NURSERY AND PLANTING. 



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When beeches are from eighteen inches to three feet high, 

 they are in good condition for final planting. But trees of 

 larger growth are apt to become naked at their roots, and de- 

 void of fibres, and, consequently, unfit for planting, at least 

 with success. As to final situation, the beech will thrive in 

 almost all soils, but in those that are light, loamy, light sandy, 

 or calcareous, it is found to succeed best; where grounds of 

 that description abound, the beech may be profitably planted. 



Its various uses are many, although in less repute now than 

 formerly, when it was much used in various branches of ma- 

 chinery; but it is now, in these cases, supplanted by metal of 

 different kinds. It is, however, used for some parts of ship- 

 building and machinery, and is in considerable demand with 

 the cabinet-maker, tool-cutter, and turner. The small-wood 

 and branches make excellent fagots, and are used for smok- 

 ing herrings and making charcoal. The leaves make tole- 

 rable mattrasses, a circumstance noticed by Evelyn, as being 

 prevalent in his day, and reminds us of the line of Juvenal — 



*' 1 he wood's a house, the leaves a bed." 



Beech-hedges were formerly very prevalent, but are now 

 less general in and about gardens. They are of rapid growth, 

 and can be planted of a large size, which is often desirable 

 when a hedge is speedily required. Of this genus there are 

 four species enumerated in the Hortus Brittanicus, two of 

 which are natives of North-America, and one only of Britain ; 

 the native country of the fourth, F. comptonicef ol'ia , which 

 has by many been considered as only a variety of the common 

 beech, is not correctly known. The American species are 

 said to be valuable as timber-trees, but have not yet attained 

 a proper size, nor are they in sufficient number in this country 

 to form a correct idea how far they might be advantageously 

 planted with a view to profit. The fourth species is seldom 

 seen out of the arboratum or shrubbery ; its merits, as a 

 timber-tree, cannot be therefore calculated upon. Seeds are 

 obtained of the American species from that country, by which 

 they are increased, and the varieties, and the F. coniijtonice- 

 fotia, are increased by grafting or inarching on the common 

 sort. 



