CATKIN-BEARING TRIBE 157 



both sides of the way. Many a wild spot in our own land might remind us 

 of Pringle's description : 



" And foxgloves looked out from the osiers dank, 

 And the wild thyme and violet breathed from the bank, 

 And ,<Treen fairy nooks "mid the landscape were seen, 

 Half hid by the grey rocks that over them lean. 

 Where the light liirch above its loose tresses was waving, 

 And the Willow below in the blue stream was laving 

 Its silvery garlands of soft downy buds." 



This species is sometimes called the Huntingdon Willow. It grows with 

 great rapidity, and on some of our river-sides may be found trees measuring 

 sixty, sevent}^, or even eighty feet in height. It is one of the most valuable 

 of all the Willow tribe, and when deprived of its top and made into a pollard, 

 it furnishes wood for poles, fences, crates, and fuel, and is useful for naval 

 architecture, roofs of houses, weather-boards, and other purposes. 



Its twigs form a very important article to the basket-maker, and of the 

 wood, cut into thin strips, are made those willow hats and bonnets known at 

 different periods as fashionable summer attire. The bark of the tree is thick 

 and very liable to crack. It is as valuable to the tanner as the oak-bark ; and 

 as a medicinal tonic, it is inferior to none of the species, save the *S'. russelUana. 

 Our fathers knew its worth in the cure of agues; and it was, in very 

 early days, prescribed for several disorders. In the "Breviarie of Health," 

 published in 1598, we find the "oyle" of the Willow used as a remedy ; and 

 it was probably procured by preparing the Willow-bark with oil. Thus the 

 author says : " Also for the crampe take of the oyle of lillies and Castory, 

 if it doe come of a cold cause : if it doe come of a hot cause, anoynte the 

 sinews with the oyle of water-lillies, and Willows, and roses. If it doe come 

 of any other cause, take of the oyle of Euforbium and Castory, and of 

 Piretory, and confect a compound altogether, and anoynte the place." 



The bark of the White Willow will, when old, bui-n freely, and the wood 

 is used for fuel, and is said to be best suited for the purpose while yet green. 

 The charcoal formed from this and several other AVillows affords an excellent 

 material both for crayons and gunpowder. Before the introduction of coke 

 into our ironworks, wood was used in such large quantities for charcoal, that 

 Evelyn, in his "Sylva," expressed his apprehension lest its use should lead 

 to the entire destruction of our forests. The Forest of Dean has, indeed, 

 been almost entirely destroyed by this use of wood in charcoal-burning. 

 Professor Burnett states that, "Even in 1788, twenty-six out of the eighty- 

 six iron fm-naces were heated by wood-charcoal; Wt, in 1826, the three 

 hundred and five, to which they had at that time increased, were all fed by 

 pitcoal coke." In France a rich crimson colour is obtained from the bark of 

 the White Willow. 



11. Yellow Willow or Golden Osier {S. rUdllna). — Leaves lanceolate, 

 with glandular serratures, tapering to a point, silky beneath, often so above ; 

 germens sessile, smooth ; style short ; stigmas two-parted ; scales lanceolate, 

 pointed. This Willow is common in hedges in many parts of the kingdom. 

 In early spring, in leafless woods, where " The Willow trails its delicate amber," 

 the flexible boughs contrast well with the red cornel twigs and the green 



