24 TREE PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



Cottonwood, P. monilifera. 



We have two varieties of the cottonwood, the White and the Yellow, the 

 latter having the better gift; both equally hardy. A very rapid grower to 

 massive size and shade, it formerly ranked as first choice for prairie plant- 

 ing, but it is classed now on the descending scale, for our rainfall and 

 moisture are not equal to its monopolistic demand. On alluvial and other 

 moist soils it is a fine success. 



Catkins or tassels are long, flexible, pendu!ous. Seeds enveloped in 

 white plumy cotton; buds resinous, aromatic and agreeable. When the 

 seeds are ripe, in June, the winds bear their cottony down in all direc- 

 tions, lodging where they can. M. De Foucault, a French botanist, cor- 

 rectly says: "The leaves are deltoid, or trowel-shaped, approaching to 

 cardiform (heart-shaped), always longer than they are broad, glabrous, 

 smooth, having no hairs and unequally toothed; the petioles are compressed 

 and of a yellowish green, and two glands of the same color as the base; 

 the branches are angular, and the angles form whitish lines which persist 

 even in the adult age of the tree." 



Like the other leading poplars the wood of the cottonwood is growing 

 in demand, and as a tree will never cease to be in public favor. Propagat- 

 ed from cuttings, and so with all the poplars. 



CONIFER/E. PINE FAMILY. 



What distinguishes the pines from other families is the homogeneity of 

 their fibres (no ducts), their needle or awl-shaped leaves, their scaly cat- 

 kins or woody cones, their resinous juices. They will grow on most of our 

 drained soils. Not being tap-rooted, strictly speaking, they do not neces- 

 sarily require deep soil. As their leaves are small, they do not evaporate 

 moisture very rapidly, as do some of the deciduous trees; hence will sur- 

 vive on dry soils where some other trees will perish. They need to be in 

 masses for mutual protection, where exposed to high winds. Propagated 

 from seeds, maturing in autumn. The pine families excel all others in 

 practical value9. 



jack pine, Pinas Banksiana. 



Known also as Black, Gray and Norway Scrub Pine. Extends farther 

 north than any other American Pine, even to Hudson Bay, where it grows 

 but about three feet high. It abounds in the sandy and barren regions of 

 northern Minnesota. In some localities they form very thick woods, un- 

 supported by other trees, save here and there a red pine. A coarse-grained 

 tree, very resinous, excellent fuel; seldom cut for lumber; makes second- 

 tlass railroad ties. Ordinarily not a large tree. Flowers in April and 

 May. Branches long, frexible and spreading. Leaves an inch long; cones 



