SEP - 7 1914 



Division of Forestry 

 University of California 



Issued April 29, 1907. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



FOREST SERVICE CIRCULAR 87. 

 GIFFORD PINCHOT, Forester. 



FOREST PLANTING LEAFLET. 



WHITE WILLOW (Salix alba). 



FORM AND SIZE. 



The white willow is a medium-sized tree characterized by a short, 

 thick trunk and a large, rather irregular crown composed of many 

 small branches. The size of the tree at maturity varies with locality. 

 In the region where it occurs naturally a height of TO or 80 feet and 

 a diameter of 3 or 4 feet are attained. When planted in the Middle 

 West, a height of from 50 to 60 feet and a diameter of from 1J to 2 

 feet are all that may be expected. When close planted on moist soil 

 the tree forms a tall, slender stem well cleared of branches. 



The root system is very extensive. When planted in dry situations 

 the roots penetrate the soil for many feet in all directions in search 

 of moisture. 



The common name " white willow " is also applied to another 

 exotic species, the Salix fragilis, which is similar to the Salix alba in 

 form and habits. It is properly called " crack willow," owing to the 

 fact that its characteristic straight, dark-green branchlets are brittle 

 at the base and snap off readily. 



RANGE. 



The white willow was introduced into the United States very early 

 in the settlement of the country. It is a native of the eastern hem- 

 isphere, where its range is from southern Scandinavia to the Medi- 

 terranean, and through Siberia, western Asia, and northern Africa. 



28382 No. 8707 M 



