] 82 populus. 



opinion of Sir J. E. Smith, and other botanists, and to 

 treat it as distinct. 



In the specific characters assigned to the Pop. canescens, 

 the stigmas are stated to be eight ; in the Pop. alba they 

 are only four in number ; the catkins of the female of 

 Pop. alba, instead of being cylindrical, are ovate. The 

 leaves are lobed and toothed, in young plants almost 

 palmate, and covered with a thick snow-white down be- 

 neath, the upper surface being dark green and smooth. 

 The branches are white, and when young thickly covered 

 with down, and in their growth more horizontal and 

 spreading than in Pop. canescens. It grows rapidly, and 

 frequently to as great a size as the Grey Poplar, flourishing 

 best in a rich moist soil, though we have seen it of large 

 dimensions in dryish situations. 



It is a native of Europe, and widely dispersed upon 

 the Continent, though perhaps not indigenous to Britain, 

 but first introduced from Flanders or Holland, where it 

 abounds and is extensively cultivated. 



The wood of this species is not of so good a quality 

 as that of the Grey Poplar, being softer and more spongy 

 in texture : it may, however, be applied to many similar 

 purposes, but upon the whole, both as an ornamental 

 and profitable tree, we consider it decidedly inferior to 

 the other. In certain situations the contrast produced by 

 the snowy whiteness of its leaves when agitated by the 

 wind, with foliage of a darker hue, has a peculiar and 

 sparkling effect, and it is, therefore, a tree that may oc- 

 casionally be successfully introduced in landscape garden- 

 ing. Some of its varieties, also, such as Pop. acerifolia, 

 and Pop. tomentosa, the Maple-leaved and Hoary Poplar of 

 the nurseries, distinguished by larger and more palmate- 

 shaped leaves, and with even a greater degree of snowy 



