68 THE POPLAR. 



depend, is contrary to the nature of footstalks in gene- 

 ral, being perfectly flattened, and, as an eminent botanist 

 and esteemed gentleman, Dr. I. Stokes, observes, is 

 placed at a right angle with the leaf, being thus 

 peculiarly fitted to receive the impulse of every wind 

 that blows. This stalk is furnished with three strong 

 erves, placed parallel, and acting in unison with each 

 ther; but towards the bi.se the stalk becomes round, 

 and then the nerves assume a triangular form, and con- 

 stitute three distinct supports and counteractions to each 

 other's motions. I know no petiole with a similar con- 

 formation, or better calculated for the vibration of a 

 leaf. The leaf-stalks of plants are very curious construc- 

 tions ; and the nerves and vessels contained in them, 

 which are the vehicles of a large portion of that nour- 

 ishment which plants receive through their foliage from 

 the air, seem in general differently placed, and fitted 

 for variety of operation. The poplar is a tree that oc- 

 casions at times a great deal of trouble in our pasture 

 lands, by the tendency which it has to extend its roots, 

 and throw out suckers. Three or four of this species 

 in a hedge-row, bounding a meadow in my occupation, 

 oblige me every year that the field is mowed, by their 

 prolificacy, to send a man with his stock-ax to remove 

 their numerous offspringing; amere temporary expedient, 

 tending rather to increase the complaint, as eradication 

 by trenching with the spade can alone effectually check 

 the encroachments of runners so tenacious of life, and 

 rapid in growth. 



The dyer's broom* (genista tinctoria^ abounds with 

 us, and becomes a perfect encumbrance in our clay-land 

 pastures. It is seldom eaten by cattle, except in cases 

 of great necessity, and remains untouched, if other food 

 be obtainable, giving a deceitful appearance of verdure 

 to a naked pasture. It yet retains a place in some of 

 our dispensatories ; but its medicinal virtues are prob- 

 ably never made trial of in modern practice, the lenient 

 assuasives of our forefathers seeming unequal to conten- 

 tion with the constitutions of these days. I know not 

 any use to which it is applicable but for the dyer. Our 

 poorer people a few years ago used to collect it by cart- 



* See note F, appendix. 



