Historical questions

Alan Hartley ahartley at d.umn.edu
Sat Jan 3 14:56:11 UTC 2004


Jimm GoodTracks wrote:

> However, does anyone know if the birch tree used for canoe making grows
> presently or historically in northern Missouri State?

The southern limit of white/paper/canoe birch (exclusive of the
Appalachians) is from N. Ohio to N. Illinois to N. Iowa to S. Dakota. I
don't know what other birch species might range further south and have
the necessary trunk-diameter and bark characteristics.

Elm-bark was also used for building canoes in the eastern U.S.

Alan H.



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