1682

ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM.

PART III.

The alder is planted to form hedges in moist meadows; and it is plantedalong the margins of rivers, to keep up the banks by its numerous creepingroots. If the alder be planted in a low meadow, it is said that the surface otthe ground surrounding it will become boggy ; whereas, if ash be planted, theroots of which also extend a great way in every direction, and run near thesurface, the ground will become firm and dry; though on what principle thesechanges take place, we are not informed; and the statement is therefore, mostprobably, a vulgar error. The chief use of the alder is as coppice-wood, to be cutdown every five or six years,and made into charcoal for the gunpowder manufac-turers. The charcoal is considered the next best for that purpose to that of.Rhamnus Frangula, the berry-bearing alder, the aune noir of the French (seep. 537.); and plantations of the common alder are made by the proprietors of thegunpowder manufactories of Hounslow, and other places, in order to makesure of a supply. The larger branches are made into charcoal for the coarserkinds of gunpowder, and the spray for the finer kinds.

As an ornamental tree, much cannot be said in favour of the alder. DuHamel remarks that its verdure is agreeable, and its shade dense; and thatits leaves, like those on all plants which grow by water, remain on longer inthe autumn than those of deciduous trees which prefer dry situations. In shel-tered places, young alder trees frequently retain their leaves till January.Du Hamel observes that, as cattle will never touch the leaves of the alder aslong as they can get anything else to eat, it is a good tree for parks, andalso for hedges; and he adds that it will form very good avenues in situationsexposed to cattle. As an object for the landscape-painter, the leaves of thealder do not fall into fine masses ; and they appear too uniformly distributedover the entire head of the tree. Nevertheless, as Gilpin observes, it is amore picturesque tree than the common willow, both in its ramification, andin its foliage : perhaps, indeed, he says, it is the most picturesque of any ofthe aquatic tribe, except the weeping willow. “ Fie who would see the alderin perfection, must follow the banks of the Mole, in Surrey, through the sweetvales of Dorking and Mickleham, into the groves of Esher. The Mole, indeed,is far from being a beautiful river: it is a quiet and sluggish stream; butwhat beauty it has, it owes greatly to the alder, which every where fringes itsmeadows, and, in many places, forms very pleasing scenes, especially in the valebetween Box Hill and the high grounds of Norbury Park. Some of thelargest alders we have in England grow in the Bishop of Durham’s park, atBishop-Auckland. The generality of trees acquire picturesque 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 fallsfor the greater purposes of man; and the alder is ready to supply a variety ofhis smaller wants. An old tree, therefore, of any kind, is a curiosity; and evenan alder, such as those at Bishop-Auckland, when dignified by age, makes arespectable figure.” ( Gilp. For. Seen., i. p. 69.) Sir Thomas Dick Lauderfully agrees with Mr. Gilpin in his commendation of the alder. It is alwaysassociated in our minds, he says, “ with river scenery, both of that tranquildescription most frequently to be met with in the vales of England, and withthat of a wilder and more stirring cast, which is to be found among the glensand deep ravines of Scotland. In very many instances, we have seen it puton so much of the bold resolute character of the oak, that it might have beenmistaken for that tree, but for the intense depth of its green hue. The Molemay, doubtless, furnish the traveller with very beautiful specimens of the alder,as it may also furnish an example of that species of quiet English scenery wehave alluded to; but we venture to assert, that no where will the tree befound in greater perfection than on the wild banks of the river Findhorn, andits tributary streams, where scenery of the most romantic description everywhere occurs.” (Laud. Gilp., i. p. 136.) The alder, Boutcher characterisesas “ an ugly melancholy tree;” and, as it is more frequently found by stag-nant than by running water, an observation as old as the time of Virgil, weare strongly inclined, though we do not think it ugly, to consider it as one of