(157) 
begins at the southeast corner of the grounds and continues 
northward to the northern boundary, occupying the easterly 
ridge and the low grounds adjacent thereto. Here hardy 
trees are brought together, trees being regarded as woody 
plants which have a single main stem arising from the 
ground and not branching until some distance above it. 
The groups will be referred to in the order of their 
sequence. 
The first is the willow family which occupies the land 
south of the nursery, where a collection of willows and 
poplars may be found. Of these Simon’s balsam poplar, 
native from the Amur valley to China, is of rapid growth 
and upright habit, and more graceful than the cottonwood 
or Carolina poplar; the American aspen, a native of north- 
ern North America, the wood of which is largely manufac- 
tured into pulp for the making of paper; in northern British 
America it is the principal fuel of the Indians, as it burns 
freely when green and without sparks; the inner bark, which 
is sweet, is often used by them as a food in early spring. 
This tree has been of great service in re-foresting large 
tracts which have been denuded by fire; the long hairy ap- 
pendages to the seeds enable the wind to carry them far and 
wide, and as they germinate quickly and the young seedlings 
grow rapidly in exposed situations, it is admirably adapted 
to the above purpose, quickly furnishing a covering for 
the land until more desirable trees may get a foothold. 
The white or silver-leaf poplar, of Europe and Asia, and 
Bolle’s poplar, a variety of this with lobed leaves and quite 
ornamental, are here. There also is the Lombardy, or 
Italian poplar, from Europe, with its tall spire-like growth. 
Among the willows are the white willow, from Europe and 
Asia, and the weeping willow, native of southeastern 
Europe and Asia, a tree commonly planted for ornamental 
purposes, and sometimes known as Napoleon’s willow. 
An additional area to the south, east of the long lake, is 
now being developed for the willow family and the walnut 
family. 
