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THE planter's GUIDE. 



pert J, and it is often mixed with that of the Oak for this 

 purpose, in the proportion of one-fourth part, which is 

 seldom objected to bj the dealers in the latter. In 

 ancient times, previously to the invention of paper, the 

 inner white cuticle of the bark, was used for writing-tablets. 

 And the agreeable wine which is prepared from the tree, 

 and is said to be a good medicine for the stone and 

 gravel, was in high esteem before distillation from grain 

 shed its baleful poison over the whole of the north of 

 Europe. In Russia at present, (as M. Pallas in his 

 Travels informs us,) the antiseptic oil to which the well- 

 known leather of that countiy owes its fragrant smell, is 

 extracted from the bark of this tree ; and the peasants of 

 the same country, finding it nearly imperishable, shape it 

 into a sort of tiles for covering their houses. In America, 

 also, we find that the Indians construct canoes of it, which 

 are very light and of long duration. 



The Birch is one of the most hardy trees existing in 

 Europe, and grows over almost all tlie northern parts of 

 that Continent. From some late researches made in 

 Sweden respecting the indigenous woods of the country, 

 it was found growing nearer to the Pole than any other 

 tree, and beyond the 70 th degree of latitude ; while the 

 Pine reached only the 69th, and the Fir the 68th degrees. 

 In Scotland it is found in higher elevations than any 

 other native tree, the mountain Ash {Sorbus aucuparia) 

 only excepted. 



The great merit of this singular tree is, that it will grow 

 on a7iy sort of soil ; on the poorest clay, on the most 

 barren gravel or sand, in wet bog, and even on peat-moss, 

 before the sun and air have fully decompounded it 

 for most purposes. As a nurse to other trees, it is ex- 

 tolled by many planters of skill, and is frequently used 

 for that office in England. To these rare qualities 



