AUGUST. 367 



ing loosely, and in all directions, like those of most other 

 trees. A similar habit is observed in the foliage of the black 

 and yellow birches, with this difference — that while the leaves 

 of the birch grow singly in rows on each side of the branch- 

 es, those of the beech are in stars of three and five or more, 

 on the extremities of the fruitful branchlets, arranged alter- 

 nately on each side of the boughs. There is another resem- 

 blance between the beech and the yellow birch, in the 

 character of their spray as well as of their foliage, but the 

 birch is superior to it in general comeliness and grace. 



The majority of deciduous trees have a drooping foliage. 

 The want of this habit in the foliage assists in giving its 

 peculiar appearance to the beech tree. Hence, although, on 

 examination, the leaves of the beech and of the chestnut are 

 found to be similar, yet as the one bears them erect, while 

 the other bears them in a drooping manner, the two trees have 

 no general resemblance on a distant view. Gilpin complains 

 of the beech, on account of the heaviness of its appearance. 

 It seems to me, on the contrary, as more remarkable for a cer- 

 tain airiness, sending out its branches, with a peculiar di- 

 vergency, seldom in masses, but in such a manner, that 

 its ramification and spray are apparent when the tree is 

 in full foliage. In most other species it is so heavy and flow- 

 ing that one cannot easily trace the direction of the branches 

 amidst the drapery of leaves. This is particularly the case 

 with the chestnut, the rock-maple and the lime. There is a 

 singular gracefulness in the spray of the beech, especially 

 when the tree is young ; and the foliage, by harmonizing 

 with the spray, allows it to be discerned and adds to its 

 grace. It must be admitted, however, that as the beech tree 

 increases in size, it loses some of its beauty by the twisting 

 of its branches, and their divergency at many irregular 

 angles. 



Writers in general speak of the beech as affording an ex- 

 traordinary depth of shade. This, if true, must be owing to 

 the multitude of its branches ; for it seems to me that several 

 other trees have a greater density of foliage. The branches 

 of the beech are not only minutely subdivided, but they 



