156 



THE BEECH. 



shape the leaves of a fern. The Weeping Besch is said to 

 be the most elegant tree of British growth. A writer in 

 the Gardener's Magazine (vol. vii. p. 875) states, that, in 

 the park of J. C. Mountray, county of Tyrone, Ireland, 

 there are some the 

 trunks of which measure 

 upwards of ten feet in 

 circumference, and that 

 the branches, which 

 extend fifty feet from 

 the stem, touch the 

 ground. There is also 

 a fine specimen in the 

 drive called the Hobby 

 at Clovelly, in North 

 Devon. 



Comparatively few in- 

 sects attack the Beech, 

 and those which do are 

 chiefly the grubs of 

 moths. The fungi which 

 attack the leaves and 

 bark are more numerous. Among those which grow on 

 the ground in Beech woods, the most remarkable are the 

 Morel 1 and the Truffle. 2 The former of these is a mush- 

 room-like fungus, growing in the woods of Germany and 

 France, particularly after any of the trees have been burnt 

 down. This fact having been observed led in Germany 

 to the burning of the woods, in order to procure Morels : 

 and consequently great numbers of trees were destroyed, 

 till the practice was forbidden by law. They are highly 

 prized for the table, both in their fresh and dry states. 

 In the countries where they abound, many persons gain 

 their livelihood by gathering and drying Morels : which 

 last operation they effect by running a thread through 



Morchella esculenta. 



2 Tuber cibarium. 



