Poplars 301 



much, stands smoke and abuse, and is unclean only when the catkins 

 fall. It becomes rather a massive object, with open, broad crown, 

 when the young, more conical period with slender branch habit is passed. 



The other northeastern native, with a different lance-shaped, tri- 

 angular form, and a different tone of foliage (yellowish beneath) • — 



P. balsamifera Linn. (265), including its variety candicans, Balsam 

 Poplar or Balm of Gilead, so called from the fragrant large brown sticky 

 buds, is of more symmetrical, slender, and tapering form; it is adapted 

 to planting on roadsides, near houses, and near water, but is somewhat 

 more liable to sucker than the former. 



Of exotics that have been much planted — 



P. dilatata Ait. (266), Lomhardy Poplar, of Europe, is used mainly 

 for its pr}'amidal, aspiring form, where sentinels are needed as at the 

 entrance of parks, to mark the position of houses, or to make some 

 point conspicuous; or in the background to create the impression of 

 distance. Its late leaf period and golden-yellow autumn tints are also 

 pleasing. Unfortunately it suckers readily. 



P. alba Linn. (267), Silver-leaf Poplar or Ahele, also of Europe, 

 furnishes a unique material for color effect, with a striking, peculiarly- 

 shaped, three- to five-lobed leaf, dark glossy above and silver-white 

 downy beneath, the effect being heightened by the greenish-white bark 

 of branches and trunk. It, however, suckers worse than any of the 

 poplars and hence has fallen into discredit; but is nevertheless useful 

 to make conspicuous a high point, or to set off a group of dark firs, etc. 



Two small trees have value in special situations — 



P. tremidoides INIichx. (268) and grandidentata Michx. (269), the 

 native Common, and the Large-toothed Aspen, which, if grown on good 

 soil, make handsome round-headed trees with pleasing foliage; the 

 latter especially gives an elegant and airy appearance with its silky 

 young foliage, later assuming a glossy, dark green color and somewhat 

 leatheiy texture. It is of roundish shape, with yellowish-green stem and 

 branches. It is also less liable to suckering than is the Common Aspen. 



Several Siberian species have been introduced, mainly for their 

 special hardiness. Of these there may be mentioned one also for its 

 ornamental value, namely: 



P. laurifolia Ledeb. (270), which is the basis for the forms known 

 under the names Certinensis (270a), Bereolensis (2706), and Petrovski 

 (270c), differing more or less in the shape of the foliage. The growth 

 of these is more sturdy than that of our natives ones, compact and yet 



