FOREST TREES. 83 
suppose, necessary for complete ripening. If the 
fruit has not reached a certain stage of maturity 
before freezing, it is rendered worthless. The strong 
tendency of the Persimmon to the production of 
varieties, renders it highly probable that the fruit 
may be greatly improved by cultivation. 
The wood of the Persimmon is hard, heavy, fine- 
grained, and elastic. It is proper for turning, and is 
said to be superior to Ash for the shafts of carriages ; 
the scarcity of stocks of proper size alone preventing 
its common use for that purpose. Asan ornamental 
tree, it is highly deserving notice. Itis found on the 
Illinois river, in latitude 40°, and is hardy much 
farther north. 
The seed may be sown in the fall, or kept moist till 
spring. The young plants should be removed from 
the seed-bed when one year old; they will not trans- 
plant well if allowed to remain longer, as they form a 
single tap-root descending deep into the earth. 
FAGUS—BEECH. 
Natural Order, Cupulifere. 
Staminate flowers numerous, in globose, peduncu- 
late, pendulous catkins; fertile flowers in pairs, on a 
short peduncle, in an ovoid, prickly involucre; pistil, 
with the base covered by the calyx; styles, three, 
awl-shaped ; nut, triangular. 
Fagus ferrugina—American Beech. 
Leaves, oblong, ovate, taper-pointed, distinctly and 
often coarsely toothed; petioles and midrib soon 
