330 VOICES FROM THE WOODLANDS. 



surface of the earth, yield no anchorage to the parent trees. 

 The first high winds consequently lay low the degenerate 

 race, which have neither the strength nor dignity of their 

 forefathers. 



Our wood affords the best red or yellow deal, being 

 smooth and light and easily cloven. Dwellers in the 

 northern regions make bread from our bark, resembling 

 the cassava, and by no means unpalatable when flavoured 

 with pine jam. They choose a tree whose trunk is even, 

 for these contain the least resin, and strip off the bark in 

 spring, when it separates most readily. This is dried gently 

 in the shade, then in a greater heat, and afterwards reduced 

 to powder. With this they mix a small quantity of corn- 

 meal, and knead it into bread. Children are fond of the 

 fresh bark, when either rasped or shaved with a knife. 

 Our topmost branches are mixed with oats for horses, and 

 the young shoots when distilled afford a fragrant essential 

 oil ; the bark is used for tanning ; and an infusion of the 

 buds is valuable as an antiscorbutic, as also the fresh cones 



