6o . THE BIRCH. 



thefe trees ; and they will likewife afcend 

 the mountains, and mingle with the fir and 

 mountain-afti. A tourift in Wales fpeaks 

 with much admiration of the light, airy, pen- 

 dent birch, which occupies the higheft parts 

 of the hills, and flickers the cottages that 

 dimly appear through its foliage. Its white 

 bark contrafts with the black furface of the 

 perft-mofles, and enlivens fcenes otherwife 

 the mod gloomy and defolate in nature. 

 The leaves are fmall and elegant ; the 

 boughs finely divided into flender twigs. 

 They are fubjecl: to a kind of difeafe, occa- 

 fioning the branches to throw out a vaft 

 number of fuckers, in one part, which in- 

 termix fo as to form a clofe refemblance of 

 a rook's neft. 



The wood of the birch is of little value, 

 and, except for fuel, is fcarcely ufed but for 

 hoops and women's (hoe-heels. In the 

 times of archery it was employed for arrows. 

 " The birch for fhafts," fays our Spenfer. 

 On account of its lightnefs, it is much em- 

 ployed for fcaffoldings about London. Its 

 fmall branches or twigs are commonly ufed 



for 



