Handbook or Tkkes of the Nortiiep.n States am) Caxai 



103 



Tlie B;ilm of Gilead when in its prime is a 

 beautiful largo Poplar, attaining the iioight of 

 70 or SO ft. or more witli broad and irregular 

 spreading top. and trunk attaining a thiekness 

 of 3-6 ft., vested in a rather thick firmly ridged 

 gray bark at base, while the ui)per truid< and 

 branches are covered with a smooth yellowish 

 brown bark. In a wild state it is a rare tree 

 and apparently quite local in distribution, but 

 from early times it lias been a favorite tree 

 for shade, and being very hardy was planted 

 abundantly in the dooryards of country 

 homes throughout the uortlicrn states and 

 Canada. It is a beautiful object at first with 

 its large parti-colored heart-shaped leaves con- 

 stantly fluttering from the slightest breezes. 

 Unfortunately it is a short-lived tree and early 

 becomes decrepit. Then its dropping limbs 

 make it unsightly and undesirable, but suckers 

 generally spring up in abundance about it and 

 eventually take its place, if allowed to do so, 

 and in this way trees once planted continue to 

 occupy the soil for a long time. The fra- 

 grance of the sticky buds and new leaves of this 

 tree is so marked as to be detected sometimes 

 at some distance from the tree, and attracts 

 the bees to it in abundance after the sticky 

 varnish on its buds. This they gather, pack 

 onto their thighs and carrj' away to seal the 

 crevices of their hives — the material called 

 propolis by the bee-keepers. I have observed 

 that goose-berry and currant bushes planted 

 beneath the branches of this tree are not 

 molested by the destructive cur rant- worm, the 

 emanations of the tree seeming to be distaste- 

 ful or disastrous to them. According to Prof. 

 L. H. Bailey, the Balm of Gilead was an im 

 portant lumber tree in the forests of Michigan 

 in early days. 



The wood is soft, light, a cubic font veigliin.i.' 

 2.J.93 lbs. when absolutely dry. easily worke.l 

 and suitable for the niamif u'tuic n{ Ix.xe-, 

 pails, excelsior, etc. 



Leaves broad heart-shapod. .3-0 in. lonu'. .icniniii.Tir 

 rather coarsely crenat<>-serrate and ciliair-iiia' 

 siinefl, pulieseent when yoiinfr lint (inall.v ulaluon- 

 ciark sreen above, whitish: stronsily id iculiilctl ami 

 sometimes rusty lien ea 111 : petinlcs ticailv trrn. 

 and veins liencatli eommnnly piilirscciit : Inids \;\v-< 

 and covered with a sticky aromatic n'sin. h'loin i s 

 in piilx'sccnt aments. the scales falliim early 

 stamens ir>-:',0: lobes of stigma hroad and larur 

 /•'(•i/i7 capsules crowded on the stems, ovoid, - 

 valved and with short pedicels. 



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1. Svn. Pnpiiliis 

 Gray. 



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