THE TREES OF THE WOOD. 191 



As we wander through a Beech wood, we soon recognise the 

 fact that this stately tree admits no rival. In congenial soil, 

 where it flourishes in native vigour, not only are the other trees 

 compelled to give way before it, but even the lowly plants cannot 

 thrive in those dense shades. The roots spread horizontally near 

 the surface, and the fallen leaves rot very slowly and cover the 

 soil so that it is kept from being warmed by the sun's rays in the 

 spring-time ; this, combined with the density of the growth and 

 the drip from it, renders a Beech wood very different from the 

 luxuriant growth usually found where other trees abound. But 

 although few phanerogams can exist, there are several cryptogams 

 of interest, and for students and lovers of the other kingdom — 

 the birds and the insects — especially invite attention. 



The wood of the Beech is hard and brittle ; it is useful for 

 tools, various articles of machinery, carpentry, cabinet making, 

 and fuel. It will not bear alternation of moisture and dryness, 

 also if kept too dry no timber is more liable to be moth eaten ; 

 but if submerged under water it is said to be very durable. A 

 transverse section shows the distinct appearance of the annual 

 rings. This is due to the closely compressed texture of the late 

 summer and autumn growth : the spring wood contains numer- 

 ous vessels, but they become smaller and fewer as the season 

 advances. Under the microscope we see that the medullary rays 

 are of two kinds — some being uni-seriate, that is consisting of one 

 series of cells ; and oi\\Q\-s, pluri-seriate, that is of many : the latter 

 being broad are visible to the naked eye, and therefore form one 

 of the distinctive features of the wood. They widen out as they 

 cross the boundary of the annual rings. 



The Beech is a very interesting object for winter study. If 

 we wish to form a true idea of the various forms of the trunk and 

 the disposition of the branches and of the spray, it is the season 

 decidedly the best for our purpose. We find that trees are 

 greatly influenced by their natural surroundings. In general, a 

 detached tree exhibits a trunk clothed with branches almost from 

 the ground upwards, whilst those grown in masses show naked 

 trunks to a considerable height, because the shade from the 

 surrounding trees has cut off" the light from them, and the nutritive 

 materials have therefore been directed to the higher branches 



