VARIETIES OF WILLOWS 37 



decidedly dark greyish colour. I am inclined to think 

 by its general habits and growth that it is a darker 

 skinned variety of the " Pomeranian," the skin of 

 which is light. A noticeable feature of the triandra 

 species, is that many of the varieties produce a light 

 and dark skin. The " Counsellor " is well worth pro- 

 pagating owing to the extremely high price it com- 

 mands. In 1918 this willow sold most freely at 65 

 per ton, white, and 70 per ton, buff. Plant 18 in. by 

 i8in. 



It should be pointed out that the sales which are 

 here referred to are exclusively of Nottinghamshire 

 and Leicestershire material. The same prices are 

 unrealisable for material grown- in any other part of 

 England. This is entirely due to the soil conditions 

 of the areas in which these willows are grown, yielding 

 a result which is not found in any other part of the 

 country. Although varieties have been transplanted 

 from these districts to many other parts of England, 

 the working quality is very much below the production 

 of the special districts referred to above. 



" Brilliant," a variety from the south-west of France, 

 first brought to this country by myself in the spring 

 of 1916. It has obtained its name " Brilliant " from 

 the fact that when whitened it has an unusually 

 bright clean appearance. It does well on alluvial 

 soils with a heavy tendency. It is a heavy cropper, 

 and makes an annual growth of from 4 ft. to 

 6 ft. 6 in. Plant 20 in. by 20 in. 



" Sarda," another French rod discovered and 

 brought to England at the same time as the pre- 

 ceding one. This willow in the districts to which 

 it is indigenous makes the longest and slenderest rod 

 of any of the triandra varieties. Its working quality 



