BIRCH FAMILY 



475 



the Southern States, and some other species occur in certain 

 parts of the United States. 



The nuts are rich in oil, which is expressed and used as food 

 and in painting. The nuts are common on the market and are 

 of considerable importance as food. The wood of the White 

 and Black Walnut is much 

 used for furniture and cab- 

 inet work. The wood of the 

 Black Walnut is probably 

 the most valuable wood of 

 the North American forest. 

 It is a durable wood, takes 

 a fine polish, and is much 

 sought for furniture, gun- 

 stocks, and for cabinet 

 work. 



There are a number of 

 species of Hickories, and 

 the Pecans and several other 

 species bear nuts having 

 considerable value for food. 

 Hickory wood is very tough, 

 and on account of its 

 strength, elasticity, and 

 lightness, it is the best wood 

 for spokes of buggy and 

 wagon wheels and for ax 

 handles. It is also the best 

 wood for fuel. 



Birch Family (Betulaceae). 

 — To this family belong the 



Fig. 417. — The flowers and fruit of 

 the Cherry Birch. At the left, above, 

 a flowering branchlet bearing two stam- 

 inate catkins at the left and one pis- 

 tillate catkin at the right (Xf); at the 

 right, above, a pistillate flower and just 

 below a staminate flower; at the left, 

 below, a pistillate catkin in fruit and at 

 the right, below, a single fruit. After 

 Bums and Otis. 



Birches, Hazelnuts, Iron- 

 woods, and Alders. They are trees or shrubs and, except in 

 rare cases, are monoecious with the staminate flowers borne in 

 catkins, and the pistillate flowers borne in clusters, in spikes, 

 or scaly catkins {Fig. 4^7). The fruit is a one-seeded nut, 

 which in the Hazel is of some value for food. The Birches, of 

 which there are many species, are the most important genera 

 in this family. They are much used for shade and ornamental 

 trees, and the wood is used for furniture, barrel hoops, shoe pegs, 



