BIRCHES. 
The northern extremity of the Old and New Continents is the native 
climate of the Birch, if we may judge from the number of species which is 
found there, and which diminishes in descending toward the south. To 
the inhabitants of regions destitute of most of the larger vegetables, which 
flourish in more temperate climates, the trees of this genus are highly inter- 
esting, and are applied by them, with wonderful ingenuity, to the necessi- 
ties of life : they employ the wood in the construction of houses and of 
vessels, and in the works of the wheel-wright and cabinet-maker; of the 
bark, which is nearly incorruptible, they make canoes, boxes, and a more 
secure covering for their habitations ; with the leaves they dye their nets ; 
and from the sap they procure a mild and sugary beverage. 
From the researches of botanists it results, that as many species of Birch 
are found in the northern part of the United States as in Europe ; and, 
from my own observations on the comparative properties of their wood, the 
advantage appears to lie wholly on the side of the American species. 
Thus the Canoe Birch equals the White Birch, which grows in Sweden 
and in Russia ; and the Cherry Birch and Yellow Birch far exceed it, in 
the strength and beauty of their wood, as is proved by the uses to which 
they are applied in Canada and in the Northern and Middle Sections of the 
United States. 
Of the seven species of Birch which have been discovered in North 
America, five may be ranked among tall trees ; the two remaining species, 
of which, for that reason, no mention will be made, are classed with the 
shrubs. 
I have observed, in the form and disposition of the aments of the differ- 
ent species of American Birch, a distinction, in my opinion sufficiently 
marked to authorize the division of them into two sections : the first section 
consists of the species which have long, flexible, and pendulous aments, 
and comprises the Canoe Birch and the White Birch, to which is added 
the Common European Birch ; the second section is composed of the spe- 
cies whose aments are short and straight, namely, the Red Birch, the 
Black Birch, and the Yellow Birch. 
