CHAPTER XXXVI. 
THE BUTTONWOOD, ASPEN, AND POPLAR. 
The Buttonwood or Plane-tree.—Its Extensive Range and Abundant 
Growth.—Its General Appearance and Elevation.—Its Peculiar Dis- 
advantages.—Description of its Seed and Manner of Sowing.—The 
Aspen.—Its Numerous Species and Resemblances.—Value of its 
Wood.—Disagreeable Character of its Seed.—The American Aspen. 
—Where Found and Limited Height.—Description and Uses of its 
Wood.—Its Common Characteristics.—Large Aspen.—Its Advan- 
tages.—Uses and Properties of its Wood.—Downy-leaved Poplar. 
—Its Southern Nativity.—Attainable Height and Size.—Peculiari- 
ties of its Foliage.—Its Uselessness as Lumber.—The Balsam Pop- 
lar.—Where Found and its Uselessness.—The White Poplar.—Its 
Ornamental Value.—Its other Advantages.—Its Superior Qualities 
and Chief Uses.—How Propagated and Attainable Height. 
THE BUTTONWOOD, OR PLANE-TREE. 
Tus tree is common throughout the Northern, Middle, 
and Western States. It rises to a height of from one to 
three hundred feet, with a diameter of from two to eight 
feet. It is not valuable either as a timber tree or as an 
ornamental tree, on account of its being liable to warp 
and crack, and the rapidity with which it decays on ex- 
posure to the weather. As an ornamental tree it is often 
attacked by a peculiar blight which greatly disfigures it ; 
2. €., the bark peels off in spots, leaving the tree with the 
appearance of a man with the small-pox, or a tree that 
has been partially burned with powder and the discol- 
ored bark has started to peel off. The seeds occur in 
balls, are covered with plumy tufts, and are about an 
inch in diameter. They may be sown when ripe, or kept 
until spring, soaked in water and then sown, or by cut- 
tings of the last year’s wood. 
