THE POPLAR IN TOWNS. 27 



which is wearisome to the eye. Judiciously placed in 

 landscape gardening, it forms, however, a very elegant 

 and striking object, when mixed with masses of round- 

 headed forest trees, when it helps greatly to diversify 

 the scene. As shelter the tree is unequalled. It soon 

 attains a great height, and forms a good screen, while 

 its shade is very harmless to crops growing near them. 

 A few poplars planted in the neighbourhood of out- 

 buildings very often redeem an otherwise ugly feature, 

 and diversify the regularity of the sky line. 



As a town tree it is one of the best which can be 

 selected, as it grows in a narrow space, and will stand 

 smoke almost better than any other tree ; while 

 growing rapidly, it soon assumes a distinct form, and 

 attains a greater altitude than any other tree in a 

 limited period. It will grow vigorously in any soil 

 when young, and is therefore particularly valuable 

 where trees are wanted to make a show in a short 

 space of time, but to attain their fullest dimensions, 

 the soil must be rich and deep, and water within 

 reach of their roots. Fences are formed out of this 

 tree on the Continent, by inserting two-year old plants, 

 which are commonly six or seven feet in height, in a 

 straight line, about six inches apart, connected by a 

 horizontal rod placed at a height of about a yard 

 from the ground, forming a fence in one season. The 

 plants are lopped in the course of time, and eventually 

 thinned out when they begin to attain the size of 

 timber. 



Necklace-bearing, or Black Italian Poplar (P. 

 monilifera), sometimes called the Canadian poplar. 

 This is a very fast-growing tree, and on wild and 

 rocky ground even, on the margins of lakes between 



