. A description and history of vegetable substances, used in the arts, and in domestic economy . rity. Naturalists affirm that the birch-treeconstitutes the principal attraction to the birds whichare found in such plenty in high northern latitudes;the catkins affording them food in the spring, andthe seeds during the remainder of the year. The Common Birch {Bettda alba) is a gracefultree, and throws out a pretty strong and very agree-able fragrance. When it arrives at a considerablesize, the branches hang down or w eep; and asthey are sometimes thirty or forty feet long, and notthicker than a
. A description and history of vegetable substances, used in the arts, and in domestic economy . rity. Naturalists affirm that the birch-treeconstitutes the principal attraction to the birds whichare found in such plenty in high northern latitudes;the catkins affording them food in the spring, andthe seeds during the remainder of the year. The Common Birch {Bettda alba) is a gracefultree, and throws out a pretty strong and very agree-able fragrance. When it arrives at a considerablesize, the branches hang down or w eep; and asthey are sometimes thirty or forty feet long, and notthicker than a common packthread, they are verybeautiful, especially when the points of them arelaved in a clear mountain-stream. Coleridge callsthe Weeping Birch the lady of the woods. THE BIRCH. 113 Though the people of more favoured placesrather des])ise the birch-tree, and leave it to the tur-ner, out of which to make some of the smaller of hiswares, or employ the shoots as mop-handles and thetwills as brooms, there are situations in which it isamon^j; the most valued and valuable productions Birch—Betula alba. In those parts of the highlands of Scotland wherepine is not to be had, the birch is a timber for alluses. The stronger stems are the rafters of thecabin; wattles of the boughs are the walls and thedoor; even the chests and boxes are of this rudebasket-work. To the Highlander, it forms his spade,his plough, and, if he happen to have one, his cartand his harness; and when other materials are used,the cordage is still withies of twisted birch. Thesebirch ropes are far more durable than ropes of hemp;and the only preparation is to bark the twig, and twistit while green. In ancient times, both in Britain and other parts ofEurope, strong and light canoes were made of the L 3 114 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. tough bark of the birch ; and it is still used for thesame purposes in the northern parts of America. Thespecies used for canoes by the Indians and FrenchCanadians, is called t
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