The Meeker herald., 1905-08-12
THE sAssAFRAs TREE.
1t. Tr.srsp c. a .ip.d co,umbas to Dis
cover America.

| cover America.
In certain cid English books about
trees. a quaint story is related Of the
sassafras, which is made to play an
important part in the success of the
voyage of Columbus. His courage was
nearly exhausted. we are told, and his
hope of accomplishing the purpose Of
his voyage had almost reached its end,
when the perfume of sassafras flowers,
borne by breeze from, the land, con-
WINGED him that the long sought land
could not be far distant. Stimulated
by this assurance, he continued upon
his course, and when his crew mu-
tinted, the fragrance Of the tree en-
abled him to persuade the men that
they would soon reach land. We are
thus obliged to conclude that II 1t had
not been for the sassafras tree, there
would have been small chance Of the
discovery OF America in 1892.
In the New England States the sas-
safras II found growing In rich woods,
and 1t varies in height from fifteen to
100 feet. The bark Of the trunk IL
rough, and the branches often grow
In a singular, twisted manner, unlike
those Of other trees. A corkscrew ef-
feet IL suggested by the contortions Of
the upper branches when the tree II
bare.
The leaves are remarkable for their
variety of form; no less than three
distinct shapes may be seen on single
tree. OF these the simple and three
lobed leaves occur most frequently, and
the leaf with one lobe, the mitten-
shaped leaf. less often.
They are beautiful, shining green
in color. and when bruised they give
out a delicious. aromatic odor, which
Thoreau has described as resembling
that Of demons and thousand spices"
The Indians Of Louisiana make
powder from the leaves, which gives
gumbo soup-a favorite creole dish
Its favor and consistency. A drink is
made in Virginia by boiling the young
shoots in water. adding molasses, and
allowing the mixture to stand. The
pith of the young twigs yields
mucilaginous emulsion, which IL used
by oculists in certain treatments Of the
eyes, and the bark was once sought
after for Its medicinal properties.
Even in winter the twigs retain their
wonderful fragrance, and Thoreau, in
his Journal for February 8. 1862. says:
when I break of twig Of green
barked sassafras, as am going
through the woods now, and smell 1t,
am startled to find 1t fragrant as in
summer. 1t Is an importation Of all
<Hn ~ nrln al lrrkn
our New England winter, very foreign
to the snow and the oak leaves"
The yellow flowers appear before
the leaves have fully unfolded in the
spring. The dark blue fruit is ripe in
the autumn, but is so eagerly devoured
by birds that 1t is rerely seen on the
trees. The roots are mildly stimulating
in effect, and have such pleasant aro-
matte flavor that they have long been
gathered by people in the country who
are fortunate enough to ind the trees
accessible. The young roots are the
sweetest and best; when they are
larger than the size of finger they
lose their agreeable taste, and are bit
ter and hard.
A small handpick, like those used
by icemen, makes an excellent tool to
dig up the roots, and when unearthed,
they should be cut free with a knife,
care being taken not to bruIse the bark.
The manufacture Of sassa fras-oil was
an industry which once fiourished in
several Southern States, but 1t is now
rather on the decline. The process of
distillation is very primitive. and the
oil is extracted from all parts of the
tree except the leaves. 1t Is used to
perfume soap and other articles, and is
seldom sold In pure state now. but
is usually diluted with oil Of camphor.
This was one Of the first American
trees which became known in Europe.
The French in Florida were told by
the Indians about It's curative proper
ties, and as early as 1860 1t was de-
scribed by Spanish physician. 1t
was much in demand from this time.
and high prices were paid for the roots;
in fact, 1t has the distinction of hav-
ing formed part of the first cargo ever
exported from Massachusetts.
The sassafras is the last survivor in
our country Of a race of trees which
once fourished in the forests of both
hemispheres. The cinnamon and cam
phor Of the tropics belong to this fam
lily, but in our climate the sassafrns
was the only one which could bear the
intense cold, and 1t is now found sole
~ in the temperate States Of eastern
North America. Its picturesque form.
exquisite green leaves and delicate
fragrance make It prominent in the
woods. and it richly deserves a place
In our parks and gardens.-Annie
Oakes Huntington, in Youths Com
panion.