Preface
"Yang Liu Fu Shu drinks, Luo skirt half powder butterfly scab." At the end of the classical poetry, the poplar tree was once a prosperous beauty. Today, however, it has become a scourge that plagues citizens across the country. No one thought that the famous banner of seed introduction would bring boundless trouble. The poplar catkins flying in the sky are the culprits, which plunges our lives into a "haze"-like environment.
Far away in the ocean, there is a heart to introduce good scenery
Historically, the introduction of poplars dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. At that time, China had just opened its ports to trade, and all kinds of new things were springing up in the country. It is worth mentioning that many exotic species, including poplars, are spread by foreigners who are keen on openness.
At that time, Westerners had an unparalleled yearning for Oriental culture, and even Western restaurants would display a few pots of traditional Chinese scenery such as peonies or plum blossoms to render the romantic atmosphere of the East. The craze also affected poplars.
As a common tree species in the north, the graceful and upright poplar tree is very poetic in their eyes. As a result, at the end of the 19th century, poplars were gradually planted in the concessions to beautify the environment and give the locals a sense of freshness. This is also a means of cultural exchange.
The aftermath of the frenzied flood has spread all over the country
In this way, poplar trees, which were originally used as a beautiful scenery, gradually spread in China. In the 20s of the last century, the planting of poplars reached an unprecedented grandeur across the country. People at the time may not have predicted what the price would be paid after this day.
From north to south, poplars spread like arrays of soldiers, replacing many of the original landscape tree species. Poplar trees were planted along both sides of the streets in the urban and rural areas, which became the most common street scene in that era. As time passed, the original intention of introducing poplars was long gone, and was replaced by boundless suffering.
Nowadays, with the acceleration of urbanization, the haze of poplar overrun is intensifying. Every spring, the good season for people to welcome spring in the past is replaced and defiled by dense poplar catkins. Our view of the city is obscured by white cotton wool, like a fog coming.
The ghost of Yang Xu is not gone, and the survival of all people is in crisis
The poplar flood is not just a static sculptural picture, but a realistic version of an environmental thriller in the making. The degree of harm is staggering:
Poplar catkins pose a great threat to respiratory health. They carry a large number of allergens and pathogenic bacteria, which can trigger severe allergic reactions such as skin inflammation, coughing, wheezing, etc. In particular, the elderly and children, who have lower immunity and are more susceptible to poplar catkins. Once exposed to poplar in the spring for a long time, the consequences are unimaginable.
Poplar is also a potential fire hazard. Although they may seem adrift, once they get close to an open flame, they will instantly ignite into a raging fire. There have been many fire accidents caused by the ignition of poplar catkins in history, which has brought great threats to the lives and safety of the people.
The poplar catkins flying everywhere undoubtedly add pollution and messiness to the urban environment. They fill the air, obstruct the view, and increase the risk of travel. It also puts great pressure on the city's sewer system, requiring sanitation personnel to be on call 24 hours a day. In the long spring, poplar catkins are like a "stuck neck" spell all the time.
Traffic paralysis hazards
It is well known that poplar wool is very easy to accumulate on road and bridge decks, forming a smooth layer of velvet. This is essential for the proper operation of the vehicle, and if it is not negligent, there is a risk of a traffic accident. Especially in rainy and snowy weather, once the poplar is soaked, the sliding coefficient of the road will plummet, and the consequences are unimaginable.
Recent studies have shown that a large number of poplar catkins also pose a great threat to crop growth. These dense flocculents floating in the air will affect the photosynthesis and respiratory channels of plants, thus hindering the growth of crops and seriously reducing yields. In addition, a large amount of poplar catkins is also considered a pollutant in the air, which is harmful to human health.
Arouse the importance of watching for new life
In the face of such a shocking poplar hazard, we have no way to avoid it. As an unintentional mistake introduced from outside, poplar is by no means the scenery that China's great rivers and mountains should have. They are not only a deep-rooted bad habit, but also a kind of ruthless harm to the healthy and happy life of Chinese people.
Now, we should mobilize the efforts of the whole people to eradicate the scourge of poplars. In the current vision of modern civilization, they have become a major stumbling block to the ecological environment and human survival and development.
epilogue
From now on, we should plant more native tree species with aesthetic conservation and ecological friendliness, and give us a natural and fresh living environment. For example, ginkgo, acacia, crape myrtle, etc., are all good alternatives.
Perhaps, the spring of poplar trees is destined to be a series of absurd historical farces, which need to be completely broken without hesitation. Only in this way can the beauty of the ancient seasons be truly restored to our lives.