62 TREE PRUNING. 



CHAPTER VII. 



SOFT WOODS. POPLARS. -CONIFERS. 



Soft Woods, Woods with little density or strength 

 are called " soft woods " or " white woods," in dis- 

 tinction from hard woods, such as oak, elm, ash, etc. 

 Such woods are easy to work and in great de- 

 mand for many purposes. The trees yielding wood 

 of this sort grow often three or four times as rapidly 

 as hard-wood trees, and are therefore more profitable 

 to cultivate. To this class belong many trees with 

 deciduous foliage such as the Poplars, Willows, Lin- 

 dens, etc., and most conifers. The general rules for 

 pruning are applicable to trees of this class, and it is 

 only necessary to say a few words in regard to the 

 treatment proper for Poplars and Conifers. 



Poplars. The Poplars, owing to their rapid growth 

 and the excellent quality of the wood yielded by 

 them, constitute a group of considerable interest. The 

 growth of these trees is often so rapid that it is prac- 

 ticable to make, the length of their trunks equal one 

 third to one half of the entire height of the tree, and 

 thus greatly increase their value for industrial pur- 



