326 



THE NATURE BOOK 



full}' grown, the fruit ripens. Long tassels 

 of cotton}- tluft' hang pendent for a time, 

 and the seeds, each with its cottony 

 attachment, are gradualh' carried awa}- 

 by the wind. Eventually the tassels them- 

 seh'es. or what is left of them. fall, making 

 fresh litter below. 



The leaves of the Poplars, particularly 

 those of the Aspen and the Black Poplar, 

 rustle and quix'er with every breath of 

 wind, suggesting multituchnous merry life, 

 with subtle whisperings, rippling laughter, 

 and frolicsome joy-dance. It must be a 

 dead calm indeed for the inter]ilay of air 

 and sunshine among the qui\'cring Poplar 

 leaves to cease. By this almost perpetual 

 motion these leaves are able to secure 

 increase of hght and air, with quickened 

 respiration probably, and possibly an 

 advantage to themselves in ridding their 

 surface of excess of moisture, aiding 

 evaporation and shaking off rain drip. 



In aiitiiiiui the leaf changes varv. but 



TRUNK AND BAKK OF THE ASPl-N 



mostly to yellow. 

 orange and brown. 

 A peculiarit}' is 

 noticeable, especially 

 with some trees, in 

 that these autumn 

 tints are at hrst 

 assumed only par- 

 tially, producing a 

 somewhat patchy 

 effect. So we see at 

 times a blaze of yel- 

 low and gold amidst 

 the elsewhere u n- 

 changed green. 



THE ASPEX 



This is the smallest 

 and shortest lived of 

 the Poplars, yet for 

 us it takes pre-emin- 

 ence among them 

 from the fact that 

 it is undoubtedly a 

 native tree. It is, 

 moreover, the most 

 interesting, and has 

 the pleasantest asso- 

 ciations. Its branches 

 are few and slender, 

 with a tendency to 

 become ]^endulous 

 at the extremities. 

 With this tree the 

 characteristic move- 

 ment of the leaves is 

 most pronounced and continuous. "To 

 tremble like an Aspen leaf" has become 

 proverbial. An ancient legend pathetic- 

 ally accounts for the Aspen's trembling : 

 it alleges that the Cross was made from 

 its wood, and that the tree ever since 

 has shuddered to remember its part in 

 the great tragedy. Yet to our view the 

 associations of the Aspen are rather those 

 of joyousness, of free, bounding life. 

 Grouped l:)eside some quiet waters, rising 

 o\er the floating water-lily leaves, and 

 the swaying flags along the margin, the 

 ( hmip of Aspens stands out gracious and 

 tender, yet cheery withal, in the never- 

 ceasing ri])ple over and around its leafy 

 crowns, wliilst the reflected sunshine 

 shimmers and flashes there. Above are 

 twinkhng hghts. beneath is a tremulous 

 shade. 



TNVIGS OF ASPEN 

 (ONE WITH 

 CATKIN-BUDS), 

 ALSO FOLIAGE- 

 BUD (ENLARGED) 



