THE SOFTWOODS 195 
largest of them all, the Canadian poplar, often 
reaches a height of 100 to 130 feet, with a stem 
varying from 3 to 5 feet in diameter. The latter 
and the common black poplar are easily distin- 
guishable from the white, waving, downy leaves, 
the silvery branches, and the smooth, light bark 
of the abele and the common aspen; while the 
black poplars, so called from their darker bark, 
which soon fissures longitudinally, are also easily 
distinguishable individually. The common black 
poplar has a thinner and more open crown of 
foliage, borne by branches forming rather a wide 
angle with the stem; while the Canadian poplar 
is more thickly and heavily foliaged, the branches 
run upwards from the stem at a more acute angle, 
and their twigs curve in somewhat towards the 
stem. These distinctions as regards branch for- 
mation can of course be noticed most clearly 
during the leafless period of winter rest, but even 
during the spring and summer months the thicker 
foliage, the larger leaves, and their darker green 
colour serve to characterise the Canadian as 
differing from the common black poplar. 
A good, deep, moist loamy soil and a sheltered 
situation are the conditions best suited for the 
