Unpopular Poplars

The fine line of poplars along the bridle path to the Church has been felled.  All that's left are 30 or so stumps.

 It's sad to see these 100-foot trees, straight as totems, reduced to their component parts.  The trunks are apparently only useable for crates and pallets ...

the branches as firewood ...

 
In the past, poplar was the main wood used for matches:  I guess no one really uses those any more, at least in the developed world.  And it's a perfectly good woodworking material - I know because I made a set of cupboards from it for our utility room. It has a beautiful straight grain and cuts easily and cleanly. But it doesn't sand well, so you could never use it for anything really fine. 

All over the world, especially in Southeast Asia, the thin young trees are used for scaffolding and other construction purposes.  Everywhere in Pakistan, for example, you'll see these trees dividing the small-holdings of the peasant farmers, a mini-package of subsistence materials for food and shelter.

 

Here our neighbours, the farming family who planted the trees 25 years ago will get nothing for them at all. But for other things they have planted we are eternally grateful:  the woods are filled with daffodils in memory of their parents.