114 SYLVA AMERICANA. 



It puts forth greenish flowers in May, which are grouped on long 

 pendulous peduncles. The fruit, which in the main resembles 

 that of the other maples, is remarkable for a small cavity on one 

 side of the capsules : it is produced in abundance, and is ripe 

 about the end of September. 



The inferior size of this tree forbids its use in any kind of 

 construction ; but as it is white and fine-grained, the cabinet 

 makers of Halifax employ it instead of the holly, for forming the 

 white lines, with which they inlay mahogany. Its principal 

 advantage to the inhabitants consists in furnishing them, at the 

 close of winter, when their forage is exhausted, a resource for 

 sustaining their cattle, till the advancing season has renewed the 

 herbage. As soon as the buds begin to 'swell, the famished 

 horses and neat cattle are turned loose into the woods, to browse 

 on the young shoots, which they consume with avidity. This 

 tree is now cultivated in Europe, and has been grafted on the 

 lofty sycamore, where it expands to four times its natural 

 dimensions. 



ALNUS. 



Moncecia Tetrandria. Linn. Amentaceffi. Juss. Astringent, 



tonic, emollient. 



Black Alder. Ahius glauca. 



The Black Alder which is unknown in the Southern, and rare 

 in the Middle States, is not uncommon in Massachusetts, New 

 Hampshire and Vermont ; but even here it is less multiplied 

 than the common alder, which abounds throughout the United 

 States. It grows in cool, moist places, and upon the margin of 

 rivulets. 



The black alder sometimes arrives at the height of 18 or 20 

 feet, and about three inches in diameter. The bark of the trunk 

 and of the secondary branches is smooth, glossy and of a deep 

 brown color sprinkled with white. Its leaves are oval, distinctly 

 furrowed on the surface, and doubly denticulated at the edge : 

 they are of a pale bluish green and about three inches in length 

 and two inches in breadth. It flowers in June and July. 



