I. 7, THE JUNIPER. 109 
In Europe, where there are several varieties, one of which 
exactly resembles ours, the wood is much valued, for its aro- 
matic odor and its beauty, it being finely veined, of a yellowish 
brown color, and taking a high polish. It is used for walking. 
sticks, and for various small articles of the turner. “It makes 
excellent fuel, and is used, in Scotland and Sweden, for smoking 
hams. The bark is made by the Laplanders into ropes.”* 
The berries are principally used in making gm, which is a spirit 
obtained by distilling grain, flavored by an infusion of these 
berries. “They are used by the peasants in some parts of 
France, to make a kind of beer, which is called genévrette. For 
this purpose they take equal parts of barley and juniper berries, 
and, after boiling the barley about a quarter of an hour, throw 
in the bernes. ‘They then pour the whole into a barrel half 
full of water, and bung it closely for two or three days; after 
which, they give it air to promote fermentation. Some persons 
add molasses or coarse sugar, to make the liquor stronger. 
This beer is ready to drink in about a week, and it is bright 
and sparkling. and powerfully diuretic.’~ 'The berries are also 
used in medicine. When distilled. they yield a large quantity 
of pungent, volatile oil, of the peculiar flavor which is perceived 
in gin. In this oil the medicinal properties of the bernes are 
supposed to reside.t They have decided diuretic virtues, on 
which account they have been long and extensively employed 
in dropsical affections and in diseases of the kidneys. 
* Loudon, IV, 2493. 
+ Bigelow, Med. Bot., HI, 45. 
