PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 42 
NI 
THE COTTONWOOD. 
Populus monilifera. Syn. Carolina Poplar, Ete. 
This well known tree is widely disseminated throughout the Middle and 
Western States, is very abundant in the Southwest throughout the Mississippi 
Valley, and extending to the Rocky mountains along the streams, appearing in 
numerous dense thickets on the river sand bars and wherever there is enough 
moisture to germinate the seeds and prevent annual fires from destroying the 
young plant. . 
The influence which this pioneer tree has exerted in building up the great 
States of the West can hardly be estimated. For hundreds of miles along the 
trails leading to the region of gold since “49 it was practically the only tree from 
which the pioneers could obtain fuel with which to cook their meals and warm 
themselves after a tiresome day's journey. There were no streams between the 
Missouri river and the Continental divide but which had groves of cottonwoods 
and isolated trees lining their banks, and while there were some willows, box 
elder and various shrubs, yet the cottonwood was the only tree in large numbers. 
Along the Platte, Missouri, Yellowstone and other Western rivers the groves 
of cottonwood trees proved to be of vast importance to the pioneer, who made 
settlements in the far west, as but little wood beside was found from which fuel 
and building material could be obtained. 
The dense thickets of Cottonwood along the Mississippi river for very many 
years supplied almost the only fuel used by steamboats on the long trips between 
New Orleans and the cities of the North. 
Its seed, which is formed in vast quantities, is furnished with a bunch of cot- 
tony down so light and buoyant that it is wafted by a slight breeze to great dis- 
tances, this being the one principal cause of its extensive distribution. The 
young tree, in fertile soil, makes rapid growth, while its extreme hardiness enables 
it to withstand treatment which would destroy many less hardy trees. 
The profusion of its seed is remarkable. The downy appendages to the seed 
enabled the wind to carry them in immense numbers to every nook and corner 
of western America. Why were there not vast forests? And why confined to 
low vallevs and water courses? The answer is simple and fully explains the 
total failure of the numerous tree claims under the Congressional Timber Cul- 
ture Act, and the reason for the abject failure of that well-meaning taw. 
The cottonwood cannot exist without large quantities of water. Its roots 
must be bathed in water constantly to maintain a vigorous growth. Like the elm 
and the willows, its habitat lies in moist places along water courses where its roots 
may drink freely during the growing period. 
