172 AMENTACE^ 



called by one of its ancient Arabic names, Haur or Ilor, which is the word 

 nsed in the Arabic translation of the passage in Hosea. 



Whether this Poplar is, or is not, truly indigenous to this country, it 

 is now very generally distributed. It is a native of most European countries, 

 and is usually found in woods and thickets in which the soil is somewhat 

 moist. Turner, writing in 1568, says that the White Aspe is plentiful in 

 Germany and Italy, but that he does not remember ever seeing it in England; 

 but Gerarde, who published his Herbal about thirty years after, remarked 

 that it grew in a few places in the kingdom ; and Evelyn says that the tree 

 had of late been much transplanted from Holland. It does not flower in 

 Scotland. 



This Poplar is in some country places called Rattler, from the quick 

 movement of its leaves. Its young buds have in spring-time a very pleasant 

 balsamic odour, and afford a resinous substance resembling storax ; but this 

 is yielded in far greater quantity by the Canadian Balsam Poplar, and is 

 used medicinally. Several attempts have been made to manufacture paper 

 from the white cottony seed-tufts, and cloth has been made fi'oni it. Pallas 

 endeavoured to prove that the cotton was of equal worth to that of the 

 cotton-plant, but it is far inferior. Thin slips of Poplar-wood, called in 

 France SjMrierre, are woven into those delicate bonnets so commonly worn 

 on bridal occasions, and known as chip l)onnets hy ladies. The leaves of the 

 tree are, in Sweden, eaten ]jy cattle. 



The ancients believed that amber was formed of the clammy substance 

 which dropped from the Poplars into the river. Hence our old poets refer 

 to this idea ; and Prior says : — 



" For thee the Poplar shall its amber drain." 



Ancient poets also described Hercules as wearing a wreath of White Poplar, 

 and those who offered sacrifices to this hero placed its leaves around their 

 brows. The tree is much used on the Continent for planting by the sides 

 of roads, for its foliage does not prevent the access of light and air, while it 

 is very ornamental when mingling with the dark-leaved Black Poplar and 

 the grey tint of the Willows. In some parts of France it also grows wild 

 in forests, so abundantly as to give a peculiar character to the scenery. Its 

 wood, like that of all the Poplars, is well suited for heating ovens, and it is 

 largely so used in France, where the Parisian baker knows it as his bois blanc. 

 The wood of this species is not so hard as that of the Grey Poplar, and is 

 chiefly used for coarser work, or in the manufacture of children's toys. 



2. Grey Poplar (P. canesceiis). — Leaf-buds downy, but not clammy ; 

 leaves roundish, deeply waved, toothed, lobed only when young, hoary and 

 downy beneath, old ones sometimes smooth ; stigmas 8, purple ; scales of 

 catkins deeply cut. This tree, though a doubtful native, is common in 

 several parts of this kingdom, especially in Norfolk, in wet meadows, and 

 also on dry heathy places. The authors of the "British Flora" remark, that 

 it is usually confounded with the last on account of its downy leaves, though 

 Dr. Bromfield regards it as a variety of the Aspen. It is a tall and hand- 

 some tree, with the usual graceful motion of the tribe when stirred by the 

 wind ; the under surface of its leaves is of a greyish tint, and not quite of 



