58 
THE POPLAR. 
depend, is contrary to the nature of footstalks in gene- 
ral, being perfectly flattened, and, as an eminent botanist 
and esteemed gentleman, Dr. I. Stokes, observes, is 
placed at a right angle with the leaf, being thus 
peculiarly fitted to receive the impulse of every wind 
that blows. This stalk is furnished with three strong 
nerves, placed parallel, and acting in unison with each 
other ; but towards the base the stalk becomes round, 
and then the nerves assume a triangular form, and con- 
stitute three distinct supports and counteractions to each 
other’s motions. I know no petiole with a similar con- 
formation, or better calculated for the vibration of a 
leaf. The leaf-stalks of plants are very curious construc- 
tions ; and the nerves and vessels contained in them, 
which are the vehicles of a large portion of that nour- 
ishment which plants receive through their foliage from 
the air, seem in general differently placed, and fitted 
for variety of operation. The poplar is a tree that oc- 
casions at times a great deal of trouble in our pasture 
lands, by the tendency which it has to extend its roots, 
and throw out suckers. Three or four of this species 
in a hedge-row, bounding a meadow in my occupation, 
oblige me every year that the field is mowed, by their 
prolificacy, to send a man with his stock-ax to remove 
their numerous offspringing; a mere temporary expedient, 
tending rather to increase the complaint, as eradication 
by trenching with the spade can alone effectually check 
the encroachments of runners so tenacious of life, and 
rapid in growth. 
The dyer’s broom (genista tinctoria) abounds with 
us, and becomes a perfect encumbrance in our clay-land 
pastures. It is seldom eaten by cattle, except in cases 
of great necessity, and remains untouched, if other food 
be obtainable, giving a deceitful appearance of verdure 
to a naked pasture. It yet retains a place in some of 
our dispensatories ; but its medicinal virtues are prob- 
ably never made trial of in modern practice, the lenient 
assuasives of our forefathers seeming unequal to conten- 
tion with the constitutions of these days. I know not 
any use to which it is applicable but for the dyer. Our 
poorer people a few years ago used to collect it by cart- 
