The Balsam Poplar. 177 



P. balsamifera, variety candicans, cultivated as a shade tree, 

 differs from the common form in its more spreading branches, 

 forming a broader and more open head, in its broader, heart 

 shaped leaves, which are more closely serrate with gland-tipped 

 teeth, more or less pubescent or hairy when young and at ma- 

 turity paler on the lower surface. It seems to be still uncer- 

 tain as to whether this is entirely an introduced variety or is 

 indigenous. 



The name Balm of Gilead often applied to this species is 

 derived from the healing virtues ascribed to the balsam of its 

 leaf buds. It was often planted for this express purpose, and 

 was held in high esteem by the amateur physicians of older 

 days. Various preparations of it were recommended by the re- 

 cipe books, which had such vogue before the day of the doctor 

 and patent medicines. One which lies before us at the present 

 time gives a Balm of Gilead salve prepared with tallow, balm 

 of gilead buds and other ingredients, which is stated to have been 

 in use in this country about forty years with the greatest success. 



Two other trees which have also borne the name P. balsami- 

 fera are western species, which are now* generally known as P. 

 angusiifoUa, James, the narrow-leaved poplar or black cotton- 

 wood, and P. trichocarpa, Hooker, also called black cotton- 

 wood or balsam cottonwood. The former is distinguished by 

 its long narrow leaves, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate and green 

 on both sides. It is a small tree, not usually more than fifty 

 or sixty feet in height, and rarely exceeding eighteen inches in 

 diameter. The slender erect branches form a narrow and usu- 

 ally pyramidal head. The bark is light yellow green. The 

 wood is light, soft and weak. Its range is from New Mexico 

 to Southern Alberta, in which latter it is found along the Milk 

 and Belly Rivers and their tributaries, and also along the Bow 

 River. 



P. trichocarpa is the most westerly species, being found on 

 the Pacific coast from Alaska to California. In Britisli Columbia 

 it occurs in the valleys of the Columbia and Fraser Rivers. It 

 is stated bv Dr. Dawson, that this tree was used by the Indians 

 of British Columbia for the manufacture of canoes, and the roots 

 were formerly used by the Indians of Oregon and Northern Cali- 

 fornia for making hats and baskets. The leaves are usually 

 broadly ovate, acuminate, rounded or cordate at the broad base, 

 dark green on the upper surface, pale, ferrugineous or silvery 

 on the lower, while the seed pods are tomentosc or woolly. This 

 tree reaches 200 feet in height, with a diameter of seven or 

 eight feet. The specific gravity of the wood is 0.3814, a cubic 

 foot weighing 23.77 lbs. 



