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from Europe, with large erect catkins developing very 

 early in the spring, has appeared mysteriously in 

 gardens and yards, often to the surprise of the owners 

 themselves. It is the result of the rapid growth of 

 vigorous shoots from the roots or stock upon which the 

 absurd little umbrella-shaped "Kilmarnock" willows, 

 we so often see in yards about the city, are grafted. 

 It is a much finer plant in every way for ornament, and 

 one much prized just now for its early " pussies," and 

 the loss of the little umbrella is therefore quite a gain. 



The A.merican aspen (Populus tremuloides) grows 

 on the road at the north of Weuham pond and 

 frequently in Danvers, Topsfield and elsewhere. This 

 and the large toothed aspen (Populus grandidentata) 

 and the European white poplar (Populus alba) have 

 the stems of their leaves flattened in the opposite 

 direction to that of the blade of the leaf. This ac- 

 counts for the rapid motion of the leaves of these 

 trees even with the slightest breath of wind. There 

 is a large toothed aspen planted at the rear of 

 Plummer Hall, and a natural group of them on the 

 western side of the road turning from the turnpike to 

 Swampscott. 



The white poplar, a common tree introduced from 

 Europe, rapidly grows to large size. There is a 

 tree about sixty years old at Mr. Eobert Manning's 

 on Dearborn street, one on Pearl street, near Bridge, 

 and another, over eleven feet in circumference, before 

 the old Forrester house. No. 120 Derby street, near 



Curtis. 



The Balm of Gilead (Populus balsamiferacandicans), 

 only known in the female state, is a variety of a native 

 northern poplar. There are trees on Lafayette street, 



