360 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



THE WHITE BIRCH IS NOT PARTICULAR. IT WILL 

 GROW ON THE CULM OR REFUSE BANKS IN THE AN- 

 THRACITE COAL REGION OF PENNSYLVANIA 



There is little likelihood of confusing the Yellow 

 Birch with any other tree as it stands in the forest. It is 

 easily recognized wherever it grows by the ragged, yel- 

 low bark which peels off in thin, film-like, i)apery scales. 



It has such an individuality that there is little need of 

 studying its leaves, flowers and fruits to find a way to 

 recognize it. Its method of peeling the bark resembles 



that of the Paper Birch and Red Birch, but it does not 

 have the white color of the former or the reddish to 

 greenish color of the latter. The scales of the Red Bin Ii 

 are thicker and smaller than those of the Yellow Birch, 

 and those of the Paper or Canoe Birch are larger and 

 more ])aper-like. 



In some places this tree is spoken of as Silver Birch, 

 while in other localities the name Grey Birch or Swamp 

 Birch is used. The name Swamj) Birch is quite appro- 

 priate, for the tree usually grows best in wet situation.";. 

 Its geographical range is bounded by a line drawn from 

 Newfoundland to northern Minnesota, southward to the 

 Lake States, and along the Atlantic Coast to Delaware, 

 and along the Allegheny Mountains as far south as 

 North Carolina and Tennessee. 



The twigs of the Yellow Birch resemble those of Black 



im-, Wlini'; lUKCH WAY BE DISTINGUISHED BY ITS 

 WHIIK I'.AKK COXKRKl) WITH TRIANGULAR BLACK 



bi'oi.s AT nil.: oRi(;iN of the l.\teral branches 



THE WHITE BIRCH OFTEN GROWS IN CLUMPS. THE 

 BARK CAN BE PEELED, BUT WHEN ONCE REMOVED 

 IS NOT RENEWED 



Birch, but they lack the sweet, wintergreen flavor of 

 the latter. The bark on the trunks of the closely asso- 

 ciated Black Birch is close-fitting, blackish, cherry-like, 

 and does not peel off in thin layers. 



The Yellow Birch is one of the important timber trees 

 of the Northeast. It is propagated easily, has few insect- 

 enemies, and produces valuable wood used extensively 

 in the manufacture of furniture, vehicles, flooring, boxes, 

 veneer, pulp, chemicals and fuel. Birch broom handles 

 have been a commodity on our markets since the first 

 lathe went to work making them. They are made of all 



