DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 137 



the common Birch tree of Europe, is intermediate in appear- 

 ance and qualities, between our Canoe birch and White birch. 

 The latter it resembles in its foliage, the former in its large 

 size, and the excellence of its wood. There is a distinct 

 variety of this, to which we have alluded, called the Weeping 

 birch, ( Var. j^endiila,) which is very rapid in its growth, and 

 beautiful and graceful in its form. From the great beauty 

 of our native species, this is probably the only European 

 sort, which it is very desirable to introduce into our col- 

 lections. 



The Alder Tree. Alnus. 



Nat. Ord. Betulacese. Lin. Syst. Moncecia, Tetrandria. 



The alder tree is a native of the whole of Europe, where 

 it grows to the altitude of from thirty to sixty feet. Our 

 common Black alder, [A. glauca,) and Hazle-leaved alder, {A. 

 serrulata^) are low shrubs of little value or interest. This, 

 however, is a neat tree, remarkable for its love of moist situa- 

 tions, and thriving best in places even too wet for the willows ; 

 although it will also flourish on dry and elevated soils. The 

 leaves are roundish in form, wavy, and serrated in their mar- 

 gins, and dark green in colour. The tree rapidly forms an 

 agreeable pyramidal head of foliage, when growing in damp 

 situations. As it is a foreign tree, we shall quote from Gilpin 

 its character in scenery. " The alder," says he, " loves a 

 low, moist soil, and frequents the banks of rivers, and will 

 flourish in the poorest forest swamps, where nothing else 

 will grow. It is perhaps the most picturesque of any of the 

 aquatic tribe, except the weeping willow. He who would see 

 the alder in perfection, must follow the banks of the Mole 

 in survey, through the sweet vales of Dorking and Mickle- 

 ham, into the groves of Esher. The Mole indeed is far from 



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