Vv. 4. THE BLACK BIRCH. 205 
two to four inches long, and one quarter of an inch wide, set with 
loosely arranged scales. Each flower is within a broad-ovate, 
shield-like, pointed, brown scale, to which are attached two 
smaller ones below, and within, three thinner, bearded scales, 
supporting twelve stamens with single-lobed anthers, growing 
by twos on pedicels, with often a slender scale at the base of 
each. ‘These catkins are towards the end of the branches, oc- 
cupying each the place of a pair of leaves. 
The female flowers are on smaller catkins, about half an inch 
long and one eighth in diameter, lower on the branches, with 
two leaves at the base of each. ‘The scales are close set, imbri- 
cate, small, green, rounded or pointed at the end, with an ear- 
like lobe on each side at the base. Within each are three pairs 
of ovaries with awl-shaped stigmas. 
The fruit is erect, nearly sessile, elliptical, or cylindrical with 
rounded ends, an inch or somewhat less long, and half an inch 
thick, made up of shining, resinous scales of three equal lobes, 
closely imbricated, and having three seeds, ovate and with broad 
wings, within each. 
Michaux found this tree in Nova Scotia, in Maine, and “on 
the estate of Vermont,” as Loudon has translated him; also in 
the Middle States and on the Alleghanies, throughout their 
whole extent, till they termimate in Georgia. 
The wood is easily wrought, and, as it has strength, firmness 
and durability, it is much used in the arts. It has a delicate 
rose color, which deepens from exposure, but never becomes 
dark, and the difference between the annual circles of different 
degrees of maturity, giving a rich, clouded, or, as it is technically 
called, landscape appearance, it is in request for the panels 
in the foot and head-boards of bedsteads, and in other cabinet 
furniture. It is sometimes used to make yokes, which proves 
its strength to be considerable. It is also used for joists, for bed- 
steads and for chairs, for which itis a beautiful maternal, though 
it does not bend so well as yellow birch. Small tubs are made 
of it, and it is sometimes used for back-boards in carriages. 
The black birch is excellent for fuel, next, indeed, to the 
rock maple, in the Green Mountains, and in the northern part of 
New England, where it comes to the greatest perfection. A 
