=Remarks.=--The cottonwood is adapted to a moist soil, propagates
easily, grows rapidly and is one of the best trees for forestry purposes
for planting overflow lands, and for planting where a quick shade is
desired or for temporary windbreaks.
The leaves of this tree are quite variable and several forms have been
described. The Carolina poplar of nurserymen has an upright habit of
growth and was formerly much planted as a shade tree. Its undesirable
qualities have condemned it, and most cities now prohibit its planting.
Cottonwood has many uses, and was formerly a very important timber tree,
but the supply has so diminished that large trees have become quite
scarce. The thick bark was much used by the boys of the pioneers for
whittling out toys, etc.
=4.= =Populus grandidentàta= Michaux. Large-toothed Aspen. Plate 18. A
small or medium-sized tree, 1-4 dm. in diameter; bark smooth,
grayish-green or whitish, becoming furrowed and dark brown on the trunks
of old trees that grow in the northern part of the State, especially
when growing in a swampy habitat. In the southern part of the State
where the tree usually grows on the top of hills, the bark does not
darken so much, frequently remaining a light to dark gray until
maturity. Shoots more or less woolly at first, becoming glabrous,
reddish-brown; leaves on sprouts and very young trees very velvety
beneath, slightly hairy above, ovate in outline, cordate at base and
with blades up to 20 cm. in length; leaves on older trees a yellow
green, glabrous, ovate, blades usually 6-10 cm. long, coarsely and
unevenly toothed, the base slightly rounded, rarely truncate or slightly
cordate, the apex pointed or rounded; petioles strongly flattened
laterally; stamens 6-12; capsule about 5 mm. long on a stalk about 1 mm.
long; wood soft, light and not strong.
=Distribution.=--Nova Scotia west to northern Minnesota and south to the
Ohio River, and along the Alleghany Mountains to South Carolina. Found
throughout Indiana, except we have no authentic records for Gibson[11]
and Posey[12] Counties. In the northern part of Indiana it is found in
great colonies about lakes, etc. or rarely a few trees on the crests of
gravel and sand ridges. In southern Indiana it is found in the "knob"
area in small colonies on the tops of the ridges associated with scrub
pine and chestnut oak and is rarely found in low ground in this part of
the State.
=Remarks.=--This species is too rare to be of much economic importance.
It could be most profitably used for excelsior and pulp wood.
[Illustration: Plate 18.