Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

402 CAMPING AND WOODCRAFTof the substitutes is the red osier dogwood (Corntisstoloniferd) or the related silky cornel (C. sericea)commonly miscalled red willow. These shrubs arevery abundant in some parts of the North. Thedried inner bark is aromatic and very pungent, highlynarcotic, and produces in those unused to it a heavinesssometimes approaching stupefaction. Youngshoots are chosen, or such of the older branches asstill keep the thin, red outer skin. This skin isshaved off with a keen knife, and thrown away.Then the soft, brittle, green inner bark is scrapedoff with the back of the knife and put aside for use;or, if wanted immediately, it is left hanging to thestem in little frills and is crisped before the fire. Itis then rubbed between the hands into a form resemblingleaf tobacco, or is cut very fine with laknife and mixed with tobacco in the proportion oftwo of bark to one of the latter.A more highly prized kinnikinick is made fromthe leaves of the bear-berry or uva-ursi {Arctosiaphylos-uva-ttrsi), called sacaoommis by the Canadiantraders, who sell it to the northern Indians for morethan the price of the best tobacco. The leaves aregathered in the summer months, being then milderthan in winter. Inferior substitutes are the crumbleddried leaves of the smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) andthe fragrant sumac (R. aromatica), which, like tea,contain so much tannin that they generally producebronchial irritation or sore throat.