Poplars, Aspens, and Cotton-Woods. 615 



17. Pojndiis argentea (Michaux), or the Cotton Tree, and according 

 to Gray the P. hcterophyUa (L.), is found in the middle, western, and 

 southern States. Michaux refers to Fort Massac, on the Ohio river, 

 and to a large swamp in Southern Illinois, as its habitats. The tree 

 is large with thick bark, and the shoots are round, the leaves very 

 ■downy when young, becoming large when expanded, and having the 

 lobes at the base overlapping each other. The wood is described as 

 inferior; becoming yellowish at the heart. 



All these trees would probably receive the common name of cotton- 

 vjood among our western wood-choppers ; indeed, they bear a very 

 near resemblance, and have close analogies, which might very properly 

 be referred to a conference of eminent botanists and foresters for a 

 settlement of the questions which now exist. The sub-group of 

 Poplars, wliich has been consolidated, embraces kinds more dissimilar 

 than some of the cotton-woods that are still recognised as distinct 

 species. 



In this hasty review of a numerous genus, which occupies so large 

 a space in the northern temperate regions, the endeavour has been 

 made to compress a great deal within the limits of an article for the 

 Journal of Forestry : perhaps too much has been attempted, and much 

 certainly has been introduced to enable the reader to follow intelli- 

 gently. For the sake of brevity all new botanical descriptions have 

 been omitted, but these can readily be found by the student in the 

 works of the Authors referred to in the text. 



A Good Fence. — A post and rail fence tliat I think goes ahead of anything 

 I have ever seen, patented or unpatented, is made as follows : Set the posts 

 nine feet apart, or two feet less than the length of the rails used. Bore an 

 inch and a quarter hole through the posts one foot from the ground and at 

 right angles with the direction of the fence. Bore three holes above this one 

 nine inches apart, one above the other, and drive in wooden pins in all four 

 holes to project four inches on each side of the post. Lay your rails on these 

 pins, close to the post on each side. Bore a three-eighth's hole above the top 

 rail, and another one an inch and a half below the bottom pin. Take a piece of 

 wire ten or eleven feet long, and pass half its length through the top hole, and 

 cross it under the top rail ; cross it again under the second rail from the top ; 

 cross it again under the third rail, and finally cross it under the bottom rail by 

 slipping the ends of the wire through the small hole, and bring them around 

 in front of the post and twist them together. This makes a cheap strong 

 fence, that will turn horses and cattle ; but if sheep are kept, a board should 

 be nailed at the bottom, or a fifth rail added. — Albany Argus, U.S. 



