DECIDUOUS TREES. 



425 



ever, says of the common swamp alder, Abius glauca : " We hardly 

 know a more charming plant in winter, when covered with its 

 bright scarlet berries, especially when placed against hemlocks or 

 other evergreens." Loudon says of it : "This is one of the most 

 beautiful trees of the genus." From these differences of opinion, 

 among persons of such eminent taste, may we not infer that, though 

 beautiful, as Mr. Sargent claims, in winter, its beauty at other sea- 

 sons is not sufficient <to give it marked value compared with other 

 trees of similar size and better qualities ? We have seen them 

 principally as bushes growing in swampy places by the road-side, 

 where they form dense globular shrubs, with glossy foliage, some- 

 what sombre. Most of the alders are addicted to damp ground. 

 The foreign species are held in higher esteem than our own. 

 The following are the most esteemed varieties : 



The Common English Alder, A. 

 glutmoso, has many varieties. 



The Cut-leaved Alder, A. lachiiata, 

 is one of the finest. Fig. 137 is a por- 

 trait of a fine English specimen. It be- 

 comes a spreading jDyramidal tree from 

 fifty to sixty feet high. The foliage is 

 fern -like. 



The Imperial Cut-leaved Alder, 

 A. laciiiiaia, is another variety, said to be 

 of still more vigorous habit. _ 



The Golden Alder, A. glutinoso 

 aurea, is a sport of the common alder, of brilliant and singular 

 foliage, and highly recommended in England and France. 



The Heart-leaved Alder, A. cordifolia, Sargent alludes to 

 as "a large tree, native of Calabria, with large, deep-green, shining 

 leaves, rather broad, heart-shaped," which grows rapidly, and 

 which he has found hardy at Fishkill, on the Hudson. Loudon 

 says of it: "A large, handsome, round-headed tree. Height from 

 fifteen to twenty feet. It grows with rapidity in a dry soil, and is 

 one of the most interesting ornamental trees that have of late years 

 been introduced." By large Loudon evidently means large among 



