JOURNAL 



OF 



NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, CHEMISTRY, 



AND 



THE ARTS. 



NOVEMBER 1 7 9 8. 



ARTICLE L 



An Account of three different Kinds of Timber-Trees, ivhich are likely to prove a great Ac- 

 quifition to this Kingdom, both in point of Profit and as Trees for Ornament and Shade, 



. By Charles White, Efq. F.R.S.* 



I 



N making a collection of fuch hardy trees and flirubs as would grow and even flourifli 

 in the open air, at Sale,' in the county of Chefter, I foon obferved that there were three 

 foreft trees, of different genera, which grew much farter than the others in the fame foil 

 and fituation, viz. the Black American Birch with broad leaves, the AtheniaQ Poplar, and 

 the Iron Oak with prickly cups. r 



The Broad leaved American Black Birch, Betula nigra hmn. Spec. Plant. 1394, is de- 

 fcribed by Mr. Alton in his Hortus Kewenfis : B. foliis rhombeo-ovatis, duplicato-ferratis^ 

 acutis, jubtus puhefcentibus, baft iiitegris ; flrobilorum fquamis villofis ; laciniis linearibus, 

 aqualibus. It is a native of Virginia and Canada, and was firft introduced into England 

 (where it grows in the greateft luxuriancy,-and perfefts its feeds) by Peter Collinfon, Efq. 

 in the year 1736. There is no doubt, therefore, that it will foon bec6me very plentiful 

 and cheap. It is very defirable in pleafure-grounds, as it is the firft foreft tree in the 

 fpring which prefents us with its leaves ; thefe are of a light and lively green. Its bark, 

 which is white, makes at all times a beautiful variety when intermixed with other trees. 

 It is faid to be the moft ufeful timber tree in North America for building both of houfes 

 and boats, and will grow faft in any foil or fituation, whether wet or dry. 



? Manchefter Memoirs, yqJ. v pan i. 

 Vol. II.— Nov. 1798. Xx Miller, 



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