28 FOREST LIFE AND 



sugar is carried on at a season of the year when there is little 

 else to be done ; and if properly-shaped evaporating vessels were 

 used, a much larger quantity of sugar could he made in the sea- 

 son." 



CHAPTER III. 



Beech-trees — Purity, Size, Fruit — Efforts of Bears after the Nut — The Uses 

 to which its Leaves are appropriated — Mr. Lauder's Testimony, &c. — Use 

 of Wood — Singular Exemption — The novel Appearance of the Leaves of a 

 Species in Germany. — Chestnut-tree — Remarkable one on Mount iEtna. — 

 Balm of Gilcad. — Willow. — Ash. — Basswood, or Tiel-tree. — The Poplar. 

 — The Hemlock — Beauties of its Foliage — Uses. — Hickory. — The Fir-tree. 

 — Spruce-tree — Its conical Form — Uses. — American Larch — Success of the 

 Dukes of Athol in planting it on the Highlands of Scotland. 



The Beech is a tree of no ordinary interest ; first, as "being 

 more free from impurities than any tree with which we are ac- 

 quainted. The bark is very clean and smooth, of a light lead 

 color, sprinkled with fine dots of black, so that it has a grayish 

 appearance. It attains the height of sixty to eighty feet. The 

 lower branches are thrown out in a horizontal attitude, while the 

 upper ones assume somewhat of an erect position. The leaves 

 are of graceful proportions, and profuse, forming a dense shade. 

 Some seasons this tree produces an abundance of nuts, which 

 grow in round, prickly burrs, very similar to chestnuts. The 

 nuts are triangular in shape, and supply the pigeon, partridge, 

 squirrels, bears, and other animals with food. The squirrel will 

 hoard up in his little burrow many quarts of these nuts, where he 

 eats them at his leisure during the seasons of winter and spring. 

 It is quite amusing to see the little fellows repeat their visits to 

 their underground habitations, or leap from branch to branch, 



