38 THE PRACTICAL PLANTER, 

 BEECH 



Is found in greatest, perfection in light, 

 deep, chalky, or sandy loams. On all soils, 

 except a stubborn clay lying on a retentive 

 substratum, it becomes a graceful tree of 

 great stature. Even among rocks, and where 

 soil is hardly visible, this tree arrives to great 

 magnitude, and its wood is of great durabi- 

 lity. In all calcareous soils, it luxuriates. 



The value of this tree, in naval archi- 

 tecture, has been sufficiently explained in 

 Sect. III. Chap. I. to excite its culture in 

 districts favourable for that purpose. In hus- 

 bandry, and in various branches of machinery, 

 it is very useful. It also makes durable fuel. 

 The herring-curers esteem it. In coaleries, 

 it is well known to make durable waggon- 

 ways. Beech is also much used for bed-posts, 

 particularly those called tent beds. 



BIRCH. 



Tire soil which this tree most affects, and 

 in which it is found most to luxuriate, is a 

 lightish black loam, lying on a dry, sandy, 

 or gravelly substratum. On moist ground, 



