The Naturalist (Volume 3) (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1838. Excerpt: ... ON THE HABITS AND PECULIARITIES OF BRITISH PLANTS, AND ON THE DERIVATIONS OF THEIR LATIN NAMES. By T. B. Hall. (Continued from p. 18G.) Alnds.--From al, near, and Ian, edge of a river, Celt., on account of its habitat. Alnus glutinosa, Common Alder, Owler, Scotch Eller.--The Alder flourishes best in low marshy situations, in which it is frequently planted to make hedges. It will not live in a chalky soil. It is easily propagated by seeds, but not by slips or cuttings. Grass grows well beneath its shade. The wood is soft and brittle; endures a long time under water, and therefore is used for pipes and piles, and to lay under the foundations of buildings situated upon bogs. According to Vitruvius, the ancients were well acquainted with the imperishable nature of this timber, when used for piles in swamps or under water; in such situations it becomes black as ebony, and almost as hard as iron. The Rialto of Venice is thus founded; nor has its use been neglected in the Netherlands. The branches may be cut for poles every five or six years. Women's shoe-heels, ploughmen's clogs, cogs for mill-wrights, various articles of the turner, and in the Highlands handsome chairs, are made of it. The bark yields a red colour, and, with the addition of copperas, a black. It is also used to dye brown, particularly thread. It is principally used by fishermen to stain their nets. The country people in Scotland often make their own shoes; and, following the example of their forefathers, to avoid the tax upon leather, privately tan hides with the bark of Birch and Alder. Various passages in the ancient classics seem to intimate that the trunks of Alder-trees were among the first converted into boats. Martyn ingeniously surmises that one of these trees, hollowed by age, might have fallen into the water, a...