CHAPTER VII. 



I. Simple Alternate Leaves. 



2. With teeth. A. Edge not divided. 



THE ALDER, ETC. 



Speckled or The speckled or hoary alder, prop- 



Hoary Alder. er ] v speaking, is a shrub ; yet it often 



Alnusincana. giwg ^ feet ^ ^ gometimes 



has one substantial trunk. There is scarcely a brook 

 or streamlet passing through the White Mountain 

 region which is not shaded by the very dark olive- 

 green foliage of the speckled alder, and I call to 

 mind mile after mile of valley road edged by this 

 beautiful bushy tree ; indeed, it might justly be 

 called the "roadside genius" of sylvan New Hamp- 

 shire. I think the "speckled beauty" of the woods, 

 although he does not seem to know it, owes this 

 alder an enormous debt of gratitude for hiding his 

 cool and pebbly retreat and entangling the angler's 



"fly." Whoever has fished in a mountain stream lias 



<J9 



