THE SOFTWOODS 195 



largest of them all, the Canadian poplar, often 

 reaches a height of 100 to 130 feet, with a stem 

 varying from 3 to 5 feet in diameter. The latter 

 and the common black poplar are easily distin- 

 guishable from the white, waving, downy leaves, 

 the silvery branches, and the smooth, light bark 

 of the abele and the common aspen ; while the 

 black poplars, so called from their darker bark, 

 which soon fissures longitudinally, are also easily 

 distinguishable individually. The common black 

 poplar has a thinner and more open crown of 

 foliage, borne by branches forming rather a wide 

 angle with the stem ; while the Canadian poplar 

 is more thickly and heavily foliaged, the branches 

 run upwards from the stem at a more acute angle, 

 and their twigs curve in somewhat towards the 

 stem. These distinctions as regards branch for- 

 mation can of course be noticed most clearly 

 during the leafless period of winter rest, but even 

 during the spring and summer months the thicker 

 foliage, the larger leaves, and their darker green 

 colour serve to characterise the Canadian as 

 differing from the common black poplar. 



A good, deep, moist loamy soil and a sheltered 

 situation are the conditions best suited for the 



