CHAP. CIII. SALICA CEH. PO/PULUS. 1675 
the greater difficulty that is found in propagating it. The tree is wild in Lower 
Canada, more particularly between Quebec and Hudson’s Bay ; and in various 
places between lat. 47° and 49°. It is not very common about Montreal ; and 
is rare on the shores of Lake Champlain. In Franklin’s First Journey, it is 
stated, that it is found as far north as the Great Slave Lake ; and that Macken- 
zie River has been named Riviére aux Liards, from the abundance of the tree in 
that quarter. It also constituted, Captain Franklin observes, “ the greatest part 
of the drift timber that we observed on the shores of the Arctic Sea. Its Cree 
name is Matheh-metoos, which means the ugly poplar.” (’irst Journey, &c., 
p. 753.) The balsam poplar was first brought from Canada to the Island of 
Jersey, and propagated there. Six of these plants were sent to Caroline, 
consort to George IL., in the year 1731, under the name of arbre de la reine 
One of these was given by the queen to Sir Hans Sloane; and, being planted 
in the Botanic Garden at Chelsea, it soon produced male catkins; but no 
female or hermaphrodite ones, till about the year 1760. This poplar was 
introduced into Scotland, according to Dr. Walker, in 1768, having been 
raised in a nursery-ground at Leith, in that year, from seeds sent from 
Canada. The wood of the tree is white and soft, and not used in the arts 
by the Canadians, according to Michaux; but Franklin observes that, though 
it burns badly, and gives little heat, when green, its ashes yield a large 
quantity of potash. The balsam from the buds used formerly to be sent 
from Canada, and other parts of North America, in shells, under the name of 
baume focot; having been collected from the trees in spring, when, in con- 
sequence of the heat, it is dissolved, and collects into drops on the points of 
the buds. It is of a smooth and even texture, and is soluble in spirits of wine. 
In Siberia, a medicated wine is prepared from the buds, which is diuretic, and 
considered serviceable in the scurvy. Pallas states that the grouse, and 
other birds of that family, that feed on the buds of this poplar during winter, 
have their flesh imbued with a grateful balsamic flavour. In Europe, the only 
application of this tree is to ornamental purposes ; and though, when it grows 
old and scrubby, it may merit the Cree name of “ ugly poplar,” yet, when 
young, few trees can be compared with it in the beginning of summer, either 
for the light rich yellow green of its foliage, or the fine balsamic odour which 
proceeds from both the leaves and the buds. In scenery of limited extent, 
and when the round-headed trees and buildings are comparatively small, or of 
medium size, the balsam poplar may be used for the same purposes as the 
Lombardy poplar. (See p. 1663.) The balsam poplar is readily propagated 
by suckers, which it sends up in abundance ; or by cuttings, which, however, 
do not strike so readily as those of the other poplars. It will grow in any 
soil, but it prefers one moist and rich, and a sheltered situation. 
Statistics. Recorded Trees. Near Edinburgh, in the pleasure-grounds of Craig Lockhart, a tree, 
planted in 1771, was, in 1798, 50ft. high, and had a trunk 4ft. in circumference at 4ft. from the 
It was at that time considered the oldest and finest balsam poplar in Scotland. (Walker's 
‘ssays. 
Existing Trees. _ In England, in Bedfordshire, at South Hill, it_is 50 ft. high, the diameter of the 
trunk 11in., and of the head 26 ft. ; in Hertfordshire, at Cheshunt, 6 years planted, it is 23 ft. high : 
in Monmouthshire, at Tredegar Park, 50 years old, it is 45 ft. high ; at Dowlais House, 15 years old, 
it is 20 ft. high: in Pembrokeshire, at Stackpole Court, 7 years planta, itis 20 ft. high ; in Stafford- 
shire, at Alton Towers, 4 years planted, it is 16 ft. high; in Yorkshire, at Hackress, 16 years planted, 
it is 14 ft. high. In Scotland, in the Experimental Garden, Inverleith, 9 years planted, it is 12 ft. high; 
in Banffshire, at Gordon Castle, it is 56 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 2 ft. Sin, ; in Clackman- 
nanshire, in the Garden of the Dollar Institution, it is 28 ft. high, diameter of the trunk 2} ft., and of 
the head 10ft.; in Fifeshire, at Danibristle Park, 16 years planted, it is 40ft. high ; in Forfarshire 
at Courtachy Castle, 18 years planted, it is 45 ft, high, diameter of the trunk 2 ft., and of the head 
7 ft; in Perthshire, in Messrs. Dickson and Turnbull's Nursery, Perth, 26 years planted, it is 48 ft. 
high. In Ireland, in Galway, at Coole, it is 36,ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 1ft. In the Isle 
of Jersey, in Saunders’s Nursery, 10 years planted, it is 14 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 7in., 
and of the head 12 ft. In Bavaria, at Munich, in the English Garden, 25 years old, it is 20 ft. high, 
the diameter of the trunk 9in., and of the head 8 ft. 
Commercial Statistics. Plants, in the London nurseries, 4 ft. high, are 
8s. per hundred; and of the new sweet-scented variety, 10s. per hundred. 
_ At Bollwyller, plants are 1 frane each; and at New York, 20 cents each. 
