96 FARM FORESTRY 



Because of its extensive root system it is well adapted for 

 holding the soil along streams and to stop erosion. Many 

 different kinds of insects live on the tree and often cause 

 considerable damage, and the wood is sometimes injured by 

 heart rot and other fungus diseases. 



Yellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). This tree is a 

 native of the Eastern United States and is hardy as far north 

 as Southern New England. It is comparatively free from 

 insects and disease. It has fast growth and high quality of 

 wood. The tree is known as yellow poplar, tulip poplar, and 

 when young as white wood. No other tree in the woodlot 

 produces such a clear, straight, cylindrical trunk. The tree 

 grows to be 125 feet in height and 3 to 6 feet in diameter 

 and is sometimes much larger. 



Yellow poplar is exacting as to soil and moisture require- 

 ments for good growth. It demands deep, fertile, well-drained 

 soil with a constant and even supply of moisture. It does not 

 thrive on shallow, dry soils or on ridges or in standing water. 



The wood is light, soft, tough, easily worked and of fine 

 texture, but not strong. The brownish yellow heartwood is 

 fairly durable. The wood is usually cut for lumber, and is 

 valuable for many purposes, such as construction, interior 

 finish, woodenware, crates, etc. 



Yellow poplar can be raised from seed. The cones of seeds 

 should be collected from the trees and stored over winter by 

 stratifying in moist sand. The seed should be sown thickly 

 in rows, for the seed is very infertile. The seedlings should 

 be planted after one year growth. In planting it is best to 

 mix some other species, as white or red pine, European spruce 

 and European larch, because it does not do well when planted 

 alone. 



Yellow poplar is one of the fastest-growing hardwoods on 

 good soil. At 40 years of age on good soil the diameter breast 

 height will be from TO to 12 inches and the height from 60 to 

 70 feet. 



