BEECH. Ill 



posts, and is well adapted for charcoal. An extract from the 

 leaves is used medicinally. 



The chestnut is very common in the mountain counties of North 

 Carolina at an elevation of 2,500 to 4,500 feet, and is sawed 

 extensively for local uses. 



Fagus ferruginea, Aiton. 

 (beech.) 



A tree, with round or oval crown, smooth light gray bark, and 

 delicate branchlets, reaching a height of 110 and a diameter of 4 

 feet. 



It occurs from Nova Scotia and northern Wisconsin, south to 

 western Florida and eastern Texas; reaching its best development 

 on the bluff formations of the lower Mississippi basin. 



In this State, where it attains an average height of 50 to 80 and 

 an average diameter of 2 to 3 feet, it is found sparingly and of 

 small size in the coastal plain region, more commonly and of 

 larger growth in the Piedmont plateau, and most abundantly and 

 •of greatest size in the mountain region. 



The beech bears seed plentifully every 4 or 5 years, or along 

 streams or in sheltered hollows more frequently. Young seedlings 

 are common in damp shady woods, especially above 3,000 feet ele- 

 vation. Towards the summits of many high mountains it forms, 

 with birch and sugar maple, nearly the entire growth. The young 

 trees are capable of enduring deep shade. 



The leaves are thin, smooth, and straight- veined, each vein end- 

 ing in a large tooth. The sterile flowers occur in small heads 

 upon drooping silky stems, and the fertile flowers are often in 

 pairs on the summit of short stalks. The fruit consists of a prickly 

 bur, enclosing two triangular sharp-ridged edible nuts. The 

 brown winter-buds are long, slender, and pointed ; the twigs small 

 and smooth. The root system consists of long superficial roots 

 which are frequently exposed. 



The wood is very hard, strong, tough, very close-grained, not 

 durable in contact with the soil, and inclined to check in drying; 



