THE BIRCH. 



207 



pieces when ripe, scattering the numerous seeds. The 

 barren catkins are formed in summer, but do not expand 

 till the fertile catkins appear in the following spring. A 

 kind of resin exudes from the leaves and young twigs, 

 which is highly fragrant, especially after rain or heavy dew. 

 This resin appears to have been collected in Pliny's time ; 

 as he speaks of a bitumen which the tree produces. The 

 odour arising from it is very perceptible to a person 



passing near a tree, and affords another reason why the 

 Birch should be planted near houses. 



A variety of the Birch is often met with in the High- 

 lands, which differs from the common species by having 

 the shoots pendulous. This is a yet more elegant tree 

 than the first described, and is frequently planted in 

 parks and gardens. It possesses another advantage in 

 being of quicker growth and attaining a larger size. There 

 is also a slight difference in the leaves, which are smaller 

 and somewhat downy. 



