AMENTIFEU^. 183 



B. pciulnla of Roth, and when the leaves are deeply lobed, the B. 

 laciniata of Wahlcnberg. 



White Birch. 

 French, Boideau Vlanc. German, Gemeine Birl-e. 



This is certainly the most graceful of our forest trees, and occurs abundantly in 

 the woods and thickets of Northern Britain. It thrives best on barren, rocky, and 

 sandy soils, and seems to gTow as luxuriantly on the poorest land as on the most 

 fertile. It rises frequently to a height of thirty or forty feet, and in northern climates 

 attains a larger size, becoming often two feet or more in diameter at the base of the 

 trunk. The peculiar bark, very rugged on the lower part of the stem, at least in old 

 trees, but smooth above, and separating in thin papery layers of silver whiteness, 

 distinguish it from all other British trees, while its light small foliage and slender 

 branches render it one of the most elegant of them. The barren catkins are long 

 and slender, the fertile ones short and thicker ; both are produced on the same 

 tree. 



The birch was known to the Greeks and to the Romans. According to Pliny and 

 Plutarch, the celebrated books which Numa Pompilius composed 700 years before 

 Christ, and which were buried with him on Mount Janiculum, were vsritten on 

 the bark of the birch tree. In the early days of Rome the lictors had their 

 fasces made of birch branches, which they carried before the magistrates to 

 clear the way, beatmg the people back with the boughs. The birch was formerly 

 used for decorating houses during Rogation week, in the same manner as holly at 

 Christmas. Gerard says, the branches of the birch " seiwe well to the decking of 

 houses and banquetting roomes for places of pleasure, and beautifying the streetes in 

 the Crosse or Gang week, and such like." Phillips tells us that the Cross or Gang 

 week was the same as Rogation week, and so-called from the crowds or gangs of 

 penitents going in that week to confession before Whitsuntide. It was called Cross 

 week from the crosses carried before the priests in the procession on Ascension Day ; 

 and Rogation week, from the Latin verb rogo, to ask or pray. Coles, writing in 1657, 

 observes that as he " rid through Little Brickhill in Buckinghamshire, every sign 

 poste in the towne was bedecked with green birch." Mr. Loudon tells us that he 

 observed the same custom in Poland at the same season ; Avhere also large boughs 

 are fixed in the ground, against each side of the doors of the houses." The birch 

 has been used as an instrument of correction at schools from the earliest ages, 

 "Anciently," says Evelyn, "birch cudgels were used by the lictors, as now the 

 gentler rods by our t}Tannical pedagogues for lighter faults." Gerard observes that 

 in his time " schoolmasters and parents do terrific their children with rods made of 

 birch." The use of these rods, however, has now almost passed away both in schools 

 and families, and it is only in some few of the more ancient institutions which refuse 

 to accept modern enlightenment on many subjects that the birch rod is superseded by 

 the cane for the same purpose. Birch brooms have a reputation still, and the young 

 shoots are extensively used in making besoms of all sorts. In Lapland and Karut- 

 schatka the huts are constructed with birch branches covered with turf, and fagots 

 of the spray with the leaves on, in cases of the reindeer skin, serve for seats during 

 the day, and beds at night. 



In the Highlands of Scotland birch may be said to be the universal wood. " The 

 Highlanders make everything of it ; the}" build their houses of birch, make their beds, 

 chairs, tables, dishes, and spoons of it ; construct their mills of it ; make their carts, 



