221 
‘ Timber,” p. 104, that 1,500,000 cubic feet were imported into the 
Mersey in 1906. This wood is received aged in the log, partly as 
boards, and sometimes worked ready for use. It is employed for a 
variety of purposes, the better qualities ‘eine used in the manufac- 
ture of furniture and for cabinet work, while wie shuttles, shoe 
lasts and other articles are made from the remainder 
B. lenta is described in the “ Silva of N. America ” ix., pp. 50-52. 
It is stated to form a tree 70 to 78 feet high with a trunk 2 to M4 foct 
in diameter. The wood is reported to be heavy, very strong and 
hard, close-grained, with a satiny surface, susceptible of receiving 
a beautiful polish. A dark-brown or reddish heart-wood. is con- 
trasted with yellowish sap-wood, It is used largely for furniture 
and in some of ae Reoanoss on the Canadian sea-boar 
buildmg. Hough, “American Woods,” ii, p. 35, reports very 
favourably on the wood, dnd says that it makes a good imitation of 
mahogany and cherry when polished. 
The species is found in Canada and the N.E. United States, and is 
distinguished from other birches by its aromatic bark and leaves. 
he bark is of commercial importance in America, for it is collected 
during late summer and by processes of maceration and gence 
furnishes an oil, known as “ oil of sweet birch” and “ oil of bet 
which is used. for flavouring purposes (‘ American Medicinal 
Barks,” by Alice Henkel, Bulletin No. 10, U.S. Dept. of Agri- 
culture). It is also said that beer is made from the sap of the tree. 
Planting in this country appears to have been limited, for well- 
grown trees are rare. Representatives are to be found at Kew, but 
the older trees have hardly proved so satisfactory as some other 
American kinds. As the birches are usually fast growing trees a 
plantation would soon prove its worth. It would be well to try it 
on somewhat net soil than that which is usually associated with 
the growth of birch. 
The Yellow Bist (B. — Michx.).—The distinguishing features 
of this species and B. lenta are less marked than is the case with 
other American birches, thoaeh the sweet bark of the cherry birch 
is a good character. Descriptions of both trees are to be found 
in the “Silva of N. America,” vol. ix., and their botanical 
characteristics are also recorde d in “Trees of Great Britain 
and Ireland,” iv. It is found in the N.E. United States and 
Canada, the better developed trees being up to 80 feet high and 
3 feet in diameter. Hough, “ American Woods,” i., pp. 64-65, 
refers to the timber as follows :—“ Wood hard, close-grained, tough, 
heavy and very strong, compact, taking a beautiful satiny polish ; 
heart-wood reddish-brown, sap-wood nearly white.” Its uses are 
numerous, for in addition to being employed by wheelwrights and 
cabinet-makers, it enters largely into the manufacture of chair- 
bottoms, friction-pulleys and small wooden articles. Young saplings 
are split for hoops for casks, and burrs from old trees make gx 
mallets and beetles. It would probably succeed best as a — 
dense, pure stand. Pine and spruce might, however, be tri : 
it a form a mixed w a 
r or seas Birch (Betula papyrifera, Marsh. )— is 
sadn pdecihh American birches which appears to be worth a trial 
