426 
by cattle; even insects prey upon it much less readily than on the other species. In 
some parts of Yorkshire its twigs are used for making the finer sorts of basket-work.” 
“By some observations I have made,” says Mr. Curtis, “I should think it might be 
advantageously used for such purposes.. Planting cuttings one year, by way of experi- 
ment, I found that this species gave the longest one year’s shoots, exceeding even 
those of S. vimnalis.” Linnaeus also recommends it for its toughness, and as a most 
excellent willow for the formation of hedges, and aiso as one of the best willows for 
the finer kinds of basket-work. Dr. Anderson advises its use as a fence for dividing 
any extensive field of rich ground into separate enclosures, and also remarks there is 
ae fence which would be raised at such asmal\l expense so quickly and continue so 
ong. 
Loudon, in his Arboretum and Fructicetum, page 1490, states that the inner bark 
of most of the kinds included in this group (Purpurea) is extremely bitter, which 
renders the plants suitable for the banks of rivers and other places, which are infested 
by rats, as the bitterness prevents these animals from eating it. It is also frequently 
planted in Norfolk and Suffolk and in some parts of Essex for plaiting into close, low 
fences, for the exclusion of hares and rabbits, the bark and leaves being so extremely 
bitter that these animals will touch neither, while the shoots being long, tough, and 
flexible, may be formed into any shape; and a fence of this kind is reckoned little 
inferior to that of wire. This species is well adapted for planting in ornamental 
shrubberies, from the elegant slenderness of its twigs during winter, the redness of 
its catkins, the anthers of which are of that color before they burst, and the fine pur- 
plish and glaucous hue of its young shoots and leaves. The male plant, being the most 
beautiful when in flower, ought to be most propagated by nurserymen. : 
This variety of willow will produce shoots from 5 to 8 feet long in one season. 
It will thus be seen from the above quotations that I lay no claim to originality, 
but, having simply carried out the ideas of these eminent writers to a practical issue, 
in a district swarming with hares and rabbits, I am in a position to bear ample testi- 
mony to the value of their remarks. I can, however, scarcely go so far as to say that 
hares and rabbits will not touch the very young shoots of this description of willow. 
Occasionally, when hard pressed for food, they may do so, but never to such an extent 
as to cause any material injury to the plant. 
The Department of Agriculture deems this subject so worthy of at- 
tention that it will make an effort to procure, by importation, some of 
the most valuable willows, for gratuitous distribution, when the proper 
season arrives. 
ENTOMOLOGICAL RECORD. 
Ate la h6 TOWNEND GLOVER. 
THE COLORADO POTATO-BEETLE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 
—During the last month the much-dreaded western potato-bug, Dory- 
phora decem-lineata made its appearance in the immediate neighborhood 
of Washington, D.C., several of the mature insects having been brought 
alive to the Department of Agriculture for identification. They were 
taken by Mr. Charles Chapin, of the Marine Corps, in a garden, feeding 
on the foliage of some potatoes, and had almost ruined the plants. 
Paris green mixed with flour, and dusted over the foliage, as yet ap- 
pears to be the best remedy. : 
PARIS GREEN.—The Department has also received information that 
the same mixture of Paris green and flour, or plaster, has been used 
with good effect to poison the cotton-caterpillar, Anomis xylinw, by 
sprinkling it over the foliage when wet with dew. Some of our southern 
correspondents, however, complain that the Paris green now sent out 1s 
a very inferior article, and on that account has proved ineffectual in 
many cases. As this remedy has been highly recommended by some, 
and pronounced worthless by others, we shall, therefore, be much 
obliged to our southern correspondents if they, will write to the Depart- 
