"Dasycarpum" says: "While crossing the Alleghenies en route to the Florists' Convention in August, the conversation turned upon shade trees, and among them maples; and as there appeared to be some ambiguity as to whether the Red Maple was hard wooded, it would be of value perhaps for you to elucidate this point for the benefit of the public. I also find the same uncertainty in regard to the Cottonwood and the Carolina Poplar, some claiming that they are identical and others the reverse".

[Soft Maple is generally understood to be the common Silver Maple - Acer dasycarpum. Hard Maple is given to Acer rubrum, the Red Maple, and to Acer saccharinum, the Sugar Maple. No one ever knows for certain which one is being talked about, except after minute inquiry. We believe most people refer to the Red Maple when using the name Hard Maple.

The Cottonwood Poplar is Populus Canadensis, the Carolina Poplar, Populus monilifera; botanists are, however, by no means clear that they are not mere varieties of the same thing. But it is very important for cultivators to keep the varieties separate. The so-called Carolina Poplar is far superior to all others as a street tree. - Ed. G. M].