Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 33 



Allium Scorodoprasum, Linne". 



The Sand-Leek. Europe and North-Africa. Resembles in some 

 respects Garlic, in others Shallot. The Scorodoprason of Dioscorides 

 according to Fraas seems A. descendens (Linne), indigenous to South- 

 Europe. 



Allium Victoriale, Linn6. 



Western and Northern Asia, ascending alpine elevations. The 

 bulb is eaten raw in some of its native countries. 



Alnus acuminata, Hooker. 



From Mexico to Chili ; particularly at sub-alpine elevations. There 

 among the best of timber-trees [Prof. Sodiro]. 



Alnus glutinosa, Gaertner. 



The Common Alder. Throughout Europe and extra -tropical 

 Asia ; indigenous to 64 10' N. lat. in Norway [Schuebeler]. 

 Reaches a height of 90 feet ; attaining even in lat. 61 47' a stem- 

 diameter of 10 feet. Easily clipped, when young, into hedges ; well 

 adapted for river banks ; recommended by Wessely for wet valleys 

 in coast-sand ; wood soft and light, turning red, furnishing one of the 

 best charcoals for gunpowder ; it is also durable under water, and 

 adapted for turners' and joiners' work ; the wood is also well suited 

 for pump-trees and other under-ground work, as it will harden almost 

 like stone. The tree is further valuable for the utilisation of bog- 

 land. A. cordifolia (Tenore) is a closely allied species, indigenous 

 to the countries at and near the Mediterranean Sea. A. incana 

 (Willd.) extends to North- America ; it is of smaller size but was 

 found to grow over 60 feet high in latitude 70 of Norway by Pro- 

 fessor Schuebeler. The bark of several alders is of medicinal value, 

 and a decoction will give to cloth saturated with lye an indelible 

 orange-colour [Porcher] ; it contains a peculiar tannic principle to the 

 extent of 36 per cent. [Muspratt]. American aider-extract has come 

 into use for tanning ; it renders skins particularly firm, mellow and 

 well-coloured [Eaton]. A. Oregana (Nuttall), of California and 

 Oregon, rises to a height of 80 feet ; its wood is extensively used for 

 bent-work [Meehan]. A. Japonica and A. firma (Siebold and Zuc- 

 carini), of Japan, furnish wood there for carvers and turners, and 

 bark for black dye [Dupont]. A. rubra (Bougard), the Red or 

 Tag-Alder of California and British Columbia, rises to fully 100 

 feet, and gets finally a stem diameter of 6 feet. The timber is 

 excellent for piles and bridge-bottoms, also for pumps, and proved 

 exceedingly durable ; it serves further for carving, turnery, furniture, 

 machinery [Dr. Kellogg]. 



Alnus Nepalensis, D. Don. 



Himalayas, between 3,000 and 9,000 feet. Reaches a height of 

 60 feet. With another Himalayan alder, A. nitida (Endlicher), it can 

 be grown along streams for the sake of its wood. The bark of both 



D 



