THE BIRCHES 



OF the eight species of Birch in the United States, only 

 three are of enough economic importance to warrant con- 

 sideration. These are Black Birch (Betula lenta, frequently 

 called Cherry Birch and Sweet Birch), Yellow Birch (Bet- 

 ula lutea, sometimes called Gray Birch), and Paper Birch 

 (Betula papyri/era, in some localities called Canoe Birch). 

 There is still another species which is occasionally converted 

 into lumber, but its habitat is along low stream banks ; 

 hence the supply is quite limited. It is the Red or River 

 Birch (Betula nigra), and can be depended upon to pro- 

 pagate itself if allowed to. 



BLACK BIRCH : Betula lenta 



IN general make-up this speciea is quite distinct from the 

 other Birches, and it is not of so extended a range nor so 

 common where it does grow. Neither does it shed its annual 

 layers of dead bark as do the others, and its wood is harder 

 and more valuable. Its range is from Maine westward to 

 southern Indiana and Illinois and along the Alleghany 

 Mountains to central Kentucky and Tennessee, and it is 

 occasionally found in western Florida and northern Georgia. 

 In the Northern States its companions in the forest are 

 Beech, Sugar Maple, Black Cherry, White Ash, and Yellow 

 Birch. It grows well on fairly dry ground, but prefers a 

 deep, rich soil. 



Its wood is strong, heavy, green logs from thrifty trees 

 will sink in water, and is a very good substitute for 

 Hickory for heavy wagon axles and similar purposes. It is 

 excelled in hardness by few of our timber trees, and only 

 Hickory is superior to it for fuel. From its close resem- 

 blance to Black Cherry, both in texture and color when 



