BIRCHES. 205 



Betula papyrifera. Canoe Birch. Paper Birch. 

 White Birch. 



Leaves ovate or heart-shaped, dark green on the upper 

 side. The bark is reddish on the twigs under four or five 

 years old and white on the older branches and trunk, and 

 readily separated into papery sheets. A good sized tree 

 frequently 60 or 70 feet high with a trunk from two to three 

 feet in diameter or perhaps in severe locations dwarfted to a 

 mere shrub. 



Distribution. Throughout Canada to Arctic Ocean 

 ("Widest range of any Canadian tree") south to northern 

 Pennsylvania, central Michigan and northern Nebraska and 

 northwestern Washington. In Minnesota generally common 

 in all but the southwestern part of the state. 



Propagation. See genus Betula. 



Properties of wood. Light, strong, hard, tough and very 

 close grained but not durable. It is light brown tinged with 

 red, with thick nearly white sapwood. Specific gravity 0.5955; 

 weight of a cubic foot 37.11 pounds. 



Uses. The Canoe Birch is a tree of good form and pretty 

 habit; it is especially beautiful in the spring when the young 

 leaves are unfolding and in the winter is valuable for the con- 

 trast afforded by its white bark with other plants. It lends 

 variety to windbreaks and lawn plantings. Prefers a moist 

 soil but does well on an^ retentive soil, and is perfectly hardy. 

 The wood is largely used in the making of spools and shoe 

 pegs, in the manufacture of wood pulp and for fuel. It is one 

 of the very few woods that burn well when green. It decays 

 quickly and should always be cured under cover. The Indians 

 of the north employ it for their sledges and paddles, the 

 frames of their snow shoes and handles of their hatchets. 

 The tough, resinous, durable bark of this tree is impervious 

 to water and readily separated into layers. It is used by the 

 Indians for covering their canoes and houses and for making 

 baskets, drinking cups, etc. 



Betula alba. European White Birch. 

 Leaves small, somewhat triangular and tapering, very 

 smooth and glossyi Stem and older branches chalkywhite; 



