(i57) 



begins at the southeast corner of the grounds and continues 

 northward to the northern boundary, occupying the easterly 

 ridge and the low grounds adjacent thereto. Here hardy 

 trees are brought together, trees being regarded as woody 

 plants which have a single main stem arising from the 

 ground and not branching until some distance above it. 

 The groups will be referred to in the order of their 

 sequence. 



The first is the willow family which occupies the land 

 south of the nursery, where a collection of willows and 

 poplars may be found. Of these Simon's balsam poplar, 

 native from the Amur valley to China, is of rapid growth 

 and upright habit, and more graceful than the cottonwood 

 or Carolina poplar; the American aspen, a native of north- 

 ern North America, the wood of which is largely manufac- 

 tured into pulp for the making of paper; in northern British 

 America it is the principal fuel of the Indians, as it burns 

 freely when green and without sparks; the inner bark, which 

 is sweet, is often used by them as a food in early spring. 

 This tree has been of great service in re-foresting large 

 tracts which have been denuded by fire; the long hairy ap- 

 pendages to the seeds enable the wind to carry them far and 

 wide, and as they germinate quickly and the young seedlings 

 grow rapidly in exposed situations, it is admirably adapted 

 to the above purpose, quickly furnishing a covering for 

 the land until more desirable trees may get a foothold. 

 The white or silver-leaf poplar, of Europe and Asia, and 

 Bolle's poplar, a variety of this with lobed leaves and quite 

 ornamental, are here. There also is the Lombardy, or 

 Italian poplar, from Europe, with its tall spire-like growth. 

 Among the willows are the white willow, from Europe and 

 Asia, and the weeping willow, native of southeastern 

 Europe and Asia, a tree commonly planted for ornamental 

 purposes, and sometimes known as Napoleon's willow. 

 An additional area to the south, east of the long lake, is 

 now being developed for the willow family and the walnut 

 family. 



