Ill Britain it is later in coining into leaf than any other indigenous tree, except
theasli. It bears lopping, and permits the grass to grow under it.
The wood is very hard, of a fine close grain, yellowish white, and susceptible
of a high polish. In a green state, it has a strong smell, which it retains, in a
slight degree, even after it is dried. It weighs, in that state, 55 lb. 6 oz. per
cubic foot. I t may be stained of any colour, and is much used in the smaller
inamifactures, such as making liandles to knives and forks, wooden spoons,
See. ; and for musical instruments, and various turnery articles. It was universally
employed as cogs for wheels till cast iron became generally substituted
for it. The leaves are eaten both by goats and sheep. The fruit is acid and
astringent ; but it is not disagreeable to eat, when it is in a state of incipient
decay. Dried, and reduced to [lowder, it has been formed into a sort of
breail, which has been eaten, both in France and Sweden, in years of great
scarcity. Fermented, the fruit affords a beer ; or, by distillation, a powerful
spirit. It is greedily eaten by small birds ; on which account the trees are
ordered to be preserved in the French forests, that the number of birds may
be increased, in order to keep down the insects. The frnit is also the food of
squirrels; and, when it drops,of the wild boar, the deer, the hedgehog, &c.
As an ornamental tree, the white beam has some valuable projierties. It is
of a moderate size, and of a definite shape ; and in summer, when clothed
with leaves, it forms a compact green mass, till it is ruffled by the wind, when
it suddenly assumes a mealy whiteness. In the winter season, the tree is attractive
from its smooth branches, and its large green buds. Wlien the tree
is covered with its fruit, it is exceedingly ornamental. Among the different varieties
enumerated, P . A. crética is by far the most distinct : but all of them
are well deserving of cultivation.
A calcareous and dry soil is essential ; and the tree will not attain a timber
size unless it is placed in an air}’ situation. The situation may be exposed to
the highest and coldest winds that prevail in this country, and yet the tree
will never fail to grow erect, and produce a regular head ; and, for this reason,
no tree is better adapted for sheltering houses and gardens in very exposed
situations.
The species may be raised from seed, and the varieties be grafted on stocks
of the species of the pear, of the Cratæ'gus, and even of the quince and medlar
; which trees, it is almost unnecessary to add, may be reciprocally grafted
on the white beam tree. Wlien plants are to be raised from seed, the seeds
should be sown as soon as the fruit is ripe ; otherwise, if kept till spring, and
then sown, they will not come up till the spring following. When it is inconvenient
to sow them immediately after they are gathered, they may be mixed
with soil, and treated like haws (see Pÿrus aucupària) ; and, if sown in the
March following, they will come up the same season. The varieties may be
propagated by cuttings, or by layering ; but they root by both modes, with
great difficulty. Layers require to be made of the young wood, and to remain
attached to the stooí for two years.
Y 22. P . (A.) i n t e r m e ' d i a Ehrh. The intermediate White Beam Tree.
Ideniificalion. E h rh . B e it r ., 4 . p. 20. ; D e c . P r o d ., 2. p. 63G. ; D o n ’ s M il]., 2. p. C47-
Synomjmes. C r a tæ 'g u s j4 'r ia /3 I.in. Sp. 6 8 1 . ; C. s can d ica Wahlenb. Fl. Ups. 165. ; C. su é c ic a AU.
Hort. Keiu. 167. ; A lis ie r de F o n ta in e b le a u , Fr. ; S chw ed is c h e r M eh lb a um , Ger.
Sjiec. Char., 4c. Leaves ovate, incisely lobed, tomentose beneath, with white
appressed tomentum. Corymbs flat. Fruit eatable. (Dec. Prod.) A deciduous
tree. Europe, in France, Germany, and Sweden, and also in Wales
and Scotland. Height 15 ft. to 20 ft. Flowers and fruit as in the preceding
kind.
Varieties. DeCandolle has described the two following forms of this species :—
Ï P . (A.) i. 1 latifòlia. Cratæ'gus latifòlia Poir. Diet. 4. p. 444., Dn
Ham. Arb. 1. t. 80., N. Du Ham. 4. t. 35.; ó'órbus latifòlia Pers. ;
Cratæ'gus dentàta Thuil. FL Par. — Leaves broadly ovate. A native
of the woods of Fontainebleau.
These trees bear so close a resemblance
to P. /i'ria, as to leave no doubt in our
mind that they are only varieties and
sLibvarieties of that species. They are
found in a wiid state in France, Germany,
and Sweden ; and perhaps also in the
Highlands of Scotland, where, according
to Sir W. J. Hooker, P. ^ 'l ia varies in
having the leaves more or less cut at the
margin. They are all well deserving of culture.
*t 23, P. v e s t i ' t a WaU.
781. P. (/i.) in te rm èd ia angustifòlia.
The clothed White Beam Tree.
Identification. "Wall. Cat., 679. ; Don’s Mill., 2. p. 647.
Synonymes. ras nepalénsis iÌo r/. ; ¿'órbus vestita Lodd. Cat. edit. 183(
Prod. Fl. Nep. p. 237., Bot. Reg. t. 1655.
Engravings Bot. Reg. 1. 1655. ; Arb. Brit., 1st edit., vol. vi. ; and ouvfigs. 782, 783, and 784.
; P . crenàta D. Don
782. P . vestita.
Sjiec. Char., f r Leaves,^ cymes, and young branches, clothed with white
tomentum. Leaves elliptic, or obovate-elliptic, acuminated, serrated towards
the apex. Corymbs branched and terminal. Flowers white.
Fruit greenish brown. (Doris Mill.) A deciduous
tree of the middle size. Nepal and Kamaon, at
elevations of from
9,000 to 12,000 ft.
Height 20 ft. to
30 ft. Introduced
in 1820. Flowers
white ; May and
June. Fruit brown;
ripe in October.
Decaying leaves of
a beautiful straw-
coloured yellow or
brown.
F F 2
78.3. P. Te3tttn.