VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



169 



base. The buds and young leaves are covered with a gummy excretion 

 which is sometimes soaked out and used in preparing ointments. It is 

 frequently planted as a shade tree. 



A variety of this species (var. candicans Gray) has broader leaves, more 

 inclined to heart-shape and minutely hairy on the petiole and margins. It 

 is to be sought along our northern borders and in cultiration. 



Cottonwood. Populus deltoides Marsh., P. monilifera Ait. 



In Vermont the Cottonwood occurs native in the 

 valley of Lake Champlain and along its tributary 

 streams, and south in western Vermont through the 

 Hoosac valley in Pownal where it is particularly 

 abundant. It occurs along the Connecticut river in 

 southeastern Vermont at least as far north as Brattle- 

 bo ro. It has been planted as a shade tree in other 

 localities. For this purpose the stamen-bearing trees 

 should always be chosen since the abundant, cottony, 

 seed is a nuisance near dwellings. The leaves occa- 

 sionally vary to a heart-shape or even wedge-shape 

 base, but the deltoid (triangular) form is so charac- 

 teristic as to give name to the species. 



The cottonwood is the most massive of our decid- 

 uous trees, sometimes 100 feet in height and with a 

 trunk 5 to 7 feet in diameter. Such isolated giants 

 have become the familiar landmarks of many road- 

 sides near Lake Champlain. 



COTTONWOOD, X l A. 



BIRCH FAMILY. 



THE BIRCHES. 



The birches are widely distributed over the old and the new worlds, 

 being most abundant in the higher latitudes. Nine species occur in North 

 America, four of which are found in Vermont. They are all graceful trees 

 with slender flexuous branches and delicate foliage. Both the fruit- 

 bearing and pollen-bearing flowers are found on the same tree, but in 

 separate clusters. The staminate catkins are long and drooping, while the 

 pistillate are shorter and not pendulous until fruited. 



The wood of birches is valued chiefly for cabinet making, for spools and 

 other small articles. 



The following key is based largely on the bark characters. It is to be 

 noted that these characters are not well developed on saplings and may be 

 lost on some old trunks. 



