THE CULTIVATED POPLARS. 229 



that our importation is hardier than the one seen around St. Paul. 

 We call it the Russian Lombardy. It is a much nobler tree than 

 the variety from the Po valley, as its top is not so thin and spiry, 

 and its foliage is thicker and darker. We have not talked about 

 this poplar for the reason that its timber has no relative value. 

 Yet it fills a place in landscape gardening not taken by any other 

 tree." 



The various merits of the Lombardy poplar which is the most 

 familiar tree of the genus have been already discussed. It has 

 been planted too freely, but it is gradually dying out in the east, 

 and time will no doubt eliminate its offensiveness in the landscape. 

 There is said to be a form of the Lombardy with variegated leaves, 

 but I hope that it will not find its way into this country. A tree 

 which is already over-bold would be impertinent with a painted 

 foliage. " Planted as it was a hundred, or even fifty years ago, 

 in all possible situations, without regard to its surroundings or to 

 the positions in which it was placed, it did more, perhaps," says 

 Garden and Forest, ' than any tree which has ever been planted, 

 especially in some parts of Europe, to disfigure the landscape. 

 There is no tree, however, which can take its place, or which can 

 so quickly send up a tall, slender shaft to break a low or monot- 

 onous sky line. It became an unpleasant feature in the landscape 

 only when it was used without judgment and without discretion." 



GROUP II. ASPENS and WHITE POPLARS, with short non-glu- 

 tinous often pubescent buds. 



8. Populus Tremula (lyinnaeus, Sp. PI. 1034). EUROPEAN 

 ASPEN. Figs, n, 13. An open-headed, light-leaved tree, 

 common throughout Europe, and occasionally cultivated in this 

 country, especially in its weeping form. Leaves small and thin 

 round-oval, more or less whitened beneath, especially when 

 young, bordered with deep and rounded incurved teeth. Leaf 

 buds small. The leaf-stalks are long and slender and flattened, 

 giving a restless motion to the foliage. 



The weeping form of the European aspen is perhaps the best 

 weeping tree amongst the poplars. The spray is light, airy, and 

 fountain-like, quite unlike the more common weeping forms of 

 our native Populus grandidentata, which present a stiff weeping 

 aspect, a combination which is rarely pleasing. The lightness 



