410 pliny's natural htstoet. [Book XVI. 



cut, continues to thrive, and, indeed, throws out more thickly 

 from the top, which, when closely clipped, bears a stronger re- 

 semblance to a closed fist than the top of a stump. It is a tree, 

 which, in my opinion, deserves to be placed by no means in 

 the lowest rank of trees ; for there is none that will yield a more 

 certain profit, which can be cultivated at less expense, or 

 which is less liable to be influenced by changes in the weather. 



CHAP. 69. TREES IN ADDITION TO THE WILLOW, WHICH ARE OF 



USE IN MAKING WITHES. 



Cato 56 considers the culture of the willow as deserving to 

 hold the third rank in estimation, and he gives it precedence 

 to the cultivation of the olive, tillage for corn, or laying out 

 land for pasture. It is not, however, because the willow is 

 the only tree that produces withes ; for they may be procured 

 also from the broom, the poplar, the elm, the blood-red cornel, 

 the birch, and the reed itself when split, or else the leaves of that 

 plant, as we know to be the case in Liguria. The vine, also, 

 will furnish them; the bramble, too, with the thorns re- 

 moved, as well as the twisted hazel. It is a very singular thing, 

 that a wood after it has been beaten and pounded should be 

 found all the stronger for making withes, but such is a striking 

 peculiarity that exists in the willow. The Greek red 57 willow is 

 split for this purpose : while the willow 58 of Ameria is whiter 

 but more brittle, for which reason it is used in an uncut state for 

 tying. In Asia there are three varieties known of the willow ; 

 the black 59 willow, which is best adapted for making withes, 

 the white willow, employed for various agricultural purposes, 

 and a third, which is shorter than the others, and known as 

 the helix. 60 



With us, also, there is the same number of denominations 

 given to as many varieties of the willow ; one being known 



56 De He Rust. c. 6. Fee remarks that the notions of modern agricul- 

 turists are very different on this point. 



67 The Salix purpurea of Linnaeus : the Salix vulgaris rubens of C. 

 Bauhin. 



58 This belongs, probably, to the Salix helix of Linnaeus. 



59 Fee queries whether this may not be the Salix incana of Schrank and 

 Hoffmann, the bark of which is a brown green. 



60 Belonging to the Salix helix of Linnaeus. 



