178 POPULAR FIELD BOTANY. 
JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS. Common Juniper. A shrub very 
variable in size, frequent in woods and heaths, and abundant 
in the mountains of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. ‘The 
flowers are small, the leaves narrow and very numerous. 
The berries, which are bluish black, are useful in givmg 
flavour to gin, and form an important article of commerce 
in Holland. In Sweden and Norway it is used for many 
domestic purposes; for strewing on floors, and in dairies, 
in order to keep the milk-pans sweet; a preserve is made 
from the berries, and beer also ; so that it is a plant of great 
utility to the northern nations of Europe. This wood is 
also used for making fires. 
