SILVICULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS 57 



often starting well on a thin sod. For the first twenty years or 

 so it grows very rapidly and when cut sprouts vigorously, so that 

 in many cases it is an undesirable weed on account of the diffi- 

 culty of keeping it out of the fields. 



The gray birch is easily killed by ground fires, but has no 

 serious enemies. 



It seldom attains lumber size, and is an indifferent fuel, but is 

 beginning to be used for spool and bobbin manufacture and other 

 purposes for which its wood, which is similar to that of the paper 

 birch, is fitted. However, it is not a tree that will ever be 

 favored by the forester. 



Beech (Fagus atropunicea). 



The range of the beech extends throughout the eastern United 

 States from the Atlantic to Wisconsin and Texas and south to 

 the Gulf of Mexico. In New England it is found principally in 

 the forests of the three northern states. As found in New Eng- 

 land, it occurs always in mixture with other trees, and prefers a 

 loam soil. However, it frequently grows on very poor sandy 

 soils or other dry situations. It is one of the most shade 

 enduring trees, and on this account it is able to grow under a 

 dense cover of other species. Like the yellow birch and maple 

 it is slow growing and lives to an advanced age. Although it 

 suckers from the roots, its chief means of reproduction is by 

 seed, which being a heavy nut cannot be transported by the wind. 

 Heavy seed crops occur only at long intervals, although some 

 seed is borne every three or four years. The seed germinates 

 best on a mineral soil well mixed with humus. In Connecticut, 

 Rhode Island, and southeastern Massachusetts the beech repro- 

 duces very poorly from seed and is forced to depend on root 

 suckers. 



Its smooth, heavy bark is a good fire resister, and it has no 

 serious enemies. The lumber is used for heavy planking, for 

 tool handles, etc., but is of relatively low value, and the tree will 

 never hold an important position in forestry operations. 



