258 TAR, PITCH, ETC. 



eight feet in height, and thirty in diameter. This is covered 

 with earth, and set fire to, at the top, similar to the process 

 of charcoal burning. It is suffered to burn slowly with the 

 imperfect access of the air; the tar runs off by a ditch made 

 to conduct it, and is collected into barrels. Pitch is tar 

 reduced by evaporation. Pitch, mixed with oil and suet, 

 makes shoemakers' wax. The wood of the Scotch fir is the 

 red deal, of the Norway spruce (Pinus abies) the white deal. 

 From the latter the Burgundy pitch is obtained. 



Scotch Fir. 



ESTHER. 



The Laplanders also make bread of the bark of the Scotch 

 fir. After selecting the .tallest and least branching trees (as 

 containing less resinous juice), the external bark is carefully 

 removed, and the soft, white, fibrous, and succulent matter 

 collected and dried. When about to be converted into use, it 

 is slowly baked on the coals, and thus rendered porous and 

 hard. It is then ground into powder, kneaded with water, 

 and made into cakes, which are baked in an oven, and which 

 the Laplanders eat during the greater part of the winter, 

 and sometimes during the whole year.* 

 *Medical Botany. 



