POPLAR. 129 



abed, a name which they gave to this tree* 

 on account of its hoary or aged colour. 



The Lombardy or Po poplar, populus dilatata, 

 whose tapering form so conspicuously marks 

 it from all other deciduous trees, is said to 

 have been first introduced into this country 

 by the Earl of Rochford, who planted it in 

 Essex, about the year 1758; since which 

 time it has, from its easy propagation and 

 quick growth, spread itself throughout the 

 country ; and on this account it is not 

 generally admired, because we too often meet 

 with these vegetable grenadiers injudiciously 

 planted, either in single rows, or in enclosing 

 small gardens, and for which we have but few 

 trees worse calculated. 



The planting of the Lombardy poplar should 

 have been confined to the hand of the land- 

 scape planter, when we should have found it 

 one of the greatest ornaments of our sylvan 

 scenes, as its shape contrasts so singularly 

 with our native forest trees, without any 

 offensive harshness, and particularly when it 

 rises in clumps of two or three trees in the 

 midst of the plantation. In some situations 

 we have found a detached poplar give good 

 effect, and in others a plantation of them have 

 added considerably to the beauty of exten- 

 sive grounds; but so much depends on the 



VOL. II. 8 



