1714 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 
takes a brilliant polish. The union of these properties renders the wood 
superior to that of all the other American birches. In Massachusetts, Connec- 
ticut, and New York, the wood of this birch is next in esteem to that of 
the wild cherry (Cérasus virginiana). Tables, bedsteads, arm-chairs, sofas, 
coach panels, shoe-lasts, and a great many other articles, are made of it. 
Hunter, in his notes to Evelyn’s Sylva, vol. i. p. 219., says that the sap of this 
tree is used by the inhabitants of Kamtschatka without previous fermentation ; 
and that the natives strip off the bark when it is green, cut it into long narrow 
strips, like vermicelli, and, after drying it, stew it with their caviare. Michaux 
strongly recommends the tree for cultivation, on a large scale, in the north 
of France, in England, and in Germany; and to the lovers of curious trees, 
as eminently adapted, from the beauty of its foliage and the agreeable odour 
of its fowers, to figure in their parks and gardens.” Though cultivated by 
Miller as early as 1759, it has never been much introduced into plantations, 
either useful or ornamental. In the year 1818, it was recommended by a com- 
mittee of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, as likely to prove a better tree 
than the common birch for the moist and deep soils of the Highland valleys 
of Scotland ; but we have never heard of any of this, or of any other Ame- 
rican species of birch being tried there. One reason may be the high price 
of these plants in the nurseries, which arises solely from the want of demand, 
as all the species are just as easily raised from seed as the common birch. 
As these seeds are procurable at very low prices, we repeat our recommenda- 
tion to private gentlemen to purchase them, and to raise plants in their 
own nurseries. There are plants of this birch at Messrs. Loddiges’s; and 
there is a considerable tree of it at Syon, which ripens abundance of seeds 
yearly. In Ireland, at Oriel Temple, 50 years planted, it is 52 ft. high; di- 
ameter of the trunk 1 ft. 9in., and of the head 42 ft. Plants, in the London 
nurseries, are from ls. to 1s. 6d. each ; and seeds are Is, per quart. At New 
York, plants are 12 cents each ; and seeds 60 cents per pound, 30 cents per 
quart, and 5 dollars per bushel. 
App. i. Speczes of Birch not yet introduced. 
In Royle’s I/lustrations, several species of birch are mentioned as occupying the loftiest stations in 
the mountains of Nepal, and other parts of the Himalayas, ‘‘ as might be expected,” he adds, * from 
this genus extending to the highest latitudes.” B. Bhojpittra Wall., the most useful and most gene- 
rally known species, is found on Gossainthan, in Kamaon, or Choor, and in Kedarkanta. B., nitida 
and B. cylindrostachya occur with the former in Kamaon; the latter extending also to Manma and 
Dhunoultee. B. resinifera Royle, confined to Kunawar, with catkins resembling those of B. litea 
Michx., has leaves something like those of B. papyrifera. (Jilust., &c., p. 344.) Dr. Lindley has 
described four of these species in the Penny Cyclopedia ; and, as they are likely to prove hardy, and 
will probably soon be introduced, we give the following descriptions from that work, and from the 
work of Dr. Wallich: — 
B. Bhojpittra Wail. The Indian Paper Birch. Leaves oblong-acute, with nearly simple serratures, 
somewhat heart-shaped at the base; their stalks, veins, and twigs hairy. Female catkins erect, cylin- 
drical, oblong. Bracteas smooth, woody, two-parted, blunt, much longer than the fruit, which has 
narrow wings. A tree, found on the alps of Gurwal, in Kamaon, where its thin delicate bark fur- 
nishes the masses of flexible laminated matter, of which great quantities are brought down into the 
plains of India, for lining the tubes of hookahs ; and which is used by the mountaineers, instead of 
paper, for writing upon. The Sanscrit name of the substance is boorjee ; a word which Mr. Graves 
Haughton:considers the root of birch; and one of many proofs that the Saxen part of the English 
language is descended from the Sanscrit. (Wail. Plant. ds. Rar., vol. ii. p. 7.) The bark of this 
specics is of a pale cinnamon colour. It is nearly allied to B. papyracea. It would form a beautiful 
tree in this country. 
B. acuminata Wall. has leaves ovate lanceolate, sharply serrated, taper-pointed, smooth, dotted 
beneath; leaf-stalks and twigs quite smooth ; ripe catkins very long, pendulous, cylindrical, crowded: 
the rachis, and the bracteas, which are auricled at the base, downy. Found on many of the moun- 
tains of Nepal, and in the great valley of that country, following the course of rivers. The flowers 
and fruit are produced from December to April. It forms a very large and noble tree, from 50 ft. to 
60 ft. high, of an oval shape, being covered with branches from its base. The wood is stated by Dr. 
Wallich to be greatly esteemed by the inhabitants, who employ it for all sorts of purposes where 
strength and durability are required. ‘‘ Prof. Lindley thinks that B. alndides (Don’s Prod. Nep., 
p. 58.) refers to this variety.” (Wall. Pl. As. Rar., t. 109.) 
B. nitida. The shining Birch. Leaves oblong, taper-pointed, with fine double serratures, the twigs 
and leaf-stalks hairy. Female catkins pendulous, cylindrical, crowded. Bracts three-lobed, hairy, 
with the lengthened middle lobe longer than the fruit. A tree, found in Kamaon. 
B. cylindrostachya has leaves oblong, taper-pointed, heart-shaped, with fine double serratures ; 
twigs, leaf-stalks, and veins downy; female catkins pendulous, yery long, cylindrical; fruit deeply 
two-lobed ; bracts linear-lanceolate, blunt, membranous, with two teeth at the base, fringed with 
hairs. A tree, found in Kamaon, 
