64 HOUGH'S AMERICAN WOODS. 



centage of Ash, 0.51; Relative Approximate Fuel Value, 0.6848; Coeffi- 

 cient of Elasticity, 120996; Modulus of Rupture, 1148; Resistance to 

 Longitudinal Pressure, 478; Resistance to Indentation, 196; Weight of a 

 Cubic Foot in Pounds, 42.89. 



USES. This timber is used almost exclusively in the manufacture of 

 plane-stocks. It is also used for shoe-lasts, and to considerable extent in 

 the manufacture of chairs, table-legs, wooden-ware, tool-handles and 

 turned-work generally. It is used, too, for ship-timbers to some extent. 

 It makes very good fuel, leaving an ash that is rich in potassium. 



The nuts of this tree, known as " Beech mast/' are extensively eaten 

 by squirrels, pigeons, grouse, etc., and the bear and deer find them dainty 

 morsels. The deer of the Adirondacks, where this tree is abundant, 

 grow fat in early summer on the young Beech "sprouts/' which they 

 find springing up in abundance everywhere along the hill-sides. 



A fixed oil obtained from the nuts is similar in nature and properties to 

 the Cottonseed Oil, and that of the European Beech (F. sylvatica) ranks 

 next to the Olive Oil in value for table use. Doubtless the American 

 product is as valuable when properly prepared. 



ORDER BETULACEJE. BIRCH FAMILY. 



Leaves simple, alternate, straight-veined and furnished with stipules which fall 

 away early. Flowers mostly naked, monoecious, both kinds in catkins, 2 or 3 together 

 under a 8-lobed bract or scale. Sterile flowers with distinct stamens and 2-celled 

 anthers. Fertile flowers with two thread-like stigmas, and a 2-celled ovary, each cell 

 containing 2 pendulous ovules, becoming by abortion in Fruit, a small, 1-celled, 

 1-seeded nutlet, often with membranous wings; seed anatropous, alburueuless, with 

 flattish, oblong cotyledons which become foliaceous in germination. 



Trees or shrubs, with bark which separates more or less easily into thin layers. 



GENUS BETULA, TOURN. 



Leaves ovate, serrate; these, with the twigs, especially the latter, spicy-aromatic. 

 Flowers appearing in early spring with or before the leaves. Sterile flowers in long, 

 drooping, cylindrical, both terminal and lateral, yellow catkins, appearing in summer 

 and remaining dormant during the following winter to open and perform their function 

 early the next season; bracts 3-lobed, shield-shaped, and beneath each are 2 bractlets 

 and 3 flowers with calyx represented by a mere scale, which bears the 4 short stamens, 

 each with a single-celled anther. Fertile flowers in cylindrical or oblong catkins 

 with 3-lobed scales, and beneath each scale are 2-3 naked pistils without braclets or 

 calyx. Fruit a small, broadly-winged, scale-like nutlet or samara. 



Trees and shrubs with outer bark horizontally fibrous and usually separable in 

 sheets, that of the branchlets dotted, inner bark more or less aromatic and of pleas- 

 ant flavor. 



17. BETULA LUTEA, MICHX. F. 



YELLOW BIRCH, GRAY BIRCH. 

 Ger., Oelbe Birlce; Fr., Bouleau jaunc; Sp., Abedul amarillo. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: Leaves thinnish, elliptical or ovate, somewhat tape- 

 pointed, often narrowed toward the rounded or slightly heart-shaped base, straight- 



