THE WILLOW. . 33 
In all willows the pistillate catkins bear pods that 
open and let out fluffy seeds. 
The cottonwood trees are relatives of the willows. 
Their seeds are so very downy that 
when they are ripe the ground be- 
neath the trees will often be white, 
as though a light snow had fallen. 
It is because the seeds are so 
abundantly supplied with soft cot- 
tony plumes that the tree is called 
cotton-wood. Ripe willow catkin - 
Poplars are also closely related to the willows and, 
like them, have fluffy seeds. 
In the early summer, if you look in the right place, 
you will see plenty of them. 
Willow and poplar twigs are very strong and limber, 
and some kinds are used to make baskets and chairs 
and cradles and a great many other useful things. 
The slender young twigs are woven together and make 
very strong and durable articles. 
Since only the long twigs can be used, people get 
them in large quantities by cutting off the heads of the 
trees, when long sprouts shoot up all around the ends 
of the cut limbs. Cutting off the tops of the trees in 
this way is called pollarding, and a pollarded willow or 
poplar is rather a funny sight, particularly after it has 
had its head cut off a number of times. 
