92 THE FOREST TREE CULTURIST. 
beautiful and graceful ornamental tree of medium size, 
blooming when quite small, of slow growth for the first 
two or three years, after which it grows quite rapidly. Its 
seeds retain their vitality for a long time, germinate readily 
if sown in the fall, covering them about an inch deep. It 
prefers a rather dry soil, but one that is rich. It is a na- 
tive of Kentucky, but not plentiful except in a few locali- 
ties; and should be more generally known than it is at 
present. 
Facus. (Beech.) 
The Beech is a common tree in most of the Northern 
States. It grows to a large size, often from sixty to one 
hundred feet high and from two to four feet in diameter. 
The wood is well known, being used for a variety of pur- 
poses where a fine hard surface is required. Mechanics’ 
tools, such as planes, saw-handles, etc., are almost exclu- 
sively made of beech. The wood is not tough, but ex- 
tremely hard. It makes excellent fuel, and is also much 
used in some sections for building timber. The largest 
and best trees grow on deep, loamy soils, but it is common 
on dry, sandy, and stony ones, on which it seldom grows to 
any considerable size. The roots spread very widely, and 
keep near the surface, as every one who has cleared off 
beech lands well knows. The Beech is not a slow grow- 
er; still, it will require many years for the trees to be- 
come of an available size for fuel or timber, although the 
young trees may he used for hoop-poles. It is sometimes 
employed for hedges and screens, for which purpose it is 
most excellent, although it should not be planted where 
cattle can get to it, as they are very fond of its leaves. 
