126 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



of deal or oak ; and, as to durability, I see" he says, " no reason 

 to doubt of that, if the density and weight of the article be con- 

 sidered in connection with such testimonies as books aflbrd rela- 

 tive to the point. Floors are, however, only one of the many in- 

 ferior purposes for which it is ai)plicable, as it is certainly proper 

 for almost every article of furniture usually made of mahogany. 

 For the lighter descriptions of it, now so fashionable, it may 

 be made a very good substitute, without any other addition to 

 the natural colour of its heart, than the means cabinet-makers 

 usually resort to, in order to heighten the colour of such wood ; 

 and with respect to the sap, and where more of colour is re- 

 quired, the acpia-fortis stain will instantaneously produce it, so 

 far as that it would be difficult to distinguish it from real ma- 

 hogany. Indeed it is equal to the best in colour and smooth- 

 ness of surface, and much superior to the plane, or inferior 

 sorts in those respects, as well as transparency and variety ; 

 and it has the further advantage over mahogany, and most 

 other woods, that it takes but little of either oil or rubbing, to 

 produce upon it the sort of mellow shining surface so much 

 admired in furniture that has been some years subjected to 

 proper attention." The Dutch, in Evelyn's time, had so high 

 an opinion of this tree, that they looked upon a plantation of 

 them as an ample portion for a daughter, and none of the least 

 effects of their good husbandry. 



The bhick Italian poplar appears to have been introduced 

 into this country since the days of Miller, as no mention is 

 made of it in his dictionary; as a timber-tree it begins now to 

 rank rather high, and is strongly recommcniled by Ponty, who 

 says it was first sent to Scotland from America, and dissemi- 

 nated through the extensive connexions of the Dicksons and 

 Co. of Ilassendean-burn. It is not easily accounted for how it 

 should have obtained the name of black Italian, as it is unknown 

 even in a general cultivated state in that country. This species 

 is an astonishingly quick grower, even, as Ponty observes, 

 ** on every sort of soil that may be called tolerable, though it 

 certainly luxuriates most of all in deep fertile ones, while its 

 timber is applicable to purposes sufficiently numerous ; among 

 which is that of making good floors ; and therefore no doubt 

 need be entertained of its always commanding purchasers. In 



