THE ASPEN 127 



(Smer'inthus po'puli) and the Continental Poplar 

 Butterfly (Limeni'tis po'puli), resembling our own 

 White Admiral. 



From its more spreading habit of growth the 

 Aspen has none of the formality in landscape effect 

 of the Lombardy Poplar, and, though useful, along 

 with its congener the Abele (Po'pulus al'ba L.), in 

 the marshy wood, it deserves a place in the fore- 

 ground of the copse bordering a lake or stream. A 

 row of Aspens in such a situation would prove very 

 effective, reflecting, as it were, in their quivering 

 leaves the ripple of the water at their feet. 



In open heathy glades in Epping Forest, where 

 careless or incendiary fires have laid bare the surface, 

 and where formerly the Birch only was wont to sow 

 itself, this species now springs freely. Its readily 

 dispersed plumed seeds may be derived originally 

 from cultivated specimens of the tree somewhere on 

 the borders of the woodland ; but, once sown, they are 

 certainly showing themselves capable of holding their 

 own. Similarly it is recorded that in 1813, after the 

 burning of Moscow, seedling Aspens sprang up over 

 the ruins of the whole city. 



The roots of the Aspen spread mostly at a small 

 distance below the surface of the moist ground in 

 which it delights, and it has thus but a slight power 

 of resisting wind. 



It has been suggested that the Grey Poplar (P. 

 canes'cens Sm.) may be a hybrid between the 

 Abele and the Aspen. It grows to the same size as 

 they do, but is of slower growth, and accordingly 

 Mr. James Crowe, of Lakcnham, Norfolk, who, about 



