TREES GROWING IN RICH SOIL. 175 



ticularly interesting. Its beautiful bark then appears very 

 bright, and after its fine leaves have fallen, although many of 

 them, pale and dried, cling to the branches throughout the 

 winter, the structure of its massive head is seen to advantage. 

 Of all the trees of America it is one of the most widely dis- 

 tributed. In the Canadian markets and those of many of the 

 middle and western states, its nuts are sold in considerable 

 quantities. Although the reddish and closely-grained wood 

 of the tree checks badly in drying and is difficult to season, 

 it is still a valuable article of commerce. Shoe lasts are made 

 from it, and pulleys and handles of tools; chairs and milking 

 stools also are often made of beech wood. 



F. sylvatica, the European beech, is planted in this country, 

 and was for a long time confused by early travellers with the 

 American species. It may be known by its broader leaves with 

 their strongly crenate edge and with the abundance of fine 

 hairs on their under surface. Often not until November do 

 these leaves begin to show their golden colour and gradually 

 to turn to russet-brown. On the ground as they fall they make 

 a fresh, thick bed. The American beech is then completely 

 stripped of its foliage. 



F. sylvatica foliis atrorubentibus, the beautiful copper beech, 

 with its shimmering masses of richly hued foliage, is a variety 

 of the preceding species. Although the little chlorophyll grains 

 which contain the green colouring matter of the foliage are 

 present and no doubt working away quite busily in these leaves; 

 there is probably some strong pigment in the leaf-sap which 

 overpowers them and thus gives its own deep, rich colouring 

 to the foliage. 



CANOE BIRCH. PAPER BIRCH. WHITE BIRCH. 



(Plate XCII.) 

 Bitula papyrifera. 



FAMILY 8HAPE HEIGHT RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Birch. Pyramidal ; branches^ 40-70 feet or Northern Penn. Aprils May. 

 pendulous. higher. northward. 



Bark of trunk : chalky white; smooth and disagreeable to the touch; tough; 

 durable, and readily peeling from the wood; in its turn it separates into many 



