RANDOM NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY. 



29 



The Forest Trees of Rhode Island. 



BY L. W. RUSSELL. 

 No. XIII. 



Far/US — Beach. 



Although the beach, Faifvs Jerri((iinia, 

 is to be found in various loeaUties about the 

 state, it is by no means a common tree of 

 the woods. It occurs most frequentl}^ in 

 cool situations, especiall}' by the banks of 

 streams and ponds. It is probable that nei- 

 ther the soil nor the climate of this region 

 is favorable to the production of this tree in 

 large numbers. Still, there are some fine 

 specimens of this species now growing and 

 the excellent qualities of the tree make it a 

 desirable one for preservation and cultiva- 

 tion. There are few better shade trees than 

 a well developed beach in open ground. It 

 has a wide spread, orbicular in shape, and 

 a ver}' dense foliage which is always clean 

 and free from insects. In open ground it 

 limbs low, six to eight feet from the base, 

 sending out numerous long, somewhat irregu- 

 lar arms, dividing into lithe branchesandfine 

 spray, at sharp angles towards the ends, but 

 starting from the massive trunk at wide an- 

 gles, the lower ones becoming nearl}' hori- 

 zontal as the tree becomes well-grown. 



The trunk gradually shapes itself from a 

 circular combination of prominent roots, 

 which may frequentl}' be traced in fluted 

 ridges up to the limbs. The roots keep 

 near the surface of the ground, often in 

 sight, never striking deep. For this reason 

 shrubs rarelj' grow under the trees, and 

 herbage is scant. 



The bark is thin and smooth until upon old 

 trees it becomes spotted, or whoUj- covered 

 with variously-hued lichens. Its color upon 

 young trees is that of lead or ashes. The 

 buds are noticeable for their long spindle 

 shape, being composed of delicate ribbon- 

 like scales. When the buds open, they re- 

 veal a number of delicate leaves from the 

 midst of which roundish tassels of beautiful 

 flowers soon develop. The fruit forms dur- 

 ing the summer months, and is peculiar 

 from the shape of its angular three-sided nuts 

 inclosed in a four-valved burr covered with 

 fringed scales. The leaves, when young, 

 have a pinkish tinge and a not unpleasant 

 acid taste. As the leaves become full-grown, 

 they are of a deep-green, shining above, 

 with prominent midrib, from which come 

 numerous parallel veins, ending in a sharp 



tooth. The leaves come late and are more 

 persistent than any other native forest tree, 

 often remaining on low trees until they are 

 pushed off by a new growth. In autumn 

 the leaves turn to various shades of orange 

 and brown. The wood is compact, with a 

 fine silver grain making it desirable for cabi- 

 net work. It is much used for chair legs and 

 frames, and for various tools ; also, is a val- 

 uable fuel. There is a makred difference in 

 the "heart" and the "sap" wood, the latter 

 being the tougher. The terras "red" beach 

 and "white" beach are given b}' lumbermen 

 in accordance with the predominence of one 

 of the two kinds of wood in the different trees. 



The beach is a desirable shade-tree. A 

 pasture beach is always a favorite with cat- 

 tle in hot weather. Its wide spread branches 

 dense, clean foliage, and general beaut}', 

 make it, also, well adapted for a wide 

 lawn or rustic shade. Like most nut-bear- 

 ing trees it is difficult to transplant it suc- 

 cessfully, unless it is grown in a nursery. 

 There may occasionally be seen fine spread- 

 ing beach trees in Rhode Island, There is a 

 model tree of this kind upon the farm of Engi- 

 neer Herbert Shedd, in North Kingstown. 

 The tree will flourish in any good soil of aver- 

 age moisture in this region. Its range of 

 growth is extensive, it being found as the prin- 

 cipal forest tree upon large areas in the north 

 temperate zone of both hemispheres. In 

 the forest it is a remarkably' beautiful tree, 

 tall and straight, the bole tapering very 

 gradually', reaching sixty to eighty feet in 

 height with only here and there a small 

 branch, having branches at the top which 

 adapt themselves to the space given. One can 

 walk in a forest of beaches, upon a soft car- 

 pet of leaf mold, and hardly meet a shrub, 

 and onl}^ a few characteristic herbaceous 

 plants. Some of the finest forests of beach in 

 this country may still be seen in western 

 Massachusetts among the Berkshire Hills. 



The " copper leaf" beach is a "sport" 

 originally from Germany, making a most 

 beautiful ornamental tree. The "weeping" 

 beach also originated in Europe, and, like 

 all "sports," is onl^' obtained b}- grafting 

 or budding. The "fern-leaf" beach is the 

 most beautiful and graceful of all, obtained 

 only by grafting, and with difficulty. One 

 of the finest trees of this kind in this coun- 

 try is in the grounds of the Redwood 

 Librar}^, Newport. 



