ALDER. DUTCH MYRTLE. BOX. 51 



na'na, are the principal food of grouse and ptarmi- 

 gans in northern countries. 



The Alder-tree, which you may see on the banks 

 of rivers, is a species of Al'nus, (A. glutinosa,) the 

 wood of which is soft and brittle, but lasts a long 

 time under water, and is therefore used for pumps 

 and water-pipes, and for beams to lay under the 

 foundations of buildings in marshy places. For 

 this reason the Alder-tree is very much cultivated 

 in Flanders and Holland. It makes, too, the best 

 charcoal for gunpowder ; and the bark and leaves 

 are employed in tanning leather and staining fish- 

 ermen's nets. 



The Dutch Myrtle, Myri'ca Ga'le, which is found 

 in our bogs, is in the class Tetrandria, according 

 to Withering.* The flowers grow in little clus- 

 ters, which are called Catkins; and when these 

 are boiled in water, they throw up a scum like 

 bees' -wax, that would make candles if collected 

 in sufficient quantity. In America, candles, soap, 

 and sealing-wax, are actually made from another 

 species, called Candle-berry Myrtle, Myri'ca 

 cerifera. 



The common Box, Bux'us sempervi'rens, with 

 which part of our garden is bordered, is also placed 

 by Withering in the fourth class.f It is an ever- 



* In the twenty-second class, Dicecia, and order Tetrandria 

 of Linnaeus. 



J- In the class Moncecia, and order Tetrandria, of Linnaeus, 

 E 2 



