BEECH 139 



of mill-wheels, but specially valued for tlie flooring of verandahs 

 and the decks of coasting vessels, posts, carving, cooperage, etc. 



Beech, American or Red {Fdgus ferruginea Ait. : Order Oupu- 

 Uferce). Germ, " Amerikanische Buche," French '' Hetre d'Amer- 

 ique," Span, " Haya Americana." Eastern North America. 

 Height up to 100 ft. ; diam. up to 4 ft. S.G. 688. W 41—43. 

 Ash percentage -51. Relative fuel value -685. E 120,996 kilos. 

 E 1,148 kilos. Resistance to longitudinal pressure 478, to indenta- 

 tion 196 kilos. White to hght brown ; heart reddish , pith-rays 

 large and conspicuous. Moderately heavy, hard, stiff, strong, 

 tough, rather coarse in texture, warping in drying, but taking a 

 very smooth and beautiful polish, hable to insect attack, and not 

 tolerant of contact with the ground, but otherwise durable. Used 

 in America for plane-stocks, shoe-lasts, chairs, tool-handles, furni- 

 ture, ships' timbers, and fuel. It is exported to a small extent to 

 England, but is inferior to EngHsh Beech. 



Beech, Black. See Beech, She. 

 Beeeh, Blue. See Hornbeam. 



Beech, Cape {Myraine melanophkos R. Br. : Order Myrsindcece). 

 South Africa. '' Beukenhout." Height 50 ft. ; diam. 2|- ft. 

 W 39-5—46. Brownish, with promment and beautiful reddish 

 silver-grain, hard, tough, fine and even-grained, easily worked, 

 durable, neither cracking nor warping. Used in waggon-building. ' 



Beeeh, Evergreen {Fdgus CunningMmii Hook: Order Oupu- 

 Uferce), ''Myrtle." ''Negro-head Beech." Tasmania and Vic- 

 toria. Height 100—200 ft. ; diam. sometimes 8 ft. or more S G 

 972—593. W 37—53-69. R 548—692 lbs. E 842. / 4-06! 

 fc 2-58. /^ -557. Reddish-brown, satiny, with beautiful feathery 

 cross veins, especially in the warty protuberances on the trunk, 

 hard and free from knots, susceptible of an excellent pohsh. Used 

 for cogs, doors, furniture, carpentry, fret-saw work, piano carcases, 

 ball-room floors, etc. [See RoWe.] 



Beeeh, Indian {Pongdmia gldhra Vent. : Order Leguminosce), 

 Bengal " Kurunja," Burm, " Karung," Tamil " Poonga," Fip 

 " Vesivesi." India, Tropical Austraha, and the Pacific. Height 

 40—50 ft. ; diam. 1—2 ft. W 40—42. White, turning yellow on 

 exposure, moderately hard, close-grained, tough, prettily marked, 

 but much attacked by insects, and not durable, though improved 

 by seasoning in water. No distinct annual rings, but marked wavy 

 " false rings "; vessels few, scattered ; pith-rays distinct. In India 

 used mainly for fuel. 



Beeeh, Red, in Queensland {FUndersia CMtawaiana E. M. Bailey : 

 Order MeUdcece). Also known as " Maple." Used for joinery and 

 cabinet work. 



