1714

ARBORETUM AND FRUT1CETUM.

PART III.

takes a brilliant polish. The union of these properties renders the woodsuperior to that of all the other American birches. In Massachusetts, Connec-ticut, and New York , the wood of this birch is next in esteem to that ofthe wild cherry (Cerasus virginiana). Tables, bedsteads, arm-chairs, sofas,coach panels, shoe-lasts, and a great many other articles, are made of it.Hunter, in his notes to Evelyn’s Sylva, vol. i. p. 219., says that the sap of thistree is used by the inhabitants of Kamtsehatka without previous fermentation ;and that the natives strip off the bark when it is green, cut it into long narrowstrips, like vermicelli, and, after drying it, stew it with their caviare. Michauxstrongly recommends the tree for cultivation, on a large scale, in the northof France, in England, and in Germany ; and to the lovers of curious trees,“ as eminently adapted, from the beauty of its foliage and the agreeable odourof its flowers, to figure in their parks, and gardens.” Though cultivated byMiller as early as 1759, it has never been much introduced into plantations,either useful or ornamental. In the year 1818, it was recommended by a com-mittee of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, as likely to prove a better treethan the common birch for the moist and deep soils of the Highland valleysof Scotland ; but we have never heard of any of this, or of any other Ame-rican species of birch being tried there. One reason may be the high priceof these plants in the nurseries, which arises solely from the want of demand,as all the species are just as easily raised from seed as the common birch.As these seeds are procurable at very low prices, we repeat our recommenda-tion to private gentlemen to purchase them, and to raise plants in theirown nurseries. There are plants of this birch at Messrs. Loddiges’s; andthere is a considerable tree of it at Syon, which ripens abundance of seedsyearly. In Ireland , at Oriel Temple, 50 years planted, it is 52 ft. high; di-ameter of the trunk I ft. 9 in., and of the head 42 ft. Plants, in the London nurseries, are from Is. to Is. 6d. each ; and seeds are Is. per quart. At NewYork , plants, are 12 cents each ; and seeds 60 cents per pound, 30 cents perquart, and 5 dollars per bushel.

App. i. Species of Birch not yet introduced.

In Royle’s Illustrations , several species of birch are mentioned as occupying the loftiest stations inthe mountains of Nepal, and other parts of the Himalayas , “ as might be expected,” he adds, “ fromthis genus extending to the highest latitudes.” B. Bhojpi'ittra Wall., the most useful and most gene-rally known species, is found on Gossainthan, inKamaon, or Choor, and in Kedarkanta. B. m'tidaand.#, cylindrost&chyaoccur with the former in Kamaon ; the latter extending also toManmaandDhunoultee. B. resinffera Boyle, confined to Kunawar, with catkins resembling those of B. ltifceaMichx., has leaves something like those of B. papyrifera. ( Illust ., &c., p. 344.) Dr. Lindley hasdescribed four of these species in the Penny Cyclopcedia \ and, as they are likely to prove hardy, andwill probably soon be introduced, we give the following descriptions from that work, and from thework of Dr. Wallich : —

B. Rhojputtra Wall. The Indian Paper Birch. Leaves oblong-acute, with nearly simple serratures,somewhat heart-shaped at the base j their stalks, veins, and twigs hairy. Female catkins erect, cylin-drical, oblong. Bracteas smooth, woody, two-parted, blunt, much longer than the fruit, which hasnarrow wings. A tree, found on the alps of Gurwal, in Kamaon, where its thin delicate bark fur-nishes the masses of flexible laminated matter, of which great quantities are brought down into tneplains of India , for lining the tubes of hookahs; and which is used by the mountaineers, instead 01paper, for writing upon. The Sanscrit name of the substance is boorjee ; a word which Mr. GravesHaughton. considers the root of birch ; and one of many proofs that the Saxon part of the English language is descended from the Sanscrit . {Wall. Plant. As. Rar., vol. ii. p. 7.) The bark ot thisspecies is of a pale cinnamon colour. It is nearly allied to B. papyr&cea. It would form a beautitutree in this country. ,

B. acuminctta Wail, has leaves ovate lanceolate, sharply serrated, taper-pointed, smooth, aottwbeneath: leaf-stalks and twigs quite smooth j ripe catkins very long, pendulous, cylindrical, crowde.the rachis, and the bracteas, which are auricled at the base, downy. Found on many of the moil -

tains of Nepal , and in the great valley of that country, following the course of rivers. The nowe

and fruit are produced from December to April. It forms a very large and noble tree, from jU tc.

60 ft. high, of an oval shape, being covered with branches from its base. The wood is stated by r •Wallich to be greatly esteemed by the inhabitants, who employ it for all sorts of purposes wnestrength and durability are required. “ Prof. Bindley thinks that it adnoides {Don's Proa, i ep-,p. 58.) refers to this variety.” {Wall. Pi. As. Rar., t. 109.) .hAtwies

B. nltida. The shining Birch. Leaves oblong, taper-pointed, with fine double serratures, tn &

and leaf-stalks hairy. Female catkins pendulous, cylindrical, crowded. Bracts three-Iobed, •’with the lengthened middle lobe longer than the fruit A tree, found in Kamaon. , es ■

B. cylindrostdckya lias leaves oblong, taper-pointed, heart-shaped, with fine double serr >twigs, leaf-stalks, and veins downy j female catkins pendulous, very long, cylindrical i , trul ,two-lobed ; bracts linear-lanceolate, blunt, membranous, with two teeth at the base, trmgiiairs. A tree, found in Kamaon.