COMMON CED4R. 2,5? 
name of juniper water or gin. But it is a common 
practice to adopt spirit of turpentine (24-6) instead of 
this. Juniper-berries are imported into this country 
from Holland and Italy. Their smell is strong, but not 
disagreeable ; and their flavour is warm, pungent, and 
sweetish, leaving a bitter taste in the mouth. The 
essential oil of these berries, if mixed with nut-oil 
(241), makes an excellent varnish for pictures, wood- 
work, and iron. 
The wood of the juniper-tree is of reddish colour, 
very hard, and so durable that it will last more than 
a hundred years without decay. It is employed in 
veneering, for making cabinets, and for ornamental 
furniture. Charcoal formed from it affords a heat so 
lasting, that live embers are said to have been found in 
the ashes of juniper- trees after they have been covered 
up for more than twelve months. Such is the fibrous 
nature of the bark that it may be manufactured into 
ropes and other cordage. 
From the crevices of the bark, or through perfora- 
tions made in it by insects, a resinous gum exudes, 
which has the name of gum sandarach. This, which is 
of pale yellowish colour, very brittle, and inflammable, 
possesses a pungent aromatic taste, and emits a fra^ 
grant odour when burnt. It is imported from the Con- 
tinent, in small pieces or tears, about the size of peas. 
When powdered and passed through a fine sieve, this is 
the substance called pounce, which is used for rubbing 
upon writing paper, in places where it has been 
scratched. Considerable quantities of this gum are 
consumed in the preparation of varnish, and particu- 
larly of one kind, used by cabinet-makers and painters, 
called vernis. 
268. The RED or COMMON CEDAR is a species of 
juniper (Juniperus virginiana) which grows in North America 
and the West Indies. 
It is distinguished by its leaves growing in threes, and being 
fixed by their base, the younger ones lying upon each other, and 
the older ones spreading. 
