FIR-TREE. 239 



tain timber, not only for building, but also to 

 form good fences to their gardens and fields, 

 and fuel for their hearth, whilst cutting and 

 manufacturing the wood furnishes employ- 

 ment to many. Hence the population is 

 augmented, and a demand for land, which is 

 soon brought into a state for cultivating hardy 

 plants. 



The leaves and branches of the Scotch fir 

 afford a very wholesome nourishment to cat- 

 tle and sheep, which is no small consideration 

 in mountainous countries, where the snow 

 lies sometimes upon the ground for many 

 weeks together. The resinous roots are dug 

 out of the ground in many parts of the high- 

 lands of Scotland, and being divided into 

 small splinters, are used by the inhabitants 

 instead of candles. The fishermen make 

 ropes of the inner bark, and hard necessity 

 has taught the Laplanders and Kamschatdales 

 to convert it into bread. To effect this, in 

 spring they strip off the outer bark carefully 

 from the fairest trees, and collect the soft 

 white succulent interior bark, and dry it in 

 the shade. When they have occasion to use 

 it, they first toast it at the fire, then grind it 

 into powder, which they steep in warm water 

 to take off the resinous taste ; it is then formed 

 into thin cakes, baked, and eaten with as 



