158 SYLVICULTURAL NOTES ON 



Poplar. 



The following species are often grown or are found in 

 British woods : 



The Black poplar (Populus nigra). 



The Black Italian poplar (Popitlus canadensis). 



The Lombardy poplar (Populus pyramidalis}. 



The White poplar (Populus alba]. 



The Grey poplar (Populus canescens). 



The Aspen (Populus tremula). 



Of these the Black and the Black Italian poplars are the 

 most profitable timber trees. They grow rapidly, and will 

 give large-sized timber at from forty to fifty years of age. 

 They should be planted on a good, deep, moist soil in 

 sheltered positions, but large trees will also be obtained on 

 poor soils if situated on a sloping bank where there is plenty 

 of moisture. The Black Italian is the more accommodating of 

 the two as to soil. 



The Lombardy poplar is not a forest-tree, and is chiefly 

 used for providing shelter, as when planted closely in a line it 

 soon forms a tall hedge. 



The White and Grey poplars provide timber very suitable 

 for match-making or any other industry requiring a light and 

 soft wood. They thrive best in moist sandy loams and in 

 sheltered situations, but the grey poplar is very accommodating 

 and will grow to a large size on many different soils, while 

 the white poplar does well on clays. Both these trees are 

 best raised from suckers. 



The Aspen is very hardy, and will grow in most soils and 

 situations ; it comes up naturally in many woods, and often 

 becomes a troublesome weed in plantations of more valuable 

 species owing to the great number of suckers it produces. 



As a whole the poplars are hardy trees and light-demanders; 

 they prefer moist soils and situations sheltered from wind, 

 and are useful for planting up damp hollows and along the 



