THEIR PROPERTIES, &C. 73 



fome tree than otherwife. Its leaves are of a fine 

 dark green; and it retains them late in the leafon; 

 fo that, in autumn, it forms a ftriking contraft 

 with many other deciduous trees. It cannot, how- 

 ever, be reckoned among ornamental trees, unlefs 

 it be employed for the purpofe of concealing a 

 marfh, flagnant pool, or the like, in a park or in 

 drefTed grounds. Its great ufefulnefs, by the fides 

 of rivers and rapid ftreams, has been noticed in 

 the preceding fedion. Alder wood is ufed by the 

 turners and patten-makers ; alfo for flooring, and 

 for roofing of fheds and outhoufes ; for the death- 

 ing or lining of carts, and the like. It makes 

 durable pofts for gates ; and as it endures v/ater 

 long without injury, it makes lading props in coal 

 and iron mines, and has been much planted of 

 late for thefe purpofes. Charcoal o"f it is a good 

 deal ufed in the manufacture of gunpowder. The 

 bark of the Alder affords a flrong tan, and is now 

 much employed, along with the barks of oak and 

 birch, in the tanning of leather. It is well known 

 alfo, in the Scots Highlands, as a dye for fome 

 of the colours ufed in the manufacture of tartan 

 and other fluffs worn in that country. 



THE 



