258 WOODS OF COMMERCE 



their allies the Willows, these woods are white or pale grey, yellowish, 

 or brown, very soft, and light, with neither pith-rays nor vessels 

 distinctly visible. They are used mainly for paper-pulp and 

 cellulose ; but to some extent for packing-cases, bhnd-wood, sabots, 

 and other purposes, especially in France, at Ivry and elsewhere. 



Poplar, Aspen. See Aspen. 



Poplar, Balm of Gilead or Balsam {Populus balsamifera L.). North 

 America. Known also as '' Tacamahac." Height 70—80 ft. ; 

 diam. 5—7 ft. S.G. 363. W 22-6. R 650 kilos. Sapwood wide, 

 nearly white ; heart light reddish-bro^vn, not strong or durable. 

 Used only for paper-pulp, for which it is excellent ; but as suitable 

 for wooden- ware, etc., as other species. 



Poplar, Black (P. nigra L.). Europe and ISTorthern Asia. Height 

 50—60 ft. ; diam. 1—2 ft. W 60-5 when green, 36—25 when dry. 

 Sapwood wide, nearly white ; heart light reddish-brown, shrinking 

 more than one-sixth of its bulk in drying, not strong or durable. 

 From its non-liability to spHnter useful for the bottoms of waggons, 

 sabots, clogs, and turnery, and used also for carving and for 

 charcoal. 



Poplar, Black Italian (P. monilifera Ait. = P. deltoidea Marsh). 

 Eastern United States, but now common in Italy, Switzerland, and 

 other parts of Europe. Kjiown also as '' Carolina " or '' Necklace 

 Poplar," " Big Cottonwood " or " Whitewood," or, in Europe, as 

 " Swiss Poplar." Oerm. '' Wollpappel, Rosenkranz-Pappel." The 

 timber is imported into Liverpool from the United States under its 

 American name '* Cottonwood." Height 150 — 200 ft. ; diam. 

 6—7 ft. S.G. 389. W 24-25. R 770 kilos. The quickest growing 

 of Poplars. Sapwood very wide, nearly white, heart brownish, 

 tough, not durable if exposed to moisture, but of larger dimensions 

 than, and equal in quality to, any other Poplar. It does not 

 splinter, holds nails well, and does not readily ignite. Used for 

 flooring, clapboards, the sides and bottoms of brick-carts and 

 waggons, carcase-work, sabots, packing-cases, inferior fuel, and 

 extensively for paper-pulp, for which purpose it is now largely and 

 remuneratively planted in Britain. '^ Were every cottager to grow 

 his own fuel . . . perhaps no tree would succeed so well " {Loudon)^ 

 The polishing- wheels used by glass-grinders are made of horizontal 

 sections across the entire tree of this species, or preferably of Willow. 



Poplar, Carolina. See Poplar, Black Italian. 



Poplar, Grey (P. canescens Sm.). Kashmir, Persia, ^Northern 

 Africa, and Europe. Height 60 — 100 ft. ; diam. 2 — 4 ft. W BS 

 when green, 38-5 when dry. White, shrinking a quarter of its 

 bulk in drying, and cracking ; but not splitting when nailed. Said 

 to be superior to White Poplar, and used on the Continent for 

 packing-cases, rollers and boards for winding ribbon, silk, cloth, etc 



