OF NOVA SCOTIA. — PREST. 415 



7Jf,. Betida lutea Michx. Yellow Birch. 



Tree 40 ft. to 70 ft. higli. Wood clear, white, and fine- 

 grained. Tall clean trunk. Bark yellowish-grey when young, 

 becomes dark and rough when old. Leaves elon2:ated heart- 

 shape, pointed, thin, soft, well-ribbed, slightly downy or bristly 

 beneath. The young twigs are very aromatic, resembling tea- 

 berry or creeping snow-berr^^ Tliese, well boiled, give a 

 delicious flavoring for beer, or a substitute for tea. 



On dry deep soil. Very abundant everywhere. 



75. Jiiniperiis Sahina L. var. procwinhens Pursh. Creeping 



or Ground Juniper. 



A thick, prickly recumbent bush, with hard curved needles 

 I in. long, light green above and greenish-white below. Low, 

 spreading over large spaces, with many l-erby, resinous, slightly 

 bitter seedy berries, which turn from light green to blue when 

 ripe. Used as a blood purifier and a substitute for tea, as well 

 as a flavoring for beer. 



On dry open ground, barrens, or sandy stony plains and 

 slopes. Abundant. 



76. Rhus typliina L. Staghorn Sumach. 



Large shrub or tree, 5 ft. to 20 ft. high. Moderately rough 

 greyish-green bark. Stems once used for dyeing. Consists of 

 an outer layer of nearly white wood, covering large core of deep 

 ^reenish-j^ellow color, unlike any other Nova Scotian ti'ee in 

 this respect. Branches few and massive. Leaves 3 in. to 5 in. 

 long and h in. to f in. wide, pointed at both ends, strongly 

 notched, soft, hairy above and below, especially the latter, 

 arranged in regular order along the sides of long leaf stalks, the 

 whole showing at a distance as a beautiful feathery mass of 

 foliage. Seeds oval, size of truncated grains of barley, hard, 

 covered with minute purplish-red bristles. These are impreg- 

 nated with an intensely sour juice from which a pleasant acid 



