Fremont's California Cottonwood. 121 



FREMONT'S CALIFORNIA COTTONWOOD. 



(Populus Fremontii.) 



"Some ply the loom — their busy fingers 'more 

 Like poplar leaves, when zephyr fans the grove." — Pope. 



THIS large tree abounds from the Sacramento Valley 

 south to San Diego and far towards the Sierras, and is 

 said to extend eastward into contiguous States and 

 Territories. Flourishes in rich light alluvion, proximately 

 bordering river banks, or springy, where at least, their roots 

 reach water; is of very rapid growth, and attains to one 

 hundred and fifty feet in height, four to six feet in diameter; 

 bark of ashy-clay color, and roughened chinky on the main 

 body below, lesser branches and twigs creamy ; these outer 

 check-sections are so light as to afford a fair substitute for 

 cork. The branches are much spreading, and the general 

 spray of the tree is open and airy, the large leaves serve to 

 form a dense shade ; as usual with poplars, leaf-stems about 

 ■as long, or longer than the blade and latterly flattened ; 

 upland form altogether naked and smooth throughout, and 

 very conspicuously bayed at the base ; the bead-like cotton 

 pods are arranged on nodding or erect racemes, like currants, 

 usually three to five inches long near the terminal part of 

 last year's growth ; seeds white, capsules three to four valved. 



For extended parks, avenues, and roadways, and for suit- 

 able localities, or cities, this native poplar is the best avail- 

 able substitute for that balmiest of all balmy trees (P. bal- 

 ■samifera), that whilom shed its entrancing sweet ethereal 

 perfume, far and near, over the halcyon days of our early 

 youth. The pretty pink-blossomed male tree, only should 

 be chosen, as the female trees shed their cottony seed so pro- 

 fusely, like a flossy snowfall of down that persistently 

 refuses to let go whatever it touches, until the annoyance, 

 to sensitive natures, is voted a nuisance. 



The timber is somewhat less white than the Aspen, and 

 on thoroughly drying loses more than half its weight ; 

 makes excellent dry goods, wine, fruit, butter, and salt boxes, 

 peach baskets, etc., and all sorts of white wooden vessels, 

 trays, bowls, certain staves, clothes-pins, spools, and similar 

 turner's ware in general ; and is at the East now ground into 

 pulp for paper. Is also dignified to use as ceilings that take 

 paint well, and are seldom or never infested by insects ; is 

 in good repute for rafters and sleepers where some spring or 

 -elasticity is requisite. Its challenged durabilitv when dry, 

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