THE BIRCH. 



137 



and send forth shoots, which, being properly- 

 pruned, form a better fortification for rustic 

 purposes than many an oak fence or brick 

 wall." 



THE BIRCH. 



^^Here is really a beautiful and elegant tree, 

 although of rather humble growth. It is a 

 Birch. This is the tree which, enduring cold 

 better than any plant besides, creeps up, 

 beyond the pines, into the Polar regions. So 

 short, however, is the summer there, that it 

 can only at last attain a few inches' growth, 

 and is therefore well called dwarf birch. The 

 birch also covers, where nothing else can grow. 



