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fugacious colours. For this purpose it is best to use it dry, and to disbark 
trees of eighteen or twenty years growth, at the time when the sap is flow¬ 
ing. The trees should stand, and be cut down the following winter. The 
Black American Birch may be applied equally well to the same purpose. 
The Highlanders of Scotland use the bark for tanning leather, and for 
making ropes; and sometimes they burn the outer rind instead of candles. 
With the fragments dexterously braided, the Laplanders make themselves 
shoes and baskets; they use large thick pieces set out, with a hole in the 
middle to fit the neck, for a surtout to keep off the rain. The Russians, 
Poles, and Norwegians, cover their houses with it, laying turf three or 
four inches thick over. In Kamtschatka they make hats and drinking 
cups of it. 
The wood was formerly used by the Scotch Highlanders for their arrows; 
but now by the wheelwright, and for most rustic implements; by the turner 
for trenchers, bowls, ladles, fee. and when of a proper size it will make toler¬ 
able gates, rails, &c. In France it is generally used for wooden shoes. It 
affords good fuel, some of the best charcoal; and the soot is a good lamp¬ 
black for printer’s ink. The small branches serve the Highlanders for hurdles, 
and side fences to their houses. Moxa is made of the yellow fungous ex¬ 
crescences of the wood, which sometimes swell out from the fissures. The 
leaves afford good fodder to horses, kine, sheep, and goats. The seeds are 
the favourite food of the Siskin or Aberdevine; and this tree furnishes food 
to a variety of insects. 
The vernal sap of the Birch tree is well known to have a saccharine 
quality, and to make a wholesome diuretic wine. In the beginning of 
March, while the sap is rising, and before the leaves shoot out, bore holes in 
the bodies of larger trees, and put fossets therein made of Elder sticks with 
the pith taken out, setting vessels under to receive the liquor. If the tree 
be large, you may tap it in four or five places at a time; and thus from 
several trees you may draw several gallons of juice in a day. If you do not 
get enough in one day, bottle up close what you have, till you get sufficient 
for your purpose, but the sooner it is boiled the better. Boil the sap as long 
as any scum rises, skimming it all the time. To every gallon of liquor put 
four pounds of sugar, and boil it afterwards half an hour, skimming it well; 
* Dambourney. 
