The Athenian Poplar. 4 1 1 



in a situation to plant this Athenian Poplar largely, I am 

 anxious to know of those who have older trees of the same 

 sort, whether, as a useful timber tree, its qualities, in their 

 actual experience, rank it as high as Mr. White predicates. 

 In the paper I refer to, the Athenian Poplar is said to be a 

 native of the islands of the Archipelago, the first of which 

 was cultivated by Hugh, Duke of Northumberland, in the 

 year 1779. " Perhaps," says the writer, " there is no deci- 

 duous tree so beautiful, or so proper for pleasure grounds 

 intended for ornament and shade, having a fine upright stem, 

 the branches well disposed, the bark smooth and of a silvery 

 hue, resembling satin wood. The leaves, which are of alight 

 green, are produced very early in the spring, and are retained 

 on the tree longer than on any deciduous tree in this country, 

 not falling off till late in the autumn ; they are never blighted 

 nor infested with insects, nor does it lose a leaf during; the 

 whole summer. It is of quicker growth in dry upland, than 

 any tree we are acquainted with in this climate." The writer 

 then mentions that there are two sorts, the one (grafted) of 

 little value, and concludes by stating that " the other has made 

 a rapid progress, being at least 51 feet high, and 2 ft. 9 in, in 

 girth," or, as I conclude, in circumference. As an ornamental 

 tree, my own experience is confirmatory of nearly the whole 

 of Mr. White's statement. Of its growth in dry upland 

 situations, as far as I have been acquainted with it, I cannot 

 speak with equal praise ; and I should, without the least in- 

 tention of depreciating his account, or the real value of the 

 tree in this respect, suspect that the general term of " about 

 twelve years," as the period of the very remarkable growth 

 mentioned by him, if strictly enquired into, would, in point of 

 fact, turn out to be nearer fifteen. I have this day measured 

 a number of my Athenian Poplars, growing in dry upland 

 situations, but in good healthy friable soils, several of the 

 largest of which measure, at 3 ft. from the ground, but 1 2 in. 

 in circumference, and 35 ft. in height; these (from positive 

 reference to written records made at the time) were planted in 

 the winter of 1817-18. To enable a more correct estimate 

 of the growth of this tree to be formed, I ought also to add, 

 that mine now referred to are planted on an elevation exceed- 

 ing 500 ft. above the level of the sea, though in sheltered 

 situations: My trees were from 4 to 5 ft. high when planted 

 out, so that they have averaged shoots of 3 ft. yearly, from, 

 the date of their being planted ; a growth which but few ex- 

 perienced planters would complain of, but which being well 



