TURPENTINE. 257 



the coasts of the Icy Sea, are covered with them. Thus, from 

 the Equinox to the Poles, there is scarcely any part of the 

 world destitute of mosses; and the universality of this tribe, 

 their disposition to grow where other plants are incapable 

 of existence, makes the study of them, to my mind, the more 

 interesting, as it enables us to find sources of interest and 

 instruction, where the inexperienced, unobservant eye would" 

 see nothing but a barren waste. 



ESTHER. 



The trunks of trees, especially to the north side, have an 

 abundant covering of mosses; and these, to the observant 

 natives of the American wilds, are sure guides for the points 

 of the compass, and thus serve to direct them through their 

 pathless forests. This clothing is doubtless given to protect 

 the bark from the inclemencies of the winter, and also to 

 afford shelter to various tribes of insects which take refuge 

 there in all seasons of the year; and the entomologist, by ex- 

 amining these tufts of moss, will find an abundant harvest of 

 rare species to reward him for him labours;* so thickly is 

 creation animated, so truly is it that nothing is made in 

 vain. 



HENRIETTA. 



Look how the juice is running from that tree. 



MRS. F. 



That is turpentine, which is exuding from the Scotch fir 

 (Pinus sylvestris), the only British species of this numerous 

 genus; but one of the most useful of them all, as, indepen- 

 dent of turpentine, it gives us tar and pitch. 



HENRIETTA. 



How is tar made? 



MRS. F. 

 The wood is cut into billets, and placed in a mound about 



* Hooker. 



22* 



