the poplar. 21 



Propagation of the Pine and Fir Tribe by 

 Grafting. — The choice and rare sorts may be multi- 

 plied by grafting, using any of the common kinds for 

 stocks. The grafting must be done close to the ground 

 on small stocks in the early spring. Side- grafting 

 is the method best adapted for these classes. 



The Poplar. 



There are a great many varieties of this genus ; but 

 the P. Tremula, or Aspen, is, perhaps, the most useful as 

 timber. There is a very singular feature in connection 

 with this Poplar in which I have felt particularly 

 interested, in its differing from any other common tree. 

 When it is in leaf, let there be ever so slight a motion 

 in the air, when the leaves of all the other trees are 

 perfectly motionless, those of this tree are still on the 

 move in a singular way. This arises from the long- 

 footstalk of the leaf being attached to the middle of 

 the broad-shouldered leaf, which, being large in pro- 

 portion to the strength of the footstalk, is suspended in 

 a similar way to a kite ; and this peculiar construction 

 gives the slightest breeze power enough to cause a 

 vibration of the leaf from right to left and rice verm. 

 Looking at the tree from a distance, when there is (it 

 may be said) no wind, it looks like a thing affected by 

 some unnatural phenomenon. This Poplar is of very 

 rapid growth, and soon forms timber ; but this is of 

 little use, except in the dry, for such purposes as for the 

 rafters of houses, stables, granaries, &c. 



There is a striking illustration of the peculiarly 

 durable quality of the Poplar to be seen in a main 

 beam in a church at Thaxted, in Essex. I was in- 

 formed of it some years since, and it may possibly be 

 there now (1880). Upon this beam, which is large and 

 exposed to view, is written in bold type — 



" Let the heart of oak be ever so stout, 

 Keep me dry and I'll see him out." 



