164 



Forests and Trees 



FIG. 28. Balsam 

 Poplar. 



speaking, that term belongs to a more eastern species. The 

 balsam poplar is easily distinguished from the aspen by its 

 large, resinous and strong-smelling buds, and its more pointed 

 leaves, which vary from a bright shiny 

 green when young to a rusty green when 

 mature. The bark is smooth and greenish 

 on young trees, but becomes thick, rough 

 and gray as the tree gets older. The tree, 

 too, is larger than the aspen and grows 

 along streams and in moist places. 



The balsam poplar is a very quick- 

 growing tree ; it transplants easily and is 

 readily grown from cuttings. Where quick 

 results are required it is valuable for 

 planting, but it sends up a great many 

 shoots from the roots. This makes it 

 undesirable, especially beside grass plots. The wood is dark 

 and of little value even for fuel. 



BLACK COTTONWOOD. Populus trichocarpa. Torrey and Gray. 



This is the Rocky Mountain and Pacific coast representative 

 of the preceding species. It closely resembles 

 the balsam poplar of the prairies but is a 

 larger tree; in fact, it is the tallest of all 

 the poplars, sometimes reaching a height of 

 about two hundred feet. 



The bark is thick, gray and very rough on 

 old trunks, and the buds are large, resinous, 

 bright brown and often slightly curved. The 

 leaves are broad at the base, narrowing to 

 a sharp point, bright green, smooth and 

 shining above, and whitish beneath. 



The wood is brown in color, light and FlG 

 weak, but is often used for bowls and such Cottopwood. 



