CHAP. CJII. SALICA^CEJE. PO'PULUS. 1675 



the greater difficult} that is found in propagating it. The tree is wild in Lower 

 Canada, more particularly between Quebec and Hudson's Bay ; and in various 

 places between lat. 47 and 49. It is not very common about Montreal j and 

 is rare on the shores of Lake Champlain. In Franklin's First Journey, it is 

 stated, that it is found as far north as the Great Slave Lake ; and that Macken- 

 zie River has been named Riviere aux Liards, from the abundance of the tree in 

 that quarter. It also constituted, Captain Franklin observes, " the greatest part 

 of the drift timber that we observed on the shores of the Arctic Sea. Its Cree 

 name is Matheh-metoos, which means the ugly poplar." (First Journey, &c., 

 p. 753.) The balsam poplar was first brought from Canada to the Island of 

 Jersey, and propagated there. Six of these plants were sent to Caroline, 

 consort to George II., in the year 1731, under the name of arbre de la reine 

 One of these was given by the queen to Sir Hans Sloane ; and, being planted 

 in the Botanic Garden at Chelsea, it soon produced male catkins ; but no 

 female or hermaphrodite ones, till about the year 1760. This poplar was 

 introduced into Scotland, according to Dr. Walker, in 1768, having been 

 raised in a nursery-ground at Leith, in that year, from seeds sent from 

 Canada. The wood of the tree is white and soft, and not used in the arts 

 by the Canadians, according to Michaux; but Franklin observes that, though 

 it burns badly, and gives little heat, when green, its ashes yield a large 

 quantity of potash. The balsam from the buds used formerly to be sent 

 from Canada, and other parts of North America, in shells, under the name of 

 baume focot ; having been collected from the trees in spring, when, in con- 

 sequence of the heat, it is dissolved, and collects into drops on the points of 

 the buds. It is of a smooth and even texture, and is soluble in spirits of wine. 

 In Siberia, a medicated wine is prepared from the buds, which is diuretic, and 

 considered serviceable in the scurvy. Pallas states that the grouse, and 

 other birds of that family, that feed on the buds of this poplar during winter, 

 have their flesh imbued with a grateful balsamic flavour. In Europe, the only 

 application of this tree is to ornamental purposes ; and though, when it grows 

 old and scrubby, it may merit the Cree name of " ugly poplar," yet, when 

 young, few trees can be compared with it in the beginning of summer, either 

 for the light rich yellow green of its foliage, or the fine balsamic odour which 

 proceeds from both the leaves and the buds. In scenery of limited extent, 

 and when the round-headed trees and buildings are comparatively small, or of 

 medium size, the balsam poplar may be used for the same purposes as the 

 Lombardy poplar. (Seep. 1663.) The balsam poplar is readily propagated 

 by suckers, which it sends up in abundance ; or by cuttings, which, however, 

 do not strike so readily as those of the other poplars. It will grow in any 

 soil, but it prefers one moist and rich, and a sheltered situation. 



Statistics. Recorded Trees. Near Edinburgh, in the pleasure-grounds of Craig Lockhart, a tree, 

 planted in 1771, was, in 1798, 50ft. high, and had a trunk 4 ft. in circumference at 4ft. from the 

 ground. It was at that time considered the oldest and finest balsam poplar in Scotland. ( Walker's 

 Essays.) 



Existing Trees. In England, in Bedfordshire, at South Hill, itis 50 ft. high, the diameter of the 

 trunk 11 in., and of the head 26 ft. ; in Hertfordshire, at Cheshunt, 6 years planted, it is 23ft. high : 

 in Monmouthshire, at Tredegar Park, 50 years old, it is 45 ft. high ; at Dowlais House, 15 years old, 

 it is 20ft. high in Pembrokeshire, at Stackpole Court, 7 years planted, it is 20 ft. high ; in Stafford- 

 shire, at Alton Towers, 4 years planted, it is 16 ft. high ; in Yorkshire, at Hackress, 16 years planted, 

 it is 14 ft. high. In Scotland, in the Experimental Garden, Inverleith, 9 years planted, it is 12 ft. high; 

 in Banffshire, at Gordon Castle, it is 56 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 2 ft. 3 in. ; in Clackman- 

 nanshire, in the Garden of the.Dollar Institution, it is 28 ft. high, diameter of the trunk 2j ft, and of 

 the head 10ft. ; in Fifeshire, at Danibristle Park, 16 years planted, it is 40ft. high ; in Forfarshire, 

 at Courtachy Castle, 18 years planted, it is 45ft. high, diameter of the trunk 2ft., and of the head 

 7 ft ; in Perthshire, in Messrs. Dickson and TurnbuU's Nursery, Perth, 26 years planted, it is 48ft 

 high. In Ireland, in Galway, at Coole, it is 36jft high, the diameter of the trunk 1 ft In the Isle 

 of Jersey, in Saunders's Nursery, 10 years planted, it is 14 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 7 in 

 and of the head 12ft. In Bavaria, at Munich, in the English Garden, 25 years old, it is 20ft high 

 the diameter of the trunk 5) in., and of the head 8ft. 



Commercial Statistics. Plants, in the London nurseries, 4ft. high, are 

 tis. per hundred; and of the new sweet-scented variety, 10s. per hundred. 

 At Bollwyller, plants are 1 franc each ; and at New York, 20 cents each. 



