Trees, Shown to the Children — The Whitebeam

THE WHITEBEAM

In the old Saxon language, which was once the language spoken by most of the people in England, the word beam means a tree, so we must be careful not to speak of the Whitebeam tree, as that would be just the same as to say the White tree tree.

The Whitebeam (1) is not nearly so common as the Oak, or the Ash or Beech, and yet it has been known in this country for many hundred years.

It is found growing stiff and tall on bleak chalky pastures as well as in beautiful parks and plantations.

The trunk is covered with a rough brown bark, and there are great deep roots which spread widely and keep the tree firmly attached to the soil.

[Illustration: PLATE XXV THE WHITEBEAM

1. Whitebeam 2. Flower Cluster with Leaves 3. Fruit Cluster with Leaves] It is easy to see why this tree is called the Whitebeam.

Look at the fat buds which have been on the tree all winter, making you think that spring was close at hand.

In April these buds burst open, and you see that the young leaves inside are covered with a thick coating of woolly down.

They are the woolliest buds which grow in this country, and the leaves (2), when they first come out, are as white as if they had been sprinkled with flour.

They are pretty leaves, broad and oval, with large teeth cut all round the edge and with clearly-marked veins.

At first each leaf is white above as well as below, but as it gets older the woolly down disappears from the upper side, and the leaf becomes a dark, glossy green.

But watch the tree some day when the wind is stirring, and at every gust the dark green leaves blow upwards and sideways, and you will see that the back of each leaf is silvery white--the woolly lining has remained.

You remember that the white Poplar or Abele tree had leaves which were white-lined too.

The flowers of the Whitebeam (2) resemble those of the Rowan, but they are larger and are not so closely clustered together on their short stalks.

Each flower has five pointed green sepals standing out like the rays of a star beneath the circle of five white petals.

There is a ring of delicate stamens with yellow heads within the petal circle, and the seeds are concealed in the pear-shaped swelling which supports the flower at the end of the flower stalk.

There are often dark spots on the main flower stem from which all the smaller ones branch.

After the white petals and the stamens have fallen off, the swollen flower stalk enlarges and becomes an oval berry (3), considerably larger than that of the Rowan.

At first the berries are covered with white down, but soon that wears off, and you see that the berries are smooth and are a rich red colour.

They are not good to eat, these attractive-looking berries, though people say they are pleasant when over-ripe and ready to decay.

But the birds love them, and so do hedgehogs and squirrels.

In France the people plant a great many Whitebeams.

This is because the small birds require the berries for food in the winter, when there are no longer grubs and insects to be found.

These grubs and insects destroy the vines and corn when they are young and tender in early spring, and the small birds are needed because they eat these pests, and so save the young plants.

The wood of the Whitebeam is not much used, though small objects, such as wooden spoons, knife handles, and combs, are made of it.

It is very hard, and will take a high polish.

PLATE XXVI

THE ROWAN OR MOUNTAIN ASH

“Their spells were vain, the boy returned To the Queen in sorrowful mood, Crying that witches have no power Where there is Roan tree wood.

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