CHAP. CIV.

betula'ceje. Ylnus.

1685

layers, cuttings of the shoots, cuttings of the root, and grafting. Du Ilamelsays that a large stool or stump of alder, split with a hatchet into five or sixpieces, and planted, will form so many trees; and, also, that if, instead ofsplitting this stool, it be covered over 2 in. or 3 in. deep with soil, it will, intwo or three years, throw up shoots, which will become rooted plants. Wehave planted with success, he says, trees obtained in this way, of 7 ft., 8 ft., and10ft. in height, without heading them down; but, in situations exposed tothe wind, they require to be cut down to within 5 in. or 6 in. of the surfaceof the ground. Another mode of multiplying the alder is, to cut a young branchhalf through at the ground, lay it down horizontally along the surface, andcover it with 2 in. of soil, when almost every bud will produce a shoot, andevery shoot will form roots. We have already described this mode as em-ployed for raising plum stocks. (See p. 690.) Notwithstanding these differentmodes, which are essential for the varieties, all writers agree that the speciesis best propagated by seeds. When large truncheons are made use of, itwould appear that they only succeed satisfactorily in a very moist soil; fora writerin the Bath Society Papers, vol. vi. (published in 1792), says, “ Fromthe authority of great masters in their way, Miller, Mortimer, &c., I wasinduced to plant a waggon-load of alder truncheons, in 1764, in boggy places,and along the banks of a river, as directed. I was flattered, the next summer,with every prospect of success, their shoots being strong and gross; but, lo 1the year following one and all perished, not having struck a single root.”The writer was therefore obliged to replant the ground with rooted slips,taken from old stools, which did very well. The failure may probably havebeen owing to the second summer being a dry one; and, at all events, itwill show the propriety of taking the precaution used in Jersey, when trun-cheons are employed for propagating this tree.

For raising the alder from seeds, Sang directs the catkins to be gatheredin dry weather, as soon as the seeds are matured (which is easily known bythe scales beginning to open), and carried to a loft, where they should bespread out thinly. “ They are afterwards to be frequently turned, and the seedswill fall out in the act of turning. They are much more ready to drop out,if the loft happen to be placed above an apartment where a good fire is kept.When all the seeds which will readily come out by the above plan haveescaped, and are lying on the floor, gather them up into a bag for spring sow-ing. The cones are then to be thrashed and sifted. Alder seeds may, likethose of the birch, be sown from the tree; but,like the birch, the germinatingalders are liable to be destroyed by early frosts in the spring.” (A r ic. PI.Kal., p. 482.) The proper time of sowing, the same author continues, “ isMarch; and the covering, which ought to be of very light soil, should, on noaccount, exceed a quarter of an inch in thickness. It being no easy thing toknow the quality of alder seed,” he observes, “ it is better to sow prettythick, and to thin out the plants, if necessary, the following spring.” Theseeds are generally collected about the end of October, or the beginning ofNovember. Where the trees overhang water, it is recommended by theContinental authors to cut off the extremities of the branches containing thecatkins, and let them drop into the water, afterwards fishing them out withnets. The cones may be kept till spring, if in a perfectly dry situation, andexcluded from the air. The seeds may be proved before sowing, by bruisingthem on the thumb nail; when, if they have any kernel, it will show a whitefarinaceous substance, and some appearance of oily or watery matter. Allagree that, when sown, the seeds should be very slightly covered with soil.In loamy ground, one sixth part of an inch of light soil strewed over themwill be found enough ; and in light soils the seeds will be sufficiently coveredby a good watering from the rose of a watering-pot; or the operation ofcovering may be left to the first shower. After the seeds are sown, it is agreat advantage, in dry climates, to cover the surface of the bed with pease-haulm, fronds of firs, moss, or loose leaves; or to stretch over it closewicker hurdles, supporting them by props at about 2 in. or 3 in. above the