300 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



trays, fenders, shoe-lasts, light handles (Simmonds). Timber, ac- 

 cording to Robb, the lightest and softest of all woods, available for 

 bungs ; it is planed into chips for hat-boxes, baskets, and wove 

 bonnets, also for cricket bats, boxes, &c. The bark is particularly 

 valued as a tan for certain kinds of glove leather to which it imparts 

 an agreeable odour. Mr. Scaling records, that in rich ground on 

 the banks of streams this willow will grow to a height of 24 feet in 

 5 years, with 2 feet basal girth of the stem ; in 8 years he found it 

 to grow 35 feet, with 33 inches girth at 1 foot from the ground. 

 Loudon found the height to be 53 feet in 20 years, and the girth 7 J 

 feet. In winterless countries like ours the growth is still more 

 rapid. To produce straight stems for timber the cuttings must be 

 planted very close, some trees to be removed from time to time. 

 After 30 or 40 years the trees will deteriorate. Scaling estimates 

 the value of an acre of willow-timber to be about 300. The Gol- 

 den Osier, Salix vitellina (L.), is a variety. The shoots are used 

 for hoops and wickerwork. With other large Willows and Poplars 

 one of the best scavengers for back yards where drainage cannot 

 readily be applied ; highly valuable also for forming lines along 

 narrow watercourses or valleys in forests, to stay bush-fires. The 

 charcoal excellent for gunpowder. The wood in demand for matches. 



Salix Babylonica, Tournefort. 



The Weeping Willow, indigenous in West Asia as far as Japan, 

 sparingly wild, according to Stewart, in the Himalayas ; probably 

 also in Persia, Kurdistan, and China. One of the most grateful of 

 all trees for the facility of its culture, rapidity of growth, and fit- 

 ness for embellishments ; also as one of the quickest growing and 

 most easily reared of all shade-trees. Dr. C. Koch distinguishes 

 another Weeping Willow as S. elegantissima from Japan. Impor- 

 tant for consolidating river banks. 



Salix Capensis, Thunberg. (S. Gariepina, Burchell.) 



South Africa. This Willow might be introduced on account of its 

 resemblance to the ordinary Weeping Willow. S. daphnoides 

 (Vill.) of Europe and Asia, S. petiolaris (Smith), S. cordata (Mueh- 

 lenb.) S. tristis (Ait.), of North America, are among the best for 

 binding sand. S. longifolia (Muehlenb.), also North American, is 

 among those which form long flexible withes. 



Salix caprea, Linne. 



Europe, North and Middle Asia. The British Sallow or Hedge 

 Willow ; grows also to a tree ; wood useful for handles and other 

 implements, the shoots for hoops. It is largely employed for the 

 coal for gunpowder. Bark for tanning, particularly glove leather. 

 The flowers are eagerly sought by bees. It is the earliest flowering 

 Willow. 



