523 
wooden heels ot shoes, &c. Vitruvius reckons it among the building timbers. Likewise to make 
carts, because it is exceeding light; for vine, and hop-props, and divers vimineous works. 1 
It makes useful rafters, poles and rails, and in a proper soil, makes a very quick return for such 
purposes. 1 It is excellent for flooring boards, and is much used for the purposes of deal in some 
of the midland counties. The boards are so slow in taking fire, that the flames are said to have been 
stopped at that part of a building on fire, where this timber had been used. It smokes a long time 
before it bursts into flame: 3 and of course is a bad wood for fuel. One of the best uses to which 
the wood of this and other Poplars can be applied is for packing-cases. 4 
The loppings in January are for the fire, where fuel is dear, but they burn untowardly, and rather 
moulder away, than maintain any solid heat. Of the twigs, with the leaves on, are made brooms. 
The catkins attract the bees, as do also the leaves, which are more tenacious of mildews than most 
forest trees, the oak excepted. 5 The red substance like berries, upon the leaf-stalks, as large as a 
cherry, bulging on one side and gaping on the other, are occasioned by an insect called Aphis bur - 
saria. Many species of insects are supported by this and the other Poplars. 6 
The leaves are gathered in some parts of Europe, during the month of October and dried, to be 
given as fodder to the sheep in winter. 7 
The Black Poplar is trimmed in Italy for the vines to run on. They poll or head the trees every 
second year, sparing the middle straight and most thriving shoot, and at the third year cut that 
off also. 
The shade of this tree is esteemed very wholesome in summer, but it does not become walks or 
avenues by reason of the suckers, and that it fouls the ground at the fall of the leaf. It should be 
planted in woods, and to flank places at a distance, for its increase, and the glittering brightness of 
the foliage. 8 
Mr. Evelyn mentions divers stately trees on the banks of the Po, as he passed down that river 
towards Ferrara; but probably these were the Po or Lombardy Poplar, which was not then distin¬ 
guished from the common sort; though it is remarkable that he should not observe the difference in 
the manner of growth. 
The Poplar will flourish on almost any soils, and the large thick leaves full of rich sweet juice 
fall in such abundance, as soon to create a soil fit for meadow or pasture. Thus tracts of waste 
land, not dry, might in a few years be rendered fertile. 
In Kamtchatka, the inhabitants are sometimes reduced to the necessity of converting the inner 
bark into bread. 
Scheffer made paper from the cotton down of the seeds. 
The buds both of this and the White Poplar, smell very pleasantly early in the spring, and being 
pressed between the fingers yield a balsamic resinous substance, which extracted by spirits of wine 
smells like storax. 
In the celebrated district of Wase in Flanders, the whole of which is distributed into small in¬ 
closures not more than an acre and half in extent, great quantities of White and Black Poplars are 
planted in the hedge-rows, sixteen or eighteen feet asunder; they are not suffered to grow to any 
great size, but are cut down every twenty or four and twenty years, and replaced by young plants of 
the same sort: the largest trees are always cut down, to prevent the land from being too much 
1 Silva, b. i. c. 14. a Kent, Hints 180. 3 Young’s Annals, n. 121. p. 64. 
4 Marshall, Midland 2. 387- 5 Evelyn. 6 Withering. 
7 Mem. d’Agriculture, Paris 1786. Evelyn. 
