CONIFER.E. 275 



given to our well-known liquor, is a corruption of the French word ijotevrc, an infusion 

 of juniper berries. It was formerly supposed that the juniper, wlicii ^'rown in hot 

 countries, produced the substance called gum sandaracli, which, when powdered, is 

 called pounce ; but it is now discovered that this gum is the produce of Callitria 

 quadrivalv'is, or the Thuja or Arhor Vita-, of the ancients. From a foreign Hpecies of 

 juniper is obtained the resin called olibanum, used as incense ; and anuther vanety of 

 juniper is the pencil cedar. In the Highlands juniper is the bailge of the clan Murray. 

 In countries where juniper abounds, such as Norway and Sweden, the sprays are 

 strewed over the floors of rooms, on account of the agreeable odour they diffuse. Tlicy 

 are said also to promote sleep. Boccaccio alludes to such a custom as csacntial to 

 paradisaical 'enjoyment ; and in former ages, though rushes were commonly used to 

 strew over floors, juniper was reserved as a luxury for high festivals or the most 

 opulent. Virgil warns us against trusting to the seductive influence of the " juniixiri. 

 gravis umbra : " — 



*' Juniper's sweet shade, whose leaves around 

 Fragrance diff'use, at eve are noxious found." 



The ancients conseci^ated the juniper to the Furies, and threw its berries on tho 

 funeral pile, to protect the departing spirit from evil influences. They also sacrificed 

 it to the infernal gods, to whom they believed its perfume wjis acceptable, and burnt 

 it in their dwelling-houses to keep away demons. A similar custonv prevails in some 

 parts of the Continent, where the peasants believe that burning juniper brandies 

 before their doors will prevent the incantation of witches, and drive away evil spirits. 

 It is probably in allusion to this belief that Sir Walter Scott says, in the " Lady of 

 the Lake " : — 



" A heap of wither'd boughs was piled, 



Of juniper and rowan wild. 



Mingled with shivers from the oak 



Rent by the lightning's recent stroke." 



The juniper bush was at one time much employed in topiary work, and Evelyn 

 mentions that his brother had an arbour which three persons could sit in, cut out of 

 a single plant. This arbour was seven feet ^vidc, and eleven feet high. The junijHjr 

 is occasionally still seen in modern gardens, trained and clipped into tho form of an 

 oi)en bowl or goblet. 



Sub-species II.— Juniperus nana. WUld. 

 Plate MCCCLXXXIII. 



Belch, Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XI. Tab. DXXXV. Fig. lUl. 



Llllof, Fl. Gall, et Germ. No. 3472. 



J. communis, var. nana. Hook. & Am. Brit. Fl. ed. viii. p. l^O. Ikulh. Ilandbk. 



Brit. Fl. ed. ii. p. 431. Fries. Summ. Veg. Scand. p. 50. 

 J. alpiua, Clus. Greii. & Godr. Fl. de Fr. Vol. HI. p. lo7. 



Procumbent or prostrate. Leaves when mature imbricatca-incurvcd, 

 strapshaped, boatshaped, abruptly acuminated at the pungent apex. 

 Galbule ovoid- olobular, about as long as the leaves. 



On rocks and heathy places on mountains. Kare in the south, 



^ N 2 



