11 



those of the chestnut. They are 2 and a fourth to 5 inches long 

 and 1 to 3 inches wide, with coarse teeth along the margins. 

 The winter buds are one-half to an inch long, slender, dark 

 brown and shiney. The fruit is a small burr, about three- 

 fourths of an inch long, on a stalk of the same length. The 

 nut is small, about the size of a chinquapin but triangular in 

 shape. 



51. Beech wood weighs about 43 pounds to the cubic 

 foot. It is hard and strong but not durable in contact with 

 the ground. It makes beautiful and durable flooring. It is 

 also used for furniture. Like most of the heavy woods it 

 makes good fuel. The mast is relished by swine, and it is 

 said to impart an excellent flavor to the meat. 



52. Beech occurs scatteringly all over Georgia, usually on 

 rich moist slopes or bottom lands. It endures partial shade; 

 and when forestry is developed to the extent that it has 

 been developed in other countries, this ability to endure 

 shade may be used to grow a crop of beech under stands of 

 thin-topped kinds that do not cast a dense shade. 



53. Chestnut, CASTANEA DENTATA. The leaves are ob- 

 long lance-shaped, with coarse teeth, corresponding to the 

 ends of the veins. They are 6 to 9 inches long and 2 to 3 

 inches wide. The male flowers are in catkins, 6 to 8 inches 

 long when grown. The fruit is a spiney burr. 



54. Chestnut wood weighs about 28 pounds to the cubic 

 foot. It is easily split. It lasts well in contact with the 

 ground. It is used for posts, vine-yard stakes, and bridge 

 sills. The durability of the wood in contact with the ground 

 is due to the presence of tannic acid. The extraction of 

 acid from chestnut for tanning purposes has become a con- 

 siderable industry in recent years. 



