1980

ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM.

PART JIT.

this tree produces about 20 lb. of mast every year, which sells at 2 dollars ( 9 s.) per lb. (see GardMag., vol. viii. p. 445.) : at Gottingen, in the Botanic Garden, 26 years planted, it is between SO ft and40 ft. high. In Austria, at Vienna, at Laxenburg, it is 25 ft. high. In Prussia, at Berlin at SansSouci, it is 18 ft. high. ’

Commercial Statistics. In the London nurseries, mast is IDs. per bushel;two years’ seedlings are 8s. per thousand ; transplanted plants, from 2 ft. to3 ft. high, 40s. per thousand. Plants of the purple-leaved variety are from 9 d.to Is. 6 d. each; of the fern-leaved, from Is. 6 d. to 2s. 6 d.; and of F. s. pen-dula, from 3s. 6 d. to 5s. At Bollwyller, plants of the different varieties arefrom 2 to 3 francs each; and,at New York, the species is 25 cents per plant,and the varieties 1 dollar each.

It 2. F. ferrugi'nea Ait.

The American ferruginous -wooded Beech.

, 112.; Michx. N.

Identification. Ait. Hurt. Kew., 3. p. S62. ; Abbott Ins., 2. p. 149.; Willd. ArbAmer., 3. p. 21.; Willd. Sp. PI., 4. p. 460. ’’

Synonymes. F. ameridlna latifMia Du Boi Harbk., 1. p. 269. Wang., Amer., p. 80.; red BeechAmer. *

Engravings. Michx. N. Amer. Syl., 3. t. 106. ; Wang. Amer., t. 29. f. 55.; and our fig. 1917.

Spec. Char., Src. Leaves ovate, acuminate, thickly toothed; downy beneath •ciliate on the margin. {Willd. Sp. PI. , iv. p. 460.) A North Americantimber tree, so much resembling the common European beech, as by someto be considered only a variety of it. It was introduced in 1766 and isnot unfrequent in collections. The American beech is easily known fromthe European one by its much shorter obtuselypointed buds, with short, roundish, convex scales,which terminate almost abruptly, and are enclosedin numerous, short, loose scales.

Varieties.

2 F. f. 2 carolinidna; F. caroliniana Lodd. Cat.,ed. 1836; and Jig. 1915.; has leaves some-what cordate at the base, ovate, slightly •acuminate, obsoletely dentate, and some-what mucronate. The colour is a very darkgreen, somewhat tinged with purple whenfully mature. The veins of the under sideof the leaf are somewhat hoary.

2 1 '. f. 3 latifolia; F. latifolia of Lee’s Nursery; and our Jig. 1916. —Leaves lanceolate, acuminate; tapering at the base, feather-nerved,much longer than those of the preceding variety in proportion totheir length, and of a lighter green. It differs from the plant markedF. carolinianain the Hack-ney Arboretum; but, asthe latter is very small, andthe Hammersmith plant isgrowing in a better atmo-sphere, perhaps it is notworth keeping distinct.

Description, §c. The red beech,

Michaux observes, bears a greaterresemblance to that of Europe thanto the American white beech. Itequals the latter in diameter, butnot in height; and, as it ramifies nearthe ground, it has a more massivehead, and a more tufted foliage. Itsleaves are equally brilliant withthose of the white beech, a littlelarger and thicker, and more deeplyserrated. Its fruit is of the sameform, but only half as large; whilethe prickles of its calyx are lessnumerous, but firmer. The wood

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