4 4 TREE PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



BETULACE^E. BIRCH FAT1ILY. 



The natural climate of the birches is in the northern parts of the east- 

 ern and western continents. The cold is as natural to them as to the 

 white bear of the Frigid Zone. Below the 43rd degree, north latitude, 

 they dwindle into mediocrity. Michaux avers that there are as many 

 species of the birch found in the United States as in Europe; "and, from 

 my own observations on the comparative properties of their wood, the 

 advantage appears to lie wholly on the side of the American species. " 



J. Jay Smith, translator of Michaux, says the Earl of Huntington calls 

 the birch an amphibious plant, "as it grows on rich or poor, wet or dry, 

 sandy or rocky situations, nor refuses any soil or climate whatever." 



Most of the birches ripen their seeds in September or October. The 

 birches follow in the wake of the forest fire, springing up as if by enchant- 

 ment. In the woodlands of Europe, fifteen pounds of seed is sown upon an 

 acre. A common method there, has been to harrow up the ground fine 

 and mellow, in the late fall, and cover by dragging over it a brushwood 

 drag. Like all other forest seeds and plants, the birches at first need a 

 shading against hot and dry suns. If the design is to sow in an open field, 

 a good way is to mix it with winter rye, and treat as described, making the 

 cereal crop pay on the forest expenses. This method would do on our 

 woodland territory, but is questionable as to success on the wind-swept 

 prairie. 



In the extreme northern part of Europe, the wood is used for the man- 

 ufacture of almost all the implements of husbandry wheels, bowls, plates, 

 spoons, chairs, etc. In our country it is beginning to be better appreciat- 

 ed than to use it up for fuel. Some of its species, the Canoe Birch es- 

 pecially, has a wavy grain, beautiful for furniture. In Sweden, Norway 

 and Finland much importance is attached to the bark from which is made 

 pans, baskets, sandals and the like. The rustic people there make soles 

 of it, and fix it in the crown of their hats for protection against dampness. 

 The Laplanders use it in making the reindeer skin water-proof. In Rus- 

 sia the bark of large trees is burned in kilns or furnaces and thence an 

 empyreumatic oil is obtained with which a leather is prepared which is 

 highly esteemed for durability. When young and tender the leaves are 

 given to domestic stock, and families use them as a substitute for tea, and 

 dyers employ them in dyeing wool to a yellow luster. In the spring the 

 sap of the birch is copious and is often boiled down to a delicious syrup. 



Susceptible to so many practical uses, and being so hardy and pretty, the 

 birch deserves special attention. Speaking of its beauty, "Emerson re- 

 marks." says J.Jay Smith," 'that no trees are more distinguished for their 

 light and feathery foliage, and the graceful sweep of their limbs, than the 

 birches; no family affords such a variety of aspect.' " Certainly no tree on 

 our lawns is more attractive than the Weeping Cut-Leaved Birch a Eu- 

 ropean hybrid. 



BLACK BIRCH, BetlUd CUtCl. 



This is known as "Mountain Mahogany" in Virginia, and Sweet and 

 Cherry Birch in New England and Canada- It is not very plentiful with 



