1698 



ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. 



PART III. 



dant in the bark ; and, consequently, the spray always yields more in propor- 

 tion than the trunk. The bark is much employed for tanning leather, both 

 in Britain and on the Continent. The birch appears to have been first used 

 in England for this purpose in Evelyn's time, as he speaks of " Mr. Howard's 

 new tan, made of the tops and loppings of birch." The bark yields a yellowish 

 brown dye, and, combined with alum, a brownish red. These may be con- 

 sidered as the principal uses of the birch tree in central Europe ; but there 

 are others to be noticed, which are peculiar to Norway, Lapland, Russia, 

 and the Highlands of Scotland. 



In Lapland and Kamtschatka, the huts are constructed with birch branches 

 covered with turf; and faggots of the spray with the leaves on, in cases formed 

 of the skins of reindeer, serve for seats during the day, and beds at night. 

 An interesting view 

 of some of these 

 huts is given by Dr. 

 Clarke in his Scan- 

 dinavia, of which 

 our Jig. 1552. is a 

 copy. The bark of 

 large trees, cut into 

 lengths of 3 ft., and 

 about 18 in. or 2ft. 

 broad, serves the 

 Laplanders as a 

 species of cape, or 



gPS** 1 



cloak, a hole being made it, in the centre, to admit the head. Sometimes 

 several pieces are used, with the holes only at one end ; and these, put over 

 the head, and hanging down on every side, form as complete a protection 

 from perpendicular rains or snows as if the man were slated. The same peo- 

 ple, and also the Russians, make the bark of the smaller trees into boots and 

 shoes ; the legs of the boots being taken from trees about the same thickness 

 as the human legs, and, consequently, having no seam. The bark is also made 

 into baskets, boxes, mats, and cordage for harnessing horses and reindeer, 

 and the inner bark into thread ; while all the fragments are carefully preserved 

 for lighting fires, or twisting into candles. Reindeer skins are tanned by 

 steeping them in a decoction of birch spray, mixed with salt ; and woollen 

 stuffs, being boiled in the same decoction, without the salt, are dyed yellow 

 or yellowish brown, according to the length of time which the process is con- 

 tinued. The Finlanders use the dried leaves as tea. The bark is also exten- 

 sively used, in Sweden and Norway, in roofing houses. The rafters are first 

 covered with boards, on which plates of birch bark are laid in the same way 

 as slates are in England ; and the whole is covered with turf and earth, to the 

 depth of 1 ft. or more, to exclude the heat in summer, and the cold in winter. 

 The earth over the bark is sometimes cultivated ; though it is most commonly 

 kept under grass. Dr. Clarke mentions that, " on some of the roofs of the 

 Norwegian cottages, after the hay was taken, he found lambs pasturing ; and 

 on one house he saw an excellent crop of turnips." (See Encyc. ofAgri., ed. 

 2., p. 111.) In Kamtschatka, the inner bark is dried and ground, like that of 

 the Scotch pine, in order to mix it with oatmeal, in times of scarcity. It is 

 also said to be eaten in small pieces along with the roe of fish. The sap of 

 the birch is made into beer, wine, and vinegar ; and a sugar is extracted, and 

 a spirit distilled, from it : 240 bottles of sap give 6 Ib. of syrup, which is used 

 in Russia in that state as sugar, without being crystallised. " During the siege 

 of Hamburg by the Russians, in 1814, almost all the birch trees in the neigh- 

 bourhood were destroyed by the Boshkirs,and other barbarian soldiers in the 

 Russian service, by being tapped for their sap." (Penny Cyclo., art. Betula, 

 vol. iv. p. 348.) The beer is produced by fermenting the sap with yeast, 

 hot water, and hops, in the usual manner. The sugar is procured by boiling 

 and evaporation ; and the wine is made as follows : 



Birch Wine. The sap is first obtained by boring a hole, 1 in. or 2 in. deep, in each tree, near the 



