164 AMENTACEJi 



catkins. It is a somewhat small tree, with spreading branches, of purplish- 

 brown colour, which when young are covered with soft down. The leaves 

 are two or three inches long, and are among the broadest of any of the genus. 

 They are, on the upper surface, of rich Inight-green, and are beneath either 

 of pale sea-green or quite white, with soft white cottony down, and they 

 have waved margins and soft downy stalks. In March and April the leaf- 

 less boughs are laden with the abundant yellow, almost globular, fragrant 

 catkins. 



This is a useful Willow, for its tough white wood is employed in making 

 handles for agricultural implements, and for hurdles and other rustic purposes ; 

 and when burnt it yields good charcoal for the manufacture of gunpowder. 

 It is thought to furnish one of the best underwoods for coppices, and good 

 fences are made of it, which will grow well either in wet or dry soils ; though 

 the tree, when wild, is usually found in woods and dry pastures, and seldom 

 occurs near rivers. The bark affords an excellent tonic medicine, and it is 

 also used by the Highlanders to tan leather. 



The Croat Willow, or Grey Willow, or Saugh, as it is often called, would 

 probably be preferred to the other Willows too, because of its beauty at the 

 season when country people go palming or palmsing, as it is termed. In 

 some parts of Kent this practice is still very common, and men and boys 

 come in from the country to the towns, on Palm Sunday, wearing the 

 golden catkins in their hats, and carrying the blooming wands in their hands. 

 The custom vras much more general a few years since, than it is now, near 

 the Metropolis, and the A\'illow-boughs were usually exposed for sale in 

 Covent Garden Market on the Saturday before Palm Sunday. In some 

 parts of Germany, as about Munich, the peasants on Palm Sunday may be 

 seen on the road approaching the town, bearing in their hands the branches 

 of Willow-catkins, mingled with holly and mistletoe ; for the latter plant is, 

 in Germany, connected with usages of religion. The catkins are blessed by 

 the priest, and ai^e termed by German children, as by English ones, Palms. 

 As Goethe says — 



" In Rome upon Palm Sunday, 



They hear true palms ; 

 The Cardinals bow reverently, 



And sing old psalms : 

 Elsewhere their psalms are sung 



'Mid olive-branches : 

 The holly-bough sup]:>lies their places 



Among the avalanches : 

 More northern climes must be content 



With the sad Willow." 



The idea of the sadness of the Willow is a very old one, and wo find it 

 alluded to by our prose writers and poets long before the introduction into 

 this country of the tree called the AVeeping Willow. It probably originated 

 in a Scriptural association, and has come down to us from those times when 

 captive Israel hung their harps on the Willows, and wept because asked to 

 sing " the Lord's song in a strange land." It is a touching episode in their 

 history, and one which has appealed to the hearts of all who have loving 

 memories of their home, their country, and their God. So general is the 

 idea of the sadness of the Willow, that to "wear the Willow "has become a 



