CHERRY BIRCH. BLACK BIRCH. 



115 



westward to western Iowa and eastern Texas; reaching its best 

 development in the south Atlantic states and the basin of the 

 lower Mississippi river. 



In this State, where it reaches an average height of 40 to 60 

 and an average diameter of 1 to 2 feet, it is found along streams 

 and on the borders of swamps from the coast to the mountains. 

 (Fig. 30.) 



MAP OF 



NORTH CAROLINA 



r Distribution of the RIVER BIRCH 

 I 1 (Betula nigra, L.) 



fpVj Distribution of the CHERRY BIRCH 

 \:':\ (Betula lenta, L.) 



Distribution of the YELLOW BIRCH 

 ( Betula lutea, Mickx.f.) 



It bears seed at frequent intervals, and young growth is com- 

 mon on alluvial soil near the edges of fields and along streams. 

 Young trees when cut send up numerous sprouts. 



The leaves are acute at each end, doubly-toothed, bright green 

 above, and glaucous beneath when young. The fruit is an oblong 

 spike (with woolly, 3-lobed bracts), containing the small rather 

 broadly-winged seeds. The river birch matures its seed early in 

 summer. The winter-buds are oval and dark brown ; the twigs 

 brown, and downy when young. The root system consists of 

 deeply penetrating lateral and running roots. 



The wood is light, rather hard, strong, close-grained and corn- 

 pact ; brown in color; the sapwood much lighter. It is used for 

 furniture, woodenware, wooden shoes, ox yokes, etc., and cask 

 hoops of inferior quality are made from the branches. 



Betula lenta, Linnaeus. 

 (CHERRY BIRCH. BLACK BIRCH.) 

 A tree, with reddish-brown rough bark on old trees, smooth 



