48 
BIRCHES. 
I have been led to this division by the external appearance, rather than 
by a minute physiological examination of the sexual parts of the different 
species, leaving more accomplished botanists to decide upon its adoption. 
[Soi'Z, Propagation, §c. The Birch has been called an amphibious 
plant, by the Earl of Haddington, as it grows on rich or poor, wet or dry, 
sandy or rocky situations, nor refuses any soil or climate whatever ; it, how- 
ever, luxuriates most in deep loams lying on a porous subsoil, or in alluvial 
soil, by the- sides of rivers, or smaller streams. Plants are not readily pro- 
duced otherwise than by seed, which ripens in September and October, 
and may be either gathered and sown immediately, or preserved in a dry 
loft, and sown in spring ; if immediately, the catkins may be gathered wet, 
but if to be kept, they ought to be gathered quite dry. Cover the seeds 
very lightly, and your plants will appear in March or April from the Autumn 
sowing, but not till May or June if sown in the spring. See the account of 
the Common European Birch for the method of making plantations. 
Emerson remarks, that no trees are more distinguished for their light and 
feathery foliage, and the graceful sweep of their limbs, than the Birches ; 
no family affords such a variety of aspect. 
See Nuttall’s Supplement, Vol. I, p. 22, &c., and Vol. II. p. 117.] 
