BEECH. 61 



Of the ancient use of beech-timber the poet tells us,: 



" In the world's best years, the humble shed 



Was happily and well furnished : 



Beech made their chests, their beds, and the join'd-stools, 



Beech made the board, the platters, and the bowls." 



Virgil notices its use in husbandry : 



" Of beech the plough-tail, and the bending yoke." 



In the pastorals of the same author we learn how highly 

 the rustics of his country esteemed their beechen bowls, 

 and to what perfection carving was carried even in com- 

 mon furniture : 



" The pawn I proffer shall be full as good : 

 Two bowls I have, well turn'd, of beechen wood ; 

 Both by divine Alcimedon were made ; 

 To neither of them yet the lip is laid ; 

 The lids are ivy, grapes in clusters lurk 

 Beneath the carving of the curious work ; 

 Two figures on the sides emboss'd appear i 

 Conon, and what's his name, who made the sphere, 

 And shew'd the seasons of the sliding year." 



Damcetas replies to Menalcas : 



" And I have two, to match your pair, at home ; 

 The wood the same, from the same hand they came : 

 The kimbo handles seem with bear's-foot carved ; 

 And never yet to table have been served/' 



Dry den. 



The beech-tree thrives in a chalky or stony ground, 

 where most other timber-trees will not prosper, and it is 

 found to resist winds on the declivities of hills better than 

 most other trees ; where the soil is tolerably good, beech 

 will become fit to be felled in about twenty-five years. 

 There is no tree better calculated to train as espaliers for 

 the purpose of screening the garden or orchard from 



