The Cultivated Poplars. 221 



flattened. It is very different from the balsam poplar in method 

 of growth, as it has none of the pyramidal or spire-like tendency 

 of that species, but usually makes a broad and irregularly spread- 

 ing top. While the tree is common in cultivation, it is rare wild. 

 In the early days, however, it was found in very large trees in 

 Michigan and other western states, and was used for sawing 

 timber ; and isolated natural groves of it are still occasionally 

 seen.* The balm of gilead makes a good street tree, and is per- 

 haps the best of the poplars for shade. Well grown trees have 

 the darkest and richest foliage of any common poplar, and this 

 character makes the tree valuable in heavy groups about the 

 borders of a place. The top is liable to become open and 

 broken with age, however, and the tree often sprouts profusely. 

 It is not well adapted to smoky and dusty locations, as 

 it soon becomes grimmy. It was used to good purpose in the 

 lagoon borders of the World's Fair, where its exuberant growth 

 and stiff heavy leaves gave a massive effect. The illustration 

 upon the title-page shows a spray of the balm of gilead, one- 

 third natural size. 



4. Populus Simonii (Carriere, Rev. Hort. 1867, 360). — 

 A strong strict tree from China, whence it was introduced into 

 France about 1861 by M. E- Simon. It is now very sparingly 

 planted in this country, but its merits are scarcely known. In 

 foliage it is much like the next species {P. laiirifolia). Its leaves 

 differ from those of the balm of gilead in having a rounded or 

 tapering base and much finer teeth, but otherwise they are much 

 alike. The shoots are reddish brown and spotted, and deeply 

 grooved. Professor Craig, of the Central Experimental Farm, 

 Ottawa, Ontario, who has had considerable experience with the 

 tree, writes as follows concerning it : 



" The tree in nurser}^ and on the lawn is a very strong 

 grower, with large ovate leaves, having the characteristic five- 

 sided shoots of these Russian poplars. It grows ver>' rapidly, 

 making a growth of from six to ten feet per annum. I have not 

 known it to winter kill either here or in Manitoba. It can 

 hardly be termed strikingly ornamental,, but is useful for planting 



* Botanical Gazette, v. 91. 



