74 THE PRINCIPAL SPECIES OF JVOOD. 



Sweet Birch, Cherry Birch. Betula lenta Linn. 



Nomenclature. (Sudworth.) 



Sweet Birch, Cherry Birch Mahogany Birch (N. C, 



(many localities). S. C. ). 



Black Birch (N. H., Vt., River Birch (Minn.). 



Mass., R. I., Conn., N. Y., Mountain Mahogany (S. C). 



N. J., Pa., W. Va., Ga., 



111., Ind., Mich., Ohio). 



Locality. 



Newfoundland intermittently to Illinois, southward intermit- 

 tently along Alleghanies to Kentucky, Tennessee, and 

 Florida. 



Features of Tree. 



Fifty to eighty feet in height, three to four feet in diameter, dark 

 reddish-brown bark, resembling that of cherry; does not 

 separate into layers as paper-birch. Leaves, bark, and twigs 

 sweet, spicy, and aromatic. 



Color, Appearance, or Grain of Wood. 



Heart wood dark brown tinged with red, sapwood light brown 

 or yellow, close-grained, compact structure. 



Structural Qualities of Wood. 



Heavy, very strong, hard, receives stains and high satin-like 

 polish. 



Representative Uses of Wood. 



Woodenware, furniture, ship-building (Canada), fuel. 



Weight of Seasoned Wood in Pounds per Cubic Foot. 



47- 

 Modulus of Elasticity. 



2,010,000. 

 Modulus of Rupture. 



17,000. 



Remarks. 



A common tree in Northern States. Wood often stained so as 

 to resemble cherry and mahogany. Essences suggest winter- 

 green, contain much salicylic acid, and are used in medicine. 

 The name " cherry " is because bark resembles that of cherry. 

 " Sweet " is because of essences. 



