BEECH, Jhjyus, a genus of trees of the natural order otpitliferce (q.v.). The male catkins are almost globose, stalked, their flowers consisting of a bell-shaped 5 to 0-cleft perianth and 8 to 15 stamens. The female flowers, which grow on the same trees, consist chiefly of a germen with three awl-shaped styles, and are situated two or rarely three together within a stalked involucrc, which bears on its outer surface many fleshy threads. 'Phis involucre, after the flowering is over, closes and forms a husk resembling a sort of capsule, which when ripe opens in four valves, is externally covered with soft spines, and Meioses one or two (rarely three) triangular nuts, which bear the name of becchmast. —The species are not numerous; all of them are forest trees of great beauty,—The COM MON B. (R syltatica) forms whole forests in many parts of Europe. It grows toll height of 100 to 120 ft., and a diameter of 4 ft.; and particularly when standing alone becomes a very ornamental tree with far-spreading branches, which often droop gracefully almost to the ground. It has thin, ovate, obscurely toothed leaves, finely ciliated on their mar gins. Its bark is smooth, often of a whitish color; and it is remarkable for the frequency with which hard wooden knobs—abortive branches—occur in its bark. , Grass does not' grow readily under the shade of the B., but in B. woods may- sometimes be found rare plants almost peculiar to such situations. The B. thrives best in light soils; and (does not send its roots deep into the ground, but rather horizontally under the surface.. The wood is more or less of a reddish-brown color, as the tree has grown in a dense for est, or has been freely exposed to sun and air. It is very hard and solid, but brittle: and when exposed to the open air, very liable to rot and to be eaten by worms. It is there fore not adapted to the purposes of the .house-carpenter; but when kept always under water, it is very durable, and is accordingly employed in the erection of mills, and for weirs, sluices, etc. It is also employed for many purposes by cabinet-makers and turn ers. It is very much used in France for making the sabots or wooden shoes of the peas antry, being preferred for this purpose to every other wood except walnut, on account of its property of not absorbing water. It is one of the best kinds of firewood in Europe. Its ashes yield much potash and of excellent quality. The raspings of the wood are used in the preparation of vinegar. See VINEGAR and PYROLIGNEOUS ACID. 'Ile bark is sometimes employed for tanning when oak-bark is scarce. The B. bears lopping well, and is often planted for hedges; and it is a curious fact that when it is prevented limn attaining a tree-like size. and is kept closely pruned, the v:ithered leaves remain on the branches all winter, which is not the case in other circumstances. In some countries.. as Dauphiny and Switzerland, the leaves of the B. are collected in autumn before they have been much frost-bitten, and are used for making beds or mattresses.— Beeclimast, when fresh, has a sweet taste, like that of a walnut. It contains in large quantity a bland fixed oil, along with a starchy farina, a little sugar, and an astringent substance. A volatile, narcotic, poisonous principle, called fuoine, is also found in it;
but more in the rind than in the kernel; and when not only the smooth leathery' outer rind, lint also the thin brown inner pellicle have been removed. it is wholesome food. It is, however, more generally used for feeding swine. poultry. etc., and is much employed in France and other parts of Europe for the manufacture of beech ail, which, when expressed without the application of heat, and well clarified, has an agreeable taste, Is tit for use as food, and keeps long without beeolning rancid. When less pure, it is used for lamps and in the arts. The oil-cake whichremains isgood food for poultry, for swine, and even for oxen, but is injurious to horses. 31any manufacturers of cocoa adulterate it with bcechmast, first depriving the cocoa of its oil, which they sell sepa rately as cocoa-butter, and trusting to the oil of the B. for supplying its place.—B. for ests anciently abounded in England, and great herds of swine were fed in them. The B. is not, in general, found in Europe n. of lat. 59', although it occurs 2° further n. in the Scandinavian peninsula. It is found iu the temperate parts of Asia and in North America; the 'WHITE B. of that country being generally regarded as the same species, a very common tree in sonic parts of the United States. In cardens and pleasure grounds a variety is very frequently to be seen, of which the leaves have a blood-red color. The same color appears also in some degree in the leaves of the RED B. of North America (F. ferrugiaee), which is distinguished by elongate-ovate, coarsely serrated, and much acuminated leaves. It forms extensive forests in the n.e. states and the adjoining British possessions; and its wood, which is of a somewhat red or rusty color, is more valued than that of the white B.—Two species of II. are found on the mountains of Java; four are natives of the more elevated parts of the s. of New Zealand; several belong to the s. of South America. The genus is, in fact, more characteristic of the colder latitudes of the southern than of the northern hemisphere. F. betuloides also known as F. Forster?) is the "myrtle tree" of the mountains of Tasmania—a very large tree with evergreen leathery leaves, in form much resembling those of the birch, although the general habit of the tree agrees with that of other beeches. The same species is the evergreen B. of Terra del Fuego, where it forms forests of which the dark-green foliage contrasts strik ingly in winter with the dazzling snow. There can be little doubt that it will soon become a favorite and common ornamental tree iu Britain. The wood is too heavy and brittle for masts, but makes tolerable planks, and is carried to the treeless Falkland islands for roofing houses. F. Antarctica ascends higher on the mountains about the strait of Magellan. It has deciduous leaves, and much resembles the common B.—F. procera grows in the Andes of Chili, and attains a majestic size. It is a valuable timber tree.
Sec CANCER ROOT.