476 



HISTORY OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



native locality, it however assumes the form and 

 height of a tree, and the wood is considered more 

 durable than any other. The trunk is sawn up 

 into planks and boards for houses and boat build- 

 ing, and their branches are used for posts and 

 fencing, the smaller branches and spray for 

 besoms, and the leaves, made into an ointment, 

 are used by the native Indians for the cure of 

 rheumatism. In England the timber has been 

 chiefly employed by the turner and cabinet 

 maker. 



In America the arbor vitse succeeds best in 

 soils where the roots have abundance of mois- 

 ture, and it accordingly grows tallest in swamps 

 and marshes ; in diy situations it is stunted, and 

 never grows to any degree of perfection. The 

 first tree of this species which was sent to 

 Europe was planted in the Botanic Garden at 

 Fountainbleau, in the reign of Francis I. The 

 Chinese species ft. orientalis) very nearly resem- 

 bles the above ; both are readily propagated by 

 seeds, cuttings, and layers. 



Norfolk Island Pine (araucaria excelsa), 

 Dioecia, monadelphia, of Linnicus. This splendid 



176. 



tree attains an immense size, often attaining not 

 less than 220 feet in height. It is a native of 

 Australia, and presents a magnificent ob ject, with 

 its bright evergreen foliage and innumerable 

 waving branches. The leaves are closely imbri- 

 cated, inflexed, and pointless. The longitudinal 

 section of the wood, with all the distinctive marks 

 of the coniferae, exhibits the peculiarity of three 

 rows of oval disks. From this circumstance, 

 Mr Nicol of Edinburgh has identified the fossil 

 tree of Craigleith quarry with the araucaria of 

 Norfolk island. 



Sir J. Bank's Araucaria (a. itnbricata), is 

 also a splendid and beautiful tree. It thrives 

 well in the open air in this country, whereas the 

 excelsa requires the protection of the green- 



house. The soil suited for this is an equal 

 mixture of sandy loam and peat. Cuttings taken 

 off at a joint will, with much care, take root if 

 planted in a pot of sand, and placed under a bell- 

 glass. We have as yet had little experience of 

 the nature or durability of the wood. Spars for 

 nautical purposes have been used, and apparently 

 with advantage. 



The Juniper (junipcriis communis). Dicecia, 

 monadelphia, of Linnseus. This plant is com- 

 mon in all the northern parts of Europe, in fer- 

 tile or barren soils, on hills or in valleys, in open 

 sandy plains, or in moist or in close woods. 

 On the sides of hills its trunk grows long ; but 

 on the tops of rocky mountains and in bogs it is 

 a tufted shrub. In England it is found chiefly 

 in open downs, in a chalky or sandy soil. In 

 Scotland it is found in granite, trap, and schis- 

 tous hills and mountains ; but not on the highest 

 summits of the more elevated of tlie latter. In 

 the south of Europe it is only found in elevated 

 situations. It abounds in the Alps of Switzer- 

 land; but is not very common in tlie Appenines. 

 In our shrubberies it forms a not ungraceful 

 bush, grouping and combining very well with 

 cypresses, American cedars, and various species 

 of the pine and fir tribe. It is easily trans- 

 planted, and bears cropping. Grass will not 

 grow beneath it; but the avena pratensis is said 

 to destroy it. The wood is hard and durable ; 

 the bark is so tenacious, that it may be formed 

 into ropes ; and the ben-ies are used for impart- 

 ing the peculiar flavour to gin. Various insects 

 feed on this shrub; and it is eaten by horses, 

 sheep, and goats, when they can get nothing 

 better. A gum oozes spontaneously from the 

 trunk of old plants, which forms the gum san- 

 darack, and in its powdered form is known as 

 pounce. The berries require to remain two 

 years on the tree before they assume the black 

 foi-m which indicates their maturity. The 

 greater quantity of those which are used in Bri- 

 tain are brought from Germany, Holland, and 

 Italy. They have a peculiar aromatic odo\ir, 

 and a sweetish, pungent, bitterish taste. In dis- 

 tillation with water they yield a volatile terebin- 

 thinate oil of a greenish colour, on which their 

 virtues depend. The flavour and diuretic pro- 

 perties of Hollands arise from this oil. In medi- 

 cine oil of juniper is used as a diuretic, and in 

 this way has been employed for the cure of 

 dropsy. The tops yield the same oil as the ber- 

 ries, and may be used instead of these. 



Bermudas Cedar Wood is the product of a 

 West Indian species of juniper. The red cedai 

 (j. Virf/iniana) is one of the highest timber 

 trees in Jamaica, affording large boards of a close 

 fine texture, and reddish colour, very bitter to 

 the taste, and avoided by all insects ; hence it is 

 employed by the cabinet makers for the manu- 

 facture of clothes' presses and drawers. 



