TREE FORMS. 49 



the stem, and start from the latter at much broader 

 angles ; but when finely grown and unbroken by 

 the wind or by the lopping woodman, its ramifica- 

 tion is beautiful and symmetrical. Frequently 

 the stem is tapered from the base to the apex 

 with striking regularity and uniformity, and 

 scarcely makes the slighest curve from a vertical 

 position. The branching commences very low 

 down on the trunk; but in the case of a tree of 

 any size, such, for instance, as one with a bole 

 three feet in girth, all branches within six feet of 

 the ground will have dropped away. The branches 

 of the Black Italian Poplar are produced 

 equally around the stem, and though sometimes 

 slightly waved, are often equally straight; but 

 they curve upwards at their points with a 

 graceful sweep. The angle of distance from the 

 trunk is about forty-five degrees. A distinctly 

 conical shape (though a much broader cone is 

 formed than is the case with the Lombardy Pop- 

 lar) is produced by the incidence of the branches, 

 the lowermost being longest and the length being 

 lessened gradually towards the apex of the stem. 

 The twigs start from the branches at the same 



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