TREES IN NATURE 85 



which, also, the peasants of Sweden and Lap- 

 land make shingles to cover their houses. 

 Nearer home, the Highlanders put it to many 

 uses. Loudon says that of it ''they build 

 their houses, make their beds, chairs, tables, 

 dishes and spoons ; construct their mills ; 

 make their carts, ploughs, harrows, gates, 

 and fences, and even manufacture ropes of it. 

 The branches are employed as fuel in the 

 distillation of whisky ; the spray is used for 

 smoking hams and herrings, for which last 

 purpose it is preferred to every other kind 

 of wood. The bark is used for tanning leather, 

 and sometimes, when dried and twisted into a 

 rope, instead of candles. The spray is used 

 for thatching houses : and, dried in summer, 

 with the leaves on, makes a good bed where 

 heath is scarce." 



Hardy, though so delicate in appearance, 

 it is clear that this tree, which has received, as 

 we have seen, the poetic title ''the Lady of 

 the Woods," might also be known by such a 

 prosaic, but not less honourable title as "the 

 Maid of all Work ". We have not dwelt much 

 here on the useful qualities of trees. But it 

 seemed well to do so in this case, as the useful- 



