Other characters:  The flowers, which appear in late June and early
    July, are large, white and very showy.

Other common names:  Indian bean; western catalpa.

Comparisons:  The white flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is a small
    tree which also has its leaves in whorls of three or sometimes
    opposite.  It can be readily told from other trees, however, by the
    small square plates into which the outer bark on the trunk divides
    itself, see Fig. 85, and by the characteristic drooping character of
    its branches.  It is one of the most common plants in our eastern
    deciduous forests.  It is extremely beautiful both in the spring and
    in the fall and is frequently planted for ornament.  There are many
    varieties of dogwood in common use.

WHITE MULBERRY (Morus alba)

A small tree recognized by its small round reddish brown buds and light brown, finely furrowed (wavy looking) bark.

The tree, probably a native of China, is grown under cultivation in eastern Canada and United States.  It grows rapidly in moist soil and is not fastidious in its light requirements.  Its chief value is for screening and for underplanting in woodlands.

The red mulberry (Morus rubra) is apt to be confused with the white mulberry, but differs in the following characters:  The leaves of the red mulberry are rough on the upper side and downy on the under side, whereas the leaves of the white mulberry are smooth and shiny.  The buds in the red are larger and more shiny than those of the white.

The Osage orange (Toxylon pomiferum) is similar to the mulberry in the light, golden color of its bark, but differs from it in possessing conspicuous spines along the twigs and branches and a more ridged bark.

CHAPTER IV

THE STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS OF TREES

To be able fully to appreciate trees, their mode of life, their enemies and their care, one must know something of their structure and life requirements.

Structure of trees:  Among the lower forms of plants there is very little
    distinction between the various parts—­no differentiation into root,
    stem, or crown.  Often the lower forms of animal and vegetable life
    are so similar that one cannot discriminate between them.  But as we
    ascend in the scale, the various plant forms become more and more
    complex until we reach the tree, which is the largest and highest
    form of all plants.  The tree is a living organism composed of cells
    like any other living organism.  It has many parts, every one of
    which has a definite purpose.  The three principal parts are:  the
    stem, the crown, and the root.