10 REMARKS ON MR. MAJOR'S PAPER. 



against other Poplars, to which I will add the Lombardy, that 

 is, the Turin or Po-poplar (Populus dilatata), this tree my 

 late father condemned in every place he visited, more particu- 

 larly if planted in rows as they are frequently found ; the chief 

 objection to them is, their loftiness, they overpower every thing 

 about them. I have myself condemned them in every place 

 where I have had the honour of being consulted. In my pro- 

 fessional visit to Prussia in 1822, I found the palace of New 

 Hardenburg quite overpowered with a row of Turin Poplars, 

 and having appealed to the good taste of Prince Hardenberg, he 

 had them all taken down, and the building rose up with all its 

 grandeur. The magnificent palaces of the king of Prussia at 

 Berlin and Potsdam (each more than a thousand feet long) 

 are most wretchedly depressed by the rows of Turin Poplars 

 which appeared nearly twice the height of the buildings. 



Having fully condemned the Turin Poplar, I will give one 

 word in its favor, that is, it is useful in hiding any unsightly 

 object, but at the same time, I would plant other trees for future 

 effect, and when these trees begin to answer the purpose for 

 which they were intended, we can then take away the Poplars, 

 or perhaps leave a few of them with their heads taken off. I 

 do not mean that these Poplars are to be planted in rows, but in 

 irregular groups, and of different sizes. There is no general 

 rule in laying out grounds, as every place requires a different 

 treatment ; but generally speaking, I by no means recommend 

 planting the valleys, but on the contrary, to clear them of trees, 

 and plant the hills. 



Mr. Major concludes his observations by advising us by all 

 means " to keep out the frightful object, the black Italian Po- 

 plar," to which I may add the same to the Turin Poplar, which 

 disfigures the beautiful scenery of England. Yet upon visiting 

 my friend Mr. Nicholas at Hammersmith, I set my face against 

 the rows of Poplars in his grounds, but upon approaching those 

 near the pond, I found the trunks large and magnificent, and 

 may be truly admired, I think that if the heads of these had 

 been taken off, they would have been very much improved. 



There is a row of decidous trees facing the Thames, and be- 

 ing allowed by Mr. Nicholas to take down one tree only, we ob- 

 tained from the windows of the house, a fine view of the bend of 

 the river. 



.R .A .J 



