1885.] MISCELLANEOUS. 525 



The Diamond Willow {Salix cordata var. vestita) is a low tree, 

 growing in the valley of the Missouri river, in Iowa and Nebraska, 

 and westward to the 110th degree of longitude, and it has been 

 known chiefly from the canes with diamond-shaped projections, 

 which can easily be whittled out of it by following the grain about 

 the knots. It grows readily and rapidly, and W. L. Brockman 

 states in the Minnesota Farmer that it not only serves from its 

 habit an admirable purpose as a wind-break in the sections where 

 such protection is needed, but will furnish a most elastic and 

 durable wood for vineyard stakes and the like. It is said to be 

 almost indestructible under ground, and will grow three sets of 

 posts as good as red cedar while one of the latter is maturing. It 

 is also good for fuel, being harder than other willows, and its 

 specific gravity being about that of black walnut. 



Buying and selling Timber on the Continent. — A traveller 

 in the south of France was recently passing through a forest, when 

 he suddenly met a dozen, as he thought, suspicious characters. 

 His first thought was how to make his escape ; but to his great 

 astonishment, one of them came forward, and, after some general 

 conversation about trees, suddenly offered one lumdred napoleons if 

 he would retire. The traveller said he had no objection, and, to his 

 surprise, the sum was given him, and he went his way rejoicing. 

 He applied to the authorities, when he discovered that a large sale 

 of forest trees took place that day, to which the local buyers had 

 been bidden, and these men composed a " knock-out " — that is, 

 conspired to prevent any one else bidding, in order that they might 

 obtain the timber at a cheap rate. The traveller was supposed by 

 them to be a well-known timber merchant, and to have entered the 

 forest for the purpose of bidding ; so he was bought off. 



Steel Sleepers. — Eeplying to the assertion of Sir Michael 

 Hicks-Beach as to the Midland Railway Company purchasing steel 

 sleepers from Belgian firms, Mr. Charles Thomas, one of the Directors 

 of the Midland Company, stated that the Eailway Company had done 

 good service to the English manufacturers by bringing the important 

 matter before them, as the substitution of steel for wood would 

 mean £250,000 now paid to Russia, Norway, and Sweden being 

 spent at home. The Company had now accepted the tender of an 

 English firm for 250 tons of sleepers. 



Irish Forests neaely 300 y'ears ago. — The value of Irish 

 timber seems to have been very well appreciated by the English 

 Government at a comparatively early period. Under date 27th 

 October 1608, Lord Deputy Sir Arthur Chichester writes to Lord 

 Salisbury that the bearer of his letter is " Mr. Mytten, the man with 

 whom he has conferred touching the use and profit that is to be 



