1662 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



1749; and, judging from the trees between Carlsruhe and Durlach, it must 

 have found its way about the same time into Germany. The first trees im- 

 ported into France were planted on the banks of the canal of Montargis ; 

 and the first avenue formed in Germany was that between Carlsruhe and Dur- 

 lach, described in p. 147. Extensive avenues of this tree have since been 

 planted in France, Belgium, and Germany. Every traveller in Prussia must 

 have observed those in the neighbourhood of Berlin. According to the Hortus 

 Kewensis, it was introduced into England about 1758, by the Earl of Roch- 

 ford, from Turin, where he was ambassador ; and he planted it at St. Osyth's, 

 in Essex, in which county this poplar is said still to go by his name. Dr. 

 Walker states that cuttings of the Lombardy poplar were first brought to 

 London by the Earl of Hertford, in the year 1763; and, according to others, 

 the plant was first imported as part of the package of some statuary, sent to 

 Whitton, for the Duke of Argyll, who began to plant in 1720, and died in 

 1761. (See p. 57.) Cuttings from the trees raised by Lord Hertford were 

 sent to New Posso, in Tweeddale, in 1765; and the tree was also extensively 

 distributed in Scotland, some years afterwards, by Lord Gardenstone, who 

 brought the cuttings direct from Italy (See his Travelling Memorandums.} 

 The tree has since been generally planted throughout Europe, chiefly as an 

 avenue, or roadside, tree ; or as an ornamental tree among houses in towns; 

 but in part, also, for its timber. 



Properties and Uses. The wood, according to Manetti, is inferior to that of P. 

 nigra ; but it will do very well for packing-cases. The branches, he adds, are 

 of very little use either for fuel or vine-props ; and, in consequence, its culture 

 as a useful tree in Lombardy is now very generally abandoned in favour of that of 

 P. nigra. (Gard. Mag., vol. xii. p. 570.) When Arthur Young travelled in Italy, 

 he found that the Lombardy poplar grew to the height of 40 ft. in 8 years ; and 

 that in 12 years it was fit to cut down for building purposes. Rafters, small 

 beams, studs, boards, &c., brushed over with coal tar and brick-dust, laid on 

 hot, have stood sixteen years without the least decay. In twenty years, he 

 says, the tree will produce a trunk 2 ft. in diameter, which, being cut down, is 

 sawn green into thin boards, in. or a -in. in thickness, for packing-cases, 

 and similar uses. All the vessels in which grapes were carried home from 

 the vineyards were formerly made of Lombardy poplar planks, about 2 in. 

 thick ; but they are now formed of the wood of P. nigra. Such vessels 

 last 30 or 40 years ; and, in consequence of their lightness, are manageable, 

 however large and long they may be. A 4-wheeled cart is, in general, 

 covered with one of them ; and it contains about 15 cwt. of grapes. In 

 France, both the Lombardy and black Italian poplars are formed into 

 fences by being planted when the plants are about 6 ft. high, in lines 

 6 in. apart. The stems are connected by a horizontal rod, about 3 ft. 

 from the ground ; and a fence is thus produced the first season. After the 

 trees composing the fence have grown five or six years, they are cut down, and 

 afford a very considerable bulk of timber, fit for slight agricultural buildings, 

 fencing, and fuel. In some cases, the trees, instead of being cut down, are 

 thinned, and those that remain are suffered to attain a timber-like size, not 

 being cut down till the expiration of eighteen or twenty years ; but this mode 

 is only followed when the fields enclosed are of such a size as not to be 

 injured by the shade of the trees. 



In Britain, the great use of the Lombardy poplar is as a tree for planting 

 among houses, and where it is required to form a contrast with round-headed 

 trees in ornamental plantations. It is admirably adapted for planting in 

 streets, and among houses in towns and villages ; from the little space occu- 

 pied by its branches, which are compressed about the trunk, so as not to 

 interfere with the walls, nor to obstruct the access of light to the windows. 

 The next best poplars for this purpose are the balsam and Ontario poplars ; 

 and the observations which we are about to quote in favour of the use of the 

 Lombardy poplar in scenery will also apply, in some degree, to these two 

 species. The employment of the Lombardy poplar for contrasting with 



