Part 28

9. SALICACEÆ (Salix alba) White Willow. (Populus nigra) Black Poplar.

The most characteristic of this order are the examples given; the Willows are well-known trees, growing by the margins of water and in damp places. The Poplar is one of our tallest trees, specimens being known 100 feet high; its peculiar tall form distinguishes it from all other trees.

10. BETULACEÆ (Betula alba) Birch. (Alnus glutinosa) Alder.

The Birch and Alder are both well known trees in our plantations, the Alder is often confounded with the Elder. The bark of the Birch tree contains tannin; it is used to tan skins in Russia, and gives to Russian leather its peculiar qualities.

11. ULMACEÆ (Ulnus campestris) Elm.

The Elm is one of our largest and noblest trees, growing to 80 or 90 feet high, it has often a girth of 10 to 11 feet, and forms a very fine tree with a broad crown; the wood is much used for making coffins.

12. PINACEÆ (Taxus baccata) Yew. (Abies larix) Larch. (Laurus nobilis) Bay. (Pinus sylvestris) Scotch Fir.

This order contains the various Pines and Firs, together with the Yew and Bay trees, and is sometimes called the "Coniferæ," as they all bear cones. In their general aspect many of these somewhat resemble endogenous trees, growing perfectly straight in the stem, and giving off branches in whorls at regular distances; some, as the Norfolk Island Pine, form perfectly regular figures by the interlacement of their branches. The Firs have their thin narrow leaves starting off singly from the branch, and always on the upper side, like the teeth of a comb, while the Pines have their leaves grouped together, starting off in fours or fives from the same spot. The Conifera furnish the longest and straightest timber of all trees, they commonly grow to 100 feet high, and in New Zealand and California to more than 300. The Wellingtonia Gigantea is the tallest species known, and the Araucaria Excelsa (Norfolk Island Pine), perhaps, the next. The trees of this order are amongst the most useful to man, supplying a number of useful articles, such as turpentine, resin, &c., besides the most valuable timber. Pines, like the Palms, serve as a screen against the severity of the weather, but, while the palms keep off the burning rays of the sun, the pines defend us from the cold of the mountain blasts; they are indeed used as nurses, and as such, in our oak plantations, serve to screen the young saplings which are planted among them from the effects of cold until strong enough to bear exposure; when the pines are cut down, and what before appeared to be a pine-wood, appears as a plantation of oaks. The pine-trees furnish those straight stems largely used by builders under the name of "scaffold poles." They also make the best wood for rending into laths for building purposes, their straight and open grain allowing of their being easily split.

It is from the vegetable kingdom that most of the medicines in use are derived, but many of these, in improper doses, act as violent poisons; indeed, the most rapidly fatal of all poisons, prussic acid, was originally distilled from the Laurel-cherry, and strychnine, which is hardly less rapid, is the produce of the Nux vomica (Strychnos nux vomica).

The following is a list of the principal poisonous plants found growing wild in England:--

* 1. MONK'S-HOOD (Aconitum Napellus). WOLF'S-BANE (Aconitum lycactonum).

All parts of Monk's-hood and Wolf's-bane are extremely poisonous; the root of Monk's-hood has often been mistaken for that of Horse-radish, of which an example is therefore given, to show that it is impossible for this mistake to be made, if the least attention be paid to the leaves, as they are totally dissimilar.

* BRYONY (Bryonia dioica).

The whole of this plant is poisonous, and, as the berries are red and tempting, it is dangerous to trust children with them. The root is large and succulent, and is known by the name of Mandrake; it is very purgative and acrid.

* GREEN HELLEBORE (Heleborus viridus). * STINKING HELLEBORE (Heleborus foetidus).

Both poisonous in every part of the plants.

* MEZERIUM (Daphne mezerium).

The bark of this plant is acrid and poisonous, producing a burning sensation in the throat if chewed, and blistering the skin if applied, for which purpose it was often formerly used medicinally.

* MEADOW SAFFRON (Colchicum autumnale).

The corm (root) and seeds of this plant are poisonous. Meadow Saffron is also called Colchicum, it is much used in medicine, and although a good and useful one in small doses for gouty affections, yet in over-doses it produces violent purging and vomiting.

FOXGLOVE (Digitalis purpurea).

This plant is very poisonous and dangerous, the leaves are the most active part. It is frequently used medicinally, but requires great care, as it lowers the action of the heart, the effect of many small doses accumulating and at last acting like one large one.

* STAVES-ACRE (Delphinium Staphisagria).

The Ranunculaceæ are, most of them, poisonous, and this order includes the Larkspurs, of which the Staves-Acre is a species. The seeds are to a certain extent poisonous, and when ground into meal and mixed with flour have been often used by farmers to destroy vermin of various kinds, such as rats, mice, beetles, &c.

DEADLY NIGHTSHADE (Atropa Belladonna).

The Deadly Nightshade is also called Belladonna. Both leaves and berries are a deadly poison. The berries have been mistaken for black currants by children, as they much resemble them. There are several species, of which the Solanum nigrum, or Common Nightshade, very much resembles the "Deadly."

WOODY NIGHTSHADE (Solanum Dulcamara).

This plant, also called Bitter-sweet, from its taste, produces the bright red berries so often seen in hedges, and which from their pretty appearance frequently tempt children to eat them. They are poisonous, but not so much so as the twigs of the plant, which are very acrid and narcotic.