566 THE BIRCH. [Jan. 



wood well seasoned. The Laplanders use the bark for the purpose of 

 tanning the hides of their reindeer, and the famous Eussian leather 

 is prepared by a substance extracted from the bark by distillation. 

 The twigs form tough and most durable ropes for the Highlanders 

 and Laplanders, and as is popularly known to refractory youngsters, 

 they also form a most salutary instrument of punishment in the 

 hands of parent or pedagogue. Such are a few of the hundreds of 

 uses of this hardy tree, but we must notice some other birches of not 

 less interest and value, natives of other lands. 



B. 'papyracca (the paper birch and canoe birch). — Americans 

 and Canadians alike agree in regarding the timber of this species as 

 valuable, being hard, durable, and beautiful of grain. It is mostly in 

 repute for furniture and inlaying work. The bark is of the most 

 durable character, retaining its structure intact long after, though 

 the wood it enclosed has decayed and disappeared. It is used in 

 covering log-houses, making boxes, cases, and hats, for inner soles to 

 boots and shoes to prevent access of damp. The celebrated canoes of 

 the North American Indians are made of the bark ; selecting the 

 largest trees, they remove the bark in long strips, which they sew 

 together with the root fibres of the white spruce, and bind with these 

 fibres on a light framework of wood. The seams are then made 

 water-tight with a coating of the resin of the Balm of Gilead fir. 

 A roomy canoe capable of carrying four or five persons may be thus 

 formed, and weigh not more than fifty pounds. The tree is a most 

 handsome one, of very rapid growth, and has been recommended 

 for planting in this country for timber-producing purposes, but 

 the recommendation has been acted upon only to the extent of 

 introducing it into ornamental plantations. 



B. lenta (mountain mahogany and sweet birch). — This is also a 

 native of America, and is greatly prized in cabinet work for its 

 beautiful close grain and its susceptibility of a high polish. This 

 species also has been recommended for planting for timber in this 

 country, but with the exception of introducing it in ornamental 

 plantations, I am not aware of any effort to test its suitability or 

 value as a timber tree in Britain. 



B. ijoimlifolia (the poplar-leaved birch). — This is one of the 

 most rapid-growing and handsome of the genus. 1 know nothing of 

 the value of its timber, but if good it can be confidently relied upon 

 as one of the most rapid-growing of hardwood trees. The foliage 

 is larger than that of any other of the family, yet graceful and light 

 in character and a fine tone of green. It is therefore a very desirable 

 ornamental tree. There is a very elegant variety with incised leaves 

 named ladniata which should be included in every collection of 

 ornamental hardy trees. A. X. E. 



