fl&arcb 65 



other trees usually have many outer coverings for 

 the bud. 



The male and female catkins are shown in the 

 illustration, and, as I have said, they grow on 

 different trees, which are usually found within a 

 short distance of each other, so that the wind may 

 carry the pollen from one tree to another in order 

 to fertilise the flowers. 



A small low-growing species of willow called 

 sallow, which, by the way, grows abundantly on 

 our common, is the kind which is most frequently 

 gathered for decoration at Eastertide. This custom 

 dates from the time when palm-branches were 

 strewn before our Lord when He was riding into 

 Jerusalem. 



The true palm, of course, is still used in Eastern 

 countries for church decoration ; but as we in 

 England have no tree with either fresh green 

 leaves or conspicuous blossoms flowering at Easter, 

 the willow, with its pretty golden catkins, has 

 been called palm, and substituted for it for many 

 generations. A passage of Goethe on this subject 

 has been thus translated : 



1 In Rome, upon Palm Sunday, 



They bear true palms ; 

 The cardinals bow reverently, 



And sing old Psalms. 

 Elsewhere their Psalms are sung 



Mid olive branches ; 

 The holly-bough supplies their places 



Among the avalanches ; 

 More northern climes must be content 



With the sad willow.' 



With reference to that last line it is rather curious 

 that, from the days when captive Israel hung their 



5 



