JUNIPER BUSH. 195 



fore used in preference to most others for making chests, 

 cupboards, lockers, and all sorts of joinery ; besides which 

 it is employed in making the tent-barges, and other boats. 

 The colour of the timber is a pale orange ; it is both 

 hard and light, and from the trunk exudes a gum, not 

 unlike the gum arabic, which is transparent, and diffuses 

 a most agreeable odour *.*" 



This does not, however, agree with the Virginian 

 Juniper in the colour of the wood. This author informs 

 us that the houses in Paramaribo are never papered or 

 plastered, but are beautifully wainscoted with Cedar, 

 Brazil, or Mahogany-wood (. 



The common Juniper, Juniperus Communis, seldom 

 exceeds three feet in height : the leaves are bright green 

 on one side, and gray on the other: the berries which 

 grow in the axils of the leaves are dark purple ; they 

 remain two years on the tree. 



It is common in all the northern parts of Europe ; in 

 valleys, or on hills ; on open sandy plains, or moist en- 

 closed woods ; in fertile or in barren soils. In England, 

 it is chiefly found on open downs, in a chalky or a sandy 

 soil. In the south of Europe it is less common, growing 

 only in the more elevated situations. 



Though its growth is so very humble in a wild state, 

 it will grow fifteen or sixteen feet high if planted in a 

 good soil. The wood is hard and durable ; the bark 

 may be made into ropes. Gin is well known as being 

 flavoured by the berries of this shrub. 



There is a variety of the common, called the Swedish 

 Juniper, a native of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway : 



* Stedman's Surinam, vol. i. p. .347. 

 t I/lit/, vol. ii. p. 300. 



