DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 
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of them of huge size, and all with pointed, heart-shaped 
leaves. The tassel-like catkins, or male blossoms, of a red 
or brownish hue, appear early in the spring. Some of the 
American kinds, as the Balsam and Balm of Gilead poplars, 
have their buds enveloped in a fragrant gum ; others, as 
the Silver poplar, or Abele, are remarkable for the snowy 
whiteness of the under side of the foliage ; and the Lorn 
bardy poplar, which 
“ Shoots up its spire, and shakes its leaves in the sun,” 
Proctor. 
for its remarkably conical or spire-like manner of growth. 
The leaves of all the species, being suspended upon long 
and slender footstalks, are easily put in motion by the wind. 
This, however, is peculiarly the case with the aspen, the 
leaves of which may often be seen trembling in the slightest 
breeze, when the foliage of the surrounding trees is motion- 
less. There is a popular legend in Scotland respecting 
this tree, which runs thus : 
“ Far ofl in the Highland wilds ’tis said 
(But truth now laughs at fancy’s lore), 
That of this tree the cross was made. 
Which erst the Lord of Glory bore ; 
And of that deed its leaves confess, 
E’er since, a troubled consciousness.” 
In Landscape Gardening the poplar is not highly esteemed ; 
but it is a valuable tree when judiciously employed, and 
produces a given quantity of foliage and shade sooner 
perhaps than any other. Some of the American kinds are 
majestic and superb trees when old, particularly the Cotton- 
wood and Balsam poplars. One of the handsomest sorts 
is the Silver poplar. At some distance, the downy under 
surfaces of the leaves, turned up by the wind, give it very 
