38 THE TREE PROPAGATOR AND PLANTER. 



pretty standard if the long branches are kept constantly- 

 cut back, so as to keep the head short and compact. 

 This is really the only way to preserve the Tamarisk in 

 good health, for if it is left to itself it grows and dies 

 and dies and grows in succession ; that is, the branches 

 do so. It may be multiplied by cuttings. 



The Mountain Ash {Pyrus Sorbus, or Service-tree). 



This is called "Ash " merely on account of its 

 resembling the Ash in its leaf and the colour of the 

 wood, for it has- nothing to do with the Ash tribe as a 

 genus. The Mountain Ash is very common in English 

 woods and forests. It is remarkably pretty in the 

 autumn of the year, with its bunches of vermilion 

 berries. The tribe, especially this variety, may be 

 multiplied b} T seed freely. Gather the seed as soon as 

 ripe, and rot the flesh off by laying the berries in a 

 heap ; clean the seed out by washing, dry it, and sow 

 in the early spring, in drills 2 inches deep, in good 

 light soil. The seedlings may be used for grafting 

 stocks for the more choice sorts, and for grafting Pears 

 on. Many of the Sorbus kind are fine fruit-bearing: 

 subjects, and the fruit is very pleasant. 



The Alder. 



The Alder is a useful wood for converting into 

 handles of tools, brooms, brushes, and various other 

 articles of the domestic kind. The wood is of a peculiar 

 light, soft, and fine-grained class, but of no use for any 

 purpose where it has to be exposed to the wet for long. 

 The Alder is a good shrub for its leaf, but only fit for 

 outer plantations and for coppices. It may be multi- 

 plied by seed, sown as in the case of the Ash, Elm, &c. 



The Judas-tree. 



The Cercis siliquastrum, or Judas-tree, is a curious 

 and beautiful small tree, producing its flowers before 



