THE MOUNTAIN ASH. 131 



A variety is cultivated which has yellow berries, and 

 another with variegated leaves ; but neither of these, as is 

 the case Avith many other treasured rarities, has anything 

 beyond its rarity to recommend it. 



The berries, besides being applied to the use from 

 which the tree derives its name, " Birdcatcher's Service," 

 are eaten in the extreme north of Europe as fruit, though 

 not, one would suppose, until every other kind of attain- 

 able fruit is exhausted, for they are intensely acid, and 

 possess a peculiar flavour, which makes them very un- 

 palatable. In seasons of scarcity, it is said that they are 

 sometimes dried and ground into flour. " Some," says 

 Evelyn, " highly commend the juice of the berries, which, 

 fermenting of itself, if well preserved, makes an excellent 

 drink against the spleen and scurvy. Ale and beer brewed 

 Avith these berries when ripe, is an incomparable drink, 

 familiar in Wales." A beverage resembling perry is still 

 made from them in that country, and is much used by 

 the poor. In Kamtschatka and in the Scottish highlands 

 an ardent spirit is distilled from them, which is said to 

 have a fine flavour. 



As a timber-tree, the Mountain Ash does not attain a 

 size which renders it available by the carpenter; but its 

 wood being fine-grained, hard and susceptible of a high 

 polish, is used for smaller manufactures, principally in 

 turnery. As coppice it may be applied to most of the 

 uses of Ash, Hazel, &c. ; and the bark is employed by 

 the tanner. In the days of archery, it ranked next to 

 the Yew as a material for bows, and was considered 

 sufficiently important to be mentioned in the statute of 

 Henry VIII. 



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