IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 19 



Neapolitanum (Cyrillo), one of its companions^ yields edible 

 roots, according to Heldreich. 



Allium Schsenoprasnm, Linne. 



The Chives. Europe, Northern Asia, and North America. 

 Available for salads and condiments. This species of Allium 

 seems not yet so generally adopted in our culinary cultivation 

 as Allium Ascalonicum (the Shallot), A. Cepa (the ordinary 

 Onion), A. fistulosum (the Welsh Onion),' A. Porrum (the 

 Leek), and A. sativum (the Garlic). A. Scorodoprasum, or 

 the Sand Leek of Europe and North Africa, resetnbles both 

 Garlic and Shallot. A. Ampeloprasum is the British Leek, 

 which extends over Middle and South Europe and West Asia, 

 called in culture the Summer Leek, a variety of which is the 

 Early Pearl Leek. 



Alnus glutiuosa, Gaertner. 



The ordinary Alder. Throughout Europe and extra-tropical 

 Asia, up to 70 feet high ; well adapted for river banks, recom- 

 mended by Wessely for wet valleys in coast-sand; wood 

 soft and light, turning red, furnishing one of the best char- 

 coals 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 underground work, as it will 

 harden almost like stone. The tree is valuable for the utilis- 

 ation of bog-land. A. incana (WiUd.) extends to North 

 America ; it is of smaller size. The bark of several Alders is 

 of great medicinal value, and a decoction will give to cloth 

 saturated with lye aH indeUble orange colour (Porcher) ; it 

 contains a peculiar tannic principle. American Alder extract 

 has come into use for tanning ; it renders skins particularly 

 firm, mellow, and well coloured (Eaton) . The bark contains 36 

 per cent, tannin (Muspratt) . A. Oregjina, Nuttall, of California 

 and Oregon, rises to a height of 80 feet. 



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. 



Aloe dichotoma, Linne, fil. 



Damara and Namaqua-land. This species attains a height of 

 30 feet, and expands occasionally with its brahches so far as to 

 give a circumference of 40 :^eet. The stem is remarkably 



