VARIETIES OF WILLOWS 41 



differentiate botanically from S. triandra, and in fact 

 by some authorities is considered to be a variety of 

 S. triandra. So far as the working quality is concerned, 

 the following three varieties are equally good, and 

 belong "to the fine-top class : " Brunette Noire," or 

 Black; " Grisette Droite," or Straight; "Grisette 

 Courbe," or Bent. These are of French origin, and 

 were first brought to this country by myself in 1910. 

 They are of excellent quality. The lengths attained 

 are : Courbe, about 5 ft. ; Droite, 6 ft. ; and Noire, 7 ft. 

 The Courbe variety requires a damp, rich alluvial loam 

 or clay, whilst the Noire and Droite appear to do well 

 on a cool loam. Plant, 18 in. by 18 in. 



" Trustworthy." This is a tall and vigorous grower, 

 and frequently attains a length of 7 ft. to 8 ft. It is 

 grown in Suffolk and Berkshire, and is well adapted for 

 market gardeners' requirements. The small of this 

 variety is exceedingly soft and seldom whitened. When 

 grown under similar soil conditions at Loughborough it 

 is not distinguishable from the rod so extensively grown 

 in Somerset, known as the " Champion Rod." Plant 

 22 in. by 22 in. 



" Whissenders," a variety grown extensively on both 

 light and heavy soils of the Trent Valley. It is regarded 

 as a good variety because of its productiveness and 

 quality as buff, white or brown. Its rods are of the 

 light class closely resembling those of " Early Dutch," 

 but it differs from the latter in the greater length of 

 shoot which it ultimately makes (5-6 ft.), and may 

 be distinguished from other triandra varieties by the 

 undulatory and unevenly serrated character of its 

 leaf margins. Plant 20 in. by 20 in. 



