V. 1. THE BLACK BIRCH. 205 



two to four inches long, and one quarter of an inch wide, set with 

 loosely arranged scales. Each flower is within a broad-ovate, 

 shield-like, pointed, brown scale, to which are attached two 

 smaller ones below, and within, three thinner, bearded scales, 

 supporting twelve stamens with single-lobed anthers, growing 

 by twos on pedicels, with often a slender scale at the base of 

 each. These catkins are towards the end of the branches, oc- 

 cupying each the place of a pair of leaves. 



The female flowers are on smaller catkins, about half an inch 

 long and one eighth in diameter, lower on the branches, with 

 two leaves at the base of each. The scales are close set, imbri- 

 cate, small, green, rounded or pointed at the end, with an ear- 

 like lobe on each side at the base. Within each are three pairs 

 of ovaries with awl-shaped stigmas. 



The fruit is erect, nearly sessile, elliptical, or cylindrical with 

 rounded ends, an inch or somewhat less long, and half an inch 

 thick, made up of shining, resinous scales of three equal lobes, 

 closely imbricated, and having three seeds, ovate and with broad 

 wings, within each. 



Michaux found this tree in Nova Scotia, in Maine, and " on 

 the estate of Vermont," as Loudon has translated him; also in 

 the Middle States and on the Alleghanies, throughout their 

 whole extent, till they terminate in Georgia. 



The wood is easily wrought, and, as it has strength, firmness 

 and durability, it is much used in the arts. It has a delicate 

 rose color, which deepens from exposure, but never becomes 

 dark, and the difference between the annual circles of different 

 degrees of maturity, giving a rich, clouded, or, as it is technically 

 called, landscape appearance, it is in request for the panels 

 in the foot and head-boards of bedsteads, and in other cabinet 

 furniture. It is sometimes used to make yokes, which proves 

 its strength to be considerable. It is also used for joists, for bed- 

 steads and for chairs, for which it is a beautiful material, though 

 it does not bend so well as yellow birch. Small tubs are made 

 of it, and it is sometimes used for back-boards in carriages. 



The black birch is excellent for fuel, next, indeed, to the 

 rock maple, in the Green Mountains, and in the northern part of 

 New England, where it comes to the greatest perfection. A 



