Chapter V, 



BIRCH, ALDER, MAPLE, LIME, HORSE-CHES- 

 NUT, POPLAR, WILLOW. 



Birch and Alder (Betula). 



In situations where better sorts can be had, the 

 birch and alder are of comparatively little value as 

 timber-trees ; but as they thrive in many situations 

 where no other tree, save the pine, will grow, and 

 where even that is stunted and iniprotitable, they are 

 deserving' of some consideration. 



The birch is a native of cold and inhospitable 

 climates ; and the dwarf birch is the last tree that is 

 found as we approach the snow in elevated regions. 

 At the island of Ilammerfest, lat. 70° 40', the dwarf- 

 birch, in the sheltered hollows between the moun- 

 tains, rises to about the height of a man ; and in the 

 low branches which creep along the ground, the 

 ptarmigan finds a summer shelter, where it breeds 

 in security. Naturalists affirm that the birch-tree 

 constitutes the principal attraction to the birds which 

 are found in such plenty in high northern latitudes ; 

 the catkins affording them food in the spring, and 

 the seeds during the remainder of the year. 



The Common Birch {Bettda alba) is a graceful 

 tree, and throws out a pretty strong and very agree- 

 able fragrance. When it arrives at a considerable 

 size, the branches hang down or " w eep ;" and as 

 they are sometimes thirty or forty feet long, and not 

 thicker than a common packthread, they are very 

 beautiful, especially when the points of them are 

 laved in a clear mountain-stream. Coleridge calls 

 the Weeping Birch " the lady of the woods." 



