70 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



ing nearer to the North-Pole than any other woody vegetation, but 

 ceding in milder regions before the Beach, when occurring mixed. 

 It attains a height of 80 feet, and a stem-girth of 16 feet, and 

 would, when cultivated, thrive best in moist glens of ranges or in 

 the higher regions of mountains, and 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 (Willd.) extends to North-Eastern America, the variety 

 B. occidentalis (Hooker) to North- Western America. The durable 

 bark serves for rough roofing and watertight baskets. Wood white, 

 turning red, tough, adapted for spools, skates, wooden shoes, 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. The leaves, when boiled with the addition of 

 alum and potash, produce a yellow dye, which is called in Germany 

 Schiittgelb. 



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. Comparatively quick in growth. 

 Northward, hardy to Christiania in Norway |_ Schuebeler]. Wood 

 rose^colored or dark, fine-grained, excellent for furniture. 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 some- 

 what aromatic odor. Several Birches occur in Japan ; these 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, Linne. 



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

 the tallest of Birches, attaining to 90 feet. 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 shoe-lasts, bowls and trays, and the 

 saplings and branches for hoops. The bark is well adapted for 

 rough roofing. Twigs of the Red Birch furnish one of the best 

 materials for rough brooms. Hardy at Christiania [Schuebeler]. 



