in Extra-Tropical Countries. 55 



Betula acuminata, Wallich. 



Himalaya, between 3,000 and 10,000 feet. Attains a height of 60 

 feet, and thrives along forest-streams. The wood is hard, strong and 

 durable. Another Himalayan Birch, B. utilis (D. Don), grows on 

 arid ground, and produces good timber of less hardness. 



Betula alba, 



" White Birch." The common Birch of Europe and Extra-tropical 

 Asia and North- America. With some Willows approaching nearer 

 to the North-Pole than any other woody vegetation, but ceding in 

 milder regions before the Beech when occurring mixed. It attains 

 a height of 80 feet, and would, when cultivated, thrive best in moist 

 glens of ranges or in the higher regions of mountains, where it would 

 form at the alpine zone also excellent shelter-plantations. The variety 

 B. pubescens (Ehrhart) attains still a height of 60 feet in lat. 70 N. 

 in Norway (Schuebeler). Content with the poorest soil. The 

 variety B. populifolia (Wllld.) extends to North-Eastern America, 

 the variety B. occidentalis (Hooker) to North- Western America. 

 The durable bark serves for rough roofing. Wood white, turning red, 

 tough, adapted for spools, shoe-pegs and many other minor purposes, 

 also for some parts of the work of organ-builders; affords like that of 

 other Beeches charcoal for gunpowder. The oil of the bark is used 

 in preparing the Russian leather. 



Betula lenta, Willdenow. 



The "Cherry-Birch" of North -America. A tree, reaching to 80 

 feet in height, and 2 feet in stem-diameter, liking moist ground, but 

 also content with dry soil. Hardy at Christiania in Norway (Schue- 

 beler). Wood rose-colored or dark, fine-grained, excellent for furni- 

 ture. It is so heavy, that when fresh it will not float in water. It 

 is used for ships' keels, machinery, furniture and other purposes, 

 where strength, hardness and durability are required. Bark of a 

 somewhat aromatic odor. Several Birches occur in Japan, which 

 might well be tried elsewhere. 



Betula lutea, Michaux. 



The " Yellow or Gray Birch " of North-Eastern America. Height 

 sometimes 80 feet. Adapted for moist forest-land. In timber similar 

 to B. lenta. The wood is used for shoe-lasts and various other 

 purposes. 



Betula nigra, Linn. 



The " Red Birch" or " River Birch " of North- America. One of 

 the tallest of Birches, occasionally more than 3 feet in stem-diameter, 

 If grown on the banks of streams, it will bear intense heat. The 

 wood is compact, of a light color, easily worked, excellent for 

 turning, also in use by cabinet-makers and carriage-builders; well 

 adapted to sustain shocks and friction (Robb). It is also used for 



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