THE NEW FORESTRY. 95 



Birch. Betula alba. — This species and the alder and 

 mountain ash are here grouped in succession, because the 

 timber of all the three is used for similar purposes, and they 

 thrive well together at high elevations and under similar con- 

 ditions. The birch is a very useful timber-tree, reaching 

 saleable dimensions on dry or moist soils of almost every 

 description, thriving at a higher elevation than most other 

 trees, also in valleys, and reaching a height of sixty feet. The 

 timber is light and is extensively used for clog soles in Eng- 

 land, the doggers felling the trees at any season of the year, 

 cutting out the soles and leaving them to season stacked in piles 

 in the wood. Trees of from one to five cubic feet dimensions 

 are preferred for soles, but lots of all sizes are readily sold at 

 from hvepence to sixpence per foot The birch sows itself 

 readily, and may be sown artificially without any . preparation 

 of the soil. When planted by itself, about six thousand small 

 plants may be put out to the acre, and they need not be thinned 

 till the best reach three-and-a-half inches quarter-girth in the 

 middle. Birch is a good companion for the oak and both may 

 be planted very thickly together without fear, as they do 

 not incommode each other and grow at about the same rate 

 till past middle-age in the case of the birch. Birch timber is 

 now imported in the rough from the north of Europe in the 

 shape of clean, straight butts of small size, but of a quality 

 inferior to English birch. Large quantities of the timber are 

 used for making bobbins and other purposes in Lancashire, 

 Yorkshire and elsewhere. 



Common Alder. Alnus glutinosa. — (See birch.) — -The 

 timber of the alder is not in such demand by itself as the birch 

 is, but good clean stems are readly disposed of. The tree 

 prefers a moist soil, but thrives in any well-drained soil that 

 is deep. Water-logged soils do not suit it. It may be planted 

 or sown with the birch in the more moist situations. 



MOUNTAIN Ash OR ROWAN. Pyrus aucuparia. — This tree 

 succeeds well with the birch, and although not specially in 

 demand, doggers accept it for the same purposes. It grows, 

 when young, as fast as the birch, propagating itself freely, but 

 soon shows a tendency to become branchy and round-headed. 

 When in flower or in berry it is one of the most beautiful trees 

 we have, particularly in , those districts where the rainfall is 

 heavy and the air moist. In some parts of the Highlands, 

 especially in Argyleshire, the size and brilliancy of its fruit are 

 remarkable. In the chapter on game this tree is, referred to 

 as a food, producer. 



