TREES AND SHRUBS 



153 



a disease known as maladie des hoit^} The animals lie 

 down for lono- intervals; fever and other troubles follow, 

 and in some cases death ensues. The cause appears to be 

 the particular substances present in the young leaves of 

 the Oak which later develop into tannin. 



The Beech {Fagiis sylvatica). — The Beech 

 nizL'd by — 



recog- 



1. The sliape of the leaves (tig. 96, a). 



2. The cigar-shaped brown buds (fig. 96, b). 



3. The smooth bark. 



TJie fruit is known as heechmast, and consists of two 

 triangular, liaid brown nutlets, sitting upright on a four- 



Fig. 96.— a, Beech Leaf. &, Biuls of Beech, c, Beech Xut. 



lobed platform (fig. 96, c). The husk of the nut waa 

 formerly made into a cake for feeding cattle, because it 

 contains a quantity of nutritious oil. But it contains 

 also a deleterious substance which is poisonous, so that 

 the husks have long since been given up as a food. ^ The 

 leaves of the Beech are not injurious to browsing animals. 

 The Yew (Taxus haccata). —This funereal -looking 

 jjlant belongs to the Gymnosperms and calls for careful 

 consideration, as it is reckoned to be the most dangerous 



i It may be mentioned here that this malady is also caused when the young 

 leaves of the Hornbeam, Furze, Broom, or Hazel are eaten by .inimak. 



