TULIP-BEARING LIRIODENDRON. 27 
in a deep, sandy loam, in a rather moist climate, in the West Riding in York- 
shire. 
The situation most favourable to this tree, is one which, while it is sheltered 
from high winds, is at the same time, sufficiently exposed to the light and air to 
admit of the maturation of its leaves on every side, and the perfect ripening of 
its wood, without which it can neither resist the severe frosts of winter, nor form 
blossom-buds. At Kinlet, in Worcestershire, England, there is a tulip-tree, in 
a sandy loam, and partially sheltered situation, the lower part of which always 
comes into leaf before the upper part has the least appearance of doing so. The 
lower part is sheltered by high ground, while the upper part is exposed to a 
strong west wind. It flowers freely, and has a splendid appearance at that sea- 
son, as also in autumn before it sheds its yellow leaves. If it were desired to grow 
the tulip-tree for the purpose of forming straight, clean timber, it should be placed 
in a close plantation, where one plant would draw upon another. 
Propagation and Culture. The Liriodendron tulipifera is seldom, if ever, 
propagated otherwise than by seeds, which come up best in very fine mould, or 
sandy loam, in a shady situation, kept rather moist ; but the varieties are, of 
course, multiplied by layers, budding, grafting, or inarching. When the seeds 
are sown in autumn, they generally come up in the following spring ; but, sown 
in spring, or the beginning of summer, they generally remain a year in the 
ground. In France, and occasionally in England, the obtuse-lobed variety is 
raised by layers, or inarching; but, in either case, it requires two or three years 
before the plant can be separated from the parent stock. The tulip-tree, like 
the magnolias, having roots furnished with but few fibres, does not transplant 
readily ; and therefore, the plant ought either to be kept in pots, or, if in the free 
ground, transplanted into the nursery every year ; or, if neither of these modes 
be practicable, they should be removed to their final situation, when not more 
than two, or at most, three years old. The progress of growth of young trees, 
in England, in favourable situations, has been at the rate of sixteen feet in ten 
years. 
Bisects. From the bitter qualities of its leaves, the Liriodendron tulipifera 
does not seem to be much attacked by insects. In Smith and Abbot's " Insects 
of Georgia," it is stated, that the Phalcena liriodendraria, or tulip-tree butterfly, 
feeds upon it. The insect went into the ground in Georgia, May 15th, came out 
the 5th of June; others, which went in the 11th of July, came forth on the 1st 
of August. The moth sits on the bodies of the trees, but is not very common. 
Properties and Uses. The timber of the Liriodendron tulipifera, though classed 
among light woods, is yet, much heavier than that of the common poplar ; its 
grain is equally fine, but more compact, and the wood is easily wrought, and 
polishes well. When dry, a cubic foot weighs twenty-five pounds. It affords 
excellent charcoal, the product of which, from dry wood, is twenty -two per cent. 
The heart-wood, when separated from the sap, and perfectly seasoned, long 
resists the influence of the air, and is rarely attacked by insects. Its greatest 
defect, when employed in wide boards, and exposed to the weather, is, that it is 
liable to shrink and warp, by the alternations of moisture and dryness ; but this 
defect is, in a great measure, compensated by its other properties, and may be, 
in part, owing to its not being allowed sufficient time to be properly seasoned. 
The nature of the soil on which it grows, has so striking an influence upon the 
colour, and quality of this wood, that mechanics distinguish it by the names of 
White Poplar and Yellow Poplar. The external appearances which mark these 
varieties are so equivocal, that they can only ascertain to which of them a tree 
belongs, by cutting it. It is known, in general, that the white poplar grows in 
dry, gravelly, and elevated places ; and is recognized, too, by its branchy sum- 
mit, and by the small proportion which the light yellow heart- wood bears to 
