THE ASPEN, OR TREMBLING POPLAK. 



185 



both sides, petioles compressed, young- branches hairy, 

 stigmas four, erect and auricled at the base. 



For elegance and beauty of form, the Aspen, when grown 

 in a favourable soil and where nothing has interfered with 

 its developement, is inferior to few of its tribe, presenting 

 the appearance of a tall and, in proportion to its height, 

 rather a slender tree, with a clean straight stem, the head 

 ample and formed of horizontal growing branches, not 

 crowded together, and 

 which, as the tree ac- 

 quires age, assume, to- 

 wards the extremities, a 

 drooping or pendulous di- 

 rection. The foliage is 

 of a fine rich green, and 

 the upper surface of the 

 leaves being somewhat 

 darker than the under, 

 a sparkling and peculiar 

 effect is produced by the 

 almost constant tremulous 

 motion with which they 

 are affected by the slightest breath of air, and which is 

 produced by the peculiar form of the foot-stalks, which 

 in this species is flattened, or vertically compressed in 

 relation to the plane of the leaf, causing a quivering or 

 double lateral motion, instead of the usual waving motion, 

 where the footstalk is round, or else compressed horizon- 

 tally. 



On the margins of woods in a rich moist soil, and where 

 it has had sufficient room and air to acquire its full de- 

 velopement, we have often admired the effect produced 

 by the Aspen in combination or in contrast with the 



