DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 
149 
and, on account of its density, it is also well suited to shut 
out unsightly buildings, or other objects. 
The leaves of many beech trees hang on the tree, in a 
dry and withered state, during the whole winter. This is 
chiefly the case with young trees ; but we consider it as 
greatly diminishing its beauty at that season, as the tree is 
otherwise very pleasing to the eye, with its smooth, round, 
grey stem, and small twisted spray. A deciduous tree, we 
think, should as certainly drop its leaves at the approach 
of cold weather, as an evergreen should retain them ; more 
especially if its leaves have a dead and withered appearance, 
as is the case with those of the beech in this climate. 
The White beech ( Fagus Sylvatica) is the common 
beech tree of the middle and western states. It is found in 
the greatest perfection in a cool situation and a moist soil. 
The bark is smooth and grey, even upon the oldest stocks. 
The leaves oval, smooth, and shining, coarsely cut on the 
edges, and margined with a soft down in the spring. 
The Red beech (F. ferruginea), so called on account of 
the color ©f its wood, loves a still colder climate than the 
other, and is found in the greatest perfection in British 
America. The leaves are divided into coarser teeth on 
the margin than the foregoing species. The nuts are much 
smaller, and the whole tree forms a lower and more spread- 
ing head. 
The European beech (F. sylvatica ) is thought by many 
botanists to be the same species as our white beech, or at 
most only a variety. Its average height in Europe is 
about fifty feet ; the buds are shorter, and the leaves not so 
coarsely toothed as our native sorts. The Purple beech is 
a very ornamental variety of the European beech, common 
