THE PINE. 



413 



with a large quantity of water, and, on distillation, the 

 essential oil or spirits of turpentine conies over, leaving a 

 residuum of the common yellow resin of the shops at the 

 bottom of the still. There are, also, a variety of other 

 uses to which the Pine, or parts belonging to it, are 

 applied ; thus, in Russia and Lapland, the outer bark, like 

 that of the birch, is frequently used by the natives for 

 covering their huts, or, as a substitute for cork, to float 

 the nets of the fishermen. Strong and elastic ropes are 

 also made of the inner bark, which is also sometimes 

 woven into mats like those made from the lime tree. In 

 Norway, we learn from Mr. Laing* that, in years of 

 scarcity, which not unfrequently occur in that country, 

 in consequence of early autumnal frosts, which prevent 

 the ripening of the cerealia, the inner bark of the 

 common Pine is actually used by the inhabitants, and 

 that to a considerable extent, as an ingredient in their 

 bread. For this purpose it is very highly kiln-dried, and 

 then ground with a portion of high dried oats into a very 

 fine meal, and the bread baked of this mixture is said 

 to be by no means unpalatable or unwholesome. The 

 mode of preparing it is " in flat cakes, covering the bottom 

 of the girdle or frying pan, and as thin as a sheet of paper, 

 being put into the girdle in nearly a fluid state.'" 



In Russia, many of the roads are formed of the trunks 

 of the Scotch Pine, trees from six inches to a foot in 

 diameter at the larger end being selected for the pur- 

 pose ; these are laid down side by side across the intended 

 road, the thick end of the one alternately with the narrow 

 end of the other, and the branches being left at the end 

 to form a sort of hedge on each side of the road ; when 

 thus laid, the hollows between the trunks are filled up 



* See Laing's " Journal of a Residence in Norway." 



