DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 125 



appropriated to those public places most frequented by the 

 people : some ingenious authors have still further justified 

 the propriety of the name, by adding, that its trembling leaves 

 are like the populace, always in motion. 



The poplars are light-wooded, rapid-growing trees ; many 

 of them of huge size, and all with pointed, heart-shaped 

 leaves. The tassel-like catkins, or male blossoms, of a red or 

 brownish hue, appear early in the spring. Some of the 

 American kinds, as the Balsam and Balm of Gilead poplars, 

 have their buds enveloped in a fragrant gum ; others, as the 

 Silver poplar, or Abele, are remarkable for the snowy white- 

 ness of the under side of the foliage ; and the Lombardy 

 poplar, which 



" Shoots up its spire, and shakes its leaves in the sun," 



' Proctor. 



for its remarkably conical or spire-like manner of growth. 

 The leaves of all the species, being suspended upon long and 

 slender footstalks, are easily put in motion by the wind. 

 This, however, is peculiarly the case with the aspen, the 

 leaves of which may often be seen trembling in the slightest 

 breeze, when the foliage of the surrounding trees is motion- 

 less. There is a popular legend in Scotland respecting this 

 tree, which runs thus : 



" Far oiTinthe Hig-hland wilds 'lis said, 

 (But truth now laughs at fancy's lore,) 

 That of this tree the cross was made, 

 Which erst the Lord of Glory bore ; 

 And of that deed its leaves confess, 

 E'er since, a troubled consciousness."" 



In Landscape Gardening the poplar is not highly esteem- 

 ed; but it is a valuable tree when judiciously employed, and 

 produces a given quantity of foliage and shade sooner perhaps 



