THE planter's GUIDE. 



367 



to be hardy as well as stately acquisitions. 1. The 

 mahogany Birch, {Betula lenta,) or cherry Birch of 

 Canada. 2. The yellow Birch {Betula lutea) of Nova 

 Scotia. 3. The black Birch, {Betula nigra,) which has 

 of late been pretty common in the British plantations.''^ 



The Birch in this climate seldom attains a great size, 

 and its wood, though not held as of much value, is yet 

 turned to a greater variety of purposes than that of most 

 other trees. In the neighbourhood of large towns, it 

 makes chiefly hoops and brooms ; in the country it is 

 applied to harrows, ox-yokes, and other rural implements ; 

 also it is much used in tm^nery and wheel- work, and in 

 collieries for difi'erent purposes underground. 



In Lapland, it is of singular use in the economy of the 

 natives. The branches supply them with their beds and 

 chief fuel ; and the seeds are the food of the ptarmigan, 

 which constitutes a considerable part of their sustenance. 

 The Moxa also is prepared from it, which they consider 

 as an efficacious remedy in all painful diseases. 



As the Birch abounds in the Highlands of Scotland, it 

 may be called the universal and indispensable wood for 

 the natives of those districts. I speak from my own 

 personal knowledge, in saying that they use this tree and 

 the Hazel {Gorylus avellana) for almost every purpose, 

 domestic or agricultural. They cover their houses, they 

 make their ploughs, harrows, sledges, paniers, pack-saddles, 

 fences, gates, herring-barrels, and even their tables, chairs, 

 and bowls, trenchers, and spoons of them. They make 

 also ropes of Birch-bark, which are extremely useful. The 

 wood of this tree, moreover, constitutes excellent fuel and 

 very good charcoal. 



The bark of the Birch contains a strong tanning pro- 



* Note XXV. 



