THE BEECH 159 



is a variety of the European beech. So, too, is 

 the handsome weeping purple beech. 



Side by side with the hazel and alders along 

 many of the river banks from New Brunswick 

 to Minnesota and southward to Florida and 

 Texas, grows the blue or water beech. But, 

 "What's in a name?" you say, for the tree is 

 not a beech at all ! It belongs to the birch fam- 

 ily. In some localities, it is more properly 

 known as the American hornbeam or ironwood. 

 It is an enchanting little shrub, fond of grow- 

 ing in a one-sided fashion, so that it may see 

 its own reflection in the water. The flowers, or 

 fruit clusters, hang at right angles from the 

 boughs, their rich yellowish tint contrasting 

 beautifully with the dark green leaves. 



Let us examine a log of beechwood. It is 

 close-grained, hard, and heavy. It is well 

 adapted to the making of farm implements, 

 coopers' wares, shoe lasts, and household uten- 

 sils. Beechwood bowls never leak. No wood 

 makes better pulleys, tool handles, chairs, and 

 milking stools. It is often used for piles in sub- 

 merged or very wet places, but it is not durable 

 when placed in contact with the soil. 



Do you know that the roots of the beech, in 

 common with those of the oaks, the locusts, and 

 many of the conifers, have no power to feed the 



