FOREST TREES. . 1 85 



Canadian farmer, the Beech is indicative of the best Wheat growing 

 soil The decomposition of the leaves, wood and roots of this valuable 

 forest tree, giving a rich black mould, highly favourable for all 

 agricultural productions of roots and grain, which yield abundantly in 

 the soil of the Beech woods; fortunate is the settler whose lands 

 consist chiefly of timber of this kind. 



Even in its native woods the Beech is a tree of slow growth, 

 throwing out many horizontal branches. Its slow, upward growth, 

 tends to promote the hardness and close texture of the wood, and to. 

 give a more symmetrical form to the general outline of the tree. AN hile 

 vet very young, the leaves remain persistent on the boughs through- 

 Autumn storms and Winter snows. The light, fawn coloured faded^ 

 leaves when contrasted with the dark evergreens, with the snow beneath 

 and the blue cloudless sky above, give an agreeable brightness and 

 cheerfulness to the forest scenery that robs the dark lonely wood-paths 

 of much of their gloom. 



Growing singly or at the outer edge of the forest, the Beech forms 

 a tree of great beauty from the wide sweep of the branches, at first 

 curving downwards, and then slightly upwards, its slender sprays and 

 shining bright foliage, in early Spring of a tender green, but darkening 

 as the Summer advances, give a lively appearance to the woods, it is 

 a common practice to head in the young trees when planted as shade 

 trees but this treatment alters the natural, graceful, pyramidical form, 

 giving a rounded figure which becomes thick and bushy, and far less 

 graceful to the eye. The Beech, when in fruit in the months of August 

 and September, acquires a russet hue from the brown, rough, urn-shaped 

 involucre, that contains the three-sided nut, which every boy knows is 

 eatable, and children seek the fallen fruit among the leaves that strew 

 the ground. 



Though three-seeded, there are rarely more than two nuts in one 

 husk, one being empty out of the three. The swine feed largely upon the 

 Beech-mast, and become fat upon the oily food ; but nut-fed pork is not 

 regarded with much favour by the housewife, as it is soft and runs more 

 to oily fat than good, sound, hard bacon. The timber of the Beech is 

 used chiefly for such purposes as require smoothness and hardness, it 

 beina very compact and strong. In England the wood is much used for 

 turning, and also for flooring ; in this country it is valued for many 

 purposes ; for the handles of Carpenters' tools, shoe lasts, cogs of wheels, 

 and for common bedsteads, mouldings, picture-frames, and many house- 

 hold things, beside turner's wares. Hurlburt says the White Beech 

 averages iio feet in height, and 50 feet to the first limb of a well grown 

 forest tree, 18 inches in diameter ; but I think this exceeds the average 



