40 



no doubt applies to the grey or Abele poplar (Popuhts canescens). 

 The other native species are the Aspen (P. tremula) and the Black 

 Poplar (P. nigra). What are known as the Balsam Poplars are 

 easily recognised by their very gummy winter buds and leaves, 

 which emit a pleasant balsamic odour when expanding in spring. 

 The Asps or Aspens have long laterally-flattened leaf stalks, and 

 are noted for the restless movements of their leaves. 



Of all known species of poplars, thirty or so in number, the 

 Abele or Grev poplar [canescens) produces the choicest timber, 

 much in request by carriage builders, who sometimes pay as much 

 as 2S. 6d. a cubic foot for well-grown logs. Next in economic 

 importance is the Black Italian Poplar, which is said to produce 

 valuable timber, in great bulk, in a shorter term of years, than 

 any other British grown tree. Mr. Elwes, a great authority on 

 such matters, has recorded how thirty poplars of this variety 

 •planted on cold clay in Gloucestershire, not worth 5s. an acre, 

 were sold for ^3 apiece, at forty-eight years of age. 



There is a very interesting avenue of the Black Italian Poplar 

 on each side of the private carriage drive from the Throop Road 

 to Heron Court. I have been kindly supplied by Mr. P. Trentham 

 Maw with a few particulars: " The trees are planted in rows run- 

 ning north and south, and they may be looked upon as well grown 

 forest trees. There are fifty-nine trees in all ; the average height 

 is 115ft. The highest is 125ft. The age, from planting, is forty- 

 nine years. The estimated yield of timber, say in fifty years, 

 would be at the rate of 6,200 cubic feet per acre. This shows an 

 annual increment at the rate of 124 cubic feet under bark. The 

 soil is good alluvial loam with plenty of moisture, but not in any 

 way sour." Mr. Maw noticed that the trees on the eastern side 

 of the avenue exhibited growth 13 per cent, greater than those on 

 the western side. In view of the fact that the economic import- 

 ance of the Black Italian Poplar has not been fully realised in this 

 country, the figures given by Mr. Maw, supported as they are by 

 what is stated above by Mr. Elwes, are of considerable value to 

 estate owners. 



The true Black Poplar is distinguished by " the large burrs 

 on the stem, by its earlier leafing and by the young foliage being 

 green instead of reddish as in the Black Italian Poplar." As a 

 timber-producing tree the Black Poplar is not equal to those men- 

 tioned above, but as a tree for parks and gardens Mr. Bean says 

 it has many advantages. 



The well-known Lombardy Poplar, " the most valuable of all 

 fastigiate trees, differs from the Black Poplar onlv by its slender 

 form and quite erect branches." Nearly all the Lombardy Poplars 

 in cultivation are males, but a few female trees are known. The 

 latter are not so slender as the male, and as they litter the ground 

 with their cottonv tufts at seeding time they are much less desir- 

 able. The first Lombardy Poplar was introduced to England in 

 1758. The tallest specimens attain a height of 100ft. to 125ft. 



