MAY, 
141 
may by patience be separated, and can be written on as 
easily as writing-paper. The outer laminae are of a delicate 
cream colour, but as they approach the inner bark they be- 
come redder. These layers^ when separated and divided 
into narrow strips^ make an exceedingly soft and elastic bed^ 
equals if not superior^ to a feather-bed ; but great patience is 
requisite to prepare so large a quantity. The inner bark is 
about half an inch thick, of a crumbly, somewhat farinaceous 
nature : it is of a rather pleasant smell and taste, and of a 
bright orange colour, which it readily transfers to water. I 
have read that in times of scarcity, the rude inhabitants of 
northern Europe make a kind of apology for bread by pound- 
ing the inner bark of the birch. The buds have a similar 
smell, which is strong, but agreeable. For some time after 
the leaves are disclosed, they are covered with a fine silvery 
down, as you may observe : probably this down acts as a 
preservative against the effects of cold, both while within 
their perules, and afterwards while young and tender, for it 
soon disappears. The wood of the birch, when young, is 
yellowish white ; when mature, the heart-wood, or all ex- 
cept the sap-wood ( alburnum J, is of a dullish red, which 
deepens by exposure ; and is, when polished in furniture, &c. 
of considerable beauty. In very old trees, the heart is nearly 
black, or rather of a deep bistre brown, and very brittle. 
The laminae of the outer bark are used to form the very in- 
genious birch canoe of the Indians, being sewn together with 
deer sinews, and payed with resin. There is another tree of 
this genus, the Paper, or White Birch ( Betula Fopuli- 
folia ? J, which is said to be occasionally found in our woods : 
for instance, near the banks of the Masuippi river, on the 
west side. 1 have never met with it here, but have seen it 
in great numbers near the head of Lake Memphramagog, in 
Vermont. I have been told that the Indians sometimes 
travel through the country, making inquiries for this tree, for 
