POPLAR. 135 



to have been stopped at that part of a build- 

 ing on fire, where this timber had been used. 



We shall pass over in silence the many 

 books that have been written on the medici- 

 nal qualities of every part of this tree, as we 

 do not find that our forefathers were exempt 

 from the pains of the gout, although they 

 assure us, that the leaves of the poplar are an 

 infallible cure for this vexatious complaint. 



The buds of both the white and the black 

 poplar, have an agreeable perfume early in 

 the spring, and when pressed between the 

 fingers yield a balsamic resinous substance, 

 which extracted by spirits of wine smells like 

 storax. 



The flowers of the poplar have but little 

 attraction, excepting to the bee and the 

 botanist ; 



" Swung in the wind the poplars nod in love ;" 



whilst the bee collects the superfluous pollen 

 to convert into waxen cells. 



SchefFer, whose industry and ingenuity 

 almost equalled that of the inhabitants of the 

 hive, collected the cotton down which covers 

 the seeds of these trees, and converted it into 

 paper. 



k 4 



