YELLOW BIRCH. BITTER BIRCH. 113 



sapwood. It is used for posts, levers, mill cogs, wedges, mallets, 

 and the handles of tools. 



Carpinus caroliniana, Walter. 

 

 (HORNBEAM. IRON WOOD. BLUE BEECH. WATER BEECH.) 



A small tree, with a short smooth dark bluish-gray or slate- 

 colored trunk, marked by irregular longitudinal ridges, smooth 

 gray branches, and a round or flat spreading crown, reaching a 

 height of 50 and a diameter of 3 feet. 



It occurs from Nova Scotia to northern Minnesota, southward 

 to central Florida, and through Iowa, Kansas, and Indian Terri- 

 tory to eastern Texas ; reaching its best development on the west- 

 ern slopes of the southern Appalachian mountains, and in southern 

 Arkansas, and in eastern Texas. 



In North Carolina, where it grows to a height of 25 feet and a 

 diameter of 14 inches, it is found along water-courses throughout 

 the State. 



It bears seed, at least in the Piedmont plateau, very frequently, 

 and young growth is common along streams where the trees stand 

 thinly. The best growth takes place under moderate cover, 

 though the tree adapts itself to a wide range of light and shade. 



The leaves are oblong or elliptical, rounded at the base, sharply 

 toothed, and slightly hairy on the veins beneath. The male 

 flowers are in drooping cylindrical catkins. The fertile spikes are 

 terminal, long-stemmed, and 6 to 12 flowered. The angular nuts 

 are solitary and at the base of a 3-lobed leaf- like scale. The win- 

 ter-buds are small and acute ; the twigs slender. The roots are 

 superficial. 



The wood is heavy, very strong, close-grained, arid inclined to 

 check in drying ; light brown in color ; the thick sapwood nearly 

 white. It is used for levers, the handles of tools, etc. 



Betula lutea, F. A. Michaux. 

 (YELLOW BIRCH. BITTER BIRCH.) 



A tree, with spreading branches, and silvery yellow bark which 

 scales off in thin sheets, reaching a height of 95 and a diameter 

 of 4 feet. 



