FORESTRY. 141 



WILLOWS, POPLARS AND EVERGREENS. 

 By L. E. Mbyer. 



NOTES FROM CHIPPEWA COUNTY. 



It seems proper to put on record some notes on the Russian willows and 

 poplars sent out by Prof. Green. The trees I received were planted in the 

 spring of 1889 and so have made two seasons' growth. The past two sea- 

 sons in western Minnesota have been extremely dry, and very unfavorable 

 to young trees. 



At the head of the list I would place the Wabsky Poplar (PopulusWabski). 

 This poplar made a growth during the present season of H feet and during 

 the two years a growth of 8 feet. The tree is healthy and stocky with 

 bright shining leaves, and full of promise for the future. I understand that 

 in its native home it becomes a large tree. I believe it to be full of prom- 

 ise for prairie planting. It is very hardy. 



The Certinensis Poplar (P. Certinensis) made a growth of six feet this 

 year, and would probably have made a growth of ten feet during the two 

 years had not a small boy broken off the first year's growth. This is an 

 upright poplar of great beauty. It starts from the terminal buds and 

 seems to be entirely hardy. 



The Laurel Leaved Poplar (P. Laurifolia), a thick leaved poplar, a na- 

 tive of arid regions, is a tree of great beauty. It made a growth this year 

 of three feet, and during the two years a growth of six feet. It is accus- 

 tomed to drought in its native habitat, is hardy to its terminal bud and 

 full of promise. 



The Siberian Pyramid Poplar (P. Siberica Pyramiclalis) closely resembles 

 the Laurel Leaved Poplar when young, and is perhaps of a little slower 

 growth. It, too, is accustomed to a cold, arid climate, but it is full of life 

 and vigor, and is a beautiful tree. 



The Dudley Poplar (P. Dudleyi) has narrow leaves and resembles a wil- 

 low in its general appearance. It seems to be entirely hardy, and this last 

 season it made a growth of 4i feet. 



All these poplars were planted on extremely dry western Minnesota 

 land. They all grew readily from spring made hard wood cuttings. The 

 cuttings made an average growth of 2 feet, although last season was ex- 

 tremely unfavorable. 



The red willow (Salix fragilis) made a growth of three feet each year. 

 It is hardy to terminal bud, and will evidently grow up into a tree. In 

 Europe it is said to be a large and valuable timber tree. I found no diffi- 

 culty in getting it to grow from cuttings, although many farmers had 

 trouble last spring in getting their white willows to grow. The cuttings 

 made an average growth of three feet. They were planted on a dry bluff. 



Salix rosmarinifolia is a shrubby willow with beautiful blue foliage. It 

 is a fine ornament on the lawn, and very hardy, but probably will not grow 

 up into a tree. 



Salix villelina is not hardy, nor is the willow sent out as No. 14 Vor. 

 which greatly resembles it. 



The Napoleon'willow, (S. Napoleonensis) is also tender. 



Among conifers I regard the dwarf mountain pine (Pinus pumilo, or P. 

 pumilo Mugo) as our greatest acquisition. This pine is a native of the 

 high mountain regions of Europe. In western Minnesota it seems to be 

 the only evergreen that is able to retain its green color unimpaired 

 through our dry and cold winters, although the Colorado blue spruce 

 {Picea pungens) promises well. 



