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FONEST T/^££S. 



class native woods. The tree grows to a considerable size ; the bark is 

 reddish and smooth when young, speckled and bronze-coloured on the 

 twigs. The leaves of the Black Birch are heart-shaped, pointed and finely 

 doubly-serrate. The catkins thicker than in the White or Canoe Birch. 

 This tree may be found in rich, moist woods, and the leaves and twigs 

 are aromatic, and pleasantly-scented when crushed. Pursh enumerates 

 seven species within the geographical limits of Canada, as known to him, 

 but it is possible other species exist in our now extended Dominion. 



American Mountain Ash. — Rowan-tree. — Pyrus Americana, (DC.) 



" Thy leaves were aye the first in Spring, 



Thy flowers the Simmer's pride ; 

 There was no sic a lionnie iree 



In a' the countiie's side" O Rowan-tree 



" The Mountain Ash 



No eye can overlook, when mid a grove 

 Of yet unfaded trees she Hfts her head, 



Decked with autumnal berries that outshine 

 Spring's richest blossoms." — Wordsivo7-th. 



A more ornamental tree can hardly be seen in our shrubberies than 

 the bright-berried Mountain Ash, the hardy Rowan-tree of Scotland. 

 Our native tree differs from the European species by its slenderer form, 

 the deeper green, and narrower more pointed leaflets, and smaller size 

 of the fruit. 



The Canadian species is found growing in the rocky townships north 

 of Peterborough, among the low flats and ravines of the granite ridge 

 that intersects that portion of the country where it is found, forming 

 scattered thickets, conspicuous by the flat cymes of white flowers in the 

 month of June, and by the bunches of brilliant scarlet berries in the 

 Autumn months. The berries are eagerly sought by birds that still 

 linger in our woods and thickets — the Robins, Golden-winged Flickers, 

 and Blue Jays feast upon the ripe fruit, some of the smaller quadrupeds 

 of our forests gather up the seeds. These Autumn birds, however, 

 generally leave sufficient ior those charming visitors which come to us 

 during our cold, severe weather in January and l''ebruary ; — the Pine 

 Grosbeaks and the Bohemian Wax-wings, and even then a gleaning 

 remains for the early Spring birds that come before the buds have 

 opened on bush and tree. 



Closely related to the Mountain Ash are the Apple and Pear, the 

 Juncberry and Hawthorn. The common name of the Mountain Ash 

 has probabl) been derived from the pinnate leaves, which are placed in 

 pairs of from thirteen to fifteen along the mid-rib. In height the 

 native tret seldom exceeds fifteen to twenty feet, but in its fiwouritc 



