Populus 1825 



though one of the parents was supposed to be P. serotina {peuplier suisse). Carriere 

 believed it to be simply the pistillate form of the latter, distinguishable by its greater 

 vigour and more conical stem, swollen at the base and not so cylindrical as P. serotina. 

 M. Romanet of Montmirail obtained some plants, which he multiplied under the 

 name of Peuplier r4g^nir4 ; and M. Bujot, of Chiary near Chateau Thiery (Aisne), 

 sold others as Peuplier Bujot, a name no longer in use. In 1865 this poplar had 

 become very common in the valley of the Ourcq, and was then sold by M. Terrd, 

 at Lizy-sur- Ourcq (Seine et Marne). 



The Peuplier suisse rouge, one of the two so-called " Eucalyptus" poplars, now 

 propagated by M. Marion in his nurseries at Pontvallain, Sarthe, is identical in all 

 its characters with P. regenerata, being a female tree with similar foliage and flowers. 

 I examined flowers which were kindly sent to me in the spring of 191 1; and I 

 obtained good specimens of branches with leaves, when I visited Pontvallain in 

 August 1 91 2. This tree was chosen as the fastest-growing variety of poplar in 

 1880, by M. Sarc6, grandfather of the present proprietor. It had been obtained by 

 a continuous selection for many years, as sets for planting, of the uppermost and 

 straightest branches of the most vigorous trees. The variety is said to have been 

 called rouge on account of the reddish colour of the petioles, which is supposed ^ to 

 distinguish it from the other kind of " Eucalyptus " poplar in the same nursery. The 

 latter, known as Peuplier suisse blanc, because it is reputed to have whitish petioles, is 

 a less vigorous tree, which is propagated only to a slight extent, its sole merit being 

 that it forms a straighter stem. This variety opens its leaves late in the season, 

 fifteen days after the Peuplier suisse rouge, and is reputed to be a male tree.^ It is 

 apparently a form of P- serotina, with which it agrees in leaf, but I have had no 

 opportunity of examining the flowers. 



The cultivation of poplars at Pontvallain is extensive, covering about 500 acres. 

 The land, which is flat and intersected by a stream, is laid out in grass meadows of 

 small size, around which are single or double lines of poplars, pruned up to 30 ft., and 

 at least 12 ft. apart. Experience here shows that this is the best method of obtaining 

 a quick and large yield of timber. Poplars, especially the quick-growing kinds, being 

 light-demanding trees, do not bear well any lateral shade. Attempts to grow them 

 crowded in large plantations never succeed, as all the trees, except those on the 

 outside, remain very slender, and yield timber too small in diameter to be of any 

 value for planking. The soil here is a sandy loam, and is rich in humus, as it was 

 formerly a coppice of oak and hornbeam. The growth of the red "Eucalyptus" 

 poplar is astonishing on this soil, almost double that of the other kind in diameter, 

 and somewhat more in height. The stems are invariably curved near the base, which 

 is attributable to its rapid increase in height while in the young stage. At thirty- 

 five years old they average at least 100 ft. in height, and 7 ft- in girth, producing 

 over 100 cubic feet of timber, which is worth about 100 francs. Elwes, who visited 

 Pontvallain in May 1908, measured two trees in an avenue planted twenty-two 

 years ; one was 1 14 ft by 6 ft. 2 in. ; the other was 1 18 ft. by 6 ft. 10 in. 



1 No difference in the colour of the petioles was discernible in August. 

 2 Cf. Breton-Bonnard, Le Peuplier, 62 (1902). 



