THE WEEPING WILLOW 



VERY few of the trees which we see about us to-day can be traced back to the time 

 and the country of the Psalmist. The Weeping or Babylon Willow is one of 

 these : to it the poet who wrote the One Hundred and Thirty-Seventh Psalm 

 referred in the familiar lines: "By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, when 

 we remembered thee, Zion! As for our harps we hanged them up upon the willow trees 

 that are therein." 



From that early time to this the Babylon Willow seems to have been a favorite 

 tree in the Orient. It is widely distributed in Asia, and in China it is one of the most 

 universally planted of all trees. It is supposed to have been first introduced into Europe 

 about 1702 by the botanist and traveller Tournefort, who returned from a trip to the 

 Levant in that year, but has probably been introduced independently at various times. 

 One such case is attested by the anecdote concerning Pope, according to which the poet 

 planted a willow withe which bound a package received from Turkey by Lady Suffolk. 

 The twig grew into a famous tree in Twickenham garden, which attracted so many visitors 

 that it was finally cut down by a later owner of the estate. In the Eighteenth and Nine- 

 teenth Centuries the Weeping Willow became very popular in Europe and it was gener- 

 ally planted for ornament early in our American history. 



This tree is often called Napoleon's Willow, because of the association of the great 

 commander with it during his exile. In life he sat under its shade and after death at least 

 one tree grew about his island grave. From this tree many cuttings have been taken to 

 be planted in other regions. 



As one would expect from a tree so long in cultivation, there are many horticultural 

 varieties of the Babylon Willow. One of the best of these is the Golden-barked Babylonian 

 Willow, the yellow branches showing a glowing yellow in winter which makes them very 

 attractive. Another variety is from France and is named Salamonii: it is said to make 

 a more vigorous upright growth than the type, although the twigs retain the pendent habit. 



The distinctive characteristics of the Babylon Willow are shown upon the plate: 

 as will be seen the stems, leaves, and blossom-catkins are slender and delicate, while the 

 tree itself, as seen in the picture of a fine specimen in the Boston Public Gardens, is of 

 upright habit with the long terminal twigs drooping in graceful curves. It is a pity that 

 the idea of grief should be so associated with this splendid tree. " Its expression," writes 

 a keen and symphathetic observer of trees, Mr. J. Horace McFarland, "is rather of great 

 dignity, and I remember watching in somewhat of awe one which grew near my childhood'? 

 home, as its branches writhed and twisted in a violent rainstorm, seeming then fairly to 

 agonize, so tossed and buffeted were they by the wind. But soon the storm ceased, the 

 sun shone on the rounded head of the willow, turning the raindrops to quickly vanishing 

 diamonds, and the great tree breathed only a gentle and benignant peace." 



(94) 



