CHAP. CIV. BBTULA X CBJE. //E'i'ULA. 1697 



not a sufficient footing for their roots, and became an easy prey to winds. 

 In these places, Maupertuis found as many trees blown down as standing. He 

 examined several of them, and was surprised to see that, in such as had lain 

 long, the substance of the wood was entirely gone, but the bark remained a 

 hollow trunk, without any signs of decay '* (Gilphi's Forest Scenery, vol. i. 

 p. 71.) In the mines of Dworetzkoi, in Siberia, a piece of birch wood was 

 found changed entirely into stone; while the epidermis of the bark, of a satiny 

 whiteness, and shining, was exactly in its natural state, perfectly well pre- 

 served, and without being coloured by the iron. It would be difficult, says 

 the relater of this fact in the Nouveau Du Hamel y to find a more striking proof 

 of the durability of this thin pellicle, so light and so delicate in appearance, and 

 which the ancients used with so much propriety instead of paper, before the 

 invention of that material. The buds and leaves, in early spring, abound in 

 a resinous matter, an aromatic and agreeable fragrance from which may be 

 perceived at a considerable distance from the tree ; and the leaves, when 

 bruised, whether in a recent or dried state, are also bitter and aroma- 

 tic. The wood is employed by wheelwrights, in France, for the felloes 

 of wheels ; and, in the interior of Russia, in the construction of small rustic 

 carriages : the felloes of the wheels are sometimes made of one entire stem 

 of a young birch tree, bent by heat, and retained in its place by ties of the 

 spray. On the Continent, chairs, and many kinds of furniture, are made of 

 birch wood ; and many articles of cooperage, turnery, &c. Sabots are also 

 made of it; but they are not so good as those made of alder, and several other 

 kinds of wood, admitting the water when they grow old. For cabinet-making, 

 the birch is of little use till it has attained the age of sixty or eighty years ; at 

 which age it is little liable to warp, or to be attacked by worms. The tree oc- 

 casionally produces knots of a reddish tinge, marbled, light, and solid, but not 

 fibrous ; and of these, which are much sought after by turners, cups and bowls 

 are made by the Laplanders with their knives. The young shoots and 

 branches make hoops, brooms or besoms, and ties for faggots, baskets, wicker 

 hurdles, and other purposes to which the hazel or the basket-willow is ap- 

 plied ; and, when peeled, are used for making whisks for frothing up syllabubs, 

 creams, and chocolate. Birch hoops are very durable, from the conservative 

 influence of the bark. 



In Poland, Russia, Sweden, Norway, and Lapland, small bundles of the 

 twigs, which have been gathered in summer, and dried with the leaves on, are 

 used in the vapour-baths, by the bathers, for beating one another's backs, in 

 order to promote perspiration. The inhabitants of the Alps make torches of 

 the branches ; and the Highlanders, candles of the bark, twisted into a rope- 

 like form. Sandals are also made of it, and thin pieces of the epidermis are 

 placed between the soles of shoes, or in the crown of the hat, as a defence 

 against humidity. The bark is used as coping to walls, and is placed over the 

 masonry of vaults under ground, as lead is in England, to prevent the moisture 

 from the soil from penetrating through it. It is even wrapped round sills and 

 the lower parts of posts, and other pieces of wood inserted in the ground, or 

 resting on it, to preserve them from decay. The charcoal of the birch is much 

 in demand for making gunpowder, and for crayons. The leaves are bitter 

 to the taste, and not willingly eaten by any animals, except rabbits and 

 goats ; but, when they are young and fresh, they may be given to cattle and 

 sheep ; and they are dried for this purpose throughout a great part of Sweden, 

 Norway, and Lapland. Medicinally, the leaves are said to be resolvent and 

 detersive ; and it is added, that persons afflicted with rheumatism, sleeping 

 on a bed stuffed with birch leaves, experience a perspiration which aftbrds them 

 great relief. A yellow colour is obtained from them, which is used for painting 

 in distemper, and for dyeing wool. The buds and the catkins afford a kind of 

 wax, analogous to that of bees. The ashes are rich in potash : 1000 Ib. 

 weight of wood, burnt green, will give 10 Ib. 12 oz. of ashes, which will afford 

 1 Ib. 4 oz. of potash. In this respect, the birch occupies the 55th place in a 

 list of 73 trees. In the birch, as in all other trees, the potash is most ubiiu- 



5s 2 



