108 



ECOXO^IIC BOTANY OF ALABAMA 



Fig. n . Beech forest in bottoms of Flint Creek about three miles 

 north of Hartselle, Morgan County. March 13, 1913. (The large tree in 

 the center is a sweet gum.) 



preferences are not fully understood yet, but it seems likely that 

 certain conditions of the soil fauna and flora are essential, perhaps 

 the absence of earthworms and the presence of certain fungi. It 

 is found in every region except 1-i and 15, but is rare in 4. 6B and 

 13. It is probably most abundant in 2B, where it may make up as 

 much as 3% of the forest. 



CASTANEA, Adanson. The Chestnuts and Chinquapins. 



Castanea dentata (Marsh.) l>orkh. {C . Americana (Mx.) Raf.) 



Chestnut. 



One of our larger trees, and one of the few which blooms in 

 midsummer. Differs from most of those previously mentioned in 

 being pollinated by insects. Although not very abundant in Ala- 

 bama, this is one of our most useful trees. It is sometimes planted 

 for ornament and shade in lawns and parks. The wood is weak 

 and coarse-grained, but very durable, and therefore in demand for 

 telegraph poles, fence-rails and posts, and more rarely for crossties 

 and shingles. In some regions where it is abundant it has been 

 made into furniture and interior finish, but it seems to have no 

 special merit for those purposes except ease of working. It burns 

 well, but is not desirable for open fireplaces, because it is contin- 



