KNOW THEn- • Prepared and PxiblijKei FoREimfKPARTriLhT. ^ iki.E • loKfi^t C rical and conical in outline. In the forest it has a narrow head, and the trunk is commonly free of branch- es for a considerable portion of its length. The old forest trees have a broad and somewhat irregular head. The branches are horizontal, and in regular whorls, usually of five each. Very old trees often With scales open and seeds gone. White Pine needles grow i in clusters of five. • become very irregular and picturesque. The trunk tapers gradually, and the tree often attains a height of one hundred feet. Commonly it is from seventy tc eighty feet tall, and having a diameter of one to three feet. The bark of young trees is smooth and thin green tinged with red. On old trees, it is from one tc two inches thick, very dark, and divided into broad flat ridges by shallow fissures. The leave* are in clusters of five, and are fron three to five inches long. They are bluish green, bein| whitish on one side. 6 FOREST TREES OF MAINE WHITK PINK — Concluded The cones are four to six inches long, cylindrical and borne on a long stalk. They open early in Sep- tember to discharge the small winged seed, which matures in August of the second season. The white pine occurs in all localities in the State. It grows in moist situations, on uplands, and on sandy soil, but makes the best development on fertile, well- drained soils. On sandy soil it often forms pure, or nearly pure 'forests or groves. The tree grows rapidly both in height and diameter, making an average height growth of one foot each year. WHITE PINE Embryo and Mature cones. One-half natural size. From Sargent’s “Manual of the Trees of North America,” by permission of Houghton, Mifflin & Co. The wood is light in color, and durable except in contact with the soil. It is soft, not heavy, and is easily worked. The wood is used for building pur- poses and for cabinet making. The second growth white pine is now used extensively in this State for the manufacture of box boards. At one time white pine was very abundant in the State, and it was for this reason that the appellation Pine Tree State” was given to Maine. It was also because of the abundance and value of the white pine that this tree was chosen as the emblem of the State. 7 RED PINE (Norway Pine) (Phius resinosa Ait.) The young trees have the branches extending to the ground and form a conical outline. These drop off later, and in old age the head is rounded, flattened, stout and picturesque. The branches are generally horizontal. It attains a height of sixty to eighty feet, and a diameter of two to three feet. The trunk is tall, straight and tapers slowly. The bark is about one inch thick, divided into broad, flat ridges by shallow fissures, and further bro- ken up in to thin, reddish brown scales, loosely attached. The leaves are arranged in clusters of two, five to six inches long, dark green, soft and flexible. RED PINE— One-half natural size. '\ From Sargent’s “Manual of the Trees of North America,’’ by permission of Houghton, Mifflin & Co. j The cones are much like an egg in shape, about two inches long, and borne on short stalks. They jj mature in the fall of the second season, shedding their j seeds early in autumn, and usually remaining on the ^ branches until the next summer. ‘i The red pine, though common, is found only locally ■ throughout the State, growing on dry, rocky ridges, or light, sandy soil, usually in groves scattered through forests of other species. The wood is a little heavier than white pine, ■ close grained, hard, strong, and has a pale red color. It ^ is used for piles, buildings and bridge construction. Owing to the reddish appearance of the bark, and f the pale red color of the heart wood, the name “red- pine” is an appropriate one, much more so than Nor- way pine, which is misleading, and for this reason the ’ use of the latter should not be encouraged. ; 8 ! FOREST TREES OF MAINE PITCH PINE {Pinus ri£ida Mill.) On the young trees, the branches are horizontal, rigid, produced in remote regular whorls, forming an open narrow crown. In old age, the branches are stout, contorted, and form a low, broad, rounded head. It attains a diameter of one to two feet, and a height of only thirty to forty feet, often being very much shorter than this. The trunk tapers rapidly and generally is straight. Very often the tree produces fruit when only a few feet high. The bark is rough even on young stems and branches. On old trees, it is irregularly divided into continuous broad flat ridges, and is deep gray or reddish brown in color. PITCH PINE.— One-half natural size. From Sargent’s “Manual of the Trees of North America,’’ by permission of Houghton, Mifflin & Co, The leaves are in clusters of three, and are from three to five inches long. They are dark yellow green, stiff, standing at right angles to the branch. The cones are one to three inches long, borne on short stalks, hardly noticeable, and are often produced in clusters. A sharp, rigid curved prickle is produced on the tip of each scale. The cones often remain on the trees ten to twelve years. The pitch pine grows on sandy plains,, and on the dry gravelly soil of the uplands. It is quite common in the southwest part of the State, and on the sand plains near Brunswick it is the only species found on areas of considerable extent. The wood is light, soft, coarse grained, brittle but durable. It is used for fuel, for the production of charcoal and to some extent for lumber of the poorer grades. It is sometimes used for box board lumber. The wood is very resinous, and at one time quite large quantities of tar and turpentine were obtained from it. Q FOREST TREES OF MAINE JACK PINE (Gray Pine) )Pinus hanksiana Lamb.) The spreading branches are long and flexible and form an open head of symmetrical outline. The tree is only about twenty to thirty feet tall, and ten to twelve inches in diameter. Fruit is very often produced when the trees are only a few years old. The bark is thin and irregularly divided into rounded ridges, the surface being covered with small, thick scales. It is dark brown in color, having a slight tinge of red. The leaves are in clusters of two, widely distrib- uted on the branches. They are stout, arid flat, or nearly so, yellow green at first, becoming dark green and three-fourths to one and oneTourth inches long. The cones are rather slender, one and one-half • to two inches long, conical in shape, and are without a ; stalk. They are very much curved, but usually borne ; in an erect position with reference to the branch. The ) scales have minute prickles which are often deciduous. , The cones usually remain closed for several years, and f often do not fall for twelve or fifteen years. ; The Jack pine grows on sterile, sandy soil, and on ’ barren lands. It extends southward to the shores of ; vSchoodic peninsula in Frenchman’s bay, and has’ been found at the outlet of Alamoosook pond, south of] Bucksport. It is not common in this State. < 7'he wood is not strong, and is soft, light, and; close-grained. It is used for fuel, and to some extent • for posts and railroad ties. Of late years, it has been used for box board lumber. lO s FOREST TREES OF MAINE TAMARACK (Hackmatack, Larch) (La>^x /a^zcma K. Koch.) In the forest, the tree is generally tall, having a regular, narrow, pyramidal head, the branches being small and horizontal. The trunk of old trees tapers very rapidly, and gets to be eighteen to twenty inches in diameter and fifty to sixty feet tall. The bark separates on the surface into thin scales of a reddish brown color. The leaves are linear from three-fourths of an inch to one and one-quarter inches long, triangular in shape, and borne in clusters of ten and more. They are bright green and turn a dull yellow in September or October just before they fall. The tamarack is the only one of our conifers that sheds all its leaves every fall. TAMARACK. Branchlet and cone. One-half natural size. The cones are small, nearly spherical, about three- fourths of an inch long, light brown, and borne on stout stems. They open in the fall to liberate the small winged seed and usually remain on the tree until the second year. The tree is most commonly found in cool, swampy places although it grows on well drained soil. It is found in practically every part of the State. The wood is rather coarse-grained, hard, heavy, strong and durable. It is used for ship knees, railroad ties and posts. About twenty-five years ago, the larch-saw fly killed the tamarack, and there are now very few trees of commercial size. A nice young growth has since sprung up which will soon be large enough for lumber. In Maine, the name Juniper is quite commonly applied to this tree, but since it is the common name of another tree which is a true juniper, the use of this name should be discouraged. II FOREST TREES OF MAINE SPRUCES The Important Distinctions BLACK SPRUCE {Picea mariana B.S.& P) RED SPRUCE (Picea rubra Dietr.) Leaves Blue-green; not glossy. Leaves Yellow-green; very shiny WHITE SPRUCE (Picea canadensis B. S. & P.) Leaves Blue-green; not glossy. Cones One-half to one and one- half inches long. Cone scales stiff and rigid when ripe. Cones nearly spherical when open. Usually remain on tree many years. Cones One to two inches long. Cone scales stiff. Gen- erally fall the first year. Cones About two inches long, y Cone scales flexible at maturity Usually fall the first year SPRUCES. Branch, cones and cone-scales. Note. — The seed of all spruces is winged. 12 FOREST TREES OF MAINE BLACK SPRUCE {Picea maripa B. S. & P.) The branches are comparatively short, usually pen- dulous, with a tendency to curve up at the end, and forming an open, irregular crown. It grows to a height of thirty to forty feet and a diameter of six to twelve inches. In sphagnum bogs, trees fifty to eighty years old get to be only six to eight feet tall and about one inch in diameter. The bark on the trunk is grayish brown and the surface is broken into thin scales. The leaves are one-fourth to three-fourths of an inch long and are pale blue green in color. The cones are one-half to one and one half-inches long shaped like an egg and becoming nearly spherical when opened. The cone scales are stiff. The cones usually stay on the trees for several years and frequent- ly for as many as twenty years. The black spruce, though common in the State is lot an important species. It sometimes grows on ipland soils, but is usually found along streams, on the lorders of swamps and in sphagnum bogs. ; The wood is not strong and is soft and light. It *s but little used, except to some extent for the man- ifacture of paper pulp. Formerly the black spruce and red spruce were con- idered to be the same species. Now that they are lassed separately, the black spruce is not considered a aluable species for commercial purposes. 13 FOREST TREES OF MAINE RED SPRUCE (Picea rubra Dietr.) The slender spreading branches form a somewhat conical and narrow head in youth and middle age. When there is plenty of light, the branches are very ‘ persistent, but soon drop off from trees in crowded stands. It produces a long trunk often having but a | slight taper. In this State it gets to be a tree of con- , siderable size, attaining a height of sixty" to eighty | feet and a diameter of one to two feet, occasionally ! exceeding these both in height and diameter. j The bark is about one-half inch thick and is broken into thin, reddish brown scales of irregular shape. The leaves are dark green often with a slightly | yellow tinge and are very shiny. They are about half i an inch long. The cones are oblong in shape and usually from; one to two inches long. When ripe, they have a reddish brown color and are quite shiny. The cone scales are^ stiff like the black spruce. The cones begin to drop off , in the autumn or early winter and are all gone from the | branches by the next summer. i The red spruce is found in all parts of the State’l where the soil conditions are suitable for its growth and is the most abundant of our conifers. It grows oh the well-drained upland soils, and on the mountain' slopes, preferring north slopes, where, sometimes, it isp almost the only species. Pure stands of this species are common. The wood is soft, light and close-grained, but isj not as durable as pine when exposed to the weather. j The growing scarcity of white pine makes the red spruce one of our most valuable trees for the production of lumber. It is used for joists, sills, scantlings and heavy construction timbers, and is the principal wooc used in the manufacture of paper pulp. It is alsc, valuable for the sounding boards of musical instruj ments. The lumber is sawed to some extent for bo^: boards. Oars, barrel staves and headings are als(! • manufactured from it. 14 FOREST TREES OF MAINE WHITK SPRUCK (Picea canadensis B. S. & P.) The long and rather thick branches, densely clothed jwith stout, rigid lateral branches, are curved upward, land form a somewhat open, irregular head, having a broad base. It grows to a height of sixty to seventy feet, and a diameter not greater than two feet. The bark is composed of thin, irregular light (gray plate-like scales tinged somewhat with brown on I the surface. ■ The leaves on the lower side of the branches arc twisted in such a manner as to bring them all on the upper side. They are pale blue at first, becoming a dark blue green or pale blue later. The foliage emits a peculiar and characteristic odor which offers a ready means of distinguishing it from the other s])ecies. It is because of this odor that it is so commonly called the “cat spruce” by lumbermen, and sometimes “skunk spruce. ” The cones are slender, cylindrical in shape, and usually about two inches long. When ripe, they are pale brown and shiny. The cone scales are thin and dastic, and give easily when the cone is clasped in the land. The cones fall off in the autumn or during vinter. The white spruce is a widely distributed species in Maine, but is not as abundant as the red spruce. It nhabits the borders of swamps and the banks of lakes ind streams. The wood is light, soft, straight grained, but not strong. It is used to some extent for pulp and also for umber. Both the white and black spruce produce long flex- ble roots that are very tough and pliable and are used )y the Indians for tying together pieces of birch bark or canoes, and for various other purposes. m 15 } FOREST TREES OF MAINE H KM LOCK (Tsuga canadensis Carr.) , In early age, the lower branches are horizontal or pendulous, those above being ascending. They form i a pyramidal head having a broad base. The lower , branches are persistent unless shaded by other trees. | The terminal shoot is pendulous. In the forest the j FOREST TREES OF MAINE BALSAM FIR {Abies balsamea Mill.) Until the tree is about twenty years old the branches are produced in regular whorls usually of five. At this period, they are slender and horizontal and form a strikingly symmetrical head, having a broad base. In old age, the top branches are short and crowded, and form a slim, regular and spire-like head. The tree grows to a height of sixty to seventy feet and a diam- eter of twelve to twenty inches. The bark on young trees is of a pale gray color, smooth, thin, and prominently marked by chambers filled with resin or balsam. On old trees the bark is quite thick, broken into irregular plates covered with thin scales and has a reddish brown color. BALSAM FIR Branchlet and cone. The leaves are one- half an inch to one and one- fourth inches long, dark green, the lower side silvery white, the upper shiny, the tips being occasionally notched, but only on the top branches. They spread out at nearly right angles to the branch giving it a flat- tened appearance. The cones are cylindrical, two to four inches long and dark purple in color. They are erect on the branch- es and fall to pieces soon after ripening. The balsam fir is very abundant in the State, being found everywhere except in the extreme southwest part, extending all along the coast as far as Portland. On swampy land, it frequently forms a large part of the forest, while on well-drained hillsides, it occurs either singly or in thickets in the spruce forests. The wood is of poor quality, coarse-grained, soft, light and decays rapidly. It is sawed into lumber chiefly for packing boxes, and is used to a limited degree for paper pulp. Owing to the fact that the wood imparts no flavor or odor, it is used for the man- ufacture of butter pails and tubs. 17 FOREST TREES OF MAINE WHITK CEDAR (Arbor Vitae) {Thuya occidentalis ly.) The head is compact, narrow and pyramidal in j shape. The branches are horizontal, short and turned ' upward. It is from fifty to sixty feet tall and usually | two to three feet in diameter. The trunk is often '\ very strongly buttressed. | The bark has shallow fissures, which divide it | into flat narrow ridges. It is reddish brown in color, tinged very often with orange. ! The leaves are usually only about one-eighth of an inch long, scale like, and so arranged as to make the | small branches flat in shape. They have a pleasing aromatic odor, and to some a rather pleasing taste. WHITE CEDAR.— One-half natural size. ; From Sargent’s “Manual of the Trees of North America, by permission of j Houghton, Mifflin & Co. \ The cones are small, being only about half an ! inch long, usually with only four fertile scales. They ' mature in one season. The seed is small and winged. ; The white cedar is generally found on swampy ground j where it often forms dense stands. It is found to i some extent in other localities where the soil is very i moist. It is widely distributed in the State but is most abundant in the northern and eastern sections. The wood is soft and light, coarse-grained, brittle, ’ very durable and has a fragrant odor. It is used for ' railroad ties, shingles, poles and fence posts. I Note — Another species of white cedar (Chamacy parts thyoides Britt,) occurs in southern Maine only near the coast, but is not abundant. This tree grows in cold swamps which are flooded for several months of the year. i8 FOREST TREES OF MAINE RED CEDAR (^Juniperus virpiniana Iv.) The red cedar is very variable in its habit. The young trees have slender horizontal branches, and a nar- row, compact, conical head, which in the old trees becomes broad and much rounded. It attains a diam- eter of eight to twelve inches, and in this State probably does not exceed a height of thirty feet. The bark on the trunk is light brown, tinged with red, and separating into long narrow shreds on old trees. The leaves are scale-like, about one-sixteenth of an inch long, dark bluish green, and remain on the tree five and six years, growing hard and woody the third RED CEDAR Two-thirds natural size. eason. Sometimes they are awl shape, especially on 'oung trees, and on vigorous branches. The fruit is berry-like, globular, pale green at rst, becoming dark blue when ripe, and is about the ize of a pea. The red cedar is not a common species in this State, t grows on poor soils, gravelly slopes, rocky ridges, nd on moist ground. It gets the name “red cedar’’ 'om the red color of the heart wood. The wood is brittle, fine-grained, light, easily orked and durable. The heart wood has a dull red :)lor. It is of value for fence posts, pails and cabinet aking but in this State is of little commercial impor- nce. It is this wood which is used in the manufac- ire of pencils. FOREST TREES OF MAINE BUTTERNUT {Juglans cineref L.) The butternut frequently has stout, spreading limbs extending horizontally from the trunk to form a low, broad, rounded head. It is a tree thirty to forty feet high and having a diameter of one to two feet. The bark of young trees and of the branches is smooth and light gray. On old trees, it is broadly ridged on the trunk and of a light brown color. The leaves are fifteen to thirty inches long, alternate, and have eleven to seven- teen leaflets. The nuts are about three inches long, cylindrical, covered with sticky hairs, and produced in drooping clusters. BUTTERNUT Winter twig. One-half natural size. BUTTERNUT Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. The butternut occurs to some extent throughout the southern section of the State. It grows on rich, moist soil and on rocky hills. Not abundant. The wood is coarse-grained, light, soft and not strong, and is used for furniture and interior finishing of buildings. It takes a good polish. 20 FOREST TREES OF MAINE HICKORIES The Important Distinctions. BITTERNUT SHAGBARK PIGNUT (Carya cordifolia C. K. Schn.) {Carya ovata C. K. Schn.) {Carya glabra C. K.Schn.) Bark on Trunk Bark on Trunk Bark on Trunk Broken into thin plate- like scales light gray; not as rough as shagbark. Broken into long, thick plates, loosely attached to tree; light gray; very rough. Frequently broken into short plates; dark gray Leaves Leaves Leaves Five to nine leaflets. Usually five leaflets, rarely seven. Five or seven, rarely nine Winter Buds Winter Buds Winter Buds Bright yellow; two pairs of scales. Three or four outer scales; dark brown. Often have long rigid points and fall before leaves begin to de- velop. Terminal bud shaped like an egg. Outer scales dark reddish brown, shiny, usually falling early in autumn. Terminal bud elliptical. Fruit Thin husk; thin and brittle shell; very bitter kernel. Fruit Husk thick; shell usually thick; kernel sweet. Fruit Varies much in shape and size. Husk usually thin, shell either thick or thin, kernel sweet or bitter. 21 FOREST TREES OF MAINE BITTERNUT (Swamp Hickory) (Carya cordifoHa C. K Schn.) The tree produces a broad head or crown with stout spreading branches and grows to a height of about fifty feet. The trunk has a gradual taper and gets to be one and two feet in diameter. The bark separates into thin, plate-like scales on the trunk. It is of a gray color, tinged with yellow. The young branches are bright green and smooth. BITTERNUT Winter twig. One- half natural size. BITTERNUT HICKORY Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. nine leaflets which are smaller and more slender than those of other species. The fruit is about one inch long, and has a thin husk that separates along well defined lines when ripe. The nut usually has a thin and brittle shell and the ker- nel is very bitter. The bitternut prefers low, wet woods, although it is found on high rolling uplands. Found only in south- ern Maine. The wood is close-grained, strong, heavy, hard and tough. It is used for hoops and fuel. 22 FOREST TREES OF MAINE SHAGBARK (Shell bark) {Carya ovata C. K. Scbn.) A tree with a narrow cylindrieal head that in the forest is often very short, leaving the straight, gradually tapering trunk free of branches for a considerable dis- tance. It is the tallest of the hickories, usually attain- ing a height of from fifty to seventy feet and a diameter not greater than two feet. The bark is light gray on the trunk and separates into long thick plates often a foot or more in length. These are only slightly attached and give the trunk a shaggy appearance. The leaves are compound, alternate, eight to fourteen inches long, the leaflets or- dinarily five in number, rarely seven. SHAGBARK HICKORY jeaf and young fruit. One-third natural size. SHAGBARK Winter twig. One-half size. The fruit has the thick outer coat deeply grooved at the seams. It separates along definite lines when ripe. It is globular in shape and is borne singly or in pairs. The kernel is sweet. The fruit ripens in fall. The shagbark hickory grows near streams or swamps, or on low hills, preferring the deep, rich, moist, but well- drained soil. Found in the southern part of the State, but not abundantly. The wood is very strong, close-grained, heavy, hard, tough and flexible. It is used in the manufacture of agricultural implements, for making carriages and wagons, especially the spokes and rims of the wheels, and for ax and tool handles. The nuts are sold in the markets. 23 FOREST TREES OF MAINE PIGNUT {Carya glabra C. K. Schn.) | A tree having a tall, slender trunk, one to two feet in | diameter, spreading and often contorted branches, and rather narrow cylindrical head. A fairly tall tree growing to a height of fifty to sixty feet. The bark of the trunk on old trees is compara- tively smooth, sometimes broken into plates like that of the shagback but only five to six inches long. It is gray to dark gray in color. The leaves are alternate, eight to twelve inches long, compound, usually hav-' ing five to seven rather small narrow leaf- lets. The fruit varies greatly in shape, being round, pear-shaped, or egg-shaped. The size also varies, usually being small. PIGNUT. ^ Winter twig. PIGNUT HICKORY One-half natural size. Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. ; The outer covering is generally thin, and when ripe,| separates along well defined lines. The shell is eithei thick or thin and the kernel sweet or bitter. Thei fruit is borne singly or in pairs and ripens in October,! The pignut inhabits dry ridges and hillsides. Foundj infthe southern section of the State. j The wood is close-grained, hard, heavy, ancj strong, and is also tough and flexible. It is used in thf manufacture of agricultural implements, for wagons , and as handles for axes and tools. 24 FOREST TREES OF MAINE POPLARS The Important Distinctions. ASPEN (Populus tremuloides Michx.) LARGE TOOTH ASPEN {Populxis grandidentata Michx.) BALSAM POPLAR (Populus balsamifera L.) , Bark Often with horizontal bands of circular wart like outgrowths. Ver5- bitter. Bark Smooth; not bitter. , 1 Bark Smooth or roughened by dark excrescences. Leaves Circular outline. Edges finely toothed; shiny upper surface. One and one-half inches long. Leaves Broadly egg-shaped edges irregularly and coarsely toothed. Upper surface not shiny. Three to four inches long. _ Leaves Egg-shaped , but n a r - rower than large tooth aspen. Edges finely toothed. Upper surface shiny. Three to five inches long. Winter Buds Slightly sticky, shiny, conical. Winter Buds Not sticky; edges of bud scales fringed withwhitish hairs. Broadly egg- shaped. Winter Buds Very sticky; egg-shaped, shiny. Note —The white poplar (P. alba) and the Carolina poplar (P. caro- hnensis Willd.) are two introduced species planted to some extent. The nrst IS e^ily recognized by its leaves which are green above and white- cottony beneath. The Carolina poplar has a long, narrow crown and the upper surface of the leaves is very shiny. The Swamp Cotton wood (P! neterophylla L.) has been found here but is rare. The poplars can be readily started by cuttings. 25 FOREST TREES OF MAINE ASPEN POPLAR {Populus tremuloides Michx.) A graceful tree with slender branches far apart and often contorted. Head round and narrow. It grows to a height of sixty to seventy-five feet and a diameter of ten to sixteen inches. The bark is smooth, often roughened by hori- zontal lines of wartlike outgrowths. It is pale green with dark brown patches. On the trunk of old trees it is ash gray, dark at the base where it is divided into broad, flat ridges. It has a very bitter taste similar to quinine. AMERICAN ASPEN Leaves and flowers; 1 staminate, 2 pistillate. One-third natural size. ■ The leaves are alternate, more or less rounded, i finely toothed, dark green and shiny above, and one' and one-half to two inches long. The leaf stalk is * slender and flattened. i The flowers are in catkins which appear before" the leaves. i The fruit ripens about June. The seeds are very small and light and are carried long distances by the wind. The aspen is a rapid growing tree, and is very abun- 1 dant in the State. It sometimes forms nearly pure * stands, and is very common in mixture with other ! species. It is found on many different kinds of soil, ; but makes the best growth on a sandy and fairly moist : soil. Frequently it is the first species to start when; the forest is removed, and especially after burns. | The wood is close-grained, but soft, and rots! very easily. It is used for box boards, excelsior, and! for the manufacture of pulp for our book paper. It is also cut for fuel. 26 FOREST TREES OF MAINE LARGE TOOTH ASPEN {Populus grandidentata Michx.) The large tooth aspen is much like the aspen in habit. It is a rapid grower, and attains a height of sixty to eighty feet and a diameter of ten to twenty inches. The bark is smooth, and of a greenish gray color. At the base of old trees, it is dark and divided into broad, irregular, flat ridges. The leaves are three to four inches long, broadly egg-shaped, and have a dark green upper surface. The edges are coarsely and irregularly toothed. The petiole, or leaf stalk, is flat. LARGETOOTH ASPEN Leaves and flowers; pistillate above, staminate below. One-third natural size. The flowers are in catkins, appearing in April before the leaves. The fruit ripens in May about the time the leaves begin to come out. The seed is small and light and is carried along ways by the wind. The large tooth aspen is a very common tree, usually growing in mixture with the aspen, and like it, growing in various soils and in different situations, but making the best development in a rich sandy and fairly moist soil. It grows with other species either scattered through the forest or in small groves. The wood is like that of the preceding species, and is used for the same purposes. 27 FOREST TREES OF MAINE BALSAM POPLAR (Balm of Gilead) {Popuhis halsamifera L.) I In habit, the tree is somewhat different from the two preceding. The branches are stout, erect, and more or less contorted at the ends, and form an open, rather narrow head. It gets to be seventy to eighty feet tall, and fifteen to thirty inches in diameter. The bark on young trees is smooth, or sometimes roughened by dark ontgrowths and is light brown with ; a reddish tinge. On the trunk of old trees, it is gray ; and separated into broad, round ridges. BALSAM POPLAR (Balm of Gilead.) The leaves are egg-shaped, three to five inches j long, but not as wide as the preceding species. They'H are deep dark green and shiny on the upper surface,: light green and more or less rusty on the under side.! The edges are finely toothed. The flowers are in catkins which appear early in the spring. The seed ripens the last of May or early in June and is attached to a cottony mass so that if is often carried long distances by the wind. The balsam popular inhabits the borders of swampSii and the low bottom lands along rivers that frequently become overflowed. It is a widely distributed tree.j and is common throughout the State. The wood is like that of the other trees, and used for the same purposes. 28 FOREST TREES OF MAINE BLACK WILLOW {Salix nigra Marsh.) The black willow is usually not a very tall tree grow- ing to a height of thirty to forty feet and attaining a diameter of one to two feet or greater. The branches are stout, upright and spreading and form a broad, handsome, open head with an irregular outline. The small branches are bright reddish brown to pale orange in color. ; 3^-1 . -‘■"swy The bark is deeply divided into broad flat ridges and separates into thick plate-like scales. On old trees it becomes very shaggy. In color it varies from light brown tinged with orange to dark brown or nearly black. The leaves are three to six inches long, narrow, with long tapering tips and finely toothed edges. They ire a bright light green, and somewhat lustrous above ind turn light yellow in the fall. The flowers are produced in catkins at the end )f the shoot and are from one to three inches long. They appear with the leaves. The black willow occurs along the banks of streams ind lakes throughout the State and is the largest and nost conspicuous of our native willows. The species is lot of any great commercial importance. The wood is soft, light and weak. 29 FOREST TREES OF MAINE HORNBEAM OR IRONWOOD {Ostrya virqiniana K. Koch.) The ironwood is a small tree with either an open or round topped head. In height it is from twenty to thirty feet with a diameter ranging from six to ten inches. The branches are long and slender and the ends are somewhat drooping. The small branches are very tough and for this reason the tree is not easily injured by the wind. The bark separates easily into thin, narrow scales, becoming finer and stringy on older trees. On the trunk, it is light brown, tinged with red. The leaves are either e g g - shaped or nearly oblong, alternate, sharply toothed, base often unequal, and two to three inches long. They are much like those of the blue beech. They are tough so that the wind does not injure them easily. The flowers are in catkins which are in clusters usu- ally of three, some appearing in the fall and some in thej spring. The fruit closely resembles that of hops, hencei the name “ hop hornbeam. ” It ripens in September. | The ironwood is a fairly rapid grower, especially in; good soil. It grows on slopes and ridges having a dry,; gravelly soil, and is often found in the shade of otheil species. While it is a common tree, it is not very abunj dant. j The wood is very close-grained, heavy, ver\I strong, tough and is exceedingly hard when seasoned! ‘It is used for levers, mallets and tool handles. 30 FOREST TREES OF MAINE BLUE BEECH (Carpinus cai oliniana Walt.) The blue beech is a small, slow growing tree ten to twenty-five feet tall and four to ten inches in diameter. The branches are crooked and irregular, forming a com- pact, broad, roundish and flat head. The trunk is irregularly ridged longitudinally. BLUE BEECH Winter twig. One-half natural size. The bark is smooth, and of a grayish-blue color. The leaves are alternate, egg-shaped, or oval, two to three inches long, and sharply toothed. The flowers are produced in catkins which appear in the spring. The fruit hangs at the end of a leaflike body, and is borne in open clusters. The blue beech is quite common inhabiting wet woods and the borders of swamps and streams. The wood is close-grained-compact, strong, tough and durable. 31 FOREST TREES OF MAINE BIRCHES The Important Distinctions. BLACK BIRCH YELLOW BIRCH GRAY BIRCH WHITE BIRCH (Betula lenta L.) {Betula lutea Michx) {Betula populifolia Marsh) {Betula papyrifera Marsh) Bark Bark Bark Bcirk Without luster, dark to almost black. Smooth, or broken into irreg- u'lar plates. Strong- ly aroma tic on young branches. Bright s i 1 Y e r y gray or light orange in color, separating into thin, ribbon-1 ik e strips. Aromatic on young branches Outer, chalky o r grayish white; lunei orange color. Does not separate into papery layers. Outer, cream white and shiny; inner bright orange color. Sep- arates into thin, papery layers. Leaves Leaves Leaves Leaves Egg-s h a p e d or nearly so. Edges sharply toothed. Egg-s h a p e d or nearly so. Edges sharply and doub- ly toothed. Smaller than pre- ceding Triangular or nearly so. Edges doubly and coarse ly toothed. Long pointed. Upper surface shiny. Egg-shaped Edges generally doubly toothed. Not long pointed and upper surface not shiny. Flowers Flowers Flowers Flowers Three to four cat- kins on a shoot; not clustered. Three to four cat- kins on a s h o o t; not clustered. Catkins singly or in pairs on the shoot. Catkins in clusters of three. FOREST TREES OF MAINE BLACK BIRCH (Cherry Birch) {Betula lenta U) • A rather handsome tree with a tall dnrV j wintergreen flavor. The leaves are three to four inches long, aromatic, egg-shaped or somewhat oblong, sharply toothed, upper surface dark green, dull, lower surface, light yellow-green. The flowers are produced in catkins, ^e winter shoots containing three to four, they open just before the leaves unfold in the spring. SWEET OR BLACK BIRCH Leaves and fruit. One-third natural size The black birch inhabits the banks of streams, or the moist, rich upland soil. It is widely distributed, but not of a very Common occurrence. half natural size.can be beautifully polished. It is used for fuel, and is very much prized for furniture. An oil having some medical value can be obtained from the wood by distillation, and is generally known as wintergreen oil. The name “cherry birch” is applied to this tree because of the resemblance of the bark on old trunks to that of the sweet cherry. 33 FOREST TREES OF MAINE YELLOW BIRCH {Betula lutea Michx.) The yellow birch is the largest of the native birches growing to a diameter of two and three feet and a height of seventy to eighty-five feet. The spreading branches are somewhat pendulous, and form a broad round- topped head in the open, but small and irreg- ular in the woods. The trunk usually divides into two or three limbs at some distance from the ground. The bark on the branches and on the stems of young trees is very shiny, silvery gray or light orange in color, sep- arating into loose, thin, often ribbon-like layers. On old trees, it is divided into large thin plates, not shiny, and gray or blackish. The young twigs are aromatic like the black birch but to a less degree. The leaves are ^ egg-shaped, or nearly oblong, alternate, the edges doub- ly toothed, the upper side dull dark green and three to five inches long. The flowers are in catkins. In winter there are three to four on the shoots but not in clusters. They open in the early spring. The yellow birch is one of the largest of our deciduous leaved trees. It is com- mon in the State and in some sections is quite abundant. It grows on rich soil and inhabits the moist uplands. The wood is hard, strong, heavy and will take a good polish. It is used for furniture, flooring, wheel-hubs and fuel. The yellow birch is one of our val- uable timber trees. yellow The tree is very subject to a fungus birch j ^ One- disease that causes a rotting of the wood, half natural size. 34 FOREST TREES OF MAINE GRAY BIRCH {Betula populifolia Marsh.) The gray birch is a small tree from twenty to thirty feet tall and commonly four to eight inches in diameter. The branches are short, slender, frequently pendulous, and somewhat contorted. These extend to the ground when the tree is not too much crowded, and the head is long, narrow, pointed and open. In the forest the head is short and often somewhat irregular, and the stem is tall and slender. The bark is close and firm, and does not easily separate into thin layer s. The outer part is grayish, gravish-white or chalky, the inner portion being orange color. The young shoots are brown and the small* branches are dark colored. The leaves are two f GRAY BIRCH Leaves and fruit. One-third natural size. and one-half to three inches in length, long- pointed, triangular, alternate, coarsely toothed, upper surface dark green and glossy. The slightest breeze causes them to flutter like those of the poplars hence the scientific name Beiula populifolia which means “birch with P poplar leaves. ” gray The flowers are produced in catkins, birch Those which appear in the fall are usually soli-Wi“^®^ twig: tary. They open in early spring before the ^one^-haif leaves. natural size. The gray birch is short lived and not a valuable tree. It is very abundant in the southern sections of the State, growing well on the poorest, sandy soils, yet by no means confined to them, sometimes being found on the moist ground bordering swamps and ponds. It is this tree that springs up so often in old fields and often prepares the way for the more valuable white pine. The wood is light, soft, often coarse-grained and is liable to check in drying. Used a great deal for fuel and to some extent for spools and shoe pegs. 35 FOREST TREES OF MAINE WHITE BIRCH (Paper Birch) {Betula papyifera Marsh.) The white birch is from sixty to seventy feet tall growing to a diameter of one to two feet and occasion- ally larger. When young, the branches are short, slender, and spreading, somewhat drooping, and form- ing a narrow, regular head. In the forest the trunk is free from branches well up from the ground, and the tree forms an open, narrow and round-topped head. WHITE OR PAPER BIRCH Leaves and fruit. One-third natural size. The bark on the trunk and limbs separ- ates freely and easily into thin, papery sheets. The outer surface is white the inner part being bright orange. On young stems and large limbs it is creamywhite and shiny. The leaves are alternate, egg-shaped) short-pointed, two to three inches long, doub~ ly toothed, the upper surface dark green and dull. The flowers are in catkins those ap- white ^ OR PAPER pearing in the fall being sterile and mostly in birch clusters of three. They open in early spring '^aud bud?® before the leaves. One-haif natural size. The white birch is a common tree in all parts of the State except in the southwest section. In some 36 FOREST TREES OF MAINE WHITE BIRCH— Concluded. localities, it is found in pure, or nearly pure stands covering small areas, but never forming a large part of the forest. It grows along streams and oh the borders of [lakes and ponds, thriving best in a rich , moist soil. The wood is close-grained, light, hard, strong, and tough. It is used for shoe lasts, pegs, flooring, and for spools, being the best and most valuable wood for the latter purpose. The bark is used by the Indians to make canoes, baskets, etc. The tree gets the name of “paper birch” because of the use to which the bark was put by the early settlers, and that of “canoe birch” because the bark is used by the Indians to make their birch bark canoes. 37 FOREST TREES OF MAINE BKKCH (Fagus ferruginea Ait.) The beech grows to a height of sixty to seventy feet and a diameter of one and one-half to three feet. In the open, the branches are spreading and droop- ing, and the tree has a broad, compact head. In the forest, the short branches form a narrow head, and the trunk is free of branches for one-half to two- The leaves are from three to five inches long, oval, coarsely toothed, and long pointed. The winter buds are long, slender, and sharp- pointed. The fruit consists of a burr having four parts and contains one and two triangular edible nuts. The beech is common in our forests, and sometimes forms nearly pure stands. It grows on ridges having shallow soil and on rocky slopes making its best de- velopment on rich upland soil. The wood is strong, hard and tough but not durable, and can be polished easily. It is used for chairs, plane-stocks, flooring and fuel. 38 FOREST TREES OF MAINE CHESTNUT {Castanea dentata Borkh.) In the forest, the chestnut has a tall, straight trunk free of limbs, and a small head. When not crowded the trunk divides into three or four limbs and forms a low, broad top. It reaches a height of sixty to seventy feet and a diameter of fifteen to thirty inches, occasionally exceeding these dimensions. The bark on the trunk of old trees is divided into broad, flat ridges by shallow, irregular fissures. On young stems, it is smooth and dark gray. The leaves are coarsely toothed, alternate, five to eight inches long and yel- low-green. CHESTNUT Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. CHESTNUT twig The fruit is a prickly burr of four parts, usually containing two or three nuts. The chestnut occurs in the southwest part of the State, but is not abundant there. It Winter , . , . , n i • i and buds.makes its best growth on rich, well-drained One-half nat-SOil. urai size. wood issoft, light, durable and strong, and splits easily. It is used for interior finishing and is in much in demand for telephone poles, railroad ties and fence posts. The durability of the wood is due to the tannic acid which it contains. The nuts contain a sweet meat and are gathered in large quantities for the market. The tree is a rapid grower. It has been planted occasionally as far north as Bangor and does very well. 39 FOREST TREES OF MAINE OAKS The Important Distinction RED OAK SCARLET OAK YELLOW OAK (Quercus rul?ra L.) (Quercm coccinea Moench.) {Quercus veluiina Lam.) Bark Bark Bark Slightly ridged but never extremely rough. Dark gray to black; inner bark reddish. Ridges small, irregular dark gray. Inner bark, pale reddish or gray. Deeply fissured . Ridges brazed, rounded very dark. Inner bark, usually deep orange color or bright yellow. Leaves Leaves Leaves I^bed, each with sharp tip. Upper surface dull, dark green. Lobes sharp pointed. Upper surface bright green and shiny. Lobes sharp pointed. Upper surface dark green, shiny. Fruit Fruit Fruit Two years to mature. Acorn two to four times longer than cup. Two years to mature. Acorn about twice as long as cup. Two years to rn a t u r e. Acorn about twice as long as cup. Winter Bud Winter Bud ' Winter Bud C!onical, smooth, chest- nut brown. Small, smooth, light brown. Large, decidedly angled, coated with matted, wool-like hairs. Note. — In addition to the above, we have Sug.) in the south part of the state. the scrub oak {W . nana WHITE OAK BURR OAK SWAMP WHITE OAK ((Quercus alba L.) {Quercus macrocarpa Michx.) {Quercus bicolor Michx.) Bark Bark Bark Light gray to nearly white. Ridges broad and flat. Grayish, deeply furrowed, flaky. Grayish-brown, deeply fissured; broad flat ridges, flaky. Leaves Leaves Leaves Lobes rounded, no bristles. Bright green, shiny or dull on upper surface. Lobesrounded, no bristles. Dark green, shiny on upper surface. Slightlylobed, or coarsely toothed, no bristles. Dark green, dull on upper surface. Fruit Fruit Fruit One year to mature. Two to four times as high as cup. One year to mature, usually solitary. Acorn about twice as long as cup, sometimes only slightly longer. One year to mature. . Acorn three times as long ; as cup. Winter Buds Winter Buds Winter Buds Broadly egg-shaped rather blunt pointed, dark red-brown. Broadly egg-shaped, , sharp, or blunt pointed reddish brown, coated with soft hairs. , Roundish, blunt pointed, , brown. 40 FOREST TREES OF MAINE RED OAK (Quercus rubra L.) The red oak grows to a height of fifty to sixty feet and a diameter of two to three feet, sometimes attain- ing a larger size. It forms either a narrow or broad head, and the branches are stout, horizontal or upright. The bark on the trunk of old trees is dark gray or nearly black, and is divided into rounded ridges, but does not get very rough. On younger ^ trees and branches it is smooth and light gray. w The inner bark is reddish. The leaves vary in shape, are five to eight inches long, and alternate. They are dull, dark' green above, yellow green below. The flowers appear in May, while the leaves are only partly grown. The fruit ripens the second year. The acorn is large, three-fourths to one and one-fourth inches long, and two to oak four times longer than the cup. The red oak is the most common and most abundant species of oak in Maine, being found in all parts except perhaps the extreme North. Found in various soils and situations, but making its best growth on rich upland soil. The wood is hard, strong and heavy. It is used for furniture and interior finishings. 41 FOREST TREES OF MAINE SCARLET OAK {Quercus coccinea Moencii.) The scarlet oak is a smaller sized tree than the red oak, growing to a height of thirty to fifty feet and one or two feet in diameter. The branches are slender and form an open, narrow head. The bark on the trunk of old trees is separated into irregular ridges by shallow fissures, is dark gray with a reddish inner bark. The leaves are alternate, three to six inches long with a variable outline. The upper surface is bright green and shiny, the lower being paler and less shiny. The flowers appear in May, the leaves at that period being partly developed. The fruit ripens the second year. The acorn is about one-half inch long, and about twice as long as the cup, being from one- third to one-half enclosed by it. The scarlet oak occurs only in one section of the State, being found in the valley of the Androscoggin river. It grows on the dry soil of ridges or uplands. The wood is hard, strong, heavy but coarse-grained. Used to a limited extent for the same purposes as the red oak. In the fall, the leaves turn a deep scarlet, and it is this feature which is responsible for the common name of the tree. 42 FOREST TREES OF MAINE YELLOW OAK (Black Oak) (Quercus veluiina Lam.) On the black oak the branches are slender, and the head is narrow and open. Very often there are numerous small dead branches clinging to the tree,, differing from the other two species in this respect. It grows to a height of fifty to sixty feet and a diameter of one and two feet. The bark is smooth and dark gray or brown on young stems. On old trees, it is divided by deep fissures into broad, rounded ridges, and is dark to almost black. It is rougher than that of the red oak. The inner bark is a bright orange color or bright yellow and is a distinguishing feature. It is used for tanning. The leaves are alternate, five to six inches long,, the upper surface glossy, dark green, and like the red and scarlet oaks varying much in shape and general outline, being in fact the most variable of the three. The flowers appear in May, the leaves being at that time only partly grown. The fruit matures the second season. The acorn is one-half to three-fourths of an inch long, about twice as long as the cup and nearly one-half enclosed by it. The black or yellow oak is confined to the coast regions of southern Maine. It grows on dry ridges land gravelly uplands. T^e wood is hard, heavy, strong and coarse- grained. But little used except for fuel. 43 FOREST TREES OF MAINE WHITE OAK Leaves and fruit. One- third natural size. WHITE OAK {Quercus alba L.) In good situations, the white oak is a large sized tree, attaining a height of sixty to seventy feet and a diame- ter of three to four feet. In poor soils, it fails to develop as well, being of much smaller size. When not crowded by other trees, the bole is short, the limbs large and diverging, and the head broad and rounded. In the forest, it has a long bole, little if any’ divided, and a narrow head until old age. The bark on the trunk is separated into< thin irregular flakes and varies from a light or ashy gray to nearly white. It is valuable for tanning. The leaves are usu- ally seven lobed, alternate, four to seven inches long, bright green above, pale green or whitish beneath. They sometimes remain on the tree during the winter. The flowers come out in May, leaves being half grown at that time. The fruit ripens in September of the first year. The acorn is about three-fourths of an inch long, from two to four times longer than the cup, and about one-fourth enclosed by it. The white oak is not common in the State, being confined largely to the southern part where it grows on sandy land, gravelly ridges, or rich uplands and moist bottom lands. It makes the best growth on the rich, rather heavy upland soils. The wood is close grained, strong, heavy, hard, tough and durable. It is used for shipbuilding, car- riage making, agricultural implements, interior finish- ing, furniture and flooring. At one time, it was used a'great deal for railroad ties, but it is now too valuable for that purpose. The white oak gets its name from the color of the bark. the 44 FOREST TREES OF MAINE BURR OAK {Quercus macrocarpa Michx.) The burr oak has a broad top of wide spreading branches, and the trunk is often clear of limbs for two- thirds or more of its length. It attains a height of sixty to seventy feet, and a diameter of tw’o to three feet, somewhat exceeding these dimensions in the bet- ter situations. The bark is grayish, deeply furrowed, and is broken into plate-like irregular scales. The leaves have rounded lobes but mostly not as deeply cut as the white oak. The upper end of the leaf is widest and is very coarsely toothed rather than lobed. They are alternate, dark green and shiny on the upper surface, the lower, pale green or silvery white. The flowers appear in May at the time when the leaves are partly formed. The fruit matures the first year and is usually solitary. It varies much in size and shape. The acorn is about three-fourths of an inch long, and about one- half enclosed by the cup. The burr oak extends southward from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to the valley of the Penobscot river. It grows in low, rich bottom lands, and is rarely found on dry soil. The wood is very durable, hard, heavy, strong and tough. It is used for the same purpose as white oak. “ErS 45 FOREST TREES OF MAINE SWAMP WHITE OAK (Quercus bicolor Michx.) The swamp white oak is a somewhat smaller sized tree than the other two oaks, growing to a height of about fifty feet and a diameter of two to three feet. The limbs are small, usually pendulous, and the head is narrow, open and round-topped. The bark on old trees is deeply furrowed, divided into broad flat ridges, flaky, and of a grayish brown color. On young trees and branches it is smooth and separates into papery scales, hanging loosely. The leaves are alternate, four to six inches long, very coarsely toothed or slightly lobed, upper surface dark green, shiny, the lower, pale white or tawny. The flowers ap- pear in May when the leaves are not more than half grown. The fruit matures the first season and is usu- ally solitary. The acorn is about one inch long, and about three times as long as the cup and about one- third enclosed by it. The swamp white oak grows in moist, fertile soil, swamp white oak Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. on the borders of swamps, and along streams. It is SWAMP nowhere abundant, generally being widely scattered in small groves, and occurring only winter in the southern part of the State. twig and The wood is strong, tough, heavy and buds. One hard and is used for the same purposes as the white oak. (,rt It owes its name to the fact that it resembles the white oak and grows in swampy places. 46 FORESTTREES OF MAINE WHITE OR AMERICAN ELM {Ulmus americana L.) The American elm is a tree of graceful and often varied habits. The trunk often divides into numerous limbs which form a spreading round-topped head with graceful, drooping branches. It attains a height of sixty to seventy feet and a diameter of two to four feet. The bark on the trunk is separated into broad ridges by deep fissures and is of an ashy gray color. WHITE ELM Leaves and fruit. One-third natural size. The leaves are alternate, two to five inches long, coarsely double toothed margins. The upper surface dark green and somewhat rough and having a one sided base. The flowers ap- pear in April before the leaves. The fruit consists of a small winged seed which ripens about the last of May before the leaves have fully developed. The American elm is one of our largest and most graceful trees, and is of common occurrence throughout the State. It prefers the rich bottom lands, the moist 5oil along the streams and low hills of rich soil. The wood is rather coarse-grained, hard, heavy, itrong, tough and hard to split. It is used for wheel iiubs, baskets, flooring and cooperage. AMERICAN ELM Winter twig and buds. One-half natural size. 47 FOREST TREES OF MAINE SASSAFRAS (Sassafras v^r^folium (Salis) Otto Kuntze) The sassafras is a tree of small size and often is hardly more than a shrub. It grows to a height of twenty to twenty-five feet and a diameter of four to six inches, exceeding these dimensions under favorable conditions. The branches are short, stout, somewhat contorted. The trunk is seldom straight, and the head is narrow and flattened. The bark on the trunk of old trees is divided into irregular, broad flat ridges, and is dark red- dish brown. On young trees it sep- arates into fine shallow fissures and is greenish or yellowish g r e e n on the twigs. The bark of all parts, es- pecially on the young twigs has strong but pleasing aro-g^ggy^pj^s matic properties. The outer coating of the winter twig roots possesses the aromatic properties in and buds even greater degree than does the bark of the ' stem and branches. SASSAFRAS Leaves and young fruit. One-third nat- ural size. The leaves are alternate, and four to six inches long. They vary in outline, some being entire, others with three lobes. The leaves are dark green, turning in autumn to yellow, or orange tinged with red. The flowers are in open clusters, greenish- yellow and open when the leaves begin to appear. The fruit is a small, dark blue and shiny berry. It ripens in the fall. The sassafras is found in the southwest part of the State. It grows on rich and well drained sandy soil. The wood is coarse-grained, brittle, soft, not strong, very durable and aromatic. It is used for posts, cooperage and in the construction of light boats. The bark of the roots is very aromatic and oil of sassafras which is distilled from it and the roots is used in the manufacture of perfume soap and other articles. 4^ FOREST TREES OF MAINE WILD RED CHERRY (Bird Cherry) Prunus penn- sylvanica L.) The wild red cherry is a tree of small size, seldom growing to a height much greater than twenty-five to thirty feet and a diameter of six to ten inches. It has slender, horizontal branches and a narrow, some- what rounded head. The bark on the trunk of old trees is dark red- brown and broken into thin plates. That on young trees is smooth and reddish brown. The inner bark is aromatic and very bitter. WILD RED CHERRY Leaves, flowers and fruit. One-third natural size. The leaves are alternate, narrow to oblong, rather sharp pointed, finely and sharply toothed on the edges, bright green and shiny above, three to four inches long, bitter and aromatic. The flowers are white, in clusters of four or five and appear in May when the leaves are only about half grown. The fruit is bright red, about the size of a pea, globular in shape, and ripens from July ist to Sep- tember ist. The wild red cherry is common in the State but of little value except as a protection and cover for the soil on burned areas where it often takes posses- sion, being the means of preparing the way for a more valuable growth. It is a tree that prefers moist soil. The wood is coarse-grained, soft and light. 49 FOREST TREES OF MAINE WILD BLACK CHERRY {Prunus seioHna Ehrh.) The wild black cherry has small horizontal branches and a narrow head. It is naturally of larger size than the wild red cherry, attaining a height of forty to fifty feet and a diameter of ten to twenty inches. The bark on the trunk is red brown and rather shiny on young trees, darker and broken into small irregular plates on old trees. The inner bark has a bitter taste. The leaves are alternate, varying from nearly egg-shaped to rather narrow egg-shape, finely toothed, dark green and shiny on the upper surface, thick and somewhat leathery and two to five inches long. The flowers are produced in many- flowered racemes four to five inches long, appear- ing the last of May or early June when the leaves a r e half grown. The fruit is in droop- ing racemes, black cherry dark purple Leaves and fmit. One-third natural size. or almost black when ripe, about the size of a pea and globular in shape. It ripensTrom August to October. The wild black cherry is one of our most cherry valuable timber trees when it grows to a suf- winter ficient size. It is hardy and grows on a va- buTs! ^ne- riety of soils under varied climatic conditions, natur- and is a rapid grower. The tree makes the ^ best growth on rich, moist land. It is widely dis- tributed in the State but not abundant. The wood is rather hard, close-grained, light, strong, and can be polished easily. It is used for cabinet making and for interior finishing. 50 FOREST TREES OF MAINE HONEY LOCUST (Gleditsia tr^\canthos L.) The honey locust is a tree with slender spreading- branches, somewhat pendulous that form an open, broad, flat-topped head. A characteristic feature is the simple or usually three forked spines occurring on the branches and trunk. It attains a height of forty to fifty feet and a diameter of eight to twenty inches. The bark is divided into long, narrow ridges by deep fissures and the surface is broken into small scales that are persistent. The leaves are twice compound, seven to eight inches long and having from eighteen to twenty-eight leaflets, the upper ones being from four to five inches long. The flowers are borne in slender clusters or in racemes from two to two and one-half inches long and often more than one cluster in a place. They are produced in the axils of leaves of previous years and appear in June when the leaves are about fully grown. The staminate and pistillate are produced in different racemes on the same tree. The fruit is a pod twelve to eighteen inches long, two or three in short racemes on stalks, one to one and one-half inches long. The walls are thin and tough. On drying the pod becomes twisted. The honey locust is not a native of Maine, but like the common locust has been planted to some extent in the southern part of the State and is now quite common in the town of Paris, occurring wild there. Naturally it grows on the borders of streams or in moist, fertile soil and is sometimes found on dry grav- elly hills. The wood is coarse-grained, hard, strong, and very durable in contact with the soil. It is used for fence posts, wheel-hubs, fuel and in construction. 51 FOREST TREES OF MAINE LOCUST {Rohinia pseudacacia L.) The locust is a rapid grower, frequently attaining a height of twenty feet in ten years, but increasing much more slowly thereafter. It reaches a height of twenty-five to forty feet and a diameter of eight to twenty inches. The branches are small, brittle, erect, sometimes slightly many-angled, and at first are armed with spines which disappear as the tree grows older. The top is narrow and oblong. The bark on the trunk of old trees is dark brown, deeply furrowed and broken into small scales. The leaves are compound, eight to fourteen inches long, and have from seven to twenty leaflets. The flowers are borne in loose racemes four to five inches long and appear in June. They are showy and very fragrant. The fruit is a smooth, flat, dark brown pod about three inches long, containing from four to eight seeds. The locust is not a native of this State, but has been planted to quite an extent and in some localities is quite abundant. It occurs in the south part, es- pecially in the southwest, being found on different soils, preferring, however, the rich land. The wood is heavy, close-grained, very hard and strong and very durable in contact with the soil. It is used extensively for fence posts and also for con- struction, turnery, shipbuilding and for fuel. “50 52 FOREST TREES OF MAINE MAPLES The Important Distinctions. STRIPED MAPLE 1 SUGAR MAPLE ) SILVER MAPLE RED MAPLE {Acer penni^ylvani- cum L.) {Acer saccharum Marsh) {Acer sacchari num L.) {Acer rubrum L.) Bark ! i Bark Beirk Bark Marked with whitish stripes running length- wise of trunk. Red- dish-brown or dark green. Gray on old trunks. Rough and deeply f u r- rowed . Smooth and slightly fi s- sured on young trees. Dark gray with reddish tinge o n old trees; s o m e- what f u r r o w ed Separates into thin scales. O n young trees, smooth, gray with faint tinge of red. Dark gray on old trees. Ridged and broken into plate-like scales. Light gray and smooth o n young trees. Leaves Leaves Leaves Leaves Roundish, edges finely and sharply toothed, three- lobed at apex. Three to five lobes margins sparingly toothed, sinuous. Five lobes, rarely three. Lobes long and narrow, irreg- ularly and sharply toothed. Under surface silvery white. Three to five lobes Lobes irregularly doubly toothed . White on u n d e r surface. Winter Buds Winter Buds Winter Buds Winter Buds Terminal nearly one-half inch long. Bright red. One-fourth inch long, sharp- pointed, purple. One-eighth inch long, blunt- pointecl, bright red One-eighth inch long, blunt- pointed, dark red. Flowers Flowers Flowers Flowers In slender racemes, bright yellow, ap- pearingafter leaves are full grown. In clusters, on long, slender, hairy stalks. Greenish - yellow. Appearing with the lea es. In clusters on very short stalks; greenish yellow-or pinkish Come long before leaves. In clusters on moderately long slender stalks. Scarlet or yellow- ish red . Appear before leaves. 53 FOREST TREES OF MAINE! STRIPED MAPLE (Moose Wood) (Acer perm- sylcanicum ly.) The striped maple or moose wood never gets to be of large size, growing to a height of twenty to twenty- five feet and a diameter of four to eight inches. The branches are slender and upright, and the top narrow and often short. The bark on the trunk is marked by whitish lines running lengthwise, which turn brown after a toward the apex, opposite, pale green, from five to six inches long and about as broad. In the fall they become light yellow. The flowers are bright yellow in slender droop- ing racemes opening the last of May or in June when the leaves are fully grown. The fruit is winged, fully grown in July, bright red at first, but changing to brown late in autumn. The striped maple is of common occurrence in the State. It is a shade-loving tree, and is usually found growing with other hard woods and sometimes witfc conifers on rich, moist soils or rocky slopes. It^is of little value except for its beauty. The wood is close-grained, light and soft. 54 FOREST TREES OF MAINE SUGAR MAPLE (Rock Maple) (Acer saccharum Marsh.) In the forest the sugar maple grows to a height of sixty to seventy feet, and a diameter of twenty to thirty inches, the trunk often without branches for quite a distance and forming a short, somewhat spreading top. In the open, the branches begin eight to ten feet from the ground, forming an egg-shaped head when the tree is young, and a broad rounded top when older. The bark on young trees and large branches is smooth or slightly fissured and pale. On the trunks of old trees it is deeply furrowed and is of a light gray color, sometimes rather dark. The leaves are opposite, three to five lobed, sparing- ly toothed, three to fi v e inches long, dark green above and pale green below. In the fall they are of various shades of deep red, scarlet, orange or yel- low. The flowers are pendulous, borne on long, slender, hairy stalks and are produced in clus- ters. They are greenish yellow and appear with the leaves. The fruit is a winged seed and ripens in the fall. The sugar maple is found throughout the State and in some sections is very abundant. It grows on moist, rocky slopes, preferring, however, the rich moist soils of uplands where it makes its best development. The wood is heavy, close-grained, strong, hard, tough and can be polished. It is used for furniture, flooring, tool handles, and to some extent for canoe paddles. Maple sugar and syrup are made largely from the 5ap of this tree. SUGAR MAPLE Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. SUGAR MAPLE Winter twig and buds. One- half nat- ural size 55 FOREST TREES OF MAINE in r SILVER MAPLE (Soft Maple) [Acer sacchar^m Ls , M ars h -) Usually the silver maple grows to a height of sixty to eighty feet and a diameter of two to three feet, and having a trunk separating into three or four upright, secondary stems, destitute of branches for some dis- tance. The branches are long and slender, often pendulous. The bark on young trees is smooth, gray, slightly tinged with red. On old trees it is furrowed more or less, separates irito large thin scales and is reddish brown in color. On the twigs it is chestnut brown and shiny. The leaves are opposite, deeply five-lobed and the edges are irregular and sharply toothed. The upper surface is pale green, the lower, silvery white. They turn a pale yellow in the fall. The flowers are on very short stalks and in clus- SILVER MAPLE t e r s. They are Leaves and fruit. One-third natural size, . greenish yellow or sometimes pinkish, opening early long before the leaves appear. The fruit is winged and ripens about May before the leaves appear, falling a little later and germinating at once. The silver maple is a common tree in the State, except along the coast, and is abundant in some localities. It grows largely on sandy banks along streams. The wood is softer than that of the hard maple, close-grained, not durable, and easily worked. It is used for tool handles, and to some extent for flooring, furniture and fuel. The sap is sometimes used for the production of maple sugar and syrup. 56 FOREST TREES OF MAINE RKD MAPLE (^Acer rubrum L.) The red 'maple is a medium sized, slender tree that i becomes fifty to sixty feet high, and one to two feet in diameter. The branches are upright, forming a some- what narrow head. Usually the trunk is not divided. The bark on young trees is smooth and light gray. On old trunks, it is dark gray, ridged and broken into plate-like scales. On the twigs it is red and shiny on trees of all ages. The leaves are opposite, three to five lobed, margins irregularly doubly toothed, three to five inches long, upper surface light green, lower, white. In the fall, they turn scarlet or scar- let and orange. The flowers are produced in clusters o n mod e r a t e 1 y long stalks. They are a bright scarlet or yellowish red, opening before the ap- pearance of the leaves. The fruit is winged and ripens in the spring or early summer and germinates as 5oon as it falls. The red maple is a rapid grower and is the Host common and abundant of the maples in this State. Lt is a swamp tree usually found in wet places along ;treams or on the border of swamps. The wood is close-grained, heavy, not very strong, and easily worked, not durable and will take a ^ood polish. Used for furniture, woodenware, turnery, .mnstocks and fuel. RED MAPLE Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. RED MAPLE Winter twig and buds. One-half natural size. 57 FOREST TREES OF MAINE BASSWOOD (Linden) {Tilia americana L.) The basswood usually is a good sized tree, growing to a height of fifty to seventy feet and a diameter^of two to three feet. The branches are slender, some- what pendulous ,comparatively small and numerous, forming a broad and rounded head. The bark on the trunk of old trees is deeply and irregularly furrowed. On young trees, it is smooth or slightly fissured and has a grayish appearance. ^ The leaves are alternate, broadly egg- T shaped, toothed, upper surface dark green, lower, yellow green and shiny, and five to six inches long. The flowers are greenish yellow, borne on a slender stalk which is at- tached to a rather long, yellowish, leaf-like body. They are fragrant, contain a b u n - dance of honey and open in July. The fruit is spherical, gray, woody, and about as large as a pea, BASSWOOD and remains at- Leaf and fruit. One-third natur- tached tO the leaf- like body when it BASS- falls. WOOD Xhe basswood is a common tree in our ^In^Ldr^ forcsts. It is found on the poor soils, but One-half (;toes uot make a good growth in such situa- eaturai size. preferring, instead, the rich land. The wood is light, soft, tough and easily worked. It is used for lumber, pulp, cheap furniture and wooden- ware. Bees make an excellent grade of honey from the. flowers. 58 'forest TREES OF MAINE ASHES • The Important Distinctions. BLACK ASH WHITE ASH RED ASH {Fraxinus nigra Marsh.) {Fraxinus americana L.) {Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh) Leaves 1 Leaves 1. eaves Have seven to e 1 e v e n leaflets which are with- out stalks except the one at the end. Have seven to nine leaflets, usually seven, which are borne on stalks Having seven to nine leaflets borne on stalks. Winter Buds Winter Buds Winter Buds j Black or very dark ter- 1 minal bud. Less than 1 one-fourth i n c h 1 o n g, 1 sharply pointed. Brown, terminal, o n e- eighth inch long, blunt pointed. Brown, terminal, o n e- eighth inch long, and as if cut off, and coated with rusty or dull red hairs. 1 Winter Twigs Winter Twigs Winter Twigs Olive green, smooth. Olive green, smooth and shiny. Greenish gray, somewhat covered with downy hairs. Note. — The flowers and fruit of these three ashes are so much alike that they have no striking characteristics by which to distinguish them from one another. The fruit of all is winged, that of the white ash ofteiv remaining on the tree until sometime in winter. 59 FOREST TREES OF MAINE BLACK ASH (Fraxinus nigra Marsh.) The black ash is a rather tall, slender tree, with slender branches and a short, narrow head except in the open when the top may be broad and rounded and much longer. It grows to a height of fifty- to sixty feet and a diameter of ten to twenty inches. The trunk is often without branches well towards the top. The bark is gray to dark gray with more or less parallel ridges. On the shoots of the season it is smooth and olive green. BLACK ASH Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. The leaves are twelve to fifteen inches long, opposite and have seven to eleven leaflets which are four to five inches long, without stalks except the end. one and have remotely toothed margains. The upper surface is dark green. The black ash is quite a prominent tree in Maine. It grows almost entirely on rich, moist ground or in cold, wet swamps and along the banks of streams. The wood is coarse-grained, heavy, somewhat soft, not strong, tough and durable. It is used for interior finishing, cabinet work, barrel hoops, and baskets. 6o FOREST TREES OF MAINE ^VHITE ASH {Fraxinus americana L.) The white ash ordinarily is a somewhat larger tree than the black ash, growing to a height of sixty to seventy feet and a diameter of fifteen to thirty inches and sometimes even exceeding these dimensions. The branches are stout, and upright or spreading, forming a narrow top in the forest, and a broad, round head in the open. The bark is broken into broad, flat, parallel ridges by deep furrows, and is a dark brown or deep gray in color. On the season’s shoots, the bark is olive green, smooth and shiny. The leaves are opposite, and con- sist of seven to nine, usually seven leaf- lets, and are eight to twelve inches long- The leaflets are three to five inches long, borne on short stalks, edges remotely WHITE ASH Winter twig and WHITE ASH buds. One-half Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. natural size. toothed and dark green and often shiny on the upper surface. The white ash is one of our valuable timber trees and is found quite commonly in the State. For its best growth, it demands the rich, rather moist soil of low hills, but is often found along streams. The wood is hard, strong, heavy and tough. It is used for agricultural implements, tool handles, oars, furniture and interior finishing. 6i FOREST TREES OF MAINE RKD ASH (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) The red ash has stout, upright branches and these form an irregular, compact head, or broad and rounded in the open. It seldom exceeds a height of fifty or sixty feet and a diameter of sixteen to twenty inches. The bark on the trunk of old trees is furrowed like that of the white ash. It is more regularly ridged, however, and the furrows are not as deep. In color, it is dark gray, or brown. The branches of the season are greenish gray and covered with numerous hairs which often remain until the next season. The leaves are ten to twelve inches long, opposite and having seven to nine leaflets. These are four to six inches long, remotely toothed, and yellow green on the upper surface. The red ash is common in Maine but is not found as abundantly as the white and black ash. It is sometimes mistaken for the former. It grows near the banks of I streams and lakes on rich, moist soil. I The wood is hard, heavy, fairly strong, coarse- 1 grained, and brittle. It is used in the same way asi w^hite ash but is not as good a wood. J 62