196 



THE ALDER. 



The^e twigs are tutted with clusters of catkins and dark woody 

 cones. The general lines nt the tree are peculiarlv inisymmctrical and 

 harsh, tor in addition to the angular habit already described, the 

 hrittleness ot the boughs causes the loss ot many, while irom others 

 again spring upright adventitious shoots. The stalks of the flowers, 

 however, contribute very decorati\e curves, and in the spring-time the 

 rounded shapes ot the dark fruit-bearing cones contrast well with the 

 dull red and yellow of the slender male catkins. And the twisted 

 purple leat-buds, growing on long foot-stalks, are not without beauty. 



