Around the " Pond " First Excursion 



the ^silver-leaf" (Populus alba), which betrays as 

 much of a poetic temperament as is possible to be ex- 

 pressed in the arboreal type of growth. It breaks away 

 from the poplar characteristics of slenderness, and pre- 

 sents a portly breadth that is at once dignified and 

 graceful. One must have a year's experience of a tree 

 to know its most inviting aspect. In this poplar it 

 seems to be in the early budding period ; the dark and 

 deeply furrowed bark of the lower trunk is then seen 

 merging into the peculiarly mottled white of the summit 

 and of the spreading branches, and the entire pose of 

 its striking figure pleases the eye as it stands projected 

 against the sky, softened only by a wealth of slender 

 pendent catkins. The Park contains several notable 

 specimens of it, particularly one just north of the large 

 reservoir. It is hardly less beautiful in foliage, for the 

 small and finely shaped leaf, with something of the con- 

 tour of the ivy, is of a rich green above and silky white 

 beneath. Its popularity has been lessened by its pro- 

 pensity to spread by suckers from the root a very lazy 

 objection to the cultivation of such a beautiful figure. 

 Introduced long ago from Europe it is now quite accli- 

 mated. No class of trees is oftener referred to in 

 ancient poetry than the poplars, and it is this "silver- 

 leaf" species that is particularized. 



CHESTNUT. Chestnut, oak, and hickory show the 

 savage side of vegetation, for which we all have some 

 affinity, as we have for lions and tigers. Such trees can 

 never be tamed to gentleness, they scorn refinement. 

 But a huge chestnut, given a wide clear space, shows a 



75 



