96 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



sports aii(i seminal varieties are of much value for ornamental 

 planting. 



The Alder (Alnus). 



Of this genus there are only two or three species, but they are 

 very generally found indigenous in moist situations throughout 

 Europe, several parts of Asia, northern Africa, and North America. 

 Though not commonly classed among ornamental trees, and com- 

 pai-atively little planted for their timber, the species are, under 

 favourable circumstances, very handsome, and are not without 

 their claims as decorative trees. As an old writer very truthfully 

 remarks : " The Alder suffers as an ornamental tree from an 

 association of ideas— we not only see it very common, but we see 

 it in low, dreaiy, dirty situations. Nevertheless, if the Alder be 

 suffered to form its own head in an open advantageous situation, 

 it is by no means an unsightly tree." 



Beside the species, there are now a goodly number of handsome 

 varieties in cultivation, all of which are found to succeed well 

 under similar circumstances with the normal type. 



The Aralia [Aralia). 



Of this genus only one or two species are sufficiently hardy for 

 the climate of Scotland. Probably the most interesting of these 

 is A. spinosa. It is an American species, particularly in Virginia, 

 where it attains a height of from 18 ft. to 20 ft. It is hardy in 

 Scotland, and examples may be found equal in height to that 

 attained in its natural habitat. It forms a singularly handsome 

 tree ; its magnificent foliage and fine outlines rendering it very 

 conspicuous, and never failing to attract admiring attention. 



The Birch (Betula). 



The fine deciduous trees which compose this genus ai-e widely 

 distributed over the temperate and colder regions of the world. 

 They are perfectly hardy, and well suited for ciiltivation in this 

 country. Though some of the species are chiefly regarded as 

 forest trees, they ai-e, without exception, very ornamental, and, 

 we need scarcely say, frequently met with in our parks and 

 pleasure grounds. The common Birch has formed the theme of 

 many a poet's song. Burns frequently alludes to it as the 

 " scented birch ; " Coleridge calls it " the Lady of the Woods ; " 



