THE COTTONWOODS 337 



ground. It will be better to plant close, for it will be easy 

 to relieve by thinning. In harvesting, it will be best to take 

 out the largest trees first and leave some to stand for a 

 year or two to protect the forest floor and act as " nurses " 

 to the young shoots. 



The persistency of the tree in throwing up shoots should 

 prevent planting on lands where it is proposed to cultivate 

 or on lawns or in streets, and the tendency of its roots to 

 search for water should prevent planting near drains and 

 sewers, for they will surely fill them with fibrous roots 

 should there be an opening in them through which a tiny 

 root can enter. The tree is sometimes attacked by borers 

 and by oyster-shell scale the former being the most for- 

 midable. 



Swamp Cottonwood differs little from that just de- 

 scribed. It is a smaller tree and in some sections the wood 

 is better than that of either of the others. Its natural hab- 

 itat is in the swamps, and if permitted would undoubtedly 

 reproduce itself as far as could be desired. 



Balm of Qilead is useful for pulp, but the Carolina Pop- 

 lar is a much better tree. Its tendency is to branch out 

 low down and develop an open, straggling crown, with 

 specialized limbs, and the wood is so weak that it is fre- 

 quently destroyed or badly broken by winds. It is seldom 

 sawed into lumber. It warps badly in drying. Its cultiva- 

 tion as a forest tree cannot be recommended, and its habit 

 of throwing up sprouts should prohibit its cultivation where 

 they will interfere with cultivation of the ground or with 

 any other use of it. 



