208 



NATURE STUDY 



the trees lies in the fact that the buds of the Carolina 



poplar are almost free from balsam. 



The bark and leaf of the white poplar are markedly 



different from any of the others. The bark is bright in 



color, but much roughened with black markings. Tlie 



leaves are white and downy underneath. 



It is said that when Hercules destroyed the robber, 



Cacus, in the 'cavern, on a poplar-covered mountain, he 



was so full of joy at his success that he tore a branch 



from a tree and wound it around 

 his head. Soon afterwards he 

 visited the infernal regions, 

 where the smoke blackened the 

 upper and exposed side of the 

 leaves, while the under side were 

 bleached by the perspiration of 

 his forehead. 



It is currently believed that 

 when the tree turns the white 

 side towards you, it is a sign of 

 rain. 



The Lombardy poplar is one 

 of the most picturesque of all 

 our trees, slender, tall, with 

 upward pointing branches. It 

 does not produce seed. It is 

 said to have been planted by 

 the French wherever they have 

 settled. It is the hero of the 

 legend of the Poplar Tree and 

 the Pot of Gold. 

 The American aspen is characterized by the restless 



quivering motion of its leaves, due to the long, slender 



Lombardy Poplar. 



