ALDER. 65 



greatly cultivated for the purpose of piles ; 

 for in those moist and boggy situations, build- 

 ings could not be safely erected without the 

 aid of this tree that loves such a soil. When 

 this wood has lain long in bogs, it becomes 

 black as ebony. Joseph Bauhimas pretends, 

 that in process of time it turns to stone. It 

 is possible, that it may in some situations 

 become petrified, where it meets with earth 

 and water of a lapidescent quality. 



The alder is one of the most proper and 

 profitable trees that can be employed to keep 

 up the embankments of rivers or canals ; 

 for whilst its roots and trunk are acting as a 

 buttress against the power of the stream, 

 they send out branches which may be cut for 

 poles every fifth or sixth year, particularly if 

 they be pruned of their superfluous shoots in 

 the spring. 



" As alders in the spring, their boles extend, 

 And heave so fiercely, that the bark they rend." 



Virgil. 



It is no small recommendation to these 

 trees, that their branches do not injure the 

 growth of grass, whilst their appearance adds 

 more to the beauty of brook-lands than most 

 other aquatic trees. The wood of the alder 

 makes excellent charcoal; and it is valuable 

 for pumps, pipes, sluices, and all works in- 



VOL. I. F 



