TREE FORMS. 



47 



cases lie considers to be an element in a picturesque 

 effect ; but this feature cannot possibly be other 

 than a ' natural appearance.' 



The Poplars are an interesting group, well 

 worthy of some attention. Amongst the family 

 no individual is more deserving of notice than 

 the Lombardy Poplar (pages 52, 128, and 144). 

 Its tall, straight, and pointed stem, and its ac- 

 companiment of branches closely attached to, and 

 abundantly produced all around it, give it a coni- 

 cal figure, which is strikingly and conspicuously 

 prominent. Oftentimes the branches commence 

 to grow almost from the very base of the stem, 

 and it is their clustering habit arid their habit of 

 growing at so sharp an angle from the trunk of the 

 tree that gives the Lombardy Poplar so remarkable 

 an appearance. The clothing of branches is con- 

 tinued from the base to the very apex of the stem, 

 but they never attain to a size which warrants 

 their being called limbs ; and as it is seldom the 

 habit of the tree to fork, and each branch is 

 invested, on the same principle as the stem is 

 clothed, with smaller branches, all of which make 

 sharp angles with the trunk, the denseness and 



