4. It is hard and tough, and does not readily rot when exposed to the damp; for that reason coffins are commonly made of elm.

5. It is also used for carving and for the main timbers in strong buildings. The leaves of the elm form very good food for cattle, and might well be used for that purpose during a scarcity of hay and grass.

Which is the handsomest of English timber trees after the oak? Of what colour are its leaves? Where are elmtrees usually planted? For what is the wood of the elm well adapted? Why will not the wood of the elm readily rot? To what use may the leaves of the elm be put in a time of scarcity of hay and grass?

No. III. THE BEECH.

1. The beech, a very fine noble-looking tree, may be known by its rounded leaf, its smooth mottled bark, and its large knotted roots.

2. Beeches frequently grow in woods, though they are also common by the sides of our country roads. In some parts of the country there are large woods composed almost entirely of beech trees.

3. There is a beautiful wood of this kind in Nottinghamshire, called Birkswood. It is in the district of Sherwood Forest.

4. In the autumn the ground in the beechen woods is covered with the seed, which is called beech-mast. There are sweet little kernels inside. These are eaten by deer, squirrels, and pigs.

5. Beech wood is hard and durable, and is much used by the turner, who makes with it washingbowls, posts for bedsteads, large screws, and many kinds of toys. It is also cabinet-maker into various articles

What kind of tree is the beech? How may it be known? Where do beeches generally grow? Where is there a beautiful wood of beech trees? What is the seed of the beech called? What animals feed upon the kernel? By whom is beech wood much used? Why?

No. IV. THE ASH.

1. The ash is generally grown in woods, and though a tall tree, is not nearly so bushy or compact in appearance as the elm or the beech. The bark is smooth The

and light coloured.

leaves, which are of a dark

green colour, do not come

forth until late in the spring, and fall off early in the autumn.

2. The seeds of the ash are what are called winged seeds. They have a kind of wing or feather attached to them, so that they are easily blown about and carried to a great distance by the wind. We must all know some flowers which have winged seeds. The common yellow dandelion bears such seeds. They look almost like a ball of feathers on the top of a green stem, and children frequently blow them off in sport.

3. The seed of the ash, scattered far and wide, frequently springs up in the midst of old ruins, and in the course of time the roots penetrate into the mortar between the stones. Very fine ash trees are often met with in such places.

4. The wood of the ash is strong and tough. As it will not readily split, it is much used for making plough handles, spokes of wheels, waggons, carts, and most implements of husbandry.

5. The ash is a very hardy tree, and does not require any great depth of earth for the roots; it is often seen growing among rocks on the side of a mountain. Beautiful in itself, it adds beauty to the wild and solitary places of the earth.

What is the appearance of the bark of the ash? When do the leaves of the ash appear? When do they fall off? What are the seeds of the ash called? Why? Name a flower which has winged seeds. What do they look like? Where are very fine ash trees often seen? How did the seed get to such places? For what purpose is

ash timber much used?

No. V. THE FIR.

1. Of all the trees which are used for timber by man, there are none which are so generally useful as the various kinds of firs. They often form extensive forests, and grow abundantly in most of the colder parts of the temperate regions of the earth, clothing the sides of the mountains, and sheltering the valleys from the cold winds.

2. It is from the kind of fir called the wild pine,

or Scotch fir, that we get the well-known wood named deal. Light and soft, it is easily worked; and being sufficiently durable for all ordinary purposes, it is much used by the carpenter for the joists and floors of our houses, staircases, window-frames, doors, shelves, and for many articles of common furniture.

3. The Scotch pine grows on the hills of that part of Scotland called the Highlands, the northern por

tion of our island; on the

wilds of Yorkshire; and, in

fact, in any part of the country which is sufficiently bleak and exposed.

4. It thrives best in the coldest and most unsheltered situations. Though called by a different name, the Scotch pine also thrives on the mountains of the continent of Europe, and grows in vast forests in Germany, Russia,

Norway, Sweden, and North America. From Canada in North America, Sweden and Norway, many hundreds of thousands of deal planks are yearly sent to this country.

5. The fir trees are sawn into planks near the spot where they are felled or cut down, by the aid of the water-mills, which are built on every convenient stream. Firs are among those trees and shrubs which are called evergreens; that is to say, they do not lose their leaves during the winter.