1666

ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM.

TART III.

‘*««T£ CAftOll

SB»

Jllijl" !;

Munich, shows their use in varying the margin of plantations. These examplesmay serve to show how easy it is, by means of the Lombardy poplar, to addto the effect of a landscape, or to destroy the harmony of its different parts.In short, the Lombardy poplar, like the weeping willow and birch, is a mostdangerous tree in the hands of a planter who has not considerable knowledgeand good taste in the composition of landscape. We have been induced toenlarge on the subject more than we should have done, from seeing thefrequent misapplication of the tree in the neighbourhood of London, as well

i r rl

■i&m

as its good effects in various instances. We should like to see it much morecommon in towns, and in churchyards and cemeteries, and much less frequentin suburban gardens. In the grounds of extensive residences in the country,it ought to be sparingly introduced, unless the object he to recall the idea ofthe metropolis.

The suitableness of the Lombardy poplar for planting in towns and citiesarises not only from its narrow form and vertical direction, but, also, from itsnature; which, like its congener the Populus nigra, admits of its thrivingeven among coal smoke, where most other trees would die, or become stuntedand diseased. The elevation of the tree is also favourable for inviting andprotecting singing-birds, in proof of which, a writer in the Magazine of NaturalHistory £vol. i. p. 418.) observes that, in the towns of America, “ the song ofthe Baltimore oriole (Oriolus baltimorus) is little less remarkable than hisfine appearance, and the ingenuity with which he builds his nest. His notes