1 62 VEGETABLE QUALITIES OF BIRCH BARK. 



because of the immense number of useful purposes to 

 which its bark can be applied. Nearly all the house- 

 hold utensils employed by the Indians were made of 

 it; it formed a covering for the roofs of their wig- 

 wams; and when on the march, a roll of birch bark 

 served as a light and waterproof covering to shield 

 them from the rains. Beautiful boxes and other 

 ornamental articles can also be manufactured from it. 

 Lastly, pieces of dry birch bark make the best of all 

 kindling for fires; and a small tightly twisted roll 

 makes an excellent extemporized torch, should a brilliant 

 light be required for a short time ; when once fairly 

 alight it is not easily blown out by wind, but burns 

 with a clear bright flame, emitting a smoke which has 

 a delicious aromatic fragrance. In Russia an oil is 

 also made from birch bark, which is alleged, when 

 rubbed upon the skin, to be a sovereign remedy 

 against mosquitoes. The scent of " Russian leather " 

 is due to the same source. 



The birch tree, of which there are numerous vari- 

 eties, is found almost everywhere throughout the colder 

 portions of the temperate zone, upon alluvial flats, 

 and along the borders of lakes and rivers; and with 

 the exception perhaps of certain kinds of dwarf willows, 

 its range extends further to the northwards than that 

 of any other sort of tree. In the neighbourhood of the 

 arctic circle however, in common with all forms of 

 arborescent growths, it gradually becomes dwarfed in 

 size, and large specimens are no longer seen; but its 

 beauty and elegance of form and colour, in far northern 

 situations, can hardly fail to make a lasting impression 

 on the traveller's recollection; for where the winters 

 become of arctic severity, the intensely brilliant colours 



