1648 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART It}. 
very fine appearance, either when planted singly, or on the margins of woods ; 
from its fine, round, and somewhat pendulous head, the beautiful glaucous 
green of its leaves, and, above all, by their perpetual trembling. The shade 
of all the poplars is considered more wholesome than that of any other tree ; 
and that of this species is thought better than any of the others. The great 
drawback to the tree, when planted singly on lawns or pastures, or in hedge- 
rows, is the number of suckers which it throws up; and which, if not eaten 
down by cattle, or mown, would soon turn a whole country into an aspen 
forest. Perhaps it might be grafted on P. nigra, which does not throw up 
suckers, or possibly on some kind of willow. 
Poetical and legendary Allusions. The constant quivering of the aspen 
leaves has rendered the tree a favourite subject of allusion to the modern” 
poets, and others, who have wished to find a comparison for anything in 
constant motion. One of the most curious superstitions respecting this tree 
is that of the Highlanders, who believe that the cross of Christ was made of 
it, and that, consequently, it can never rest. This, however, as Miss Kent 
observes, can hardly apply to the leaves, as the cross could not have been 
made of them; but perhaps, she adds, “they struggle to escape from the 
wicked wood on which they grow.” (Syl. Sketches, p.31.) Gerard compares 
the leaves to women’s tongues, “ which seldom cease wagging.” 
The following are some of the principal poetical allusions to the aspen: — 
** His hand did quake 
And tremble like a leaf of aspen green.” / 
SPENSER. 
* A perfect calm ; that not a breath 
Is heard to quiver through the closing woods, 
Or rustling turn the many-twinkling leaves 
Of aspen tall.” 
THOMPSON. 
Sir W. Scott has many allusions to this tree; particularly in the well- 
known lines, — 
** Oh, woman! insour hours of ease 
Uncertain, coy, and hard to please, 
And variable as the shade 
By the light quivering aspen made, 
When pain or sicknesss rends the brow, 
A ministering angel thou.” 
Soil, Situation, §c. As the roots of this tree chiefly extend close under 
the surface of the ground, it is not necessary that the soil shouid be deep ; 
but, for the same reason, it ought to be loamy, rich rather than poor, and con- 
stantly moist. Hence, also, this tree is better adapted for soils that are con- 
stantly wet below, than almost any other tree, since its roots, by keeping so very 
near the surface, are never out of the reach of the air, which they would be 
if they penetrated into soil perpetually saturated with water. The conditions 
which this tree requires in respect to soil are found in moist woods, where 
the shade of the tree diminishes evaporation, and where the annual fall and 
decay of the leaves produce a constant supply of leaf-mould. The next 
most favourable situation is an open moist meadow, in which the tree, being 
freely.exposed to the light and air on every side, attains its largest size, and 
assumes its finest form. In dry soils, the tree will live for many years, but 
never either attain a large size, or display its foliage to advantage. When 
planted in masses by itself, the trees may be placed at the distance from each 
other of 6 ft. or 8 ft. every way ; and such a plantation, on a suitable soil, 
will have attained perfection in 50 or 60 years, and may be cut down as 
timber. After felling, the shoots seldom push vigorously; but the abundant 
suckers from the roots will produce a second crop of timber, if that should 
be considered advisable. Treated as a coppice-wood, it may be cut down 
every 7 or 8 years, for faggot-wood ; and, for poles, every 15 or 20 years. 
When mixed with other trees in a timber plantation, the most suitable sorts 
to plant with it are said to be the oak and the beech. 
