202 LONDON TREES 



to get torn away from the trunk in stormy weather, 

 while even during the hot and still summer day they 

 frequently snap across without warning. 



Three species are common in London, the Black 

 (P. nigra), the Aspen or Trembling Poplar (P. tremuld), 

 and the Necklace-bearing (P. moniliferd) . Other species , 

 particularly the White, Grey, and Balsam Poplars 

 (P. alba, P. canescens, and P. balsamiferd), may occa- 

 sionally be seen, but they are not common, though 

 thriving fairly well in heated and dusty parts of the 

 Metropolis. Of the Black Poplar, which was probably 

 introduced by the Romans, many specimens from 

 80 to 100 feet high are to be found, as by the lake in 

 St. James's Park, in Lincoln's Inn Fields, and through- 

 out the East End generally, especially the districts in 

 and around Poplar. In the churchyard of St. Botolph, 

 Aldersgate, as also at St. Giles-in-the-Fields, both 

 confined, smoky positions, goodly specimens of the 

 Poplar may be seen. Perhaps the best known of 

 London Poplars, on account of size and prominent 

 situation, is the old and gnarled specimen that is grow- 

 ing in the confined grounds of St. Andrew's Church, 

 Holborn. In passing along Holborn Viaduct this 

 Poplar is a conspicuous object, not only on account of 

 its giant proportions, but for its curiously shaped trunk, 

 which forms a complete arch or bend, and is supported 

 by a stout prop about 9 feet high at a distance of 

 12 feet from the original root. The stem girths 7 feet 

 at a yard from the ground, and the top, which divides 

 into four massive limbs, has a spread of 60 feet. In 

 Carlton Gardens are several large Poplars, but they 

 are much broken about and sadly out of place. 



Generally the Aspen, which is a truly indigenous 

 species, is a tall, straight-stemmed tree, with usually 



