CHAP. CV. CORYLA^CE^E. FAMOUS. 1961 



brittle than those of the walnut and of alder; but they have the property 

 of not absorbing water, and surpass the sabots of all other wood, except 

 only those made of the walnut, which are, of course, much dearer, from the 

 demand for that wood for other purposes. The consumption of beech sabots 

 in the mountainous districts of France, according to Bosc, is immense. " They 

 are -mule of wood which has been cut only a few months, and is, consequently, 

 nearly green ; but which the manufacturers dry rapidly, with the smoke pro- 

 duced by burning the chips which are formed in making the sabots. This 

 smoke, containing a great deal of moisture, or steam, along with the heat, does 

 not crack the sabots which are exposed to it ; while the pyroligneous acid 

 which is evolved (and which is produced in a greater quantity by the wood of 

 the beech than by that of any other tree) penetrates the sabot, and renders 

 it not liable to be attacked by insects. The sabots so treated are always of 

 a brownish colour, the effect of this process. Bosc suggests the idea of im- 

 pregnating rafters and planks, to be used in house-building, with pyroligneous 

 acid, by smoking them with the spray and chips of the beech, so as to in- 

 crease their durability ; an operation which is found to have that effect on 

 the rafters of all kinds of wood used in those cottages in Scotland and Ireland 

 which are without ceilings. At St. E'tienne, in France, the wood of the 

 beech is used to make the handles to those cheap knives that are sold all over 

 France at 2 sous a piece, and which are called Eustache Dubois, from the 

 name of their inventor; but for this purpose the wood is hardened after it has 



To render the wood of the beech more durable, and to prevent it from being 

 attacked by the worm, it is recommended by some authors to fell the tree 

 in the commencement of summer, while it is full of sap ; to allow it to re- 

 main untouched one year ; and afterwards to cut it up into planks or beams, 

 and to immerse these for several months in water. The French allege that it 

 is by these means that the English are enabled to use the beech so exten- 

 sively in planking ships, and in forming their keels. It is difficult to reconcile 

 this recommendation to allow the tree to remain one year after it has been 

 felled with what we before stated from Mathews (p. I960.), and which is, doubt- 

 less, the result of his own experience ; viz. that the timber of the beech soon 

 decays, if it be not immediately dried, or immersed in water on its being cut 

 down. Baudrillart states that, in England, the beech, after being cut in the 

 beginning of summer, and suffered to lie a year, is sawn into planks, &c. ; and 

 that these are submitted to the flame of the chips and faggot- wood of the tree, 

 till the surface of the wood is somewhat charred ; and that after this it is im- 

 mersed in water for 4 or 5 months. The cabinet-makers, the same author 

 states, prevent it from being attacked by worms, by varnishing it, or by keeping 

 it for a certain time in boiling water, or in boiling oil. On enquiry in various 

 directions, we have not been able to have the French reports of the English 

 practice confirmed ; but we find that there is at present a very great demand 

 for beech, as sleepers or bearers for the rails of the numerous railways that 

 are now existing. The beech used in this way in England is Kyanized ; but 

 the practice has not yet found its way into Scotland. In Hampshire, we are 

 informed by Mr. Davis, the beech is a good deal used for barn floors ; and, 

 where these are kept free from damp, by a thorough ventilation underneath 

 them, they are said to last many years. 



As Fuel, the wood of the beech is superior to that of most other trees. It 

 is consumed to an immense extent for this purpose both in France and Ger- 

 many ; but more especially in Paris, where there are more open fires than in 

 any other Continental city. It is considered to burn rather rapidly ; but it 

 throws out a great deal of heat, and makes a clear bright flame. The green 

 wood is generally preferred to that which is dry, because it burns slower, 

 though it does not give out so much heat ; and hence, in many places, the tree 

 is frequently cut down in the summer season. According to the experiments 



