IO THE EEECH. 



The wood of the beech is brittle, and apt 

 to decay ; but, being eafily wrought, it is 

 much ufed for various domeftic purpofcs. 

 The poets, who celebrate the fimplicity and 

 frugality of the early ages, fpeak much of 

 the beechcn cups and bowls, fome of which 

 received an extraordinary value from the 

 hand of the carver. In our days, beech is 

 a common material of the turner and cabi- 

 net-maker ; the former ufing it for his larger 

 ware; and the latter, for common chairs 

 and other articles of furniture. It is, indeed, 

 almoft the only Englifh wood employed by 

 the London cabinet-makers. Its lightnefs 

 caufes it to be chofen for the handles of 

 tools; and it is fplit into thin fcales for 

 band-boxes, fword-fcabbards, and the like. 

 It is a common wood forfewel, and, in fome 

 counties, is regularly grown in plantations 

 for that purpofe. The dried leaves of the 

 beech make a very good Huffing for mat- 

 treffes. 



THE 



