OF FOREST-TREES. 



243 



ing of the main stock, and besides to accelerate their sprouting. In CH. xix 

 setting the truncheons, it were not amiss to prepare them a little after ^"-^V^ 

 they are fitted to the size, by laying them awhile in water ; this is also 

 practicable in Willows, &c. 



4. Of old they made boats of the greater parts of this tree, and, except- 

 ing Noah's Ark, the first vessels we read of were made of this material. 



Tunc alnos primum fluvii sensere cavatas. georg. i. 



When hollow Alders first the waters try'd. 



Nec non et torrentem undara levis innatat alnus 



Missa Pado ; georg. ii. 



And down the rapid Po light Alders glide. 



And as then, so now, are over-grown Alders frequently sought after for 

 such buildings as lie continually under water, where it will harden like 

 a very stone ; whereas, being kept in any unconstant temper, it rots im- 

 mediately, because its natural humidity is of so near affinity w ith its 

 adventitious, as Scaliger assigns the cause. Vitruvius tells us, that the 

 morasses aboutRavenna in Italy were piled with this timber to superstruct 

 upon, and highly commends it. I find also they used it under that 

 famous bridge at Venice, the Rialto, which passes over the Grand Canal, 

 bearing a vast weight. Joan. Bauhinus pretends, that in tract of time 

 it turns to stone ; which perhaps it may seem to be, as well as other 

 aquatics, where it meets with some lapidescent quality in the earth and 

 water. 



5. The poles of Alder are as useful as those of Willows ; but the coals 

 far exceed them, especially for gim-powder. The wood is likewise 

 useful for piles, pumps, hop-poles, water-pipes, troughs, sluices, small 

 trays and trenchers, wooden-heels ; the bark is precious to dyers, and 

 some tanners and leather-dressers make use of it ; and with it and the 

 fruit, instead of gall, they compose an ink. The fresh leaves alone applied 

 to the naked sole of the foot, infinitely refresh the surbated traveller. 

 The bark macerated in water, with a little rust of iron, makes a black 

 dye, which may also be used for ink : The interior rind of the Black 



P p 2 



