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F a g u s Sylvatica atro-punicea. American 
Beech Tree . 
This grows naturally in low, bottom grounds, by 
river Tides, rifing fometimes to the height of forty 
or fifty feet, and to fifteen or eighteen inches in di- 
ameter, generally fending out many long branches, 
garnifhed with very thin, oval, fpear-fhaped leaves, 
fawed on their edges, and remaining late upon the 
branches. The nuts are eaten by fwine. The wood 
is hard and clofe grained, and ufed for making lads, 
joiner’s tools, &c. 
FAGUS-CASTANEA. 
The CHESNUT TREE. 
^PHE Characters are nearly the fame of the Beech, except 
T the Male flowers being difpofed in cylindrical katkins. 
The Styles more in number and briftly. The Capfules much 
larger, round, and fet very thick with long prickly Spines; con- 
taining from one to four or five, but generally two or three 
nuts, filled with fweet kernel. 
The Species of Chefnut , with us , are , 
i. Fagus-Castanea dentata. American 
Chefnut Tree. 
This often becomes a large tree, growing to the 
height of fixty or eighty feet, and to four or five 
feet in diameter, fending out but few branches, gar- 
nilhed with long fpear-fhaped leaves, toothed or 
notched on their edges. The timber is ufed much 
for rails, fplitting free and out-lading mod of our 
Oaks. The kernel of the nuts are dried and ufed 
by feme as a fubditut” far Coffee. The wood is alfo 
burnt 
