521 
Mortimer says justly, that the Abele is a sort of White Poplar, only much finer, bears a larger 
leaf, and makes a much stronger shoot, being a much quicker grower. He adds, that the best sort 
comes from Holland and Flanders. Hence in some places it is called Dutch Beech.' 
Samuel Harthb, in his Compleat Husbandman, 1659, says, that some years ago there were ten 
thousand Abeles at once sent over into England from Flanders, and transplanted into many counties. 
This timber is incomparable, says he, for all sorts of wooden vessels, especially trays; and butchers 
trays cannot well be made without it, being so exceeding light and tough. 
The finest Abeles I ever saw were in Buckinghamshire, at Hartwell near Aylesbury, the seat 
of the late excellent Sir William Lee, Bart. They are remarkably tall, with the cleanest bole 
imaginable. 
A specimen of their advance, says Evelyn, we have had of Abele Tree at Sion, which being 
lopped in February 1651, did by the end of October, 1652, produce branches as big as a man's wrist, 
and seventeen feet in length. As they thus increase in bulk, their value advances likewise, which 
after the first seven years is annually worth twelve pence more. The Dutch therefore look upon a 
plantation of these trees as an ample portion for a daughter, and none of the least effects of their 
good husbandry; which may well be allowed, if the calculation hold of Sir Richard Weston, who 
began his plantation not long since about Richmond; that thirty pounds being laid out in these 
plants, would render at the least ten thousand pounds in eighteen years; every tree affording thirty 
plants, and every one of them thirty more, after each seven years improving twelve pence in growth, 
till they arrive to their acme. 
An Abele Tree planted at Seething in the year 1760, in stands without roots (truncheons) ten or 
eleven feet long, on a bank about thirteen feet broad, with water on each side, at about five feet 
from the ground measure five feet to five feet nine inches in circumference, and are tall flourish¬ 
ing trees.* 
The wood of White Poplar, says Mr. Evelyn, is sought of the sculptor; and they saw both this 
and the Black into boards, which continue a long time where they lie dry. In sword and buckler 
days they made shields of this material. They serve also for wheel-barrows, and the sides of wag¬ 
gons and carts, and may be considered as an useful substitute to the Ash.-f- 
Truncheons of the White Poplar and Abele, nine feet long, and the size of a common hop-pole, 
planted in 1775, on the gravelly bank of a stream, some yards from the current, in twelve years were 
from twenty-four to twenty-eight inches in girth, five feet from the ground, and in height were equal 
to many oaks taken down for timber.{ 
A White Poplar in St. John's College walks, Cambridge, blown down in a hurricane on Friday 
morning, November the sixth, 1795, was forty-two feet in length, girted twenty-nine inches and a 
half, and including the three arms contained three hundred and twenty-eight feet. 
It is of quick growth and bears cropping, but is unfavourable to pasturage. The wood is soft, 
white, and stringy, and makes good wainscotting, being little subject to swell or shrink. Floors, 
laths, packing cases and turner’s ware are made of it.§ I have seen beautiful floors laid with planks 
of the Abele. 
Species 2. Trembling Poplar Tree , or *Aspi?i. (Populus Tremula.) 
The Trembling Poplar or Asp, as it is called from the German Espe, which is the general name 
for all Poplars, has a green smooth bark. The leaves at first breaking out are hairy above and 
* Bath Memoirs, 5. 445. + Kent’s Hints. f Bath Memoirs. § Withering. 
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