240 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



much thankfulness, or more, than the poor 

 of this country would accept oaten cakes or 

 brown wheaten bread. 



Linnaeus remarks, that the bark of the fir- 

 tree so prepared will fatten swine ; which is 

 an observation that may be worthy the atten- 

 tion of the Highlander. It is said that the 

 boys in Sweden frequently peel off the bark 

 of this tree in the spring, and eat it raw with 

 much pleasure. 



It is from the trunk and branches of the fir 

 and pine trees that tar and pitch are obtained. 

 Thus we take not only their body, but their 

 very blood for the formation and security of 

 our shipping. It is curious, says Pliny, that 

 those trees, which are so much sought after 

 for nautical affairs, should delight to dwell on 

 the highest mountains, as if they fled from the 

 sea, through fear of the waters. Burgundy 

 pitch and turpentine are also procured from 

 these trees, which are so extremely resinous, 

 that if not evacuated of their juice, they often 

 swell and burst. The juice, as it issues from 

 the tree, is received in trenches made in the 

 earth, and afterwards freed of its grosser im- 

 purities by colature through wicker baskets. 



The common turpentine is about the con- 

 sistency of honey, of an opake, brownish- 

 white colour ; it dissolves in rectified spirits, 



