570 Lombardy Poplar in Italy. 



sider it a distinct species ; because all the plants raised from seed 

 preserve the characteristics of the parent. 



I do not know why those who make plantations of poplars 

 prefer raising them from cuttings rather than from seeds ; and, 

 as I told you in my last letter, the agriculturists in Brescia cut 

 down the plants grown from seed to the collar, in order to make 

 the whole into cuttings. I cannot think this desirable ; and, on 

 the contrary, maintain that, if you wish a plant to have a strong 

 root, you should give the preference to one that has been raised 

 from seed rather than from cuttings. 



I wrote also to my valuable friend at Florence, Signor Palli 

 Falbroni, secretary to the Academy of Geography, to ascertain 

 if the Lombardy poplar was indigenous there. He informed me 

 that they had only the male plant in Tuscany ; and added, to my 

 great surprise, that it was not introduced till 1805, by the Marquis 

 Strozzi, 



The most beautiful of these poplars which I have ever seen 

 are at Signor Milgi's, at Belgioso, about four miles from Pavia, 

 the oldest of which are about 80 years of age ; the largest, at 2 ft. 

 from the ground, are 8 ft. in circumference, and the height from 

 QB ft. to 70 ft. This poplar was formerly much cultivated in 

 Lombardy ; and it grew so rapidly, that it was generally cut 

 down at the age of 20 years ; but our agriculturists, finding its 

 wood of very little use for fuel or vine-props, from the fewness 

 and slightness of its branches, have now nearly abandoned its 

 culture, in favour of that of P. nigra, which produces large 

 branches abundantly. I grant that its wood is not so good as 

 that of the black poplar, but it will do very well for packing- 

 cases, &c., and might thus save more important timber, of which 

 a deficiency now begins to be felt. Its utility as an ornamental 

 tree ought, however, to be sufficient to induce its cultivation ; 

 and, as some of your correspondents have already observed (see 

 Vol. I. p. 17. and p. 117.)? no tree is more useful in breaking the 

 monotony produced by thick clumps of round-headed trees. It 

 has always the advantage of not requiring very rich soil ; and, 

 where it has access to water, of growing with great rapidity. I 

 can easily believe (as you say in your last letter) that this tree is 

 found on the Himalayan Mountains. Bosc {Nouv. Cours. d'Agri.) 

 says that it is a native of Georgia and the Crimea, whence it 

 was brought to Italy ; from which country it has spread over 

 Europe. We know that -Erigeron canadensis is a native of Ca- 

 nada ; but it is now become so common here, that it may truly b© 

 called " the pest of our fields." 



Monza, near Milan, March, 1836. 



