36 TREES AS GOOD CITIZENS 



branches, which curve gracefully upward and outward to 

 form a symmetrical, rounded, wide-spreading or vase- 

 like top. This tree's brownish grey bark is furrowed into 

 perpendicular flat-topped ridges, very rough and solid, 

 with whitish inner layers. The tree is marked by droop- 

 ing twigs, and by pointed leaves which are usually quite 

 rough above, sharply double-toothed, with straight, pale 

 veins clearly marked and extending to the teeth on the 

 margins. The English Elm has an oblong top, often 

 divided into two sections, one above the other and the 

 lower smaller than the upper. The trunk does not sep- 

 arate into branches as in the American Elm, but is more 

 or less continuous well into the top of the tree. Its 

 branches are crooked and heavy, and its twigs do not 

 droop as do those of the American Elm. The leaves are 

 similar to those of the American Elm, but are apt to be 

 smaller. The two trees are similar as to bark, except that 

 the bark of the English Elm is the harder and coarser. 



The Hackberry resembles the Elm in some respects, 

 but its trunk does not divide so gradually. Its light 

 bark is irregularly ridged and after a few years is covered 

 with prominent wart-like projections of the outer bark, 

 which are a distinguishing characteristic. The leaves, 

 like those of the Elm, are unevenly developed and lopsided 

 to a much greater extent than in the Elm. They are a 

 light olive green, sharp pointed and coarsely toothed, 

 and each leaf has its two lowest side veins prominent 

 and extending well up from the base. The berry resem- 

 bles a yellow cherry, turning to purple-black and is sweet 

 and edible. 



While the various Poplars have numerous points in 

 common, they are marked by distinctive characteristics. 

 The Lombardy Poplar is tall and slender, shaped like the 

 spire of a church, and its erect branches normally start at 



