IV 



WILLOWS AND POPLAES 



Botanists group the willows and poplars to- 

 gether under the title of "The Willow Family." 

 The trees differ widely in size and habit of 

 growth, yet they are very much alike. All have 

 abundant watery juices; scaly, furrowed bark 

 charged with salicylic acid; soft, pale-colored 

 wood of small value for lumoer; slender 

 branches ; and tough fibrous roots. The flowers 

 are rich in pollen and honey. They are borne 

 in furry catkins on male and female trees, and 

 the seeds from the latter are wafted through the 

 air in long hair-like plumes. The seeds are 

 very weak and easily dried out. But their loss 

 is a small matter. There are hosts of adven- 

 titious buds in root and branch, and the trees 

 are readily started from cuttings. They grow 

 rapidly and prefer a damp soil, many of the 

 willows being especially fond of standing with 

 their feet in water. 



Most of you know the sand bar willow, the 

 shining willow, and the dear little pussy willow 



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