120 REPORT ON THE MANAGEMENT AND VALUE OF POPLAR. 



lands than in the Lowlands. In the latter it is rarely found 

 except when planted by the hand of man ; in the former the 

 hand of nature scatters it profusely. Notwithstanding its rich, 

 attractive, and inviting foliage — its dark reddish brown suckers, 

 like the oak — its leaves roundish and angular, smooth on both 

 surfaces, green above and whitish below, — no animals, such as 

 sheep, cattle, or horses, will eat of it, owing, probably, to its bitter 

 taste. It is venerated by many of the old inhabitants of the 

 North of Scotland, who regard it with superstition and awe, on 

 account of an opinion obtaining that it is the tree out of which 

 was made the cross of our Kedeemer — the agitation of its trembling 

 leaves being a perpetual protestation against its application to so 

 awful a purpose. 



The foliage of the aspen is beautiful at all stages of its growth — ■ 

 when young, middle aged, or old — its ceaseless motion ever dis- 

 playing its variegated colours. It has a great tendency to exhaust 

 the soil and absorb moisture. Its numerous suckers, wherever 

 its roots spread, render it sometimes objectionable on that account. 

 Its recommendations as a timber tree are its hardiness, its leaves 

 standing exposure to high, boisterous winds, and even sea-air. 

 It grows to a good size in places where even the birch is stinted 

 and dwarfed through poorness of soil, continues healthy, and 

 retains a rich, fresh foliage in maritime districts, where all other 

 trees are blasted and withered. Its timber, though rarely of 

 large dimensions, is pure white, soft and smooth when dressed, 

 makes excellent vessels, as pails, cogs, and soles of wooden shoes. 

 It is also well adapted for staves and break-blocks for railway 

 waggons ; as paling, it lasts longer than the sap-wood of pine, 

 makes excellent palisades, and is well adapted for splitting into 

 plaster lath. The aspen bears pruning badly, especially the 

 cutting off of large branches. It is liable, also, to the attacks of 

 a large white grub, which eats into its heart-wood, and when old 

 it is subject to ground-rot. To grow it large, a deep, dry, sandy 

 loam is required in an exposed situation. The main object, 

 however, in cultivating it is to shelter more tender trees, by 

 planting it upon the poorest soil and most exposed situation, or 

 near streams, lakes, waterfalls, or rocks, with a view to ornamental 

 effect. 



Second, A species of poplar, indigenous to Great Britain and 

 most parts of Europe, is the White Poplar (Popichts alba), which, 

 though frequently grown from cuttings and suckers, is most 

 commonly and most advantageously raised from layers. This is 

 accomplished by bending down pliant shoots, and fastening them 

 to the ground by means of hooked pegs. The shoots on being 

 bent into the ground are partially cut with a knife at the part 

 deepest embedded in the earth, thereby inducing them more 

 readily to strike root. Plants grown from layers are sooner raised 



