THE POPLAR. 57 



others ; the employment is not only conducive to health 

 and peace of mind, but probably more good-will has 

 arisen, and friendships been founded by the intercourse 

 and communication connected with this pursuit than 

 from any other whatsoever : the pleasures, the ecstasies 

 of the horticulturist are harmless and pure ; a streak, 

 a tint, a shade, becomes his triumph, which though 

 often obtained by chance, are secured alone by morning 

 care, by evening caution, and the vigilance of days : an 

 employ which, in its various grades, excludes neither 

 the opulent nor the indigent, and teeming with bound- 

 less variety, affords an unceasing excitement to emula- 

 tion without contempt or ill-will. 



The bouquet may be an exile now ; but the revolutions 

 of fashion will surely return this beautiful ornament to 

 favor again. With us the nosegay yet retains its station 

 as a decoration to our Sunday beaux ; but at our spring 

 clubs and associations it becomes an essential, indis- 

 pensable appointment ; a little of the spirit of rivalry 

 seeming to animate our youths in the choice and mag- 

 nitude of this adornment. The superb spike of a Brornp- 

 ton, -or a ten weeks' stock, long cherished in some shel- 

 tered corner for the occasion, surrounded by all the 

 gaiety the garden can afford, till it presents a very bush 

 of flowers, forms the appendage of their bosoms, and, 

 with the gay knots in their hats, their best garments, 

 and the sprightly hilarity of their looks, constitutes a 

 pleasing village scene, aud gives an hour of unencum- 

 bered felicity to common man and rural life, not yet 

 disturbed by refinement and taste. 



" Oh, who can hold a fire in his hand 

 By thinking on the frosty Caucasus?" . 



And yet the shivering of the aspen, or poplar tree (popu- 

 lus tremula), in the breeze will give us the sensation 

 of coldness, and communicate an involuntary shudder- 

 ing. The construction of the foliage of this tree is pe- 

 culiarly adapted for motion : a broad leaf placed upon 

 a long footstalk, so flexile, as scarcely to be able to sup- 

 port the leaf in an upright posture : the upper part of 

 this stalk, on which the play or action seems mainly to 



