Alnus 943 



Holywell Hall, Stamford, which is 65 feet high and no less than 17 feet in girth 

 at two and a half feet, dividing into two trunks of equal height. At Audley End, 

 Henry measured, in October 1908, a fine specimen, 65 feet high, and 15 feet in 

 girth at a foot from the ground, dividing above into three great stems, with a 

 spread of branches 80 feet in diameter. 



In Scotland the alder attains as large a girth and perhaps a greater age than in 

 England. One of the oldest and largest on record is in the flower gardens at Gordon 

 Castle, and was figured in 1881.^ It was only 35 feet high but 14 feet 9 inches in 

 girth and with a spread 63 yards in circumference. The late Mr. J. Webster 

 supposed it to be nearly three centuries old, but when I saw it in 1907, nothing 

 remained but a hollow stump 16J feet in girth. At Fasnakyle, in Strathglass, 

 there is a very large old alder, of which Mr. Stevenson Clarke sends me a photo- 

 graph, and which in 1904 measured 18 feet in girth at two feet from the ground. 

 It has a rowan tree 2 feet in diameter growing on it. 



At Shanbally, near Dumfries, Henry measured an alder in 1904 which was 65 

 feet by 10 feet 5 inches, dividing at eight feet into two stems ; and at Scone he saw 

 a cut-leaved alder, which was 66 feet by 6 feet 3 inches in the same year. 



Some of the most remarkable alders in Ireland grow in the old Deer Park at 

 Kilmacurragh on strong wet land covered with tall bracken and rushes, Henry 

 thinks that in former times this park may have been part of the virgin forest of 

 Wicklow. The trees are scattered in groups as if self-sown ; and though fully 

 mature, are in most cases sound. They average 55 to 60 feet in height, and in some 

 cases have clean boles 30 to 40 feet high and 8 to 10 feet in girth. The one 

 figured (Plate 253), was about 60 feet by 11 feet 4 inches, and stands near the 

 top of the park. 



At Powerscourt, an immense alder was felled in 1902, the butt being 20 feet in 

 girth near the ground. At Churchill, Armagh, a tree growing in peat soil, measured, 

 in 1904, 94 feet in height by 6 feet 4 inches in girth, with a clean stem to 60 or 

 70 feet. 



Timber 



Alder is now a wood of third-rate importance in the English timber trade, and 

 though still used for making the clogs ^ which are worn in Lancashire, is so low in 

 value that it will not bear much cost for carriage. On this account it is usually 

 worked up on the ground where it grows into pieces suitable for clog soles by 

 men who travel about from place to place, and this work is carried on by preference 

 in summer. 



In Scotland, however, alder is still used for making herring barrels, in districts 

 where it is plentiful, though imported staves as usual are taking its place. The 

 timber is said to be most valuable for piles, and to be certainly durable under water, 



' Trans. Scot. Arbor. Soc. ix. pi. I (1881). 



2 A complete set of specimens, illustrating the manufacture of clog-soles from alder wood, was sent to the Kew Museum, 

 in 1904, from Enniscorthy, Ireland. Cf. Kew. Bull. 1904, p. 6, where the clog-sole industry is described. 



