maul heads. Fairly free from knots and has only a small quantity
of sapwood. Michigan, Ohio, from Vermont to Iowa, and southward to
Kentucky.

=35. Red Elm= (_Ulmus fulva_ var. _pubescens_) (Slippery Elm, Moose
Elm). The red or slippery elm is not as large a tree as the white elm
(_Ulmus Americana_), though it occasionally attains a height of 135
feet and a diameter of 4 feet. It grows tall and straight, and thrives
in river valleys. The wood is heavy, hard, strong, tough, elastic,
commonly cross-grained, moderately durable in contact with the soil,
splits easily when green, works fairly well, and stands well if
properly handled. Careful seasoning and handling are essential for the
best results. Trees can be utilized for posts when very small. When
green the wood rots very quickly in contact with the soil. Poles for
posts should be cut in summer and peeled and dried before setting. The
wood becomes very tough and pliable when steamed, and is of value for
sleigh runners and for ribs of canoes and skiffs. Together with white
elm (_Ulmus Americana_) it is extensively used for barrel staves in
slack cooperage and also for furniture. The thick, viscous inner bark,
which gives the tree its descriptive name, is quite palatable,
slightly nutritious, and has a medicinal value. Found chiefly along
water courses. New York to Minnesota, and southward to Florida and
Texas.

=36. Cedar Elm= (_Ulmus crassifolia_). Medium- to small-sized tree,
locally quite common. Arkansas and Texas.

=37. Winged Elm= (_Ulmus alata_) (Wahoo). Small-sized tree, locally
quite common. Heartwood light brown, sapwood yellowish white. Wood
heavy, hard, tough, strong, and close-grained. Arkansas, Missouri, and
eastern Virginia.

[Illustration: Fig. 10. A Large Red Gum.]

GUM

This general term applies to three important species of gum in the
South, the principal one usually being distinguished as "red" or
"sweet" gum (see Fig. 10). The next in importance being the "tupelo"
or "bay poplar," and the least of the trio is designated as "black" or
"sour" gum (see Fig. 11). Up to the year 1900 little was known of gum
as a wood for cooperage purposes, but by the continued advance in
price of the woods used, a few of the most progressive manufacturers,
looking into the future, saw that the supply of the various woods in
use was limited, that new woods would have to be sought, and gum was
looked upon as a possible subs