344 MEANS OF SPEEDY WOODING 



ful form. When agitated by the wind, it exhibits 

 the most perfect freedom from restraint in its mo- 

 tions. As often as it feels the impulse of the breeze, 

 the whole tree makes a free and unbroken sweep 

 from top to bottom. The shape of its leaves is very 

 fine ; they vibrate when there is the least circulation 

 in the air, and make an agreeable rustling when all 

 around is breathless silence. The black poplar pos- 

 sesses fewer charms than either of the former. It 

 has, however, this advantage over both, that its 

 leaves appear much earlier in spring, at which sea- 

 son they have a fine yellow tint, and emit a most 

 agreeable odour. The beauties of the weeping 

 birch are admitted by all ; and few sights in the 

 vegetable world are more gratifying than the moun- 

 tain ash, either in the vernal season when it is 

 covered with blossoms, or in the autumnal when it 

 is loaded with its bunches of coral berries. Both 

 the golden and white leaved willows are magnificent 

 trees, carrying large tops, and when they wave in 

 the gale, the gracefulness of their movements is un- 

 rivalled. From the colour of their leaves, too, they 

 make a fine variety among others whose verdure is 

 of a deeper green. 



It is not meant, as has been already hinted, that 

 these quick growing species should exclude others 



