THE WHITE WILLOW. 65 



the largeft bulk. It is common in moid 

 woods and hedges, and on the fide of brooks 

 and rivers, the courfe of which it often 

 marks by its grey foliage, diftinguifhable at 

 a diftance by the eye of the traveller. The 

 wood of this tree is very white, and takes a 

 fine polifli; whence it is in requeft for milk- 

 pails and other utenfils which require pe- 

 culiar cleanlinefs. The bark of this and of 

 fome other fpecies of willow is aftringent, 

 and will tan leather. It has been ufed me- 

 dicinally as a fubftitute for the Peruvian 

 bark in the cure of agues ; a property hap- 

 pily fuited to the fituations in which thele 

 trees principally delight. 



THE 



