168 



VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



AMERICAN ASPEN 



Leaves and flowert, 



i staminate, 2 pistillate, X l A. 



structure of the leaf-stem or petiole. 

 The slender drooping catkins appear in 

 early spring and the downy fruits ripen 

 in the latter part of May. The American 

 aspen grows to a medium size, and is 

 the most widely distributed tree in North 

 America, extending from Labrador to 

 Alaska, from Lower California to the 

 Atlantic coast. It is found everywhere 

 in Vermont. 



largetooth aspen. Populus grandiden- 

 tata Michx. 



The name of this tree suggests an 

 easy way of identifying it. The coarse 

 toothed margin of the leaf is a con- 

 stant characteristic and may be re- 

 lied upon. The pollen-bearing cat- 

 kins may be seen first, a little later 

 the seed-bearing catkins appear on 

 other trees. The fruits ripen 

 when the leaves are unfolding. 

 The young leaves are downy-white 

 on both sides, but later become 

 green and smooth. The largetooth 

 aspen is of common occurrence in 

 Vermont. It flourishes best on rich 



LARGETOOTH ASPEN 

 Sandy SOll. Leaves and flowers, pistillate above, 



staminate below, X %. 



BALM OF GILEAD ( BALSAM POP- 

 LAR). Populus balsamifera Linn. 



This tree, common on the 

 banks of streams and along our 

 roadsides, is a northern species 

 ranging from northern New 

 England far north to the Alas- 

 kan coast. It is subject to great 

 variation in the form of the 

 leaves. Some are almost triang- 

 ular with a deeply heart-shape 

 base, while others are very 

 slender with a wedge-shape 



BALM OF GILEAD, Leaves and fruit, X %. 



