m 
Dr Howison on the Timber4rade of Russia* 
and to the wild animals of the forest : it also enlivens greatly the 
dreary prospect of these bleak regions. The greater the inten- 
sity of the cold, the firmer, and more dense it becomes in the 
texture of its timber. This tree furnishes the peasantry with 
materials for constructing their cottages, boats, fences for inclo- 
sure, and with fuel. It is from the ashes of this tree that the 
potashes of Russia are principally obtained ; and from the roots, 
an abundant supply of turpentine is afforded to the peasantry, 
by very rude methods of distillation. 
The next most abundant species of tree in the forests of 
Russia is the Common Birch : this, however, is confined to par- 
ticular tracts of land. It is met with principally towards the coast,' 
in Finland ; and in the neighbourhood of large towns, as Peters^ 
burgh and Moscow. It is found chiefly by itself, and intermixes 
but little with the extensive regions of forest. It is generally 
rather stunted in its growth, and seldom attains to any consider- 
able size. It is only made use of for fire-wood, of which, in 
this country, where no coal is found, except in Siberia, an immense 
quantity is required. For this purpose, it is cut into billets, in 
the woods of Finland, and the surrounding districts; and it is 
forwarded in barks to the large towns. This tree also supplies 
the natives of the interior with a sort of wine. During the 
O 
spring-season, when the trees contain the greatest quantity of 
juice, the Russians pierce the trunks, and suspend a vessel to 
receive the juice, as it exudes from the apertures. A large tree 
will afford a considerable quantity of juice; but this bleeding 
always proves injurious, to its future growth. The juice being 
fermented, becomes a tolerably good kind of wine, having some 
resemblance to champaign. It sells in Moscow for about two 
roubles a bottle. 
The birch-tree supplies the natives with brooms for pthe use 
of their vapour-baths, and of these they use a vast quantity dur 
ring the year. They cut the branches in summer, when the 
trees are in full leaf, tie them together in small bunches, and 
preserve them in the apartments of the bath. From the birch- 
tree the peasantry make their various household utensils for hold- 
ing milk, quass, &c. ; and with its bark they make basket-shoes. 
The other trees in the- forests of Russia are, the Beech, the 
Maple, Elm, Alder, Willow, and Ash, many of which grow to a 
