208 MONCECIA POLYANDRIA. 



276. BETULA. 



1. B. alba, leaves ovate, acute, somewhat deltoid, unequally 

 serrated, nearly smooth. Common Birch. 

 Uab Woods and deans. May. 



The Birch is a graceful airy tree, with a delicate and fra- 

 grant foliage ;"and the variety with pendulous branches is 

 extremely pleasing and ornamental. " Birch may be said 

 to be the universal wood of the Scots Highlanders. They 

 make every thing of it ; they build their houses of it, 

 make their beds, chairs, tables, dishes, and spoons of it ; 

 construct their mills of it; make their carts, ploughs > 

 harrows, gates and fences, of it ; and even manufacture 

 ropes of it ! * Birch is also used in many other parts of 

 the country in machinery, turnery, wheel-work, and for 

 lasts, pattens, wooden shoes, and such purposes. It is 

 likewise much used in collieries for props, and waggon- 

 road sleepers. It is an excellent fuel, burning very clear, 

 and emitting less smoke than most other woods. In the 

 smoking of herrings, in particular, Birch is preferred to 



all other kinds of wood." NICHOLS The bark affords a 



tan inferior only to that of the oak : of the twigs besoms 

 and rods are made ; " the one for the cleanly housewife 

 to sweep down the cobwebs, and the other for the magis- 

 terial pedagogue to drive the colt out of the man :" and 

 the sap, in spring, is fermented into a kind of wine. 



" Even afflictive Birch, 



Cursed by unlettered, idle youth, distils 

 A limpid current from her wounded bark, 

 Profuse of nursing sap." 



277- CORYLUS. 



1. C. Avellana, stipulas ovate, obtuse ; leaves roundish, heart- 

 shaped, pointed, serrated ; young branches hairy ; calyx shorter 

 than the niit. Hazel-Nut. 



Hal. Woods and deans. March, April. 



* Its economical uses in Russia, and in other northern countries, are not 

 less numerous and important. It is to their inhabitants what the Beech is said 

 to have been to the people of the silver age : 



" Hinc olim juvenis mundi melioribus annis, 

 Fortunatarum domuum non magna supellex 

 Tota petebatur ; sellas, armaria, lectos, 

 Et mensas dabat, et lances, et pocula Fagus." 



