THE BAHK. 87 



40. The liber is composed of woody fibre and cylindrical 

 vessels, a modification, undoubtedly, of the spiral. These to- 

 irethcr form tlie strong fibres, which compose the net work of 

 this part of the bark. Tlic fibres of tiie lil>er, from their te- 

 nacity and interlacinfj, are often made materials for use. 

 The bark of the fiax and hemp consists of these fibres, and 

 when twisted together constitute the cordage, thread, and 

 cloth, which are manufactured from these plants. The 

 tibres are sometimes so closely and firmly interwoven as to 

 be used as a substitute for manufactured fabrics for clothing, 

 with no other preparation than that of separating and flatten- 

 inij the lavers. Jamaica and the Sandwich Islands aff'ord 

 examples of these productions. A beautiful lace is obtained 

 by the natives of the Pacific and West India Islands, from 

 the liber of dilVerent trees of the Mezerium tribe. Cordage 

 also is manufactured from tlie liber of trees of the same fami- 

 ly, and our own Dirca, did it grow to sufficient magnitude, 

 might afford beautiful examples of the same kind of nature's 

 manutacture. From the liber of the Daphne bohlua of Ni- 

 pal, a very soft, beautiful paper is said to be manufactured. 

 The liber of trees, before the in\ention of paper or parchment, 

 was stripped into layers, flattened and cemented into leaves 

 which formed books ; and it is from this circumstance that 

 it derives its name. The Russians also manufacture mats, 

 which l>ear their name from a species of the Tillia, (Lin- 

 den tree.) 



41. The cellular integument is not without its uses, deriv- 

 ing its value, too, from its peculiar structure. It is the im- 

 mense development of this integument, that forms cork, so 

 extensively employed tor various useful purposes : and as we 

 have before remarked in paragraph 17, it is the develcpment 

 of the same material in this part of the bark, that constitutes 

 the value of many of the garden vegetables, which in their 

 primitive, uncultivated state, are as unfit for food as any other 

 kind of root ; but the effect of cultivation in good soil, is to 

 increase the cellular integument without increasing the liber; 

 thus fitting the roots for becoming food for men and animals. 



42. In a great number of trees, the bark is made the de- 

 pository of important articles. Tannin is found in the bark 

 of several species of the Qxiercus, or Oak, and in the Pinus 

 Canadensis, or Hemlock, by which raw hides are converted 

 into leather. Gum is also an abundant product of the bark, 

 and is scarcely found in the wood. Coloring matter is often 

 found deposited in this organ, though not so generally as in 

 the wood. Medicinal substances of every grade, from the 



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