CHAP. CIV.

jBetui.a'ce^:. be'tula.

1713

from Is. to Is. 6 d. each, and seeds Is. 6d. per quart; at Bollwyller,the youngplants may be obtained for 2 francs ; and at New York, plants are 25 centseach, and seeds 1 dollar and 35 cents per quart, and 4J dollars per bushel.

S 11. B. i.k'xta The pliant Birch.

Identification. Wind. Sp. PL, 4. p. 464., Enum., 981., Baum., p. 49.; Wend. Coll., 2. p. 8.; PurshFI. Araer. Sept., 2. p. 621. ; N. Du Ham., 3. p. 205. ; Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836.

Synonymes. B. carpinifblia Ehrh. Beitr., 6. p. 99., Willd. Enum., 981., Baum., p. 49., Wendt. Coll.,'2. p. 81., Michx. Arb., 2. p. 145. ; B. nigra Du Roi Herb., 1. p. 93., Wang. Beitr., p. 35. Theplant is, under both these names, and also under that of B. lenta, in Loddigcs's arboretum. BlackBirch, Cherry Birch, Canada Birch, sweet Birch, Mountain Mahogany, Amer. ; Bouleau Mcrisier,Fr.

Engravings. Wang. Beitr., t. 15. f. S4. ; Wend. Coll., 2. t. 41. ; Michx. Arb., 2. t. 94. ; and ourJig. 1566.

Spec. Char., Sjc. Leaves cordate-ovate, acutely serrated, acuminate; petiolesand nerves hairy beneath. Scales of the strobiles smooth, having the sidelobes obtuse, equal, with prominent veins. {Willd. Sp. PL, iv. p. 464.) Atree, from 60 ft. to 70 ft. high ; a native of North America, from Canada toGeorgia; and flowering there in May and June. Introduced in 1759.Description, $c. According to Pursh, this is an elegant and large tree, themost interesting of its genus, on account of the excellence of its wood. Infavourable situations, it sometimes exceeds 70 ft. in height, with a trunk 2 ft.or 3 ft. in diameter. Theouter bark, on old trees, de-taches itself transversely atintervals, in hard plates, 6 in.or 8in. broad; but, on treeswith trunks not more than8 in. in diameter, the barkis smooth, greyish, and per-fectly similar in its colourand organisation to that ofthe cherry tree. In the neigh-bourhood of New York, B.lenta is one of the first treesto renew its leaves. These,during a fortnight after theirappearance,are covered witha thick silvery down, whichafterwards disappears. Theyare about 2 in. long, ser-rated, somewhat cordiformat the base, acuminate at the summit, of a pale tint, and fine texture. Ingeneral appearance, they are not unlike those of the cherry tree. Theyoung shoots are brown, smooth, and dotted with white, as are also theleaves. When bruised, the leaves diffuse a very sweet odour; and, as theyretain this property when dry if carefully preserved, they make an agree-able tea, with the addition of sugar and milk. The male catkins are flexible,and about 4 in. long: the female ones are 10 or 12 lines long, and 5 or 6lines in diameter; straight, cylindrical, and nearly sessile, at the season of theirmaturity, which is about the 1st of November. The tree is of very rapidgrowth ; as a proof of which, Michaux gives an instance of one, which, in 19years, had attained the height of 45 ft. 8 in. Michaux found the cherry birchin Nova Scotia, in the district of Maine, and on the estate of Vermont. Itis abundant in the neighbourhood of New York, and in Pennsylvania andMaryland. Farther south, it is confined to the summit of the Alleghanies ;and it is found throughout their whole range, to its termination in Georgia.On the steep and shady banks of the rivers which issue from these mountains,in deep, loose, and cool soils, it attains its largest size. The wood of B. lenta,when freshly cut, is of a rosy hue, which deepens by exposure to the light.Its grain is fine and close : it possesses a considerable degree of strength, and

.5 T 2