THE JUNIPER. 4'35 



of bearing dry cones, like most other trees belong- 

 ing to this tribe, the Juniper produces fleshy 

 berries which are formed of the united scales ot the 

 calyx, and contain three oblong seeds. The barren 

 flowers are small, and grow on separate plants from 

 the fertile flowers, in the axils of the leaves; the 

 Juniper was consequently placed by Linnseus ma 

 diff'erent class from the rest of the Fir tribe, though 

 naturally closely allied to them. 



The Juniper of the ancients was probably a 

 difierent species from that which is indigenous to 

 Britain. The common species, m Evelyn s time, 

 was frequently transplanted from the open com- 

 mons to make hedges and arbours. The berries 

 were used as a spice, and were also employed 

 medicinally. "If it arrive to full growth spits 

 and spoons, imparting a grateful relish, and very 

 wholesome where they are used, are made oi this 

 wood, being well dried and seasoned: and the very 

 chips render a wholesome perfume within doors, 

 as do the dusty blossoms in sprmg, without. 

 Phillips says, that on the Continent both the wood 

 and berries are burnt to fumigate the rooms ot the 

 sick. In Sweden the berries are made into a con- 

 serve and eaten at breakfast. In some places they 

 are roasted and used as a substitute for coltee. 

 The heathcock of Germany, he also says, is not 

 eatable in autumn, being so strongly flavoured with 

 Juniper berries, on which it then feeds, ihe 

 principal use of the berries at present, is to flavour 

 hoUands or geneva, a spirit distilled from corn. 

 In the manufacture of London gin (a corruption 

 of geneva) oil of turpentine is said to be substituted 

 for Juniper berries, and is perhaps one ot the least 

 noxious ingredients. 



