Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/289

Rh lastly, the Scammonia, or Syrian Bindweed, from the inspissated juice of which is prepared the efficacious purgative substance known by the name.  , Black: See Climbing.  BIOGRAPHY, an account of the lives and characters of remarkable persons. It is the most entertaining and instructive branch of history, and admits of the description and passion of romance, with this essential difference, that the characters and incidents ought not only to be agreeable to Nature, but strictly true. Hence no books are so proper for the amusement and instruction of youth, who, by reading them, are incited to the imitation of great and virtuous actions; while they are deterred from vice, by an animated delineation of its baneful effects.

As the subjects of biography are the lives of either public or private persons, many useful observations may be made from authentic accounts of those who have been eminently beneficial to society. Nay, even the lives of immoral characters may serve as a warning to deter others, and especially youth, from listening to the temptations of folly and vice.

Philanthropists, who have exposed their lives, or employed their faculties in the service of their fellow-creatures, deserve that their memory should be perpetuated, both as a tribute of public gratitude, and as virtuous examples in the annals of history. The love of fame is natural to the human mind; and, when properly directed, is at once productive of happiness to the individual, and general benefit to mankind.

In the lives of great men, their public characters are principally to be regarded; but, as the world is inquisitive, the investigation of their private conduct may also occasionally be useful, to illustrate the influence of example. On the other hand, too minute an inquiry into the foibles and infirmities of eminent men, is an illiberal and censurable curiosity. Among the ancient biographers, is generally allowed to excel. On the relative merits of the moderns, we shall not venture to pronounce; as this would be an invidious and unpleasing task.  BIRCH-TREE (Common), or Betula alba, L. is one of the indigenous trees which has already been mentioned under the head of "," though the latter is only a species of the same genus, and ought more properly to have been denominated Betula alnus, L.

The white, or common birch-tree, is not of a large growth, but when cultivated in a favourable soil, and a good situation, it rises to a considerable height. There is a degree of elegance in its general appearance, in summer, and the bark in winter is frequently variegated with red and white. It is easily cultivated by the usual method; but, when raised from seed, the young shoots of the birch should remain two years in the seminary, and then be transplanted in rows. They may also be propagated by layers: for this purpose, a sufficient number of plants should be placed at a distance of three yards from each other, in a soil which has been twice turned by the spade. If, in the following year, they should produce no shoots, they may be lopped to within half a foot of the ground, to form the stools, in consequence of which