VARIETIES OF THE WILLOW. 19 



partly by reason from each species containing male 

 and female plants, and the same differing to some 

 extent in appearance, at certain times of the year, 

 while the old trees wear quite a different aspect from 

 the young ones, and that variation in the soil, and 

 climate, is greatly apt to change the outward appear- 

 ance of the willow, it is not to be wondered at that a 

 certain degree of confusion prevails at times in the 

 genus, so that the most strongly marked kinds only 

 are, at times, recognisable by the inexperienced, several 

 hundred species of British and foreign willows having 

 been mentioned in recent publications. The Duke of 

 Bedford, who published his " Salictum Woburnense " 

 in 1829, describes 150 species, all of which existed in 

 the Salictum at Woburn. 



In situations where there are steep declivities, 

 through which a stream, or water-course runs, the 

 banks may often be seen washed down, lying in ugly 

 masses, producing an unsightly appearance from the 

 gaps made in the broken banks. By judicious planting 

 of the willow, the banks may be made firm, through 

 the interlacing of the roots of the trees, the appearance 

 of the landscape greatly beautified, and the value of 

 the timber and loppings secured to their owner. 



Besides being serviceable in fixing the banks of 

 rivers, and preventing any aggression from the con- 

 tinual washing of the water, many of these make a 

 quick return of capital, being fast-growing trees, 

 which soon attain the size of timber-trees, and being 

 extremely hardy, will attain a fair size in soil of 

 almost any description, especially Salix caprea, 

 S. alba, and 5. Russelliana. 



The Goat Willow, or Sallow (salix caprea) is found 



C 2 



