272 On the Plantimj of Forest- Trees. 



ornamentj, it is but little affected by the most violent winds, and 

 therefore serves as an excellent screen for plantations of other 

 trees. It grows to a great size on most cool soils, but seems better 

 suited than most deciduous trees to the elevated plains of the 

 mountain limestone and other transition rocks, where it sometimes 

 grows to the height of 70 or 80 feet in very exposed situations. 

 Its wood is valuable to the turner for making bowds and other 

 domestic implements. On the Continent it is much used for 

 cabinet-work and the fabrication of violins and other musical in- 

 struments. It flowers in April and May, and is propagated by 

 seed, generally sown in the spring. 



The plane-tree (Pleitcoius Orientalis) is a native of the south 

 of Europe, and of Western and Central Asia, where it often attains 

 an enormous size, of which there are some remarkable speci- 

 jnens on the shores of the Bosphorus. The timber of this tree 

 is not considered valuable, and it is chiefly prized for its great 

 beauty as an ornamental tree. It succeeds well both in gravels 

 and clays, but grows with the greatest luxuriance in deep alluvial 

 soil and calcareous detritus. In the rich soil of a valley which 

 descends through the chalk in Dorsetshire, on the estate of Lord 

 Portman, I have seen two trees of this kind, which were said to 

 be 120 feet high, and are perhaps the finest in England. 



The acacia {Robinia or jjseiido- Acacia) is a native of North 

 America. This tree grows with great rapidity in its early stage, 

 putting forth fresh volumes of leaves through the summer ; but as 

 It advances in ao^e it abates much of this vi2:our, and at lenG:th 

 makes less progress than the oak. It appears to be best adapted 

 to sands, but will grow in almost every variety of soil that is not 

 wet. In America it is propagated with great facility by merely 

 severing the roots with a sharp spade ; numerous suckers s])ring 

 from the separated roots, and a thick wood is soon produced. It 

 is much given to send out strong branches near the ground, and 

 therefore requires the restraint of neighbouring trees, and to be 

 carefully attended with the pruning-knife. Its wood is exceed- 

 ingly hard, and almost imperishable. Very conflicting opinions 

 have been entertained of its value as a forest-tree, but it seems 

 w ell deserving the attention of the planter. It produces a beauti- 

 ful white flower in May and June. Tiie seeds are sown in March 

 and April. This tree should always be well sheltered, on account 

 of the extreme brittleness of its young boughs. 



The black Italian poplar (Poptdus nigra) is a very fast-growl- 

 ing tree, thrives well on all cool and moist soils, and produces more 

 wood in a given time than any other tree. Its value in this way 

 is so well appreciated in Italy, that it is a common practice for a 

 man to plant a number of them on the birth of each daughter, as 

 a provision for her dower; an admirable practice, and well de- 



