llhistratcd Canadian Forestry Maga,':inc, Dcccniln-r. iqjo 



It is a mediuni sized tree from 40 to 

 50 feet in heif^ht and 1 to 2 feet in dia- 

 meter and occupies very much the same 

 soils as the aspen but appears to prefer 

 moist, sandy slopes on borders of 

 streams. It is sometimes found in small, 

 pure stands. l)Ul is dfU'ii niixe<l with bal- 

 saiu poplar, aspen and birch, it is some- 

 times used as firewood but seldom cut for 

 saw timber. 



.\s pointed out above, this tree can 

 readih l)e distinguished from the other 

 poplars within its ran^e by its leaves. 

 The winter buds too readily distinguish 

 it from either the aspen or the balsam 

 poplar. They are not so pointed and 

 narrow as those of the aspen and not so 

 large or sticky as those of the balsam 

 poplar. The buds are dull with the mar- 

 gin of the scales grey and somewhat 

 downy. 



The Co mill 0)1 Cottonivood. 



The Common Cottonwood (P. del- 

 toides) is found in Eastern Canada from 

 Quebec westward throughout southern 

 Ontario. In Western Canada is found 

 throughout the southern part of the three 

 FVairie Provinces. It is mostly confined 

 to the banks of streams and bottom lands 

 of rivers since it is a tree that requires 

 considerable moisture. The tree is a 

 rapid grower and fairly hardy, and is, 

 therefore, used extensively for planting 

 on the prairies. Its rapid growth has 

 also caused it to be planted to a con- 

 siderable extent for ornamental or shade 

 pur])oses in Eastern Canada. It has 

 many objectionable features which rapid- 

 ity of growth does not offset and which 

 make it undesirable for a street tree 

 where better trees can be grown. In a 

 short time it becomes too large for the 

 average street. It soon reaches maturity 

 and begins to decay. Many roots are 

 sent out near the surface and this as they 

 thicken will often raise and crack con- 

 crete sidewalks. The pistillate or female 

 trees produce large quantities of white 

 cottony material wdiich is blown about 

 by the wind and sticks to ones clothing 

 as well as filling up the meshes of door 

 and window-screens. However, if care 

 is taken to plant only the staminate or 

 male tree this latter objection is done 

 awav with. The Cottonwood is one of 



tlic largest of the poplars, averaging 7S 

 lo 100 feet in height and 2 to 4 feet in 

 diameter. It is readily distinguished 

 from our (jlher native i>o{)lars b\- its 

 leaves. These are triangular in outline 

 and coarsely toothe^l. The base of the 

 leaves is square and ihrii" tip long and 

 pointed. 



The lUack Cotlouwood f P. trichfjcar- 

 pa I is found along the coast of liritish 

 ('olumbia and is. for the most part, con- 

 lined to the moist river Ijottoms. The 

 trees are large, froui 80 to 125 feet in 

 height and ,^ to 4 feet in diameter. The 

 leaves are very much like those of the 

 balsam poplar in shape but more leathery 

 in texture. The stems are round in cross- 

 section. The wood of this species, when 

 cut, is chiefly used for boxes and coop- 

 erage. 



The Lance-leaf Cottonwood (P. acu- 

 minata) in Canada is confined to the 

 banks of streams in southern Alberta. 

 It is not abundant and of no commercial 

 value. It is a small tree from 35 to 40 

 feet high and 1 to 1 1-2 feet in diameter. 

 Its habits and distribution are very much 

 like the narrow leaf Cottonwood for 

 which it is often mistaken. The winter 

 buds are longer; more curved, more re- 

 sinous and the points more drawn out 

 than those of the narrow leaf cotton- 

 wood. The leaves are 2 to 4 inches long 

 and % to 2 inches wide and more coarse- 

 ly notched than those of the narrow leaf. 



The Narrow-leaf Cottonwood (P. 

 augusti folia) as pointed out above, has 

 much the same characteristics and range 

 as the lance leaf cottonwood. The leaf 

 is one of its best distinguishing features. 

 It resembles more the leaf of a broad- 

 leaf willow than those of the poplar. The 

 leaf stem is also shorter than that of the 

 lance leaf cottonwood. 



Our Exotic Poplars. 



A number of exotic species have been 

 introduced into this country of which the 

 most familiar are the Silver poplar ( P. 

 Alba) and the Lombardy poplar (P. 

 Nigra variety Italica). These have been 

 brought in from Europe by the early 

 settlers and are now found growing all 

 through the older settled portions of 

 Eastern Canada. More recently several 

 species from Russia have been intro- 



