408 [Assembly 



which may be converted into a delicious mead. It possesses many 

 of the virtues of the spirit of salt, free from its acrimony. A wine 

 1! ay be made from birch juice, which iiis supposed will cure con- 

 sumption. It is so volatile that it cannot be preserved in stone 

 bottlesj still when taken, is perfectly harmless, and a sharpener 

 of the appetite. There are six Birches, Black Birch, Betula Lenta ; 

 Yellow" Birch, Lutea; Red Birch, Rubra ; Canoe Birch, Pdpyra- 

 cea; White Birch, Populi Folia; Common Birch, Alba. 



THE BEECH, (fagus.) 

 This is a fine spreading noble shade tree, furnished with glis- 

 tening deep green leaves, which may be gathered in Ihe fall be- 

 fore fr'>st, and used for mattresses in lieu of straw, they lie 

 much looser together than it does, and remains sweet for eight 

 years, without becoming musty. I have slept upon them in Swit- 

 zerland, and found them extremely refreshing. The leaves when 

 chewed will cure inflamed gums, and cause the teeth to become 

 quite white. Stagnant water found in the hollows of decaying 

 beech trees, is said to be a cure for sores, scabs, bruises and wounds, 

 not only in man but beast. The wood serves many useful pur- 

 poses, and is converted into dishes, buckets, screws, chairs, bed- 

 steads, spade handles, &c. The bark is frequently used by 

 fishermen as floats, instead of corks, being far cheaper. Under 

 water the timber will last for centuries. Bees prefer the hollow 

 beech before all other trees, and swine will at all times leave corn 

 for beech nuts. Chios endured a long siege^ and his whole army 

 lived upon beech nuts, ground in!o flour and made into bread; 

 the oil from these nuts is rich and delicious. The huge Argo was 

 built of this wood. 



THE CHESx\UT, (castanea.) 

 The chesnut ranks among forest trees next to the oak and is 

 particularly sought after by the carpenter for mill timber, water 

 works, frames for houses, poles for grapes, posts for gates, wine 

 vessels — and when well oiled, makes a lasting and exceedingly 

 durable table. Plantations of this valuable tree should be planted, 

 as they are fast diminishing throughout our country, being used 

 extensively for fencing. They are easily gro\\ n from the nut 

 thus : collect them just before they begin to fall by threshing the 



