479 
In Ireland several fine Beeches are mentioned, though it is not supposed to be a native of the 
island. As at Tiny Park, the seat of Sir Skeffington Smyth, Bart, three noble trees together, the 
smallest foui teen feet round, the next fifteen feet six inches at the butt, and fourteen feet eight 
inches at seven feet fiom the ground, the third is sixteen feet three inches round, and continues 
nearly of the same girt for thirty-six feet. 
Beech, says the late Mr. White, is one of the most grand and lovely of all the forest trees, whe¬ 
ther we consider its stately trunk, its smooth silvery rind, its glossy foliage, or graceful spreading 
pendulous boughs. No tree, says another, is more beautiful when standing singly in parks or orna¬ 
mental grounds, as it throws out its branches very regularly, and feathers almost to the ground. In 
woods or groves it grows clear of branches to a great height A 
Mr. Gilpin is not inclined to rank the Beech much higher in picturesque beauty than in utility. 
Its trunk, he allows, is often highly picturesque, being studded with bold knobs and projections, 
and having sometimes a sort of irregular fluting, which is very characteristic. The bark, too, wears 
often a pleasant hue; it is naturally of a dingy olive, but is overspread, in patches, with a variety of 
mosses and lichens: its smoothness also contrasts agreeably with these rougher appendages. This 
is all the merit Mr. Gilpin allows to the Beech: for we rarely see it well ramified; and in full leaf 
it has the appearance of an overgrown bush. Virgil, indeed, was right in choosing the Beech for 
its shade, for no tree forms so complete a roof, but its bushiness gives it a great heaviness. The 
Beech is most pleasing in its juvenile state. A light airy young tree, with its spiry branches hang¬ 
ing in easy forms, is often beautiful. Some of the finest oppositions of tint in the autumn arise 
from the union of this tree with the oak.-j- 
The Beech is very well adapted to form lofty hedges, to surround plantations or large wilder¬ 
ness quarters, or for screens where there is not room for trees to extend their branches naturally. 
Although the timber of this tree is not so valuable as that of many others, yet as it grows very fast 
in chalky or stony ground of little value, with a clear smooth bark, and straight trunk; as it will 
thrive on such soils and in such situations as better trees will scarcely grow in; and as it will resist 
winds on the declivities of hills better than most other trees, the planting of it should be encouraged, 
especially as it affords an agreeable shade, and the leaves both make a fine appearance in summer, 
and continue green as long in autumn as any of the deciduous trees; when they turn brown or 
orange, and frequently hold on all the winter. In parks, therefore, and other plantations for plea¬ 
sure, this tree deserves to be cultivated among those of the first class, especially where the soil is 
adapted to it. 
But though the wood of the Beech be brittle, and decays soon in the air, yet it will endure long 
under water, and serves for a great variety of uses, as will appear from the following account. It 
is of great use to turners for making trenchers, dishes, trays, buckets, &c. to the joiner for stools, 
bedsteads, and other furniture; to the wheeler and millwright. It makes shovels and spade-graffs 
for the husbandman, and is useful to the bellows-maker. Floats for fishers nets, instead of corks, 
are made of its bark. It is good for fuel, billet, bavin and coals, though one of the least lasting; 
and its very shavings are good for the fining of wine. If the timber lie altogether under water, it 
is little inferior to Elm. Baskets for strawberries, &c. are made of the bark. Of the thin lamina 
or scale of the wood, scabbards for swords, band-boxes, hat-cases, &c. The leaves are used abroad, 
on account of their elastic quality, instead of straw for their paillasse to lay under their maltrasses. 
To this enumeration of uses by Mr. Evelyn, we may add many others. It is now in much use 
* Woodw. in With. 
■f* Forest Scenery, 48 , &c. 
