Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

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Report of the Secretary of Agriculture in relation to the forests, rivers, and mountains of the southern Appalachian region

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  • 100 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION. Mulberry (Moras rubra) is a small tree with a very short stem, seldom more than 25 feet in height and 24 inches in diameter. The wood is tough and very durable, and is used for posts, etc. It is found in rich hollows at low elevations, but is in general cultivation for the fruit. It seeds regularly and abundantly, and makes rapid growth. Cucumber-tree (Magnolia acuminata) is a large tree, becoming 120 feet high and 5 feet in diameter. It frequents the base of the mountains, generally above 1,500 feet altitude. The wood is rather soft and yellow, and is largely used in the manufacture of furniture, being marketed with that of the yellow poplar. Seed are not abundant and reproduction is scanty. The rate of growth is slow. Yellow-flowered Cucumber-tree (Magnolia acuminata cordata) is a smaller tree than the preceding and is confined to the lower elevations at the southern end of the Appalachians. As a timber tree it is unimportant. Largeleaf Umbrella-tree (Magnolia macrophylla) is a small tree, seldom more than 25 feet in height, which occurs at only a few places along streams or on shady slopes. It is often planted as an ornamental tree, but the wood has no uses. Umbrella-tree (Magnolia tripetala) is a small tree very similar to the preceding, but more common. Mountain Magnolia (Magnolia fraseri) is a tree 40 to 60 feet in height, growing along cool streams. The wood is soft and white, and is put to no uses. The bark is gathered and used medicinally. Yellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) is the largest tree of the Appalachians, attaining a height of 140 feet and a diameter of 8 feet. It is common below 3,500 feet elevation, but is most abundant and reaches its largest size in cool, sheltered hollows on rich soil. The wood is soft and yellow, and is extensively used in the manufacture of furniture and for wood pulp. It seeds frequently and abundantly, but young trees are not very common, as a delicate adjustment of light and moisture condition is required for regeneration. It reproduces freely on the partly shaded portions of old pastures. It is a tree of only medium rapidity of growth. Papaw (Asimina triloba) is a small tree, seldom more than 30 feet in height, growing on rich, moist soil at low elevations. It is uncommon. Sassafras (Sassafras sassafras), reaching a height of not more than 40 feet and a diameter of 24 inches, is common on dry, sandy soil. The red wood is hard and fine grained, and takes a beautiful polish. It is sometimes used in the manufacture of furniture. It reproduces freely in old fields on stiff soil by seed and suckers. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a small tree, about 15 feet in height, or generally a slender shrub, common on moist soils up to 4,000 feet elevation. It seeds abundantly and reproduces freely. Extract of witch hazel is distilled from its bark.
Object
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).