2o8 FOA'/iSr TREES. 



when dried, yet it is difficult to burn on accour.t of the abundance of sap 

 while green. On this account the settlers do not attempt to fire the 

 felled trees until a years seasoning has rendered them easier to burn — 

 so I have been told by an intelligent old Scotch settler who moved 

 AVestward some years ago into that part of Canada where the Pine is 

 scarcely seen, and the gigantic Cottonwood and other hardwood trees 

 abound. The wood of the Poplar is used for turning, and carving, and 

 is made into shavings for thin boxes for millinery goods, and for druggists' 

 purposes, and any work that requires very light, easily worked wood. 



The foliage of the Cottonwood is smooth, heart-shaped, with 

 prominent nerves, serrate, slightly hairy teeth, the fertile catkins are 

 long, with fringed scales ; the seeds are clothed with white cottony 

 down, from which the familiar name given to the tree is taken. This 

 is the largest and most important of the Poplars. The specific name, 

 /iioiiilifera, or Necklace-bearing, is applied on account of the appearance 

 of the fertile catkins which are very long, and have the large fruit-pods 

 scattered irregularly along them, giving somewhat the appearance of a 

 necklace. Very common Westward and Northward is the 



Tacamahac — Balsam Poplar — Populus bahamifera^ (L.) 



In favourable situations, in low ground near the shores of lakes and 

 rivers, on gravelly banks and low bottoms, the Tacamahac is found all 

 over the Eastern and North-easterly portions of Canada, filling the air 

 with its balsamic fragrance. It is not one of the largest of our native 

 trees, but where growing in free space it forms a fine bushy leafy head. 

 The foliage in shape resembles that of the Pear tree — large, smooth, 

 ovate, pointed and serrate, whitish and abundantly net-veined beneath. 



It is not advisable to plant the odorous Balsam Poplar in the 

 vicinity of gardens on account of its tendency to throw out suckers 

 from the roots, or increase by seeds, which thus become untidy and 

 troublesome to clear away. The catkins of the Balsam Poplar are 

 from two to four inches long, clirving, tail-like, and covered abundantly 

 with the white silky down attached to the seeds. 



After showers, the leaves emit a fine aromatic odour. The great 

 peculiarity of the Tacamahac is seen in the resinous leaf buds which 

 are formed early in the Fall and are covered with a fragrant yellow gum 

 which is of a most healing nature. It is used as a styptic for fresh cut 

 wounds by the natives, also as an ingredient in a healing, stimulating 

 ointment for bruises and sores. The crushed leaves are also applied to 

 strains and bruises. The buds gathered in .Spring and steeped in 



