112 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [14:3— Mar., 1918 



and feathery twigs as they are outlined against the sky. Many 

 people miss the beauty of the elm in blossom. In the early spring 

 the reddish brown blossoms appear. Then the elm seems to be 

 enclosed by a purple haze. Unlike most shade trees the elm 

 requires little or no pruning. Its strength has been immortalized 

 by Holmes in his "Wonderful One Hoss Shay." 



On the other hand the elm grows slowly. It has more insect 

 enemies than most any other shade tree. In the east it is many 

 times killed by the tussock moth and the elm leaf beetle. The 

 elms of this vicinity have not been bothered, but many people 

 hesitate to plant the elm because of its devastation in other sections 

 of the country. 



(Someone suggests the poplar and others object at once stating 

 that the council of Oxford has recently passed an ordinance 

 ordering all poplars to be cut down. This raises the question.) 



2. Why have the councilmen of Oxford ordered all poplars 

 to be cut down? 



(Children suggest that the rootlets fill the sewers, the tree is 

 ugly, dirty, and requires great care, therefore the following 

 questions) : 



Ref. 6, p. 147. Ref. 11; pp. 22-27. 



1 . What damage have the roots of the poplars done in Oxford ? 



2 . Why is the poplar called a dirty tree ? 



3. Why must it be pruned carefully? 



4. Why do you think it ugly? 



2 . Why not choose the poplar for this lot ? 



Conclusion : ' In the first place there is in Oxford an ordinance 

 against it, because its rootlets find the slightest crevice in the sewer 

 pipe and fill it in no time. The roots also raise flagstones and 

 crack concrete walks. It os also very dirty and needr *nuch 

 pruning. It is dirty from April until late in the fall. Flowers 

 fall in April, cottony seeds fly about in May, and the leaves fall 

 from June until late in the fall. The wood is so brittle chat a 

 slight gust of wind brings twigs and limbs to the ground at any 

 season of the year. The tree requires continued pruning to cause 

 it to spread. In fact the poplar is attractive only when young. 

 If untouched it grows tall ; if headed in it is unsightly with its large 

 trunk and small top. 



With questions similar to the above and references given 

 the following conclusions can be reached. 



