The birch is dark. Birch bark and cedar from the Siberian bowels
Black birch (lat. Betula nigra)- a representative of the genus Birch of the Birch family. Another name is river birch. This species is native to the United States of America. In nature, it occurs in wetlands, flood plains, river valleys and other places with damp sandy soils. It grows in alliance with poplars, willows and maples. Fast growing, thermophilic short-lived species.
Characteristics of culture
Black birch - deciduous tree up to 30 m high with an openwork crown of an ovoid shape. The bark is pink-brown, gray-brown or black-brown, thickly scaly, flaking in layers or curls. Young shoots are silvery-gray, smooth. The lateral branches are arcuately deflected, the main ones are located under acute angle. The leaves are dark green, alternate, short-petiolate, oval or ovate-rhombic, broadly wedge-shaped at the base, obtuse or sharp, serrated along the edge, up to 12 cm long. C inside grayish or gray-white, pubescent along the veins. Foliage turns dark yellow in autumn.Inflorescences are oblong-cylindrical catkins, equipped with a stem, the length of which varies from 2.5 to 5 cm. Bracts are pubescent, scaly, with equal linear-oblong lobes. The fruit is a broadly ovoid winged nutlet, pubescent in the upper part. Currently, several cultivated varieties have been bred that differ in the shade of wood and resistance to pests. They are often used for landscaping personal plots.
Pruning: Remove damaged or dead branches from young specimens in late autumn. Once adults, reduce pruning to a minimum. Irrigation and Moisture: Always keep the soil moist. Soil: Moist but well drained. Being varieties of the nature spirit, they are usually placed in gardens with the same spirit, where this feature is used to recreate the mountainous and wild environment, combining birch trees with other trees, shrubs and plants with similar natural nuances. To better enjoy the attractiveness of their bark, it is advisable to plant them in groups and, if possible, against a dark background or on a slope.
Growing conditions
In nature, black birch grows on cool, moist substrates. Plants have a negative attitude even to short-term drought. On dry soils, trees develop slowly and are often affected by pests. Despite the fact that the culture is thermophilic, it denies the scorching sun, plants are best placed in semi-shaded areas where sunlight is present for most of the day. It is not forbidden to plant a crop from the north or east side of architectural buildings. Since the black birch reaches a rather impressive size, it is necessary to take into account the location of the electrical wires, otherwise during strong winds avoid breaking them.Soils for black birch should not be compacted, as the surface root system feels inferior to them. Slightly acidic, loose, moist, humus-rich soils are optimal for culture. Heavy clay, highly acidic or alkaline soils are not welcome. The fact that black birch is a moisture-loving crop has been said more than once, this factor is considered one of the most important conditions successful cultivation of plants. But compared to other representatives of the genus, black birch is more tolerant of drought, however, only for a short time. Without damage to health, trees will endure light flooding with melt water.
However, they have enough character to become the center of interest if they are isolated on the lawn. Because birch roots tend to grow vigorously, it is preferable to refrain from planting them near sidewalks or buildings that may be affected by their impact. For the same reason, they are not particularly suitable for the classic stands of our streets and squares.
Tree up to 25 m, with great obesity and very dark bark, blackish and scaly. It usually has a pyramidal shape with a dense canopy of branches and leaves with a very dark tone. However, under extreme conditions, in the case of windy areas, hills, drifts and young specimens, it deforms strongly in the direction of the dominant wind. Due to the weight of the snow and ice accumulated in its branches, it may have a squat shape. It departs almost from the base, and the young branches are brown. This characteristic, together with the tone of her bark, justifies her name. popular name.
Propagation by seed
Black birch, like all other species, propagates by seeds. In addition, it gives abundant self-seeding, so plants are able to capture new territories on their own. Seedlings develop very slowly in the first few weeks. They are vulnerable to lack of sunlight, watering, and weed shading. The site for sowing should be prepared carefully, removing all rhizomes of unwanted vegetation.Seeds in preliminary preparation not needed if we are talking about autumn sowing. When sowing birch seeds in black spring, stratification is necessary, it will increase the percentage of germination. This procedure lasts about 5-6 weeks at a temperature of 0 - +5C. Before sowing, the seeds are dried to a loose state, and immediately sown. Store wet seeds in room conditions not, they will begin to germinate and as a result die.
The alder has a fruit that resembles a coniferous pineapple, but much smaller. The seeds have a membrane wing to facilitate wind dispersal. This long-lived pine is adapted to the cold and dry air of the mountains, where it forms vast pure or mixed forests with birch-covered fir trees where other tree species cannot compete. This requires high rainfall, which during the year should not be scarce in summer. It appears on any type of soil on slopes, landslides, cracks and even peat bogs.
It reaches an upper height limit that can be colonized by trees where the weather conditions are very unfavorable and the soil is very scarce, associated with high mountain species such as rhododendrons, creeping junipers, blueberries, shrubs or bushes.
Seeding can be done as open ground under shelter, and in greenhouses. Seeds are sown in a row way, the distance between the rows should be at least 15-20 cm. Deep embedding is prohibited. Cover the crops for a week plastic wrap or any other covering material. The soil is kept moist, a spray gun is used for irrigation, an ordinary watering can can erode the crops.
Its wood was used for fine woodworking due to the object being polished in the ceiling. On the other hand, being a species that colonizes the high regions of the mountains that form part of the woody vegetation limit, it is very convenient to transplant these means, since it holds the soil with its powerful radical system, colonizing and protecting fragile soils in the slope of these heights.
In its typical form, the birch butterfly has a camouflage pattern that resembles a splash of pepper and salt. In some areas it has a black soot or "melanic" form known as "carbonaria". Its long, rod-shaped caterpillar can be several shades of brown or green with small warts and projections that resemble tree bark. Deep indented head.
Under all conditions, seedlings appear in 2-2.5 weeks. By autumn, seedlings reach a height of 30-50 cm. For the winter, young plants are insulated with a thick layer of fallen leaves. next spring plants dive into shkolki. In schools, the distance between plants should be about 5-7 cm, between rows - 30-35 cm. At the end of summer or at the beginning of autumn, strengthened seedlings are transplanted to permanent place, underdeveloped specimens are left for growing.
Track length: up to 60 mm. This kind makes for a very long clutch. Adults breed from May to August. Females lay eggs in large numbers, and after hatching, the newborn caterpillars will soon disperse. They weave silk threads and they swim with the direction of the wind until they land on the ground by accident. Luckily, you can eat a wide variety of shrubs and deciduous trees. Caterpillars feed only at night and reach full maturity in September. Punts are on the ground in winter and adults appear the following spring.
The spotted butterfly, as it is known, is widely used as classic example evolution through natural selection. During the Industrial Revolution, soot stocks obscured much of their habitat. The melanic form of the moth was first recorded in Manchester. The melanic form was better camouflaged, resting on the trunks and branches of sooty trees, than the typical paler form, which allowed it to survive. On the contrary, the typical form was an advantage in uncontaminated areas in the bark of trees that were covered with lichens.
Birch is one of the main images of folk art. In songs, fairy tales, legends, birch is a symbol of spring and the Motherland. The favorite tree was endowed with the most affectionate epithets. She was called slender, curly, thin, white, fragrant, cheerful. There are countless sayings, proverbs, riddles associated with birch:The birch is not a threat - where it stands, it makes noise there. Bela birch bark - yes black tar. Green, not a meadow, white, not snow, curly, not a head. V folk omens birch is closely related to agriculture: A lot of juice flows from a birch - by a rainy summer. If the birch leaves before the alder, the summer will be dry, if the alder is wet in advance.
V last years several discussions arose over this simplistic explanation, and the focus was on the quality of Catherwell's work. Although their pioneering experiments were undoubtedly imperfect by today's standards, the basic premise is still accepted by most evolutionary biologists, although the full theory may have been more complex.
The melanic form of the spotted moth has now lost its advantage, experiencing a sharp decline. It is now scarce in areas where it once dominated and may soon disappear completely. Whatever the details of his rise and fall, his story is fascinating.
Folk wisdom has long been able to appreciate the wonderful healing properties birch. Already in the herbalists of the XVII-VII centuries. you can find instructions on how to use birch leaves and buds, birch bark, called birch bark, and birch sap. Modern medicine has also recognized the wide healing possibilities of birch.
Of the 120 birch species found on Earth, about 40 species grow in Russia. The most common is the warty birch (drooping birch), reaching a height of 20 meters, whose age does not exceed 120 years.
This species is very common in most of the British Isles and is sometimes very large. The melanic form is more common in the industrial areas of central Scotland, northern England, the Midlands and London, but is now declining. It is found in forests, fences, parks and gardens, even in urban areas.
To follow up on a special visit to the Montreal Botanical Gardens, here are three favorite shrubs from Fruticetum horticulturalist Luc Theriault. This unknown garden facilitates the discovery of shrubs, shrubs and clematis other than what is commonly seen, as well as an appreciation of their maturity.
Outside, the bark covers the birch with a continuous cover. Birch bark consists of many thin elastic, smooth, durable layers that are easily separated from each other, impervious to moisture and air and practically resistant to decay. Every year these layers grow, and the bark becomes thicker. By the number of thin layers, as well as by the growth rings of wood, one can determine the age of the tree. The outer layers of the warty birch are usually white in color and differ only in shades of color. The inner layers facing the bast come in various shades, from yellow to dark brown. It is these inner layers of birch bark, as the most durable, beautiful, used by craftsmen in the manufacture of products such as front side. The outer, scaly layers are called wrong side, and they have no practical value.
This multi-trunk shrub has it all: beautiful flowers, interesting bark and beautiful foliage. Its flowers, which bloom in summer, evoke camellias, hence the name of the species, pseudocamellia. Its special bark flakes off and takes on shades of grey, red and brown; it's like an abstract painting. Its foliage, dark green in summer, turns pink, purple and orange in autumn.
The slow growing Stewardia is about three meters high by two meters wide. A place in the shade or in the sun suits him well, as well as a rich, fresh and slightly acidic soil. Since its root system is superficial and fragile, it is recommended to mulch it. This plant is grown in southern Quebec because it has a zone.
In addition to color, birch bark is given special attractiveness. lentils - small narrow stripes of black or brown. In the summer they are open and gas exchange is carried out through them, sometimes they are called vents. For the winter, the lentils are closed, filled with a special substance.
The best birch bark for all types of products is wide-layered, layered, even, thin with small lenticels, warm and velvety to the touch, stretchable, yellow, golden yellow or yellow-green.
Western cephalanthus is a vigorous and original shrub. Its lanceolate foliage is a beautiful dark green throughout summer season; in autumn it turns yellow, but especially for its flowers that crack. They are cream or slightly pinkish. Flowering occurs in July and August, it is fragrant and melliferous. Cephalanta reaches about three meters in height by four widths, and its port is beady. Needs fresh, moist soil; in terms of exposure, it also grows in the shade as well as in the sun.
Native to Quebec, it grows in the west of the province where its common name is "black forest". In Quebec, birches are part of our collective memory, our heritage. On the other hand, they are sensitive to pollution, drought and birch. The latter has been devastating in recent years. For birch lovers living in zone 5, black birch is interesting because it is birch and drought tolerant, even if pollution remains a problem. It is planted in the sun, in damp and fertile soil. The 'Fox Valley' variety is recommended for tight spaces because it stays compact, standing 3 meters and 3.5 inches tall.
Thin birch bark occurs in birches aged 20 to 40 years with a smooth, even trunk (diameter more than 150 - 200 mm), without painful thickenings, sagging, knots, cuts, pronounced crusts and mushrooms. Such a birch is more common on upland slopes, in mixed forests with moderate shade. An exception is the case when birch bark is needed for slotted thread. Then they look for young trees no older than 15-16 years old. Sometimes birch bark with a thickness of up to 2 mm or more is required for the manufacture of large products - tuesas, large boxes, etc.
It forms several trunks, its foliage is dark green and turns golden in autumn. Synthetic fertilizers are a recognized source of pollution, and amateur or professional gardeners, aware of their impact on environment are always looking for green foods. Recently organic fertilizers arrived on the shelves of garden centers. They consist of at least 15% organic matter and contain a certain proportion of synthetic mineral elements. As a result, they are not considered organic fertilizers.
On the other hand, most 100% organic fertilizers contain a low percentage of nutrients. Just as interesting in flower beds or in the garden, they are less effective for growing in pots, balconies or planters, where more high level nitrogen usually gives the best results.
On the outskirts of the fields, the edges of the forest often grow birches with thick bark. Their birch bark is with long, wide lenticels, smooth, strong, low stretch, yellow, sometimes reddish or even multi-colored: yellow on the north side, reddish on the south. This is a second-rate birch bark. It takes a lot of effort and time to process. Birch bark from birches growing in peat, swampy places or separately on open spaces, - fragile, slightly extensible, with many small and large blackened lentils, thick, spotted, in a scab, with holes from insect passages, one-sided, with thickenings. It's better not to take it.
These organic fertilizers are interesting in that they have a lower environmental impact compared to conventional synthetic fertilizers. In addition, they are supplied with an inorganic source of nitrogen, making them a good base fertilizer. Three fertilizers were run as well as the traditional control fertilizer during the tested period. In addition, the costs are not higher, because nutrients highly concentrated, allowing for significant dilution.
Since these fertilizers are based on organic materials, once prepared, they should be used quickly to prevent bacterial growth. Finally, these fertilizers are a good alternative to synthetic fertilizers. Questions about your garden? Do not hesitate to contact me.
The timing of birch bark harvesting may vary depending on the geographical area, the place where the birch grows, the time of the onset and the nature of spring. Birch bark is usually firmly connected to the bast. late spring with the melting of snow during the period of juicing, you can remove birch bark in small quantities using a specially made tool made of wood, resembling a chisel. At this time, a coating of a dark brown bast layer is observed on the inner layer of birch bark. Such birch bark is often used in products with decoration elements by scraping the bast layer.
Each plant has a record with a photo, description, yield information and a chart for exposure, watering, height, etc. it is an interesting and dense book that features many of the original plants, but since the book is French, many here are not rustic. In addition, the hardiness zones we are used to are not used and the stated cold hardiness is not accurate enough for Quebec, for example -20 Celsius or more.
If we know the factory, everything is ok, otherwise it's trial and error. The author, Alain Delavy, who led the team of specialists, is an agronomist and plant collector. Moreover, we feel the soul of the collector because of the wide variety of plants described. A book for wise and curious gardeners. Cursed Wind Vineyard is owner friendly and a beautiful place to pick delicious table grapes. We eat, open and collect various varieties and besides, we can buy grapes.
In the Republic of Komi in the area of Syktyvkar, the most favorable terms for harvesting birch bark are observed from June 20 to July 10. During this period, birch sap is no longer available. The leaf of the tree is gaining strength, becoming dark green. In stable hot weather, after a cut of birch bark on a tree trunk, it comes off without effort.
During this period, it is necessary to visit the forest more often to determine the descent of birch bark. At the end of the descent period, the birch bark dries to the trunk and the harvesting becomes practically impossible.
