TREES OF AMERICA. 127 



time get to look much like mahogany, 

 if they are taken good care of; and it is 

 therefore used in the manufacture of chairs, 

 and sofas, and coach panels, and various kinds 

 of furniture. The bark is not made use of in 

 any way that I know, but I believe that it 

 might be used in tanning. 



" There are two more uses of birch-trees of 

 which I must tell you, and then we shall have 

 done with them. The sap, which is very 

 abundant in all the kinds, can be boiled into 

 a sirup, that is sweet, rich, and pleasant, 

 although it will not turn into sugar. By 

 adding yest a good sort of beer may be made 

 of this sap, and by letting it stand in the sun, 

 it turns into vinegar. The other use is not 

 quite so pleasant to boys, but it does them a 

 great deal of good sometimes. Can you guess 

 what I mean ?" 



" Is it for medicine, Uncle Philip ?" 



" Why, yes, a sort of medicine ; it is given 

 when boys are naughty, not when they are 

 ill." 



" Oh, I know what you mean now, Uncle 

 Philip ; it is for rods, to whip naughty boys 

 with." 



" Yes ; the twigs of the red birch make 



