Old 



According to Mr. Shaw this particular tree is only to be found 

 at the present time in the counties of Essex, Hertford and Suffolk. 

 A few trees were at one time growing in Kent and Surrey, but 

 it is hi* belief that the true « Bat- Willow " is no longer to b«- 

 obtained there. Neither Cambridgeshire nor Lincolnshire has 

 it, nor does it exist (except for recent plantings) north of the 

 Trent. This all goes to show that this Willow is a local form, 

 and that only those " sets " can be relied on which have been 

 obtained from the right district. Salix alba, var. caerulea $ is 

 grown at Kew, where there are two fine specimens on the banks 

 of the Lake. But although in character of leaf and fruit thev ;ire 

 identical with the trees on the Copped Hall Estate, in habit they 

 are quite different. The trunks have forked low, and the habit is 

 more spreading. Although some of the Copped Hall trees are grow- 

 ing in hedgerows and have ample room for lateral development, 

 their tapering pyramidal form is a most noticeable characteristic. 

 This is well shown in the illustration. 



The pyramidal shape of the tree is associated with, and may in 

 some measure be due to, a great vigour of growth. And it is 

 reasonable to conclude that it is this vigorous growth which gives 

 to the timber those peculiar qualities which render it better 

 adapted for cricket bat -making than any other variety of White 

 Willow. It is a remarkable fact that of all the hundreds of timbers 

 now available from the tropical and temperate parts of the globe 

 the only tree yet known to produce a timber of the right quality 

 is found in a few counties in England. 



In regard to quality of timber for cricket bats, the typical 

 S. alba appears to be intermediate between S. alba var. caerulea 

 and 8. viridis (v. below). A tree at Copped Hall was considered 

 by Mr. Shaw to be of second rate though of fairly good quality. 



Botanical characters of Salix alba.—k tree 70 to 80 feet high 

 with ascending or erect branches growing at angles of 

 from 30° to 45°. Leaves finely serrate, silky pubescent, 

 pubescence permanent. Stamens more silky in the lower 

 half than those of S. fragilis. Ovaries ovate-conic, 

 abruptly obtuse, sessile or with the pedicels shorter than 

 the nectary ; style very short or absent. 



S. alba, var. caerulea differs from ordinary S. alba in the leaf 

 being glabrescent and of a bluish green tint. The ovaries 

 are identical. 



Botanically there is no well-marked dividing line between 

 & alba and S. alba var. caerulea, the two being united by inter- 

 mediate forms. It is possible that the quality of timber improves 

 as the tree approaches the latter. 



Salix viridis, Fries. 



There is another Willow recognised by Mr. Shaw as a " close- 

 bark " and of a useful quality, but still inferior to that of Sahx 

 alba, var. caerulea. Although it is not easy to put on paper the 

 differences between the " open " bark of S. fragihs and the 

 "close " bark of the true " Bat Willow 1 ' in such a way that they 



