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Show VALUE OF THE BIRCH. What Otd-Tlme Writers Regarded z.n Its Specialty. Old writers In montlonlng birch trees seldom failed to say solemnly that they wero useful to grow branches with which to give boys thrashings. Turner regards tho supply sup-ply of "flexible, pendent branches" tor purposes of punishment ns the oblof merit of the tree. Coles also based his estimate of tho birch chiefly on Its use In the supply of rods as Instruments Instru-ments of punishment, for he write: "Tho civil uses whereunto the birch serveth are many; as, for tho punishment punish-ment of children, both nt homo and nt school; for It hath an admirable Influence In-fluence upon them to quiet them when they are out of order, and, therefore, some call It make-peace." In ancient Home the fasces o tho llctors, with which they cleared tho way for tho magistrates, wero formed with rods of birch, and their Influence wns usually usu-ally sufllclcnt to Insure a rapid dispersion dis-persion of men nssembled where they would impede tho passage of the administrators ad-ministrators of tho law. From that time to within n comparatively rerert period tho birchen rod was regarded ns one of tho most Important deterrents deter-rents of Juvenile depravity. |