The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1871-02-09
For the Record.
TREES AND q OF OHIO.
BY REV. @. II. WARREN.

O5aNS
The leaves OF this very beau
tiful tree are ovate, accumulate
of deep shining green. TIN
male tree with smaller leaves
than The female. Male flowers
In very short, nearly sessile
panicles of about twelve flow
ers. Female flowers in close
heads on a short peduncle
Fruit quite snowy, as large as a
good sized orange, of a golden
yellow color. This most inter
esting tree is found growing
wild and quite abundantly on
the Arkansas River, and also
otAer Western tributaries OF
the Mississippi, south of the
city of st. Louis, in which local
ity according to Mr.. Nutall, il
rises up to the height of fifty or
sixty feet. The wood OF this
familiar tree is heavy, fine
grained, and of a beautiful vel.
low color, receiving a brilliant
polish. IL is also qufe strong
and elastic, and on this account
The Indians of the extensive
district where this tree is found
growing, employ it abundantly
Tor their bows, greatly prefer
ring it to any other timber.
Hence the common name in
many parts of the country,
among the whitee-Bow-wood.
A beautiful yellow dye may be
procured from the wood, greatly
resembling that Of the Fustic'
wood. The Usage Orange being
Of ahe monandrous class Of
plants it does not mature Its
fruit unless both the male and
female trees are growing in the
same neighbOrhoOd. 1t was
first transplanted into our
grounds and gardens from a vii
lage OF the Usage tribe Of In
dams, whence the common
name of Usage Orange. The
introduction Of this pretty tree
was one of the favorable results
of the Lewis and Clark's eXpe
dition. Ii was named by them
in honor Of the late William
Mcclure, Esq, President of the
American Academy of Scien-
ces. This tree was brought ia
st. Louis at a very early period
and planted by Mr.. Chouteau in
1900. The French are also said
to have introduced it TO some Of
their posts in Illinois, a long
while ago, but it was only a
curiosity. 1t was brought In
Cincinnati, in 1882 by ID. Gano
and others. There are now
throughout Ohio many trees
perfecting their fruit annually
In the year 1903, it was taken
to Philadelphia, and grown by
Mr.. Landreth in his garden,
where the original tree is
standing, being thirty feet high,
and two feet in diameter. AS
a hedging plant it stands pre-
eminent to all the trees and
shrubs of the United States. In
this interesting tree will be
found all the qualities that are
necessary to insure success in
hedging. its rapid and vigor
Gus growth, proves 1t admirably
adapted to our progressive hab'
its, its deep roots enable it to
endure the severe and wither-
ing droughts of our country,
and its thorns are of such a
character as to answer every
required purpose. 1t is now a
settled fact that the Usage Or
ange hedge can be grown
throughout the United States
as certainly that fruit orchards
have become general. AS a
hedge plant it is exceedingly
vigorous and long lived, being
naturally inclined to throw out
its branches near the ground; it
bears the greatest severity in
pruning; it has bright, glossy,
foliage, which amidst the sui
try days of summer, secures for
it a rich and beautiful appear
ance. 1t will flourish upon all
kinds of productive soils, and in
all our varied climates, from
the uncultivated lands OF Texas,
its native place, to Boston on
the north. east, st. Paul on the
north west. In a word it has
no equal as a hedge -plsnt, upon
American soil. Numerous and
harmonious has been the testi
mony of those who have en-
ployed it as a hedging plant
unrivaIled in our country. 1t
has strong claims on those who
are employing trees for orna>
mental purposes. The brilliant