OF FOREST-TREES.

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ingenious Poet. I am told there is a Mountain Poplar much propagatedin Germany about Vienna , and in Bohemia, of which some trees haveyielded planks of a yard in breadth: Why do we procure none of them ?

8. The best use of the Poplar and Abele, (which are all of them hospi-table trees, for any thing thrives under their shade,) is for walks and ave-nues about grounds which are situated low, and near the water, till com-ing to be very old, they are apt to grow knurry, and out of proportion.The timber is incomparable for all sorts of white wooden vefsels, as trays,bowls, and other turners’ ware; and of especial use for the bellows-maker, because it is almost of the nature of cork, and for ship-pumps,though not very solid, yet very close, and yet so light as it may be usedfor the soles, as well as heels, of shoes. Vitruvius , l. de malerie aedendct,reckons it among the building-timbers, qua maximh in adificiis sunt idoncw.It is proper for carts, because it is exceedingly light; also for Vine andHop-props, and divers vimineous works. The loppings in January arefor the fire ; and therefore such as have proper grounds may, with ease,and in a short time, store themselves for a considerable family, wherefuel is dear: But the truth is, it burns untowardly, and rather mouldersaway than maintains a solid heat. Of the twigs, with the leaves on, aremade brooms. The catkins attract the bees, as do also the leaves, espe-cially of the black, being more tenacious of the mildews than mostforest-trees, the Oak excepted.

Of the Aspen, our woodmen make hoops, fire-wood, coals, &c.; andthe bark of young trees, in some countries, serves for candle or torch-wood.

The juice of Poplar-leaves, dropped into the ears, afsuages the pain ;and the buds contused, and mixed with honey, is a good collyrium forthe eyes ; as the unguent to refrigerate and cause sleep.

One thing more of the White Poplar is not to be pafsed over, viz.that the seeds of Mistletoe being put into holes bored in the bark of this

tree, have produced the plant.-An experiment sufficient to determine

that so long controverted question concerning spontaneous and equivocalgeneration. Vide D. Raii H. P. Append, p. 1918.

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