CHAP. CV. - CoRYLA‘CEX. Fa‘Gus. 1955 
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into each other, and, as it were, inosculate ; and hence, according to some, it 
was this tree that gave the first idea of grafting. A curious example will be 
found under the head of Accidents and Diseases. 
Geography. The common beech is a native of the temperate parts of 
Europe, from the south of Norway to the Mediterranean Sea, and from 
England to Constantinople. It is also found in Palestine, Asia Minor, 
Armenia, and Mazanderan. In Norway, it is found as far north as 59°, in 
favourable situations ; and, in Sweden, to 58°. According to Pallas, it is 
plentiful in the southern provinces of Russia, and in Caucasus ; but it is not 
common in the plains; and it is nowhere to be found in the northern pro- 
vinces. It abounds in the forests of Poland, and in Lithuania. The line of 
beeches on the Alps rises to the elevation of 5132 ft., between lat. 453° and 
464°; the snow line being 3848 ft. higher. (Von Buch, as quoted by H. C. 
Watson.) In Switzerland, the beech occupies the south sides of the moun- 
tains, where it rises as high as the Vaccinium Vitis ide‘a, and where the silver 
fir clothes the north side. (Nat, Hist. Jordt., vol. i. p.9.) In France, it is 
found on the sloping sides of mountains, and on calcareous hills; but almost 
always on the south side. According to some, the European beech is also a 
native of America, where it is known under the name of the white beech; but, 
as we are inclined to doubt whether this may not be something different from 
the European beech, we have treated it as a variety, and given its geography, 
when speaking of it, as such. (See p. 1953.) In Great Britain, the beech is 
found in forests, supposed to be indigenous, in various parts of the central dis- 
6L 3 
