72 



The Farm Woodlot 



seed will, when cut down, send up a number of shoots from 

 the stump that in 25 or 30 years will grow into good sized 

 poles and produce three or four on the. same stump which 

 produced one tree before. This sprout system is the most 

 profitable way to grow chestnut on the farm. 



THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT 



The beech 



The American beech is a very characteristic tree and 

 when once known is not confused with other trees, since 

 there is but one species in this country. There are several 

 other beeches in America, but they have been brought 

 from Europe and are found planted for decorative pur- 

 poses in parks and on lawns. They may usually be known 

 by their deep purple leaves or green deeply cut leaves. 

 Our native beech is a beautiful tree with smooth, tight- 

 fitting steel- or light-gray bark and simple, alternate, 

 oval leaves with coarse serrations. The fruit is a small 

 prickly burr, very different from that of the chestnut, 

 inclosing one or two small light brown triangular or three- 



