The Beeches. 225 



THE BEECH (Genus Far/us). 



890. About twenty-five species of the Fagus are described by 

 botanists, being widely diffused in the temperate zones both north 

 and south. 



891. In Europe the beech (Fagus sylvatica) is very extensively 

 cultivated in France, Germany, and Denmark, constituting a very 

 important timber-tree, preferring a cool to a mild climate, and in 

 warm regions growing only at considerable elevations. It thrives in 

 great variety of soils, but prefers those that are calcareous and 

 gravelly, but not sandy, and where the climate favors, it grows both 

 upon mountains and the plains. It is often cultivated alone, form- 

 ing great forests by itself; but it grows very well with the oak, fir, 

 maple, Scotch pine, etc., and as its roots spread near the surface, 

 while those of the oak penetrate deep into the sub- soil, these trees 

 appear to thrive very well together. 



892. The wood of the beech splits remarkably well when green, 

 but it is very liable to shrink, and should not be used until well 

 seasoned. It is largely used for cabinet work, and for a wide di- 

 versity of uses in the industries, but does not bear exposure to the 

 weather nor changes from wet to dry. When injected with the sul- 

 phate of copper, it has been much used as railroad ties, but it is not 

 as lasting as unimpregnated oak. It is very highly esteemed for 

 fuel and charcoal, and the oil from its nuts has the same uses as that 

 from the olive. 



893. Its growth is rather slow at first, but a little more rapid than 

 that of the oak. It is noticed that under a deep shade the beech 

 will sprout .from the seed and grow to a yard or so in height, when 

 it will stop growing, and remain almost indefinitely; but start vig- 

 orously again, as soon as the light is admitted. 1 The slight differ- 

 ence in quality between the sap-wood and the heart-wood, allows of 

 the whole being used without the waste of any part. 



894. The beech comes to maturity sooner than the oak, and does 

 not grow to so large a size. As there is not much gain in qual- 

 ity when grown to greatest size, it is generally cut when from 24 to 

 30 inches in diameter. In some forests it is grown as coppice-wood 

 by sprouts from the roots and stump, but in many places this is found 

 an uncertain process, and it is planted from nurseries, or started by 

 natural seeding. 



1 G. Bajrneris' "Manuel de Sylviculture," 2d. Ed., p. G5. 



