82 THE FOREST TREE CULTURIST. 
BetouLra nicra (Red Birch, Black Birch).—Leaves 
broadly ovate, slightly pointed at both ends; downy un- 
derneath while young; a large tree with reddish-brown 
bark; wood fine-grained, compact, and heavy; succeeds 
best in deep alluvial soils; New England to Florida. 
Betruta ExcELsa (Yellow Birch).—Leaves ovate, or ob- 
long ovate, pointed, irregularly and doubly serrate; tree 
forty to sixty feet high, with yellowish-white bark; young 
twigs slightly aromatic ; wood of little value; Maine, 
Northern Michigan, and westward. 
Betuta Lenta (Sweet Black Birch).—Leaves oblong, 
ovate, finely serrate; medium to large size; tree with 
dark-colored bark ; wood fine-grained, dark reddish color; 
bark on young branches aromatic; mountains of Georgia, 
north and eastward. 
Casranna. (Chestnut.) 
This well-known nut-bearing tree is worthy of the 
attention of every land-owner in the country. It does 
not succeed equally well upon all kinds of soil; still, 
it is found growing over such a wide range of coun- 
try, that there are probably very few counties in our 
Northern, Middle, or Western States in which soil suited 
to its growth can not be found. In the extreme north- 
prn portions of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota it 
would probably fail as it does in some portions of the 
Eastern States. It appears to prefer a dry, sandy, or 
gravelly soil to an alluvial, clayey, or very moist one. It 
will grow very rapidly, even upon a very poor sandy soil. 
Rocky hillsides, where soil can be found sufficient to start 
