PRUNUS 105 



railway wagons, carts for conveying stones, turnery, 

 brakes, floor planking, and largely for packing-cases 

 and boxes. Comparatively speaking, Poplar is not 

 a valuable timber, though since the war the price has 

 in some instances been doubled. As a London tree 

 the Poplar is of value as being able to succeed in the 

 poorest of soil and in the most confined and smoky 

 situations. 



The Poplars are propagated chiefly by cuttings 

 or, as in the case of the Aspen, White and Grey species, 

 from suckers which are usually produced in abundance. 

 In an open, free soil the cuttings root freely, and are 

 ready for planting out when two or three years old, 

 according to the height of plants required. 



The Poplars thrive best in a light, dampish loam, 

 but being hardy and accommodating they are often 

 found of large size on soils of very opposite 

 descriptions. 



Prunus 



SEVERAL species of Prunus are amongst the most 

 cherished and beautiful of London trees. The 

 Purple Plum (P. Pissardi) is a remarkable and hand- 

 some small-growing tree in which the leaves are of 

 a vinous purple colour, which it retains the whole 

 season through, while it is of vigorous growth and well 

 suited for town planting. Even in the most crowded 

 and smoky parts of London the Purple-leaved Plum 

 grows freely, and is valued alike for its beautiful 

 leafage and the colour of the bark, which is at all 

 times shining dark red, indeed frequently a deep 

 blood-red. It is a much-branched tree with ascending 



