THE "CAROLINA" OR "XORWAT POPLAR." 



By Charles E. Bessey. 



Several years ago I prepared a paper on the Carolina Poplar for the 

 United States Forest Service, which was later somewhat revised and 

 published about three years ago in the Annual Report of the Nebraska 

 state board of Agriculture. On account of the widespread interest 

 in this tree I may very properly reprint here the substance of that paper, 

 making such revisions as will bring it down to the present state of our 

 knowledge. 



In the West, especially in the Mississippi valley, a tree has been 

 largely advertised and sold under the name of Carolina Poplar. In 

 some cases extravagant claims are made in regard to its good qualities, 

 which, on the other hand, are strenuously denied by some tree growers. 

 There has been a good deal of doubt, also, in regard to the specific 

 identity of the tree, some holding it to be quite distinct from the common 

 cottonwood,while others regard it as a mere variation or sport of that 

 species, which has been propagated by cuttings from the staminate tree. 

 In order to help to solve these questions, the following facts are pre- 

 sented: 



Description of tlie Tree. 



Leayes. — These are large, broadly heartshaped, prominently ser- 

 rated with incurved teeth, the veins rather prominent on the under sur- 

 face. The texture is firm, and both surfaces are quite smooth. The color 

 of the foliage is a rich, dark, green, and the petioles, which are long and 

 flattened, are more or less reddish, as is frequently, also, the midrib of 

 the blade. On vigorous shoots the leaves are often five to seven inches 

 long, four inches broad, and their petioles fully three inches long, while 

 on less vigorous shoots, the leaves may be as small as three inches in 

 length, three in breadth, and their slender petioles may be no more than 

 two inches long. 



Twigs. — More or less angled by narrow, corky ridges which extend 

 downward from the center and sides of the leaves. Color when mature, 

 light brown. The angles are much more prominent on very vigorous 

 twigs, and may be almost wanting on those which are slow-growing. 



Young Brandies. — These eventually become smooth and round by the 

 expansion and streching of the bark as the branch increases in thickness. 

 Color, light brown. This brownish color should serve to distinguish the 

 Carolina Poplar from the common western cottonwood, on which the 

 young branches ultimately become white. 



Sliape of Crown. — The crown or "top" of this tree is rather narrow 



