New-York daily tribune., 1856-03-22
A RARE ORNAMENTAL TREE.

Rare only because il is rarely used for ornamental
purposes; yet il is uncommonly beautiful Of rapid
growth and hardy and easy TO transplant from its
tive woods where il abounds in all the States south of
attitude AZ. This tree is flmliarly known as the
Sweet Gum-an accidental name given TO distinguish
it from the Sour or Black Gum, which is also known
in the New-England States by the name of Pep
perdge.
The scientific name Of the Sweet Gum is Liquid
Amber.
Both names are appropriate enough. The tree ex-
udes white wax, odoriferous and soft, which hard
ems and grows dark, somewhat like amber by expo.
sure TO the air.
The tree is Of the very ceanest far regards
insects and its effects upon the earth or air where it
fourishes most abundanty, with the exception Of COW
erng the ground with its curious fruit which is about
the size of medium "button-bals" the fruit Of the
Sycamore, (Planus Occidentalis.) These balls are
full of hOneylke cells that contain the seeds, which
may be planted like those of the Pine family.
Mchaus, the author of that great work the North
American sylvia, spoke of this tree as far north as
Portsmouth, y. H., but we have rarely it north
of the City of NewYork There some native trees
in Joness Wood; is quite abundant in New-Jersey,
and especially so in all the coton-,Towng States II
abounds also in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and South
ern Illinois. 1t is held in very low repute a timber
tree for the farmers use though it would make good
boards for many purposes.
IL is for shade and ornament alone that we call at-
tention to it, and in that respect it s deserving of
special notice. 1t is also of great value as medicinal
tree. 1t is esteemed where best known inallibe
specific for all complaints Of the nature of diarrhea
for the treatment of which tea is made of the bark.
From what we personally know Of its value in such
cases, cannot speak too highly of It.
Hovey, in speaking of this tree, and recommending
it, in the March number of his magazine says
"The Sweet Gum forms large tree, having some
what the appearance Of maple, from thirty to fifty
feet bgb according to the soil and latitude in which 1t
grows; the trunk is straight nearly uniform in thick
ness 20 the hight of twenty feet more where its
branches begin to dverge The bark Of the trees
while young is nearly smooth; but a. they acquire
size and age il becomes thick and deeply furowed;
the secondary branches being covered with dry,
faky bark, the plates of which are attached at the
edge and not the face ia other trees. The leaves
are smooth and of yelowsh green, varying in size
from three inches to six inches in diameter, and they
are pamate that is they are divided into four deeply
cut lobes, resembling III shape star The male and
female flowers appear ON the same tree, the former
being rather inconspcuous while the latter are oval
catkins and half inches long. These appear i'll
March April and succeeded by glObuar fruit,
bTsting with points, suspended by slender pedicel
one 10 lNO hCDcS IonS, anu OohtS ouo vi WV oi-i'
backish, perfect seeds The leaves change to deep
Ied or almost orange scarlet, Immediately after the
first rots and keep their brilliant color for some time.
AS the tree is 80 extensively distributed, is found
in all varieties of soil, from the dIy and gravelly
lights of the north TO the deep river bottoms of the
south and west. On the unpropitious soils il usually
does not not grow more than twenty or thirty feet
high but in favorable localities it attans its ampest
dime nsions Michaux measured tree which he found
growing in a swamp in Augusta, Ca, that was fifteen
feet in circumference, with summit in proportion TO
the size Of the trunk
The shape of the leaves is much like that Of the
maple and the tree is equally hardy and valuable for
a shade tree. When planted in open ground it
branches low and forms spreading top. In England,
where has been introduced foreign tree, 1t
is much admired. II better known, We think it would
be popular here 1t might at least in part, take the
place Of the omnipresent Ailanthus.