THE BEECH. 
2t 
in the eye of the forester. Its drip destroys most of the soil- 
exhausting weeds, its shade protects the soil from over- 
evaporation, and the heavy crop of leaves enriches it by their 
decomposition. On these points the forestry experts of to-day 
join hands with John Evelyn, who, nearly 250 years ago, thus 
referred to it — “ The shade unpropitious to corn and grass, 
but sweet, and of all the rest, most refreshing to the weary 
shepherd — lentiis in umbra, echoing Amaryllis with his oaten 
pipe.” And, again, after giving us a long catalogue of the 
varied uses to which Beechwood may be put, he adds — “Yet 
for all this, you would not wonder to hear me deplore the so 
frequent use of this wood, if you did consider that the industry 
of France furnishes that country for all domestic utensils with 
excellent Walnut, a material infinitely preferable to the best 
Beech, which is indeed good only for shade and for the fire.” 
In the days of open hearths and chimney corners the Beech 
was extensively used for fuel, and it is still reputed to make 
good charcoal ; but to-day the chairmaker and the turner are 
the chief users of its wood. 
The Beech well grown attains a height of about 100 feet, 
and a girth of 20 feet. There was, until recently, a Beech 
in Norbury Park, Surrey, 160 feet in height. Its branches 
horizontally spreading gave it a head of enormous proportions. 
Hooker gives the diameter of the Knowle Beech as 352 feet, 
which means a circumference of about as many yards. It 
will grow in most upland places where the Oak thrives, though 
it does not need so deep a soil, and has a preference for land 
containing lime. Fresh mineral soils, rich in humus, are the 
best for it. In poor soils its growth is slow and its life is longer. 
It begins to bear mostly at about eighteen years of age, and 
thereafter gives good crops at intervals of three or five years. 
In spring, just before the buds expand, the twigs of the 
Beech have a very distinct appearance. They are long and 
slender, placed alternately along the twig, and the brown 
