SPORT AND SCIENCE ON THE 



meter than six or eight inches. Whether this is 

 due to the trees belonging to a small species, or to 

 the fact that the natives are for ever cutting 

 them down for firewood it is impossible to say. 



The Poplar (Populus sp.), though very similar 

 to that met with on the plains, never reaches any 

 great size in these mountainous districts. It 

 occurs chiefly in North Shansi, in Shensi and in 

 Kansu, forming the chief growth of any size over 

 large areas of uncultivated land. Except as 

 firewood and in charcoal burning, this tree has 

 very little economic value. 



The Stunted, or Scrub-Oak {Quercus sp.) usually 

 occurs on the sunny slopes in the more moun- 

 tainous regions, showing that it is the severe 

 climate which prevents this tree from developing. 

 It produces a very small acorn, while the stem 

 seldom grows thicker than a man's arm. In the 

 lower hills of Chihli, north, east and west of Peking, 

 the Oak occurs as a fine tall tree. 



Besides these trees, which after all are scarcely 

 deserving of the name tree, there are some rarer 

 species, such as the Maple {Acer sp.), the Ash 

 {Fraxinus sp.) and the Aspen {Populus tremula). 



On the plains the commonest trees are the 

 Poplar, the Elm and the Willow. 



Of these the Poplar {Populus sp.) is most cared 

 for, as it grows very fast, producing a soft wood. 

 It forms an invaluable supply to the Chinese, 

 who use it for all purposes. It is particularly 



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