THE WHITE, CANOE BIRCH OR PAPER BIRCH 



THE Canoe Birch or Paper Birch is one of the best known trees throughout its 

 range. It is closely associated with our history and literature, and is one oi 

 the most beautiful of American trees. It is not so abundant in specimens as 

 the Gray Birch, but attains a much larger size and forms a much more striking feature of 

 the landscape in which it grows. Seen against the dark background of a river or lake, 

 the glistening white trunks of these trees form so striking a picture as to awaken the inter- 

 est of the most indifferent observer, while a group of young trees growing slenderly erect 

 along the border of the forest forms a picture which is sure to call to mind Coleridge's 

 well-known phrase regarding the English Birch, "The lady of the woods." 



Every school-child knows of the usefulness of the bark of this tree in building t*he 

 canoes of the Indians and early American settlers, and every one who has been so fortunate 

 as to roam the woods where it grows has enjoyed the fascination of peeling off the thin, 

 almost transparent layers of the beautiful bark. In these modern days the trees are largely 

 used in the making of paper pulp, as well as for various purposes in the manufacture of 

 lumber products. 



In addition to the loosely peeling, glistening white bark this Birch may be identified 

 by the broadly oval leaves, less narrowly pointed than those of the Gray Birch, with short, 

 stout petioles which are not hairy, and the broad catkins, which are drooping rather than 

 erect. The species is also often called simply the White Birch and was named by Marsh, 

 Betula papyri] era. 



The Paper Birch is a northern species, occurring from Labrador and the Great 

 Slave Lake region southward as far as New York City, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Nebraska, 

 and Dakota. It is especially abundant in the great wilderness region of Canada, Northern 

 New York and Northern New England, where along the banks of lakes and rivers it is 

 one of the most beautiful and characteristic trees. An interesting form in which the base 

 of the leaves is cordate is found upon the mountains of New England. It has been given 

 the variety name cordifolia by Professor Sargent. 



' ' Give me of your bark, O Birch-tree ! 

 Of your yellow bark, O Birch-tree! 

 Growing by the rushing river 

 Tall and stately in the valley! 

 I a light canoe will build me, 

 Build a swift Cheemaun for sailing, 

 That shall float upon the river, 

 Like a yellow leaf in Autumn, 

 Like a yellow water-lily." 



Longfellow. 



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