BLACK POPLAR. 195 



The wide distribution of this species throughout Britain, 

 and the localities in which we have seen it growing appa- 

 rently in a wild and natural state, are strongly in favour of 

 its being indigenous, although Sir W. J. Hooker, in the 

 " Flora Scotica, 1 ' mentions it as of doubtful origin ; nothing 

 however is said by the old English authors to lead to such 

 a conclusion, and we find that its geographical distribution 

 is nearly co-extensive with that of Pop. alba, and Pop. 

 canescms. It is a tree of rapid and vigorous growth, and 

 attains the size of one of the first magnitude, and as it 

 generally possesses a fine stem and an ample head, it 

 is often highly ornamental when planted in an appropriate 

 situation, and in combination with other quick-growing 

 trees. Formerly it was freely introduced into planta- 

 tions, but within the last twenty years some of the Ame- 

 rican species have taken its place, particularly the Pop. 

 monilifera, or Black Italian Poplar, one of the most valu- 

 able and usually the largest of the genus. The Ontario 

 Poplar, Pop. candicans, a species nearly allied to, if not 

 a variety of, the Pop. balsami/era, Balsam Poplar, or Taca- 

 mahac, has also lately come into fashion, but as it is only a 

 tree of the second rank, it is not likely to be cultivated for 

 profit, but merely for the effect of its tufted and dark green 

 foliage, and the pleasant balsamic odour diffused by the 

 buds and newly expanded leaves in early spring. 



In a rich moist surface soil, particularly in the vicinity 

 of running water, the growth of the Black Poplar is very 

 rapid, being at the rate of three or four feet every year ; 

 it attains perfection in forty or fifty years, at which age 

 it ought to be cut down if meant for use, as it begins to 

 decay soon after this period. 



The wood is of a pale yellowish white colour, soft, and 

 easily worked, and is much used by turners for bowls, 



