PROCEEDINGS OF THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
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3. The Crab or Wild Apple. ( Pyrus Malus, L.) 
Found in hedgerows and waste places. The wood of the 
crab is fine grained, hard, and of a brownish colour. It is 
principally used in this country for grafting the cultivated 
apple on. In France and Germany it is used for forming 
hedges, *the branches of which are inarched into each 
other to give them more strength to resist cattle. Where 
the fruit abounds in quantity, it is given as food to pigs 
and cattle. 
6. The Mountain Ash. [Pyrus Aucuparia, Gartn.) 
Found almost in every part of Europe. Also called the 
fowler’s service tree,- or bird-catcher’s service, from the 
use made of the berries by bird-catchers. The name 
Witchen, also applied to the mountain ash, bears relation 
to supposed powers of the tree as a protection against 
witches and evil spirits! The wood is fine-grained, hard, 
and capable of being stained any colour, and of 
taking a high polish. It is applied to various uses, when 
it can be obtained of adequate dimensions. The mountain 
ash will grow on any soil, and in any situation, being 
found on the seashore, and on the tops of mountains as 
high as 2500 feet. 
Order Caprijoliacece, one species. 
7. The Common Elder. [Sambucus nigra, L.) 
Found plentifully in hedges, coppices, and woods. The 
elder is cultivated for its fruit, which is much in demand 
for making elder wine. The flowers and bark are much 
used by herbalists; and the wood of old trunks, being very 
hard, is used as a substitute for that of box and dogwood. 
The pith of the elder is used by electricians in various ex¬ 
periments. 
Order Oliacece, one species. 
8. The Common Ash. (Fraxinus excelsior, L.) 
Some have supposed that the ash has derived its name 
from the colour of the bark of the trunk and branches. 
The timber of the ash is very elastic, so much so that 
a joist of this timber will bear more before it breaks than 
one of that of any other tree indigenous to Europe. The 
wood of young trees is more esteemed than that of old ones. 
Since the use of iron has become so general, the value of 
the ash is somewhat diminished ; it still, however, ranks 
next in value to the oak, and is held even to surpass it for 
some purposes. It is much used by the coachmaker, the 
wheelwright, and the manufacturer of agricultural imple¬ 
ments. 
Order Ulmacece, one species. 
9. The Scotch or Wych Elm. (Ulmus montana, Bach.) 
The wood of this tree is in demand by the ship¬ 
builder, the boat-builder, the block-maker, the Cartwright, 
the cabinet-maker, and the coach-maker. The wood is 
hard and capable of great endurance under water, hence it 
it is largely used for keels in shipbuilding. Its name is 
supposed to be derived from the Saxon word “Ulm.” 
The city of Ulm is said to derive its name from the great 
number of elm trees that grow near it. There are 
above 40 places in England which take their names from 
the elm, such as Barn Elms, Nine Elms, &c. 
Order Salicacece, three species, belonging to two genera. 
10. The Brittle-Twigged or Crack Willow. (Salix 
Fragilis, L.) 
Found naturally either in a cold soil and moist situation, 
or, if in a sandy soil, within reach of water. Willows are 
chiefly used for basket rods. This species, however, 
grows to dimensions which make its timber of some value. 
11. The Grey Sallow, or Ash-coloured Willow. 
(Salix cinerea, L.) 
This species is more of a shrub than a timber tree, found 
on the banks of rivers and in moist woods. 
12. The Aspen Poplar. (Populus tremula, L.) 
Some suppose that this tree derived its name from its 
being used in ancient times to decorate the public places of 
Borne, where it was called arbor populi, or the tree of the 
people; while others say that it alludes to the leaves, like 
the people, being easily agitated. It is found frequently in 
damp places. The wood is white and tender, and is em¬ 
ployed by turners; by coopers for herring casks, milk pails, 
&c.; by sculptors and engravers; by joiners and cabinet¬ 
makers; and for various other purposes, such as clogs, 
buffers and brakes of railway carriages, butchers’ trays, 
pack saddles, &c. 
Order Betulacece, two species, belonging to two genera. 
13. The Common Alder. [Alnus glutinosa, Gcertn.) 
Abundant on the margins of rivers and streams through¬ 
out the county. As its name indicates (Alnus, near the 
edge of a river), it thrives by the river. The wood, 
though soft, is of great durability. It is used for all the 
various purposes to which soft woods are generally applied 
—for turnery, sculpture, and cabinetmaking; for wooden 
vessels, such as basins, plates, and kneading troughs; for 
sabots, wooden soles to shoes and patens, clogs for women, 
