92 Gilpin's forest sceneey. 



ramification, and in its foliage ; perhaps, indeed, it 

 is the most picturesque of any of tlie aquatic tribe, 

 except the Weeping Willow. He who would see 

 the Alder in perfection, must follow the banks of 

 the Mole, in Surrey, through the sweet vales of 

 Dorking and Mickleham into the groves of Esher. 

 The Mole, indeed, is far from being a beautiful 

 river; it is a silent and sluggish stream. But 

 what beauty it has it owes greatly to the Alder, 

 which everywhere fringes its meadows, and, in 

 many places, forms pleasing scenes, especially in 

 the vale between Box Hill, and the high grounds 

 of Norbury Park. 



Some of the largest Alders we have in England 

 grow in the Bishop of Durham's park at Auck- 

 land-castle. The generality of trees acquire pic- • 

 turesque beauty by age, but it is not often that 

 they are suffered to attain this picturesque period. 

 Some use is commonly found for them long before 

 that time. The Oak falls for the greater purposes 

 of man, and the Alder is ready to supply a variety 

 of his smaller wants. An old tree, therefore, of 

 any kind is a curiosity ; and even an Alder, such 

 as those at Auckland-castle, when dignified by age, 



