134 REPORT ON THE MANAGEMENT AND VALUE OF POPLAR. 



From the above table, it will appear that on ground where 

 larch has all but proved a complete failure, black Italian poplar 

 succeeds to the best advantage. In such circumstances the anti- 

 cipations of the Highland Society seem fully realised. 



The preceding tables show the relative value of poplar to that 

 of other trees. As to its management when mixed with them, 

 the poplar should either be taken out at an early stage of growth, 

 or have the side branches snag-pruned, which means cutting 

 the branches at some distance out from the trunk, so as to allow 

 the small lateral ones to take their place. 



With most trees it is best to grow them in masses. Poplar 

 forms an exception to this rule. From its tendency to assume 

 an upright direction without much spread of top, the black, black 

 Italian, and gray, grow very profitably as single trees. 



A fine specimen of black Italian, growing singly, is to be seen 

 on the roadside, about a mile north of Jedburgh, in Eoxburgh- 

 shire, at an altitude of 100 feet. It is said to be ninety years 

 planted, is 85 feet in height, with a clean stem of nearly equal 

 thickness for 30 feet, but the top has suffered by the wind. 

 Three feet from the ground it girths 12 feet, at 20 feet its girth 

 is not much less, and at 40 feet it girths about 8 feet. Content 

 of tree, 250 cubic feet. Covering with its branches an area of 

 1600 feet, twenty-seven such trees would grow upon an acre, equal 

 to 6812 cubic feet, which, at 8d. per foot, is = L.227, Is. 8d. 



Fine specimens of Abele poplars are to be seen in the pleasure 

 grounds at Cullen House, Banffshire, having the following mea- 

 surements : — Height, 60 to 70 feet ; girth at 6 feet from the 

 ground, 6| feet; height of trunk to lower branches, 30 feet; 

 distance apart, 30 feet; average content, 50 feet; age, sixty 

 years. 



The value per acre of such a crop of poplars stands thus : — 

 Forty-eight trees multiplied by 50 feet = 2400 cubic feet, which 

 at Sd.per foot = L.80. Again, L.80 divided by 60, gives L.l, 6s. 8d. 

 as the yearly return. Such ground, also, for grazing purposes, is 

 worth L.20 per acre. 



In a small plantation upon the Earl of Harrington's estate, in 

 Cheshire, the writer made an examination of black Italian poplar 

 in September last, of which the following is a statement : — Age 

 of trees, forty years ; soil, stiff deep clay-loam ; distance apart, 15 

 feet ; height, 50 feet ; girth of trees at 3 feet from the ground, 5 

 feet ; cubic content, 30 feet. And the following is the value per 

 acre : — At 15 feet apart, 193 trees stand upon an acre, which, 

 multiplied by 30, the number of feet, gives = 5790 feet, which, 

 at 8d. per foot, is L.193. The latter sum divided by 40, gives 

 L.4, 16s. 2d. as the annual return. Similar ground lets at from 

 20s. to 25s. per acre. 



What enhances the value of poplar is the great demand for it 



