ORNAMENTAL PLANTING. 137 



Babylonica, or weeping willow. It adorned the banks of the Euphrates in 

 the days of prophecy, and has been rendered memorable by its connexion 

 with the captivity of the house of Israel. As might have been expected 

 from its Assyrian origin, it is somewhat tender, and in high situations is 

 liable to be injured by spring frosts. Nothing can exceed its beauty when 

 properly applied. Hanging over a rock, jutting from a promontory, or 

 reclining over an urn, few objects in nature more delight the eye of taste. 

 The common white willow, (Salix alba,) is a tree also of great beauty, 

 but strangely overlooked, being generally degraded most unworthily to 

 the condition of a pollard. It grows, when indulged with its favourite 

 situation, a deep rich soil by the side of water, to a very large size ; and so 

 placed, we have seen it attract great notice by the fine contrast between 

 its slender silvery leaves, and the dark foliage, and dense masses of the 

 oaks and beeches which crowned the adjoining heights. Such an 

 example is to be found on the banks of the lake at the Grange in 

 Hampshire, the magnificent seat of A. Baring, Esq. 



No other species of willow is of equal importance in ornamental plant- 

 ing; but the POPLAR tribe must not be overlooked. Amongst its species, 

 the most important, as an ornamental tree, is also the one which, because 

 it is of the most common, hacknied occurrence, has hardly escaped the 

 reproach of vulgarity. Yet how beautiful is the spiral Lombardy poplar 

 when judiciously used, and when, being planted in rich deep soil, and forced 

 into something like the bulk which it reaches in its native climate, it is 

 tastefully contrasted with large trees oft rounded forms, and its clear fine 

 green at the same time brought into opposition with their heavier tints ! 

 Next in point of ornament is the English black poplar. The aspen derives 

 some interest from its tremulous leaves, agitated by the slightest breath of 

 wind ; the Canadian poplar from its habit intermediate between the pyra- 

 midal Lombardy poplar, and the spreading black poplar ; and the Ontario 

 poplar, lately introduced, from its very ample leaves and singular rapidity of 

 growth. The other species are rather subjects for a general collection, and 

 cannot be described as decidedly trees of ornament ; but the very rapid 

 growth of the black Italian poplar, which is not a native of Italy, nor a 

 variety of Populus nigra, but an indigenous North American species, fits 

 it, in a peculiar manner, for many purposes of ornamental planting. The 

 hornbeam can scarcely be deemed an ornamental tree, yet, where indi- 

 viduals of small growth are requisite, it may be advantageously employed. 

 Its varieties are curious in foliage, and are more graceful than their type. 



The few deciduous trees which remain for us to mention are rather garden 

 than park trees, and require every advantage of soil, shelter, and protection : 

 among these the genus Magnolia stands pre-eminent. Three species only 

 can be considered as trees in this climate, and one of them, (M. grancli- 

 flora,) the loveliest tree perhaps of temperate climates, whether for its lucid 

 foliage, or its superb and fragrant flowers, though growing in its native 

 climes to the stature of eighty feet, with us is a small tree, under twenty 

 feet in height, not reaching even this elevation except in sheltered spots, 

 and within the protection and reflected heat of walls. M. acuminata, 

 a deciduous tree, not gifted, as most of its race, with showy or fragrant 

 flowers, possesses a splendid leaf, is much hardier than M. grandiflora, 

 and grows in England to be a larger and loftier tree. M. auriculata, 

 strictly a garden tree, is slender in form, spiral in habit, and elegant 

 in foliage, every branch being terminated, in a healthy specimen, with a 

 handsome and fragrant flower. The other hardy species, except per- 

 haps Magnolia conspicua, are rather large shrubs than trees, though, 

 under favourable circumstances, some of them reach to considerable 



