BIRCH. 167 



the " Raubbirke " of Germany, and B. pubescens Ehrh., the 

 " Haarbirke," are here treated as one species. In Jamaica the 

 name Birch is applied to Bursera gummifera, a tree in no way 

 similar. 



Birch, American, a trade name for the imported timber, 

 which is the product of more than one species, though chiefly of 

 Betula Unta, the Cherry Birch, and, to a much less extent, B. lutea, 

 the Yellow Birch. 



Birch, Black (Bttula lenta L.). See Birch, Cherry. 



Birch, Black or White, of New Zealand (Fdgus Soldndri 

 Hook. fil. : Order Cupidiferce). Maori "Tawhai." Really a 

 Beech, but known in Nelson as " White," and in Wellington as 

 " Black Birch." Height 100 ft. ; diam. 45 ft. Hard and very 

 durable, and suited for fencing or fresh-water piles, but liable to 

 attack by the ship- worm. 



Birch, Canoe (Bttula papyri/era Marshall : Order Betuldcece). 

 11 White " or " Paper Birch." Germ. " Nachen Birke." Canada 

 and the Northern United States. Height 60 ft. or more ; diam. 

 3 ft. or more. Sapwodd white, heart reddish-brown, with a fine 

 glossy grain. Rather heavy, hard, tough, and strong, not durable 

 where exposed to alternations of moisture and heat. Used for 

 bobbins, shoe-lasts and pegs, turnery, and extensively for paper- 

 pulp and fuel. A curl in the grain where the branches are given 

 off is sought after by Boston cabinet-makers for veneers. 



Birch, Cherry (Bttula lenta L. : Order Betuldcece}. " Black, 

 Sweet," or "Mahogany Birch," "Mountain Mahogany." French 

 " Bouleau doux," Germ. " Kirsche-Birke," Span. " Abedul dulce." 

 Canada and Eastern United States. Height 60 80 ft. ; diam. 

 34 ft. S.G. 762. W 47-47. Ash percentage -26. Relative fuel 

 value -759. Co-efficient of elasticity 141398. R 1216 kilos. Resist- 

 ance to longitudinal pressure 619, to indentation 226 kilos. Sap- 

 wood yellowish-white ; heart reddish brown or rose-coloured, 

 heavy, hard, very strong, close-grained, taking a beautiful satiny 

 polish, not attacked by worms, and fairly durable, but becoming 

 duller after conversion. Largely used, especially in the Northern 

 States, for furniture, sometimes stained to imitate Mahogany or 



