230 The Birches. 



they ripen, and it is difficult to keep them. They should be gath- 

 ered by hand just as the burrs begin to turn brown, and if possible, 

 they should be sown the same year. An expeditious way to obtain 

 the seed is to cut off the bran-ches that bear the burrs at the time 

 when they are just ripening, and hang them in a dry place till thf 

 seed falls out. As they should be covered but very slightly, they 

 are best raked in, upon soil previously prepared, and if sown in au 

 tumu, they will start the next spring. 



909. The birch can not reproduce with much advantage from the 

 stumps, but it readily springs up from the seed in vacant spots in 

 the woods. 



910. THE YELLOW BIRCH (Betula excelsa) is a northern species, 

 growing to a greater size than any other of the birches, and when 

 large, the grain is often twisted in a spiral manner. Its wood is 

 solid, fine-grained, and easily worked, and is much used for cabine. 1 

 wares. The bark possesses tanning properties, yet is but seldom used. 



911. THE CANOE BIRCH (Betula papyracea) is also a northern spe- 

 cies, occurring along the northern border of the United States, and 

 far northward into Canada. The bark is used for making canoes, 

 baskets, and other uses, and its wood, which is white, is largely 

 used for making shoe-pegs, spools, lasts, and cabinet wares. It 

 turns smoothly, and takes a fine finish. 



912. THE RED BIRCH (Betula nigra) grows in the Atlantic States, 

 from New England to the Carolinas. It is also common in the 

 Western and South-western States, always preferring river banks, 

 and sometimes growing to one or two feet in diameter, but usually 

 much less. It derives its name from the reddish tinge of the bark, 

 which hangs in loose shreds upon the trunk and branches, giving it 

 a peculiarly ragged appearance. 



913. THE SWEET BIRCH (Betula lento) sometimes called " Cherry 

 Birch," or " Black Birch," from the dark color of its bark, is a tree 

 of small size ; is chiefly a northern species, extending from Canada 

 southward along the mountains as far as North Carolina. The Be- 

 tula glandulosa, a far-northern species, and some others of less ac- 

 count, are also found within our territory, occurring as a low bush 

 upon our northwestern coast. 



914. THE WESTERN BIRCH (Betula occidentalis) is a shrub, grow- 

 ing 10 to 20 feet high, with a close, dark-colored bark, which be- 

 comes light brown, copiously sprinkled with resinous warts. It 



