ARBORICULTURE 



223 



The Cottonwood. 



Populiis monilifera. Syn. Carolina 

 poplar, etc. 



The influence which this pioneer 

 tree has exerted in building up the 

 great states of the West can hardly 

 be estimated. For hundreds of miles 

 along the trails leading to the region of 

 gold since '49 it was practically the only 

 tree from which the pioneers could ob- 

 tain fuel with which to cook their meals 

 and warm themselves after a tiresome 

 day's journey. There were no streams 

 between the Missouri river and the Con- 

 tinental divide but which had groves of 

 cottonwoods and isolated trees lining 

 their banks, and while there were some 

 willows, box elder and various shrubs, 

 yet the cottonwood was the only tree in 

 large numbers. 



The profusion of its seed is remark- 

 able. The downy appendages to the seed 

 enabled the wind to carry them in im- 

 mense numbers to every nook and corner 

 of western America. Why were there 

 not vast forests? And why confined to 

 low valleys and water courses? The 

 answer is simple and fully explains the 

 total failure of the numerous tree claims 

 under the Congressional Timber Cul- 

 ture Act. and the reason for the abject 

 failure of that well-meaning law. 



The cottonwood cannot exist without 

 large quantities of water. Its roots must 

 be bathed in water constantly to maintain 

 a vigorous growth. Like the elm and the 

 willows, its habitat lies in moist places 

 along water courses where its roots may 

 drink freely during the growing period. 



When trees of this character are re- 

 moved to dry locations, as on the high, 

 rolling plains, the insufficiency of water 

 merely maintains life, but all vigor is 

 lost. There are places on the prairies 

 where water exists within a few feet of 

 the surface. Here the cottonwood sends 

 its roots deep and finds moisture. As a 

 city street tree it has passed its days of 

 usefulness, and wherever it exists other 

 and better trees should be planted, se- 

 lecting such as survive with less mois- 



ture and have roots of an entirely differ- 

 ent character from those of elm and cot- 

 tonwood. 



The so-called Carolina poplar is a 

 fraud upon the public, since it is only a 

 cottonwood, with all the defects of this 

 tree, all its insect enemies and innumer- 

 able fungoid diseases. It was given 

 another name by designing men to im- 

 pose upon the public. 



The moist lands along the Mississippi 

 river are favorable to the growth of the 

 cottonwood, and dense thickets formerly 

 existed along the river's banks. 



Before the extensive coal mining per- 

 iod, the writer, as a steamboat clerk, has 

 often watched the shores of the Missis- 

 sippi for the well-wnown woodyards 

 where the supply of fuel must be replen- 

 ished from the cottonwood groves, since 

 the principal fuel was from these trees. 



As the elevation increases at the base 

 of the Rockies and we reach 6,000 feet, 

 the form changes — the broad leaf cot- 

 tonwood disappears and the narrow 

 leaved variety succeeds it. Again at 

 about 7,000 feet the aspen, Popnhis trem- 

 idoides, takes its place. 



It is extremely unfortunate that the 

 American people are not fully advised as 

 to the worthless character of the cotton- 

 wood, under whatever name, as a shade 

 tree, for wherever the poplars will grow 

 (except the aspen), other and better trees 

 will succeed. 



The seriousness of the subject is seen 

 when we realize that the oaks. elms, fine 

 hard maples, sweet guiu and other ele- 

 gant trees are no longer planted, the cot- 

 tonwood entirely taking their place, be- 

 cause of its fancied quick growth, which 

 is its sole recommendation. 



For wood pulp the cottonwood will 

 serve a good purpose and should be ex- 

 tensively planted, but only on rich, moist, 

 low-priced land, where it cannot fail to 

 become profitable. 



Our illustration is from one of the best 

 specimens in the entire country, few cot- 

 tonwoods having so perfect a form. 



