73 



The only other birch likely to be met with in the 

 county is the river or red birch (Betula nigra) , but one 

 name or the other is certainly a bad one, when B. nigra 

 becomes a red birch. It is found at the northern end of 

 the great pond in North Andover, at Pentucket pond 

 in Georgetown, and elsewhere in the northwestern 

 portion of the county. This species may be seen in its 

 most beautiful condition at the bridge near Sutton's 

 mills, on the Lawrence branch railroad, where the fine 

 old trees overhang the Shawsheeu river as it merges 

 itself in the Merrimac. It is one of our most beautiful 

 birches, and may easily be introduced by ponds and 

 streams in private estates and parks. 



Of our two native alders, the speckled alder (Alnus 

 incana), is the more tree-like. The other, the smooth 

 alder (Alnus surrulata), is always a shrub, in this 

 region at le^st. Both are very common in low grounds 

 such as may be found along the Salem and Boston 

 turnpike and Brimble avenue in Beverly. The leaves 

 of the speckled alder are more pointed and more 

 coarsely toothed than those of the smooth alder which are 

 broader at the apex and often quite resinous to the 

 touch. 



The European alder (Alnus glutinosa) , with leaves 

 more circular in outline, is occasionally planted in the 

 neighborhood of Boston, but I do not know of any 

 trees of this species around Salem. 



The hop hornbeam (Ostrya virginica) is a tree which 

 is sure to attract attention in July and August, when 

 the white fruit, resembling the true hop, is conspicuous 

 on the trees. The leaves are somewhat like those of the 

 elm, but smaller, and the tree, which is never very 

 large, has a close fitting yet rough bark. There are 



