186 populus. 



foliage of other trees; it is also frequently an interesting- 

 object on the wooded slopes of highland scenery, and in 

 Scotland adorns the margins and hanging woods of its 

 most interesting and beautiful lochs. Upon Loch Katrine 

 it mingles with the birch, and clothes, almost to the ex- 

 clusion of other trees, the classic islet of the Lady of the 

 Lake. 



It is indigenous to Britain, being found throughout Eng- 

 land in moist woods and damp situations, and in Scotland 

 it extends as far north as the borders of Sutherland. In 

 Aberdeenshire, near Braemar in the woods of Invercauld, 

 it grows at an elevation of sixteen hundred feet, and we 

 have seen it as high in different parts of Argyleshire. In 

 Ireland, according to Mackay, it is found native in the 

 County of Dublin, and several other districts. Upon the 

 European continent its distribution extends over the south- 

 ern as well as the northern parts, nearly to the verge of 

 the Frozen Ocean; in Russia, Loudon states it to be very 

 abundant, particularly in the woods around Moscow, and 

 he mentions the interesting fact that in the year 1813, 

 the year following the burning of that ancient city, in- 

 numerable seedling plants of the Aspen sprang up in every 

 direction among the ruins, no doubt from seed that had 

 been wafted thither by the wind from the neighbouring 

 woods. It is also a native of Asia Minor, and the whole 

 of the Caucasian range. If it were not for the innumer- 

 able suckers thrown up to a great distance by this tree, 

 its ornamental properties would claim a more extensive 

 cultivation in landscape scenery than it has hitherto re- 

 ceived, but this disadvantage is of so serious a nature 

 in pleasure-grounds, lawns, and meadows, that it must 

 always be sparingly introduced in such situations ; the 

 objection, however, does not extend to large woods, or 



