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HACKBERRY (Celtis occidentalis)
NETLEAF HACKBERRY (Celtis reticulata)
Other names: hard hack, sugarberry, nettletree, false elm, palo blanco.

FAIR

The hackberry is common throughout the Midwest and lower Great Lakes region. The tree is found in the western states but infrequently. It is found in Utah and Wyoming and in eastern Oregon and Washington, in the canyons along major streams. The tree is medium slow growing, the wood is hard, and may live to 150 years or more. In the Midwest it grows to 24" diameter. In the west it is usually scrubby in form and only about l2" diameter, 15 to 20 ft. in height. The bark is rough with a thin sapwood. 

There is no report of the hackberry as an original bearing tree. It was undoubtedly so utilized but may have been misnamed in the field notes. Though the wood is hard the trees are easily killed by fires and are also used for firewood and fence posts. 

This tree should be a fair bearing tree. This writer has used it because nothing known to be better was available. Keep the blaze small and narrow, smooth at the edges, smoothly drained and well painted. The wood is hard to scribe neatly.