44. BETULA LE^TA SWEET BIRCH. 35 



is required for the bark to dry and harden, and then he is prepared to 

 launch out in a craft of combined speed and steadiness, and so light that 

 he can carry it for miles on his shoulders with comfort. 



44. BETULA LENTA, L. 



SWEET BIRCH, CHERRY BIRCH, BLACK OR MAHOGANY BIRCH. 

 Ger., Kirsche-Birke ; Fr., Bouleau doux; Sp., Abedul dulce. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. Leaves thinnish, ovate or oblong, taper-pointed, more or 

 less heart-shaped at base, finely and sharply doubly serrate, smooth (when mature) 

 and bright green above, below glabrous, except along the veins, which, with the 

 petioles, are hairy. Sterile catkins 2-4 in. long. Fertile catkins pedunculate, erect 

 or slightly reclining, oval-oblong, 1 in. or more in length, and at least - in. in 

 thickness; scales of catkins hairy, lobes obtuse, subequal, diverging; nutlet ellipti- 

 cal and the wings not broader than the body. 



(" Lenta" is the Latin for pliant, tough.) 



A handsome, medium-sized tree, sometimes attaining the height of 80, 

 ft. (24 m.) and 4 ft. (1.20 m.) in thickness of trunk, with smooth, red- 

 dish-brown bark on the limbs and young stocks very much like that of 

 the Cherry-tree and hence its name, Cherry Birch. On older trunks 

 the outer layer breaks up into hard ligneous scales or plates. The 

 bruised leaves, twigs and inner bark of this tree possess a delightful, aro- 

 matic flavor and fragrance very much like that of the Wintergreen 

 (Gaultlieria). 



HABITAT. Canada, north-eastern United States and southward along 

 the Alleghanies. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood heavy, hard, very strong, close-grained 

 and taking a beautiful satiny polish; heart-wood reddish-brown; sap-wood 

 yellowish-white. Specific Gravity, 0.7617; Percentage of Ash, 0.26; 

 Relative Approximate Fuel Value, 0.7597 ; Coefficient of Elasticity, 

 141398; Modulus of Rupture, 1216; Resistance to Longitudinal Pressure, 

 619; Resistance to Indentation, 226; Weight of a Cubic Foot in Pounds, 

 47.47. 



USES. A valuable timber in the manufacture of furniture, and, when 

 stained, making a particularly good imitation of Mahogany and Cherry. 

 It is very useful for small wooden-ware, and is used to considerable ex- 

 tent in ship-building. It makes a very good fuel. Extract of Birch, a 

 popular flavoring for candies, etc., is largely, if not wholly, a product of 

 this species, and is derived from an essential oil contained in the leaves, 

 bark, etc. 



MEDICINAL PROPERTIES. An infusion of the leaves is sometimes used 

 as an excitant and diaphoretic. 



