294 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



traced on the coast-sands of California to send out root-like 

 stems up to 120 feet in length. 



Salix Humboldtiana, Willdenow, 



Through a great part of South America, southward as far as 

 Patagonia, there furnishing building-timber for inside struct- 

 ures. This Willow is of pyramidal habit, attains a height of 

 50 feet and more. The wood is much in use for yokes and 

 other implements. Many kinds of Willow can be grown for 

 consolidating shifting sand ridges. 



Salix lucida, Muehlenberg. 



One of the Osiers of North America. 



Salix nigra, Marshall. (S. PunUana, Sprengel.) 



The Black Willow of North America. It attains a height of 

 30 feet. The Black Willow is one used for basket-work, 

 although it is surpassed in excellence by some other species, 

 and is more important as a timber Willow. Mr. W. Scaling, 

 of Basford, includes it among the sorts which he recommends 

 in his valuable publication, " The Willow " (London, 1871). 



Salix purpurea, Linne.* 



Of wide range in Europe and West Asia. One of the Osiers. 

 In deep moist soil, not readily otherwise utilised, it will 

 yield annually four to five tons of the best of rods, quali- 

 fied for the finest work. Impenetrable, not readily inflam- 

 mable, screens 25 feet high can be reared from it in five 

 years. In localities exposed to storms, willow-screens fully 

 40 feet high can be raised. It is invaluable also for the 

 reclamation of land along watercourses. Rich in salicin. 

 From Mr. Scaling's treatise on the Willow, resting on un- 

 rivalled experience, it will be observed that he anew urges 

 the adoption of the Bitter Willow (also called the Rose 

 Willow or the Whipcord Willow), S. purpurea (L.), for 

 game-proof hedges, this species scarcely ever being touched 

 by cattle, rabbits, and other herbivorous animals. Not only 

 for this reason, but also for its very rapid growth and 

 remunerative yield of the very best of basket material, he 

 recommends it for field hedges. Cuttings are planted only 

 half a foot apart, and must be entirely pushed into the 

 ground. The annual produce from such a hedge is worth 4s. 

 to 5s. for the chain. For additional strength the shoots 

 can be interwoven. In rich bottoms they will grow from 7 

 feet to 13 feet in a year. The supply of basket ma- 

 terial from this species has fallen very far short of the 



