Il. 2. THE BEECH. 161 
of what Evelyn says here, as to the excellence of beech leaves 
for mattresses. We used always to think that the most luxu- 
rious and refreshing bed was that which prevails universally 
in Italy, and which consists of an absolute pile of mattresses 
filled with the elastic spathe of the Indian corn; which beds 
have the advantage of being soft, as well as elastic; and we 
have always found the sleep enjoyed on them to be peculiarly 
sound and restorative. But the beds made of beech leaves 
are really no whit behind them in these qualities, whilst the 
fragrant smell of green tea, which the leaves retain, is most 
gratifying. ‘The objection to them is the slight crackling noise 
which the leaves occasion, as the individual turns in bed; but 
this is no inconvenience at all, or, if so in any degree, it is an 
inconvenience which is mueh overbalanced by the advantages 
of this most luxuriant couch.” 
The white beech grows in every part of Massachusetts, but 
it is only in the forests of the western part, that it attains its 
greatest height. It is there sometimes not less than one hun- 
dred feet high. 
It flourishes best in a rocky, moist soil, and where this is rich, 
it grows with great rapidity, sometimes increasing two-thirds of 
an inch in diameter in a single year. 
The wood is hard, of a fine, smooth, close grain, and very 
dense, having a specific gravity of .724. It is excellent for 
the turner’s use, and fine large bowls, trenchers, and trays are 
made of it. In the northern part of the country, it is much 
used as fuel, and ranks next to rock maple. 
It is preferred to all other woods for the making of plane 
stocks; and for this purpose, the wood which has grown most 
rapidly is found not only to have the smoothest and closest 
srain, but to be most durable, and least liable to warp. Plane 
stocks are, therefore, usually made of the outer, white, or sap 
wood, the heart, or red, being less tough. 
It is also used for chair posts, of which great numbers are 
made of it, in Becket and the neighboring towns. It is used 
for saw handles, and for bodies of carts, it answers well for lasts, 
and is preferred for the cylinders used in polishing glass. 
It is a valuable wood for fuel, comparing with hickory, accord- 
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