Around the *“ Pond ”—First Excursion 
the ‘‘silver-leaf’’ (/opulus alba), which betrays as 
much of a poetic temperament as is possible to be ex- 
pressed in the arboreal type of growth. It breaks away 
from the poplar characteristics of slenderness, and pre- 
sents a portly breadth that is at once dignified and 
graceful. One must have a year’s experience of a tree 
to know its most inviting aspect. In this poplar it 
seems to be in the early budding period ; the dark and 
deeply furrowed bark of the lower trunk is then seen 
merging into the peculiarly mottled white of the summit 
and of the spreading branches, and the entire pose of 
its striking figure pleases the eye as it stands projected 
against the sky, softened only by a wealth of slender 
pendent catkins. The Park contains several notable 
specimens of it, particularly one just north of the large 
reservoir. It is hardly less beautiful in foliage, for the 
small and finely shaped leaf, with something of the con- 
tour of the ivy, is of a rich green above and silky white 
beneath. Its popularity has been lessened by its pro- 
pensity to spread by suckers from the root—a very lazy 
objection to the cultivation of such a beautiful figure. 
Introduced long ago from Europe it is now quite accli- 
mated. No class of trees is oftener referred to in 
ancient poetry than the poplars, and it is this “<silver- 
leaf ’’ species that is particularized. 
CHEsSTNUT.—Chestnut, oak, and hickory show the 
savage side of vegetation, for which we all have some 
affinity, as we have for lions and tigers. Such trees can 
never be tamed to gentleness, they scorn refinement. 
But a huge chestnut, given a wide clear space, shows a 
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