherry Birch is often applied to the tree. The young shoots are dark brown, lustrous and very aromatic. It is this last sº characteristic which justifies the name half natural size. Sweet Birch. The leaves are simple, alternate, egg-shaped or approaching oblong, three to four inches long, sharply toothed and dark green and dull on the upper surface. The flowers are in catkins. Of the winter ones there are three or four on a shoot. The wood is heavy, very strong, hard, durable and easily wrought. It is used largely in the making of furniture and is highly esteemed for fuel. SWEET OR BLACK BIRCH Leaves and fruit. One-third natural size. 32 MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES **************************** l HOP-HORNBEAM OR IRONWOOD (Ostrya virginiana Koch.) HE Hornbeam, so called because of its general resemblance to the European Hornbeam, is a " * small, slender, round-topped tree, usually not more than twenty to thirty feet tall and eight to twelve inches through. Its branches are long, slender and somewhat drooping at the ends. It occurs commonly throughout the State, growing on gravelly and rocky slopes, often in rather open woods. The bark on the trunk is light brown tinged with red and breaks into fine scales. These sepa- rate easily, are nar- rower than the scales of any rough-barked tree and become finer and narrower as the tree grows older. The leaves are simple, alternate, -- egg-shaped or nearly HORNBEAM OR IRONWOOD * oblon £2 shar p l y Leaves and fruit. One-third natural size. toothed, two to three inches long and very similar to those of the Blue Beech. The flowers are borne in catkins, the sterile ones appearing in the fall, usually in clusters of three, and the fertile ones appearing in the spring. The fruit, which ripens in September, very closely resembles a cluster of hops. The wood is compact, close-grained, strong, tough, durable and very heavy. It is good for levers, stakes, binding poles, handles, mallets and the like. 33 MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES ºs, º, º is tº i, º, º, º, º, º, ºr º, ºft.*:::, $º. 3:3, ºi, º, º, º is ºf iº, º, §§§§§ §§§ §§ §§ §§§ §§§. §§ º > * > * §§ ; ; : y ğſº * gº tº iº * º º º: § 38; s § # ** .." i. ;& A **śń º sº Jāº. ** *a* ~$8. - ** $!!.. Tº → *- : * ~ *-* -º- -ºs. *. -* * - sº -e Yºtº. Neºs. --, *i- -ºš. aº a ... º. -- -*. - *** * - # i. s º --º's 3.x. -xº~ * BLUE BEECH OR HORNBEAM (Water Beech) (Carpinus caroliniana Walt.) NHABITING wet woods and the border of swamps and streams, the Blue Beech is of common occur- rence throughout the State, though less frequent near the coast than inland. It is a slow-growing, small tree, ten to thirty feet high, with a short trunk not more than six to twelve inches in diameter. The branches are irregular and crooked and extend at varying angles. The head is compact, broad and flat or somewhat roundish. The trunk is marked with irregular, longitudinal ridges. Its barkis smooth Tike that of the Beech and of a bluish- BLUE BEECH gray color. Leaves and fruit. One-third natural For this rea- size. son it is called the Blue Beech. The leaves are simple, alternate, egg-shaped or oval, sharply and irregularly toothed, ~~~~ two to three inches in & º length and very similar to those of the Sweet Birch, though the aro- matic flavor is wanting. . The flowers are borne in catkins. Both the fertile and the sterile ones appear in the spring. In the fruit, the leaf-like body which subtends the nutlet is three-lobed and not inflated, differing in this \ respect from the fruit of the Hornbeam. The wood is compact, close-grained, tough, durable and very strong. It is sometimes used for levers, beetles and the handles of tools. BLUE BEECH Winter twig. One-half natural size. 34 MASSA CHUSETTS FOREST TREES. **śāº; BEECH (Fagus atropunicea Sudworth) HE Beech is of common occurrence throughout the State, yet it is more abundant in the western sec- tions than the eastern. Its home is on cool rocky slopes. In habit it is a spreading tree with a broad and dense head, usually growing from fifty to sixty feet high and having a diameter of one and one-half N to three feet. Not infrequently the WA stem is without branches for ten to 8 BEECH BEECH Winter twig and buds. Leaves and fruit. One-third natural size. One-half natural size. twenty feet. The bark on the trunk is smooth and blue- gray in color. It is not to be mistaken for that of any other native tree, except possibly that of the Blue Beech. The winter buds are long and slender and taper slowly to a sharp point. The leaves are simple, alter- nate, oval, from three to five inches in length, coarsely serrate and green on both surfaces. The fruit is a four-valved, prickly bur which encloses a triangular nut. Its wood is hard, strong, tough, perishable and liable to warp. It is employed in the manufacture of some kinds of furniture, for shoe lasts, for the handles of tools and for fuel. 35 MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES §§§§§ºś CHESTNUT (Castamea dentata Borkh.) THE Chestnut is found commonly throughout Massa- chusetts, though less frequently near the sea-coast than inland. Its habitat is rich, well-drained soil. A rapid grower and one of the tallest and straightest of our trees, it usually has a single trunk destitute of limbs for a considerable distance and a rather small, round head. However, when it is uncrowded, the trunk often separates into several stout branches which form a low, round head of great breadth. In the former case it often attains a height of sixty to eighty feet and has a diameter of three to four feet. Most frequently it is met with in the coppice form, for it \ is one of the trees most m Sº freely reproduced from | * CHESTNUT 22 \ - Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. sprouts. In this case it has a height of thirty to forty feet and a diameter of eight to Wintertwig and fifteen inches. biºlº The bark on the trunk of a small tree is dark gray and smooth. On the old trunk it is thick and divided by shallow furrows into broad, flat ridges. On the twigs the bark is dark brown. The leaves are simple, alternate, five to ten inches in length, sharply toothed and dark yellow-green in color. The fruit is a round, four-valved, prickly bur and con- tains, as a rule, two to three dark brown nuts. The wood is coarse-grained, light, soft, weak, but durable when exposed to alternations of dryness and moisture. It is used in the making of furniture, for house finish- ing, for railway ties, fence-posts and for fuel. CHESTNUT 36 MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES OAKS tºº How to know the Oaks White Oak (Quercus alba L.) Bark Light ashen-gray and broken into thin, irregu- lar flakes. Chestnut 0ak (Quercus prinus L.) Bark Dark brown or almost black and divided into broad, rounded ridges. Swamp White Oak (Quercus Alatanoides Sud.) Bark Grayish-brown and deeply and irregularly divided into broad, flat ridges. Leaves Leaves Leaves With rounded lobes. Not lobed but coarsely Scalloped or slightly lobed. and irregularly scalloped. Frtlit Fruit Fruit Matures first year. Matures first year. Matures first year. Winter Buds Broadly egg-shaped, acute or obtuse at apex, and red-brown. Winter Buds Egg-shaped, rather long- pointed and chestnut- brown. Winter Buds Roundish, obtuse at apex, and brown. Red Oak (Quercus rubra L.) Bark Dark gray or almost black and coarsely and irregu- larly ridged, yet never ex- tremely rough. Inner bark reddish. Scarlet 02k (Quercus coccinea Muenchh) Bark Dark gray and broken into small, irregular ridges. Inner bark red- dish. Yellow 02k (Quercus zelutina Lam.) Bark Dark, almost black, and deeply divided into broad, rounded ridges. In ner bark often yellow. Leaves Lobes with sharp tips. Upper surface with out lustre. Leaves Lobes with sharp tips. Upper surface lustrous. Leaves Lobes with sharp tips. Upper surface lustrous. Fruit Matures second year. Fruit Matures second year. Fruit Matures second year. Winter BIIds Coničal, reddish-brown and smooth. Winter Buds Small, reddish-brown and smooth. Winter Buds Large, strongly angled and coated with matted wool. 37 \ MASSA CHUSETTS FOREST TREES §§ºś WHITE oAK (Quercus alwa L.) Tº White Oak, which receives this appellation because of the light color of the bark on the trunk, grows very commonly in Massachusetts, though it is perhaps less abundant in the western sections than elsewhere. It occurs in a variety of soils and situa- tions, usually on the lighter ground of the uplands, yet sometimes on moist land. A tall tree, commonly developing a height of fifty to seventy-five feet and a trunk diameter of three to four feet, it shows a considerable diversity of habit. In the woods it has a tall, single stem, with a nar- white oak row head. In the open Leaves and fruit. the bole is short and One-third natural size. the lar ge 3 diverging limbs, many of them nearly horizontal, form a broad, round-topped head. The bark on the trunk is light ashen- gray and broken into thin, irregular flakes. The leaves are simple, alternate, from four to seven inches in length and usually divided into seven lobes. The upper sur- face of the leaf is bright green and the º lower, pale green or whitish. In the autumn white oak the foliage turns to a deep wine-red. Not Wººls infrequently it remains on the tree during one-half the winter. The flowers appear in May "* when the leaves are half grown. The fruit matures the first season and ripens in September. The acorn is about three-fourths of an inch in length, light chestnut-brown and enclosed for about one-fourth its length in the cup. Its wood is the most valuable of the native trees. It is hard, heavy, tough, close-grained and durable. It is employed for ship-timber, carriage- making, agricultural implements and for furniture and interior finishing. The bark is valuable for tanning. 38 MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES *ś CHESTNUT OAK (Quercus prinus L.) This tree derives the justification for its common name, Chestnut Oak, from the resemblance which ^, its leaves bear to those of the Chestnut. It occurs in the eastern parts of Massachusetts, sometimes rather frequent locally, as in the Blue Hills. Usually it may be found in rich, moist soil on rocky slopes and banks. Here it is a small or medium tree, twenty-five to forty feet in height with a trunk diameter of one to one and one-half feet. Nevertheless it may sometimes assume greater dimensions. In the former case the trunk is usually continuous. The branches are small and form a narrow, round head. The bark on the old trunk is dark reddish-brown or almost black and divided into broad, rounded ridges which have small surface scales. The leaves are simple, alternate, five or six inches long, oblong or lance- shaped, coarsely and irregularly scal- loped, and yellowish-green and lustrous on the upper surface. º The flowers appear in May when chestnut oak the leaves are partially grown. wintertwig and buds. The fruit matures the first year. One-half natural size. The acorns are about an inch long, light brown in color and slightly or almost half enclosed by the cup. The wood is heavy, hard, strong and durable when in contact with the soil. It is employed for fencing, for railroad ties and for fuel. The bark is used in tanning. Chestnut Oak is considered to be equal in value to the White Oak. 39 MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES **************************** SWAMP WHITE OAK (Quercus platanoides Sud.) TH: species gets its popular designation, Swamp White Oak, from its resemblance to the White Oak and its frequent fondness for swampy situations. Growing in rich soil along streams and swamps, it occurs throughout the State and is rather common in some of the eastern sections. In habit it bears a gen- eral likeness to the White Oak, though its branches are not so spreading and its head is less reg- ular and narrower. Ordinarily its height is from forty to fifty feet and its diameter is from two to three feet. The bark on the trunk is grayish-brown and deeply and irregularly divided into broad, flat ridges. The bark of the White Oak is somewhat lighter and the scales finer. . On the young branches the scales hang loosely, giving a marked appear- ance to the tree. The leaves are simple, alternate, obovate or ob- swamp white oak long, four to six inches “ º º long, scalloped or slightly lobed and dark, lustrous green on the upper swamp we WHITE / surface. OAK The flowers appear in May when the leaves Wººls º an UICIS, are partially grown. One-half natural size. The fruit ripens the first season. The acorn is about one inch long, light chestnut-brown in color and enclosed in the cup for about one-third its length. Its wood is very similar to that of the White Oak and only slightly inferior in quality. It is used in construction, in carriage-building, for interior finish- ing, for furniture and for fuel. - MASSA CHUSETTS FOREST TREES gº RED OAK (Querous rubra L.) THE Red Oak is very abundantly distributed through- out Massachusetts. It occurs in various soils and in various situations, excepting, however, wet land. One of the most rapid-growing of the Oaks and the largest of the native species, it attains a height of sixty to seventy feet and a diameter of three to four feet. Frequently a specimen exceeds these dimensions. Normally the trunk is continuous. The branches are º stout, upright or horizontal, develop higher up on the trunk than do those of the White Oak and form a narrow or sometimes broad head. The bark on the you ng tree is smooth and gray. On the old it is dark gray or almost black and ridged coarsely and irreg- ularly, yet never becoming extremely rough. The leaves are simple, alter- f nate, five to eight inches in length and variable in outline. RED oAK Frequently they are oblong and show seven to Wintertwig nine lobes. The upper,surface is a dull, dark and buds. e e one-half green and the lower surface is yellowish-green. ** The flowers, the earliest of the Oaks, appear in late April or early May when the leaves are partially grown. The fruit matures the second season. The acorn is from three-fourths to one and one-fourth inches in length and is larger than that of any other native Oak. The wood is heavy, hard and strong. It is less valuable than that of most of the Oaks, though it is used for furniture and interior finishing. For fuel it is held in little esteem. - RED OAK Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. 41 MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES ****śººses SCARLET OAK (Quercus coccinea Muenchh) THE deep scarlet which the leaves assume in the autumn is responsible for the popular name which the tree possesses. Normally growing on dry soil, it occurs abundantly in the eastern sections of Massa- chusetts, frequently in the central portion and only rarely in the western. As to habit, it is usually a medium-sized tree, thirty to fifty feet in height and one to two feet in diameter. The trunk is straight and taper- ing. The branches are slender, horizontal and drooping towards the ends. The head is rather narrow and open. The bark on the old trunk is dark gray and broken by shallow fissures into irreg- ular ridges. The inner bark is reddish. The leaves are simple, alternate, three to six inches in length, variable in outline but usually oblong or egg-shaped, divided into seven or sometimes nine lobes and bright, lustrous green on the upper surface. The flowers appear in May when the leaves are about half grown. The fruit matures the second season. The acorn is about one-half inch long, bright reddish-brown, often striped and enclosed in the cup for about one-half its length. The wood is heavy, hard and strong. In value it ranks a little lower than that of SCARLET the Red Oak and serves to a limited extent wº. for the same purposes. and buds." Chiefly because of its beautiful autumnal ºt. coloring it is rather commonly planted for ornamental purposes. 42 MAssaCHUSETTS FOREST TREES **************************** ~& ..ºk. -aº - ºxic. YELLOW OAK (Quercus velutina Lam.) HE Yellow Oak, or, as it is more frequently called, the Black Oak, occurs in all parts of Massachu- setts and is really abundant in the eastern sections. Its usual home is on poor soil, particularly on gravelly uplands and ridges. As to habit, it is intermediate between the Red Oak and the Scarlet Oak. The trunk commonly attains a height of fifty to sixty feet and a diameter of two to three feet. The branches are stouter than those of YELLOW OAK Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. the Scarlet Oak, yet not so stout as those of the Red. The head is narrow and roundish. The bark on young stems is smooth and dark gray or brown. On old trunks it is dark, almost black, and is deeply divided into broad, rounded ridges. In this last respect it differs from the Red Oak, the bark of which has flat ridges and is never quite so rough. The winter buds are large, strongly angled and covered with a matted, woolly growth. The leaves are very variable, sometimes resembling those of the Scarlet and sometimes those of the Red Oak. They are simple, alternate, egg-shaped or ob- 43 MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES .**** **. sº tºº. . . ; º; Fºº-ºº. 3", etc. a.º.4: ** * * * * ...º. **.3 × . . * * * * : *t - •r, . . . . º, .3% §, *::::. sº *** 3: º, #ºs. . º, - . * *- : *., º, . . . . . ." * - * : * * * * * * * 1 . ºx! …"; * * * - ... "... ; ; *:::: § ; ::, in; tº -***. -*. **: < . . $ºt. º., 3&sº, º, ºvºi, º, ; ºr ºº §§ ; º º, } s '#' "º slº, 's \\ *$º *...** **ś tº: †:..". Acºal- -8. -** *** -ºs. -ºs. --& Yellow Oak — Concluded long, mostly seven-lobed, sometimes divided nearly to the midrib and again nearly entire, and dark green and glossy on the upper surface. The flowers appear in the early part of May when the leaves are nearly half grown. The fruit matures the second year. The acorn is one-half to three-fourths of an inch long, light red- brown, often marked with lines of a darker color and enclosed in the cup for about one-half its length. The wood is heavy, hard, coarse-grained and strong. It has little use except for fuel. The bark is used in tanning and in medicine. YELLOW OAK Winter twig and buds. One-half natural size. MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES ºśsº #: *::::, º. º. §§§ & Jºº. ºx A * ELMS How to know the Elms Slippery Elm (Ulmus pubescens Walt.) Habit Medium height. Head broad and almost flat. White Elm (Ulmus americana L.) Habit Talland variable in outline, yet typically vase-shape. Bark on Trunk Dark brown tinged with red. Inner bark mucilaginous. Bark on Trunk Ashy-gray. Inner bark not mucilagin- OUIS, Leaves Very rough on the upper surface and nearly as rough én the lower. Leaves Somewhat rough on the upper surface. and smooth on the lower. Winter Buds Dark brown and covered with rusty hairs. Winter Buds Brown and smooth. ºśā §§ ºº:: zºº. fº jº } #3 #: MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES gºš *śāº SLIPPERY ELM (Ulmus pubescens Walt.) THE Slippery Elm, a common name attached to this species because of the mucilaginous inner-bark, is very rare or wanting in the eastern sections of the State, but is rather frequent in the western parts. It has a preference for low, rich soil, though it some- times occurs on higher ground. In habit it is a lower tree than the Ameri- can Elm and, in proportion to its height, more spreading. It is a medium-sized tree, attaining a height of forty to fifty feet and a trunk diameter of one to two feet. The head is very broad and almost flat. The bark on the trunk is thick, dark brown tinged with red, divided by shallow fissures into flat ridges and covered with flat scales. - f The winter buds ~~~~~ are obtuse, dark r; / 2^ brown in color and | --~ covered with rusty f Ž º hairs. • / The leaves are Y - simple, alternate, º - 3; “ºy ºf , i. ..., “...ſºg, * SASSAFRAS (Sassafras sassafras Karst.) THE Sassafras occurs in almost every part of Massa- chusetts. It grows in various soils and situations but prefers a rich, somewhat sandy, well-drained soil. For the most part it is a small tree. Usually its height would not be much above thirty feet and its diameter much over t we l ve in c he s. The stem is rarely erect, and is of t e n bent and crooked. In young trees the branch es h a v e a wh or le d º a p p e a r- SASSAFRAS Leaves and young fruit. One-third natural size. ance. They are always short and stout, and frequently SASSAFRAS they are contorted. The head is narrow and ...". flat. The bark of the old trunk is thick, "hairmatural dark reddish-brown and strongly ridged. size. On young stems the bark is greenish and finely striate. The twigs are yellowish-green and have strong aromatic properties, as does the bark of all the parts. The leaves are simple, alternate and of greatly vary- ing outline. Sometimes they are entire and then again they are three-lobed. In summer the foliage is dark green and in the autumn it turns to yellow or to orange tinged with red. The flowers are small, greenish-yellow and appear in May when the leaves are unfolding. The fruit is a small, dark blue, lustrous berry which ripens in early fall. The wood is light, soft, brittle and very durable when in contact with the soil. It is used for posts, in construction of light boats and in cooperage. The roots supply the oil of sassafras. . .º. º.º. §§§:#; !?º...?. ...; 33%. , º'Bºº!'. ... . ; º; #3; #### º * . .*.* -lº -º-º-º: *f; jº, ****, * *H*, *. , &rº - ...º is . }º : $º & K. rºs, -ºx. . ... . \ . ****. 49 MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES *śº SYCAMORE (Buttonwood) (Platanus occidentalis L.) This the largest of the New England trees, occurs occasionally throughout the State, frequenting the borders of streams and rich bottom-lands. It grows from fifty to one hundred feet in height and has a trunk diameter of three to eight feet. The trunk may spread near the ground into several large, secondary limbs, or it may rise without branching for a consider- able distance and then have large, spreading branches. The branchlets are very often tufted in appearance, due to the activities of a fungus. The bark on the trunk and large 8 º' ºš . . . . º.º. º.º. º . . ºº:: ... r. ºot º' º ºš sº. 3 ºz § º 4 º * * tº **.* a tºº Nº SYCAMORE - Leaf and fruiting head. One-third natural size. limbs is greenish-gray in color and flakes off in broad scales, exposing the inner bark * which is at first whitish or light green, buds, one half then darker. The leaves are simple, alter- * nate, three to five lobed and light green. The base of the leaf-stalk is swollen and includes the winter bud. The fruit is in the shape of a ball and is about an inch in diameter. It contains very many small seeds and usually remains on the tree until spring. The wood is hard and firm but very perish- able when exposed to the weather, and liable to warp. It is used for tobacco boxes, furniture and interior finish of houses. It is fairly good for fuel. 50 MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES ***************************** WILD RED CHERRY (Bird Cherry) (Prunus pennsylvanica L. f.) THE Wild Red Cherry is a tree of little value, which often takes possession of areas cleared by fire. It occurs in the State, being more abundant in the central and western sections than elsewhere. While it grows in a variety of situations, it really prefers a moist, rich soil. In habit it is a small tree, seldom exceeding a height of twenty-five to thirty feet and a diameter of ten inches. The trunk is continuous and the branches slender. The head is narrow and roundish or oblong. WILD RED CHERRY Leaves, flowers and fruit. One-third natural size. The bark on the young trunk is smooth and red- dish brown, while in the old it is dark red-brown and broken into thin plates. The inner bark possesses bitter, aromatic properties. The leaves are simple, alternate, oblong or lance- shape, three to four inches in length, finely toothed on the margin and bright green and lustrous on the upper surface. # The flowers appear in May when the leaves are about half grown. They are white and occur in clus- ters of four or five. - The fruit is globular in shape, a little larger than a pea and bright red. The wood is light and soft and without economic value. 51 MASSA CHUSETTS FOREST TREES **s, *xrº. 3. 2.Éirº + ºf, ºr tº: * : * : * 3º. 3 ºf tº ºr º: - : 3:... º. º. ºº, 33 gº, º. º. ºf §§ º §§§ § º ºś £º sº º §º . . ." § º #####8&º 2°ºğº jº § {{...º. º. #. º, Rºſº wº §: ** §§ º: :* º ": º - º º º § N. º §: *ś" 33 ". '19, §§ : º - º A “ſ: º §§ ; * ; -** -ºut. BLACK CHERRY (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) OR the economic value of its wood, the Black Cherry is the most important of the native Cherries. It is of common occurrence in all parts of the State, growing on many soils and in many situa- tions, yet preferring moist, rich ground. As to habit, though sometimes a mere shrub, it usually reaches a height of thirty to forty feet and acquires a diameter of ten to fifteen inches, – at times even exceeding these dimensions. The trunk is usually continuous and the branches are small and horizontal. The head is narrow and oblong. º BLACK CHERRY Leaves and fruit. One-third natural size. The bark on young stems is red-brown and some- what lustrous. On the old trunk it is darker and broken into small, irregular plates. The inner bark p is bitter to the taste. The leaves are simple, alternate, oblong to lance- oblong in shape, three to five inches in length, the margin notched with fine teeth, somewhat leathery in texture and dark green and lustrous on the upper surface. The flowers appear in late May or early June, when the leaves are only half grown. They are small, white 52 - MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES gºś, BLACK CHERRY-concluded and borne in many-flowered racemes which are four to five inches in length. The fruit is globular, about the size of a pea, dark purple in color and usually slightly bitter. The wood is light, close-grained, rather hard, not liable to warp and capable of taking a good polish. It is employed in cabinet-making and for interior finishing. The fruit and bark possess valuable medicinal properties. BLACK CHERRY Winter twig and buds. One-half natural size. - MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES *ś LOCUST (Robima pseudacacia L.) ALTHOUGH the Locust is not native to the State, it has become so thoroughly naturalized that it is as common as many of the indigenous species. It prefers rich ground, yet it is found in various soils and situations. - When young it is a rapid-growing tree, often attain- ing a height of twenty feet in half as many years. After that period its increase is much slower. Here it is usually a small tree, from twenty-five to fifty feet in height and from eight inches to two feet in diameter. The trunk is erect or sometimes oblique and irregular. The branches are small and brittle and form a narrow, oblong head. The bark on the old trunk is dark gray, thick and deeply and irregularly furrowed. The young branches are armed with spines which disappear as the tree ages. . The leaves are pinnately compound and composed of seven to twenty-one leaflets. The individual leaflets are small, about an inch or an inch and a quarter in length and oval in outline. The flowers, which appear in early June after the leaves unfold, are borne in loose racemes, four to five inches in length. They are creamy-white, showy, fragrant and much frequented by bees. The fruit is a pod which is smooth, flat, dark brown and about three inches in length. The wood is heavy, exceedingly hard, strong and very durable when in contact with the soil. It is employed for shipbuilding, for fence-posts, in turnery and for fuel. 54 MASSA CHUSETTS FOREST TREES *ś MAPLES How to know the Maples ºś Striped Maple (A cer pennsylvani- cum L.) Sugar Maple (A cer saccharum Marsh.) Silver Maple (A cersaccharinum L.) Red Maple (Acer rubrum L.) Habit A shrub or small, erect tree. Trunk continuous. Habit When young the outline is usually narrow ly egg- shaped. Later it may become round- ish. Trunk con- tinuous. Habit Normally, trunk separates at a few feet from ground into three or four up right stems. Branches slender and often pendu- lous. Habit Trunk upright and usually continu- OUlSe Occasion- ally it divides into 2 or 3 up right stems. Head narrow and round- ish. Bark on Trunk Reddish-brown or dark green with whitish longitudinal striations. Bark on Trunk Gray in color. On old trunk, rough with long ascending scales which project | irregularly at the Bark on Trunk Dark gray with a reddish tinge. More or less furrowed. Separates into thin scales. Bark on Trunk Dark gray. Mark- ed by longitudinal ridges and broken in to plate-like scales. edges. Leaves Leaves Leaves Leaves Roundish, 3-lobed | Usually 5 lo be s, Usually 5 lobes, Lo be s 3 to 5. and finely and sharp- sometimes 3. Bays rarely 3. Lobes | Lobes broad and ly doubly toothed. be t w e en lob e s long, narrow and irregularly doubly rounded. Lo be s toothed. Silvery serrate or toothed. sparingly toothed white on under-sur- | White on under- face. surface. Flowers Flowers Flowers Flowers Bright yellow, in slender race mes. Appear when leaves are fully developed. Greenish-yellow, in clusters, on 1 on g, threadlike stalks. Appear with the leaves. Greenish-yellow or pinkish, in clusters. Appear long before the leaves. Scarlet or yellow- ish-red, in clusters. Appear before the leaves. * 55 MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES *śń. STRIPED MAPLE (Acer pennsylvanicum L.) {{ º HIS Maple is of common occurrence in the central and western sections of Massachusetts, but rare or absent near the coast. In the tree form it is slender and graceful, attaining a height of twenty to twenty- five feet and a diameter of five to eight inches. Its favorite habitat is cool, rocky woods. The bark on the trunk is reddish- brown or dark green, striped longi- STRIPED MAPLE Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. STRIPED MAPLE tudinally with whitish lines which in . te e Winter twig and buds. time turn brown. The bark on the one-half natural size. twigs is bright reddish-brown. The leaves are simple, opposite, from five to six inches in length and nearly as broad, three-lobed and pale green. In the autumn they change to a clear, light yellow. - The flowers, which are bright yellow in color, appear in slender racemes in late May or early June when the leaves are fully developed. The wood is light, soft and without direct commer- cial value. 56 MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES iº SUGAR MAPLE (Rock Maple) (Acer saccharum Marsh.) THE Sugar Maple may be found abundantly through- out the State, although its occurrence is much less frequent toward the seacoast. Wherever it may grow, it is much at home in cool, rich woods and on moist, rocky slopes. Normally, it is a tree growing from fifty to sixty feet high, yet it often reaches a height of at least one hundred feet. In the open the branches develop at a distance of eight or ten feet above the ground and make an acute angle with the trunk, thus forming, at least when the tree is young, an egg - shape d head. Later in life the tree may assume a roundish form. The bark on the old trunk is gray a n d rough e n e d with long ver- tical scales / which project T y irregularly at - t the ed Th SUGAR MAPLE • sº e edges. ſº e Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. oung t w i g s SUGAR young g MAPLE are reddish-brown in color and lustrous. Winter twi Inter twig The leaves are simple, opposite, from three and buds. to five inches in length and have three to five *. lobes. The upper surface of the leaf is dark green, and the under-surface is pale green. In the autumn the foliage takes on brilliant shades of red, scarlet and orange. The flowers, which are greenish- yellow in color, are borne on long, thread-like flower stalks and appear about the middle of April. The wood is heavy, hard, durable, close-grained and capable of taking and retaining a good polish. It is used largely in the interior finish of buildings, in the making of furniture and in shipbuilding. 57 MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES fºś. SILVER MAPLE (Acer saccharinum L.) HE Silver Maple is met with occasionally in the central part of the State, though in the eastern sections it is rare or absent. It grows chiefly along streams and in rich intervales. Normally, it is a tree from fifty to sixty feet in height, having a trunk which separates at a few feet from the ground into three or four upright stems that are destitute of branches for a considerable distance. - The bra n ches Z. proper are long, % slender and not § yº infrequently pen- dulous. N The bark on the ~ NºW j - trunk is dark gray KCS º sº e ve ->\\ ZS with. perhaps 8, $ L: % reddish ting e, • § Ş .* more or less fur- "Aº w rowed and sep- ſ º arates into large, E-3 ſº thin scales. The ſſ bark on the twigs * A is chestnut-brown SILVER MAPLE in color and lus- Leaves and fruit. One-third natural size. trous. The leaves are simple, opposite, from six to seven inches in length and deeply five-lobed. The upper surface of the leaf is pale, while the lower surface is silvery-white. In autumn the foliage becomes a pale yellow. The flowers, which are greenish-yellow or sometimes pinkish, appear before the leaves, in late March or early April. The wood is soft, weak and perishable. It is used in the making of furniture and sometimes for floors. 58 Massachusetts FOREST TREES gº RED MAPLE (Acer rubrum L.) Gºwn G in a variety of situations, though usually where it is wet, the Red Maple appears commonly throughout the State. It is a rapid-growing tree of medium size, with a low, narrow, round head. Nor- mally, it rises to a height of forty to fifty feet and has a diameter of one to two feet. Usually the trunk is continuous, though occasionally it divides R, into two or three upright stems. The branches proper are rather slender and come out at varying angles with the trunk. The bark on older trees is dark gray, m a r k ed by longitudinal ridges and broken with plate - like scales. On the young shoots the bark, is red and shiny. The leaves are simple, RED MAPLE Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. { . te O ED opposite, from three to four inches in length Mºe and have from three to five lobes. The wintertwig and uds. One-half natural size. upper surface of the leaf is light green and ." the under surface white. In the fall the green gives place to varying shades of scarlet or scarlet and orange. The flowers appear before the leaves, in early April, and are scarlet or yellowish-red. Likewise, the fruit, . which ripens in June, has a reddish coloring. The wood is heavy, close-grained, easily worked and capable of taking a good polish. However, it lacks strength and decays speedily when exposed to alterna- tions of moisture and dryness. It is used in the making of furniture, in turnery, for gun-stocks and for fuel. 59 MASSA CHUSETTS FOREST TREES §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ BASSWOOD OR LINDEN (Tilia americana L.) HE Linden is found in rich, moist soil in almost every part of the State. In habit it is a large tree, with an average height of fifty to sixty feet and a diameter of two to three feet. The branches are very numerous, comparatively small and slender and often somewhat pendulous. The head may be broad and round-topped or it may be conical. On young trees the bark is gray and smooth, while on older trunks it is darker and deeply and irregularly furrowed. The twigs are yellowish-green or reddish-brown in color. r The leaves are simple, alternate, very broadly egg- shaped, from four toothed. The flowers are greenish -yellow and appear in late June or early July. The stalk which BASSWOOD bears the flowers Leaf and fruit. one-third natural is attached to an ~. S126. oblong, yellowish, leaf-like body. The flowers themselves are BASSWOOD e - tº winter twig pleasantly fragrant and rich in honey. and buds. One- The fruit is globular, about the size of half natural d d t º l size. a pea, woody and gray in color. The wood is light, close-grained, soft and more tough and pliable than almost any other wood. It is employed for paper pulp, in carriage- making, for furniture and for wooden utensils. a The tree is a favorite with bee-keepers, for bees collect from its flowers a large amount of honey of a very desirable quality. MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES tºº BLACK GUM OR TUPELO (Nyssa sylvatica Marsh.) HE Black Gum occurs rather commonly throughout Massachusetts, where it inhabits the borders of swamps and streams. t - Here it is a small or medium-sized tree, of slow growth and of very variable habit. Its height development ranges from twenty-five to fifty feet and its diam- eter from one to two feet. The branches are slender and angular, the lower ones horizontal or slightly drooping and the upper horizontal or slightly rising. The head is of vary- ing form, cylindrical, § conic a 1, ſº pyramidal, often flat- ; topped and us u a l l y pict u r - esque. The bark o n the trunk is dark gray. On the old BLACK GUM trunk it is Leaves and staminate flower clusters. e i ; One-half natural size. di v i d e d into many small scales. The leaves are simple, alternate, entire and from two to five inches long. In summer the leaves are elack gum dark green and lustrous on the upper sur- wintertwig face. In the autumn the foliage takes on and buds. One- e * : * e e half natural size. brilliant hues of scarlet and crimson. . The fruit, which ripens in October, is about one- half inch long, blue-black and sour. Its wood is heavy, soft, strong and not very durable. It is used for the hubs of wheels, for rollers and piles. It is difficult to split; hence, when it is made to serve for fuel, the logs are usually employed. 61 MASSAC HUSETTS FOREST TREES ASHES sº How to know the Ashes Black ASh (Fraxinus migra Marsh.) Leaves Leaflets 7 to 11 and with- out stalks, excepting the terminal one. White ASh (Fraxinus americanta L tº: ) Leaves Leaflets 7 to 9 and sup- ported by short stalks. Red ASh (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) Leaves Leaflets 7 to 9 and sup- ported by short stalks. Winter Buds and Twigs Buds black. Shoots olive- green, smooth. Winter Buds and Twigs Buds brown. Shoots olive-green, smooth and lustrous. Winter Buds and Twigs Buds brown. Shoots greenish and more or less covered with down. MASSA CHUSETTS FOREST TREES * º: BLACK ASH (Fraxinus migra Marsh.) HE Black Ash is found to a certain extent through- out the State, though more abundantly in the central and western portions than in the eastern. It confines itself almost exclusively to rich, moist ground in the vicinity of streams and swamps. In habit it is a very slender tree, usually growing to a height of sixty to seventy feet and having a diameter of one to two feet. In the woods the trunk is slim and without branches until near its very top. In the open - ſº it may have a broad, round head. The bark on the trunk is dark gray and marked by parallel ridges. The s e a s on ’s shoots a re olive-green and smooth, and the buds are black. The leaves are opposite, - BLACK ASH tw elve to fif- . Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. teen inches in length and consist of seven to eleven leaflets. These are oblong, four to five inches long, remotely toothed and without stalks, except in the case of the terminal one. - The flowers and fruit for all superficial purposes resemble those of the White Ash. The wood is heavy, soft, tough and durable. It is used in cabinet work, for interior finishing, for hoops and for baskets. For this last purpose it is held in very high esteem. 63 MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES tºś3 WHITE ASH (Fraxinus americana L.) This rapid-growing tree occurs in all parts of Massa- chusetts and on every kind of ground, although it thrives best in deep, rich soil in the vicinity of streams. As to habit, it usually attains a height of fifty to seventy-five feet and a trunk diameter of two to three feet. In the open the trunk divides at a few feet from the ground into two or three large limbs, then assumes a broad, round head. WHITE ASH Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. The bark on the trunk is dark brown or deep gray. It is deeply divided by furrows, which are parallel or connect at intervals into broad, flattened ridges. The season’s shoots are olive-green and smooth. | The leaves are opposite, eight to twelve inches in length and composed of seven to nine leaflets. The individual leaflets are egg-shaped or oblong, three to five inches in length, stalked, remotely toothed and dark green on the upper surface. The flowers appear in May before the leaves. 64 MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES lºº - WHITE ASH – Concluded The fruit is a winged body, oblong in shape and one to two inches in length. It ripens in late August or September and often hangs on into the winter. It is a valuable forest tree and the most useful of the Ashes. The wood is heavy, hard, strong, tough and elastic. It has many uses. It is employed in the manufacture of agricultural implements, in the making of furniture, for the handles of tools, in carriage- building and sometimes for interior finishing. WHITE ASH winter twig and buds. One-half natural size. 65 MASS ACHUSETTS FOREST TREES *****ºś RED ASH (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) Th; Red Ash, not infrequently mistaken for the White Ash, occurs occasionally throughout Massa- chusetts. Its home is in low, rich soil near streams and swamps. In habit it is very much like the White Ash, though it is usually smaller in every way. It seldom grows to a height of more than fifty or sixty feet and its diam- eter rarely exceeds eighteen to twenty inches. In the open the head is rather broad and round-topped. RED ASH Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. The bark on the trunk of a mature tree is dark gray or brown and furrowed, but less deeply and more regularly than in the case of the White Ash. The season’s shoots are greenish-gray and coated with numerous fine hairs which often persist until the sec- ond season. The leaves are opposite, compound, ten to twelve inches in length and composed of seven to nine leaflets. The flowers and fruit, to all intents and purposes, are similar to those of the White Ash. t The wood is heavy, hard and brittle. It is much / inferior to that of the White Ash, though it is used . . for many of the same purposes. 66 *ś *: * § * §§§ sº liſiii. - "####55 i. | º - （ º º i. - - - º i. º