Naturalisation in Extra- Tropical Countries. 439 



Saliz nigra, Marshall. (8. Purshiana, Sprenorel.) 



The Black Willow of North- America. It attains a height of 30 

 feet. One of the willows used for basket-work, although it is sur- 

 passed 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. Mr. M. A. Bebb of Illinois has latterly 

 devoted great attention to the study of the American willows. 



Saliz purpurea, Linne.* 



Of wide range in Europe, Northern and Western Asia, extending 

 also to North-Africa, according to Sir J. Hooker. The Bitter 

 Willow ; one of the Osiers. Hardy in Norway northward to lat. 

 67 56'. In deep moist soil, not readily otherwise utilised, it will 

 yield annually per acre four to five tons of the best of rods, qualified 

 for the finest work. Impenetrable, not readily inflammable screens 

 as much as 25 feet high can be reared from it in five years. In 

 localities, exposed to storms, willow-copses fully 40 feet high can 

 be raised from this species. It forms a variety with pendant 

 branches. It is most valuable also for the reclamation of land 

 along watercourses. Rich in salicin, which collaterally can be 

 obtained from the peelings of the twigs, when the latter are pre- 

 pared for basket-material. From Mr. Scaling's treatise on the 

 Willow, resting on unrivalled experience, it will be observed, that 

 he anew urges the adoption of the Bitter Willow (also called the 

 Rose-Willow or the Whipcord- Willow) 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. To obtain additional strength the shoots can 

 be interwoven. In rich bottoms the shoots will grow from 7 to 13 

 feet in a year. The supply of basket-material from this willow has 

 fallen very far short of the demand in England. The plant grows 

 vigorously on light soil or warp-land, but not on clay. It likes 

 sandy loam, and will even do fairly well on gravelly soil, but it is 

 not so easily reared as S. triandra. Mr. Scaling's renewed advocacy 

 for the formation of willow-plantations comes with so much force, 

 that his advice is here given, though condensed in a few words. 

 Osier-plantations come into full bearing in the third year ; they 

 bear for about ten years and then slowly decline. The raw produce 

 from an acre in a year averages 6 to 7f tons, ranging from 2 10s. 

 to 3 10s. for the ton (unpeeled). Although 7,000 acres are 

 devoted in Britain to the culture of basket- willows (exclusive of 

 spinneys and plantations for the farmer's own use), yet in 1866 

 there had to be imported from the Continent 4,400 tons of willow- 

 branches, at an expense of 44,000, while besides the value of the 



