130 NAT. ORDER. CONIFERS. 



June. The leaves have a heavy, resinous, strong, unpleasant ^r, 

 and a hot, bitter taste. They aflTord by distillation with w&tcr a 

 considerable proportion of colorless essential oil, possessing the smell 

 and taste of Savine. Water extracts the activity from the leaves, but 

 alcohol is considered much the best ; both Avater and spirituous ex 

 tracts possess considerable pungency and warmth, but they retain 

 scarcely any of the odor of the plant. 



Juniperus communis. Common Juniper. This is a low shrub, 

 seldom rising more than three feet high, sending out many spreading 

 tough branches, which incline on every side, covered with a smooth, 

 browni, or reddish bark, with a tinge of purple ; the leaves narrow, 

 awl-shaped, ending in acute points, placed by threes round the 

 branches, pointing outwards, bright green on one side, and grey on 

 the other, continuing through the year ; the male-flowers are some- 

 times on the same plant with the females, but at a distance from 

 them, although they are usually on distinct plants ; the female-flow- 

 ers are succeeded by a cluster of roundish berries, which are first 

 green, but when ripe of a dark purple color, continuing on the bush 

 two years. This plant is common in all the northern parts of Eu- 

 rope, in Canada, and all the Northern States. 



Propagation and Culture. All species o^ Junipeiiis, except J. I'^rgin- 

 iana, Bed Cedar, may be increased either by seeds, layers, or cuttings. 

 The latter methods are proper for the Savin kinds. The seeds or ber- 

 ries should be so^Am in beds of ligiit earth, early in spring, in a warm 

 sheltered situation, in the open gi-oimd, being well raked in. The 

 beds should be kept perfectly cleai- from weeds, and tiie young plants 

 be occasionally watered during the summer season. When the plants 

 have had two years growth in these beds, and have attained strength, 

 they should be removed into nursery rows at two feet apart, and a 

 foot or eighteen inches distant in the rows. They should remain in 

 this situation tUl of a proper growth to be planted out where they 

 are to remain. 



The layers of the yomig branches shoidd be laid down early in 



