90 Conservation Reader 



The inner bark of the cedar and birch was used by the 

 Indians in weaving baskets and mats. From the inner bark 

 of the birch tree they made canoes that were so hght that 

 they could be carried from one stream to another. Where 

 there were no birch trees, great cedars were cut or burned 

 down and made into canoes, for traveling by water was 

 much easier than over rocky ground or through dense for- 

 ests. Some tribes of Indians learned to split the cedar logs 

 into rude boards which they used in making their houses. 

 The Indians also learned to boil down the sweet sap of the 

 maple until it turned to sugar. 



The eating of nuts and fruits furnished by certain kinds 

 of trees came as natural to early men as it does to the other 

 animals. They shared with the birds the wild fruits, and 

 divided with the squirrels the many kinds of nuts. So 

 highly do the Italians still value the wild chestnut that this 

 tree, almost alone of all the forest trees that once covered 

 their country, has been saved. 



The most important uses of trees in our country are for 

 lumber, for fuel, and for the edible fruits and nuts which 

 they bear. There are several purposes to which logs are 

 put without being sawed into lumber, such as for telegraph 

 poles and for piling for the support of great buildings and 

 for wharves. Long ago nearly all our houses were made of 

 logs. There was then an abundance of clear, straight trees 

 but very few sawmills. It was easy to cut the logs, peel 

 and notch them at the ends, and then lay them up in a 

 house of just the size that was wanted. From the Jogs that 

 split easily rough boards and shingles were made, as well 

 as chairs and tables. Blocks of wood were set in the open- 

 ings cut for windows, because of the scarcity of glass. 



