CHAP. cm.

SALICA'cEiE. PO'PULUS.

1663

round-headed trees has been illustrated by Mr. John Thompson, in the firstvolume of the Gardener’s Magazine; of which paper the following is an abs-tract, with some explanatory additions: — The Lombardy poplar, consideredas a tall conical mass of foliage, becomes of great importance in scenery, whencontrasted with round-headed trees. It is a known rule in the compositionof landscape, that all horizontal lines should be balanced and supported byperpendicular ones ; and, hence, the bridge in Jig. 1521., displaying a long and

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conspicuous horizontal line, has its effect greatly increased by the poplarsplanted on each side of it. Not only the lines of the bridge are balancedand supported by the upright poplars, but lengthened and pleasing reflec-tions from the water are produced; which, breaking the horizontal gleamsof light, not only produce variety and richness, but, by increasing the lengthof the perpendicular lines formed by the poplars, confer a degree of sublimityon the picture; since it is allowed by all writers on the material sublime,from Burke to Dugald Stewart , that gradually tapering objects of great heightcreate the emotion of sublimity. This is admirably illustrated at Blenheim,where the poplar is an accompaniment to all the bridges, but more parti-cularly to that viaduct, near Woodstock, where the water first enters the park:this, seen from the neighbourhood of the great bridge, forms a landscape ofmuch beauty and purity. On the other hand, the planting of the island in thelake at Blenheim is as much at variance with good taste as the planting atthe bridge is conformable to it. It is covered with tall poplars, forming a masswhich seems too big for its base; and which, from its stiff and upright form,ls * 00 strongly opposed to the varied outline of the surrounding wood andwater, and destroys all breadth of effect. How much more agreeable it wouldiave been, to have looked down from the bridge on an island varied withsmall groups of well-selected, low, round-headed trees ! Lombardy poplarsway be advantageously planted wherever there is a continuance of horizontalines; but they should be so arranged as to form a part of those lines, and toseem to grow out of them, rather than to break or oppose them in too abruptmanner. In the case of a stable or other agricultural building, where theprincipal mass extends in length, rather than in height, it would be wrong toP ant Lombardy poplars, or other tall fastigiate trees, immediately before theui ding; but; t] 16 y w ;jj jj ave a good effect when placed at the sides, or behind^>as shown inyjg. 1522. This poplar is very generally planted in front of6 Durban cottages and residences which are to be found within a few

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