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CHAP. CIII. SALICA‘CEA. SA‘LIX. 1477 
but this horizontal rod may be dispensed with where the rods are planted 
crossing each other ; as, when that is the case, each is kept in its place by a 
single tie at any point of intersection near the top of the fence. The advantage 
of placing the rods either sloping or intersecting is, that they push equally 
throughout ; whereas, when placed perpendicularly, they push chiefly at the 
summit. The durability of fences of this description depends entirely on their 
management; on suffering no one rod, or plant, to grow more vigorously than 
another ; and cutting the hedge regularly every year, either in summer for the 
leaves as fodder, or in November for the twigs for basket-making ; and in 
keeping the base of the hedge at least twice the width of the top. 
Culture of Willows as ornamental Trees or Shrubs. It is almost needless to 
repeat what we have before stated on the subject of rendering trees and shrubs 
either gardenesque, or picturesque, according to the character of the scene in 
which they are to be placed. As gardenesque objects, all the shrubs, as well 
as the trees, will have most effect when trained to a single stem, if only to the 
height of 2ft. or 3 ft. This alone gives them the character of art. All the 
trailing sorts, such as S. herbacea, S. reticulata, &c., to be truly gardenesque, 
ought to be grafted standard high, for the same reason. For picturesque 
decoration in artificial scenery, all the upright shrubby and tree willows may 
be scattered or grouped along the margin of water; and all the creeping or 
trailing kinds placed on rockwork, and left to take their natural shapes. 
Such species of willow as S. pentandra, S. lucida, and one or two others, 
from having little of the aspect common to the willow family, and, conse- 
quently, their forms not being associated with the idea of moist soil or water, 
may be placed near a house, or in a shrubbery or flower-garden, on account 
of their fragrance and early blossoms: but this cannot be recommended with 
respect to willows in general, which always convey the idea of the vicinity of 
water, or of marshy ground. 
A Sclictum is the only scene in which a complete collection of willows can 
be displayed to advantage ; because, as we have already observed, willows are 
not trees that will associate well with any other kinds. We would by no 
means recommen a salictum to be formed along the margin of water where 
the plants can be seen only on one side; unless, indeed, the object were to form 
picturesque scenery. In this case, the plants may be grouped in various ways ; 
some on the margin of water, others on the open lawn, and some on rocks, 
banks, and stony places. A salictum where the object is to preserve as much 
as possible the indigenous characters of the kinds, ought to contain various 
surfaces and kinds of soil; and be wholly aquatic in some places, and rocky, 
avelly, sandy, or arid, in others. Such a salictum is admirably adapted for 
illy countries; and, as almost all the willows are natives of cold climates, 
a salictum of this kind would be a scene particularly suitable for the 
north of Scotland. A gardenesque salictum is that which would produce 
most effect in a fertile and level country ; and, if water is at command, it may 
either be conducted in drains under the surface, for the purpose of irrigation 
at pleasure ; or it may appear in a canal, surrounding the salictum, and assum- 
ing a gardenesque or artistical form; or in a geometrical or gardenesque pond 
in the centre. In such a salictum, all the plants ought to be placed singly, 
with an ample space between them to allow each to attain its natural size and 
shape. The creeping and trailing sorts ought also to be planted singly, and 
allowed free space to extend themselves on every side; because, here, the 
object being more to display botanical character in a gardenesque manner 
than to exhibit the curious gardenesque, it would hardly be proper to graft 
the creeping and trailing sorts standard high, so as to make trees totally 
different from any ever seen in nature. 
As all the species of Salix flower in early spring, or from the beginning of 
March to the middle of June, and as the flowers are, in the daytime when 
the sun shines, covered with bees, the salictum is one of the most cheerful 
and inviting of garden scenes after the gloom of winter has passed away. 
For this reason, it is desirable that the soil of the salictum should be dry at 
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