30 TREE-PLANTING. 



extremely hardy. It will grow luxuriously in almost 

 any soil, and attain a considerable height while young, 

 in a dry and sandy soil, as well as a moist one. Its 

 roots spread on the surface of the ground, and there 

 is one objection attending its cultivation, which is, that 

 in many situations its tendency to produce suckers 

 from the root, when the vigour of the young tree 

 subsides in neglected grounds, causes it to form a 

 jungle around the trees. 



This Is not so much objected to in the Highlands, 

 and some parts of Germany and Sweden, as these 

 young shoots are greedily eaten by sheep and cattle 

 and so form an article of food not to be despised for 

 stock, being used both in a green and a dry state for 

 this purpose. This species is readily propagated by 

 cuttings from the roots, but not cuttings from the 

 branches, as is the case with many other kinds of 

 poplars. Plants one or two years transplanted from 

 layers, are generally from five to six feet high, when 

 they should be removed and planted in nursery lines. 

 The average growth of the aspen for the first ten 

 years is not less than three feet annually. These 

 trees can be made to assume a very ornamental 

 appearance in various situations. Standing by itself 

 on a lawn, it assumes a pendulous form. On the 

 outskirts of plantations its foliage makes a handsome 

 contrast to those of other trees, throughout the 

 summer being of a beautiful glaucous green, which is 

 changed by the first frosts of autumn into a more 

 mellowed hue, which ultimately turns to a bright 

 yellow, and by tasteful arrangement, it forms a 

 valuable aid in landscape embellishment. The 

 leaves are round and smooth, and standing in long 



