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The Museum Gazette 



terest to note certain differences in the bole of the beech and 

 the oak. The latter is usually rounded and even from the 

 ground to a very considerable height ; its branches have in 

 the past contributed to its growth, but they have not pre- 

 served for themselves any permanent representation. The 

 beech, on the contrary, often presents on all its sides, and 

 quite down to the ground, ridges which are separated by 

 deep furrows. If the latter are traced they will be found 

 to depend upon the development of the branches to the 

 downward prolongation to which the ridges are due. 



The recognition of different trees when quite leafless may 

 afford some interest. In the woods of the South of England 

 we have commonly the following deciduous trees : the oak, 

 the ash, the sweet chestnut, the birch, the beech, the 

 mountain ash, the elm and the hazel. 



The Birch is usually easily known by its white silvery outer 

 bark and by the ease with which this peels and exposes under- 

 neath, beautiful tints of pink or salmon colours. But now 

 and then a birch occurs which does not peel and is not white. 

 When that is the case the smoothness of the surface and the 

 abundant presence of narrow horizontal markings and scars 

 will help in identification. In old birches the bark may 

 become very rugged by cracking, and this is always most 

 marked low down. Higher up a very characteristic feature 

 is presented in the presence of long and deep troughs under 

 the larger boughs. These become bigger and deeper as the 

 tree ages and cause a fluted condition. A bough has always 

 formerly stood on the top of a long trough. 



In chestnuts there is no fluting under the branches, but 

 very often large flat scars are seen which are bounded on 

 their sides by curved slightly raised lines. These lines are 

 absolutely symmetrical and meet' at an apex just above the 

 branch which has caused them. These elegantly margined 

 scars become more marked with age. They must be seen to 

 be appreciated. When very pronounced they denote a chest- 



