I. 7. THE JUNIPER. 109 



In Europe, where there are several varieties, one of which 

 exactly resembles ours, the wood is much valued, for its aro- 

 matic odor and its beauty, it being finely veined, of a yellowish 

 brown color, and taking a high polish. It. is used for walking- 

 sticks, and for various small articles of the turner. " It makes 

 excellent fuel, and is used, in Scotland and Sweden, for smoking 

 hams. The bark is made by the Laplanders into ropes."* 

 The berries are principally used in making gin, which is a spirit 

 obtained by distilling grain, flavored by an infusion of these 

 berries. " They are used by the peasants in some parts of 

 France, to make a kind of beer, which is called genivretle. For 

 this purpose they take equal parts of barley and juniper berries, 

 and, after boiling the barley about a quarter of an hour, throw 

 in the berries. They then pour the whole into a barrel half 

 full of water, and bung it closely for two or three days ; after 

 which, they give it air to promote fermentation. Some persons 

 add molasses or coarse sugar, to make the liquor stronger. 

 This beer is ready to drink in about a week, and it is bright 

 and sparkling, and powerfully diuretic."* The berries are also 

 used in medicine. When distilled, they yield a large quantity 

 of pungent, volatile oil, of the peculiar flavor which is perceived 

 in gin. In this oil the medicinal properties of the berries are 

 supposed to reside. f They have decided diuretic virtues, on 

 which account they have been long and extensively employed 

 in dropsical affections and in diseases of the kidneys. 



* Loudon, IV, 2493. 



t Bigelow, Med. Bot., Ill, 45. 



