294 TREES AND SHRUBS 



it must be borne in mind that any wood more than 

 twelve months old has very little, if any, beauty in it. 

 The most important for the beauty of their wood are 

 Salix vitellina, the golden-barked Willow, S. alba bril- 

 zensisy warm, orange-coloured bark, very beautiful, 

 S. cardinalis (which has bright-red bark), and S. 

 purpurea, purple. Though the last mentioned is not 

 so effective in the distance as the foregoing, it is well 

 worthy of cultivation. Only one other Willow will 

 be mentioned ; it should be planted for its summer 

 beauty, that is S. rosmarinifolia. Its beautiful grey 

 foliage much resembles that of Rosemary. It is not 

 so robust a grower as many of the family, and there 

 is no beauty in the wood during winter, consequently 

 the growths should only be shortened back to within 

 three eyes of the base annually. 



SAMBUCUS. The Elder family, like the preceding, 

 is a large one, and fortunately adapts itself to almost 

 any soil and situation. First and foremost must be 

 mentioned Sambucus nigra aurea, a bold and beautiful 

 tall-growing Elder, and its rich golden foliage pro- 

 duces a marvellous effect in the landscape. Large 

 bold masses of this should always be used where 

 practical in a half-open position. Hard pruning in 

 this case must be carried out, cutting the summer's 

 growth close to the ground annually in the last week 

 of March. The effect of the greenish-grey wood in 

 winter when treated in this way is pleasing ; the 

 silvery variegated form, though not so showy, is 

 worthy of a place where the grounds are extensive. 

 Should be planted on poor soil in an open position, 



