in Extra-Tropical Countries. 



343 



valuable species for work, in which unpeeled rods are used. It is 

 also admirably adapted for hedges. The bark is one of the best for 

 salicin. Considered by some as a hybrid between S. purpurea and 

 Su viminalis. 



Salix tetrasperma, Roxburgh. 



Mountains of India, from 2,000 to 7,000 feet. Height of tree 

 reaching 40 feet. This thick-stemmed willow is worthy of a 

 place on banks of watercourses. The twigs can be worked into 

 baskets, the wood serves for gunpowder, the foliage for cattle- 

 fodder. 



Salix triandra, Linn.* (8. amygdalina, Linne.) 



The Almond-Willow. Through nearly all Europe and extra-tropical 

 Asia. Height of tree at length 30 feet. It sheds its bark annually 

 after the third year. Likes rich loamy soil ; requires less space 'than 

 S. viminalis, more than S. purpurea. It is a prominent representative 

 of the hard- wooded basket-willows, and comprises some of the finest 

 varieties in use by the manufacturers. Shoots are obtainable 9 feet 

 long; they answer for hoops and white basket-work, being pliant and 

 durable. The bark contains a good deal of salicin. For basket-pur- 

 poses 20,000 to 30,000 cuttings can be planted on an acre, and 2,000 

 to 3,000 can be planted in a day by an expert; the second year's crop 

 is already of considerable value; at five years it comes to its prime, 

 the plantation holding good for 15 to 25 years. The rods for baskets 

 should be cut as soon as the leaves have dropped. The annual value of 

 a crop of basket-willows is in England from 25 to 35 per acre (Scal- 

 ing). The cultivation of basket-willows along railroads has proved 

 in cold countries one of the best protectives against snow-drifts. S. 

 lanceolata (Smith) is a hybrid between S. triandra and S. viminalis, 

 according to Prof. Andersson. 



Salix viminalis, Linn. 



The common Osier of Europe, North- and West-Asia. Height to 

 30 feet. The best of basket-willows for banks, subject to occasional 

 inundations. It is a vigorous grower, very hardy (to lat. 67 56' in 

 Norway), likes to be fed by deposits of floods or by irrigation, and 

 disposes readily of sewage (Scaling). One of the best for wicker- 

 work and hoops; when cut, it shoots up to a length of 12 feet; dis- 

 tinguished by the basket-makers as the soft-wooded willow; it is best 

 for rods requiring two years' age, but inferior to several other species 

 for basket-manufacture. Prof. Wiesner mentions this species among 

 those drawn into use for tanning purposes. S. Smithiana (Willdenow) 

 is a hybrid of S. vimiualis and S. caprea, and has proved one of the 

 best willows for copses and hedges. Its growth is very quick and its 

 foliage remarkably umbrageous. It would lead too far, to enumerate 

 even all the more important willows on this occasion. Professor 

 Andersson, of Stockholm, admits 158 species. Besides these, numerous 

 hybrids exist. Many of the taller of these willows could be grown 

 to rural or technologic advantage. 



