XVIII.] CHESTNUT. 151 



upon four pieces the average was 3'8i2 tons per square 

 inch. The specific gravity of the seasoned wood varies 

 from 700 to 720, and averages about 705. 



BIRCH {Betula alba, or Common Birch) 



is found in nearly every country in Europe. In Bosnia, 

 Turkey, however, the author only met with it on the 

 skirts of forests upon the mountains at a- considerable 

 elevation. 



The European Birch grows naturally a little crooked 

 in the stem, with light, oblique branches, slightly droop- 

 ing at the extremities, and attains, sometimes, the height 

 of 50 feet, with a diameter of 18 inches, but generally it 

 . is of very moderate dimensions. It flourishes on a poor 

 soil in any exposed situation, and is very hardy. 



The wood is of a light brown colour, moderately 

 hard, plain and even in the grain, and is easily worked ; 

 but it is neither strong nor durable, and is therefore 

 unfit for building purposes. Its chief uses are for cabinet 

 work, chair-making, turnery, and light wares generally. 

 The bark is smooth, thin, white in colour, and is used in 

 tanning. Birch timber is imported in a round state and 

 with the bark on from the North of Europe to our 

 northern ports, and passes into the manufacturing dis- 

 tricts for use in a variety of ways. Very little, however, 

 comes to the London market. 



CHESTNUT {Castanea vesca). 



The sweet Chestnut attains to large dimensions, and 



is found thinly scattered over most of our southeirn 



. English counties, though it is not really a native tree. 



It is abundant in the southern parts of Europe, and 



