Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 483 



If once established, this plant maintains its ground well, and might 

 occupy submerged spots not otherwise utilised. For a full account 

 of this plant refer to "Bulletin de la Soc. d'Acclimat.," 1888, p. 

 1102-1106. 



Salix alba, Linn.* 



The Silky or Huntingdon Willow of Europe, originally of North- 

 Africa, Northern and Western Asia ; according to Prof. Andersson 

 of exclusively Asiatic origin, yet praised already in the Odyssey. It 

 bears the frosts of Norway to lat. 63 52'. It is positively known 

 that the Silky Willow will live to an age of 150 years, and probably 

 much longer. Available for wet places not otherwise in cultivation. 

 Height reaching to 80 feet, circumference of stem sometimes to 20 

 feet ; of rapid growth. A Huntingdon Willow exists in Lincolnshire 

 still in vigorous growth baid to be several centuries old, the stem 

 measuring at 4 feet from the ground 20 J feet round, the total height 

 being only 40 feet, but one of its limbs stretching to a length of 40 

 feet also [Dr. M. T. Masters]. Foliage silvery-pubescent. Wood 

 smooth, soft and tough, bearing pounding and knocking better than 

 that of any other British tree; eligible where lightness, pliancy and 

 elasticity are required; hence in request for wheel-floats and shroud- 

 ing of water-wheels, as it is not subject to splinter ; for the sides and 

 bottoms of carts and barrows, for break-blocks of trucks ; also used 

 for turnery, trays, fenders, shoe-lasts, light handles [Simmonds]. Its 

 weight is from 26 to 33 Ibs. per cubic foot. Timber, according to 

 Robb, the lightest and softest of all prominently utilitarian woods ; 

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

 and woven bonnets ; also worked up for cricket-bats, boxes, and 

 and many utensils, as well as for matches. The charcoal is excellent 

 for gunpowder. The bark is particularly valued as a tan for certain 

 kinds of glove-leather, to which it imparts an agreeable odor. Mr. 

 Scaling records, that in rich grounds 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. London noticed the height 

 to be 53 feet in 20 years, and the girth 7^ feet. In winterless coun- 

 tries the growth is still more rapid. To produce straight stems for 

 timber, the cuttings must be planted very close, some of the trees to 

 removed from time to time. After 30 or 40 years the trees will de- 

 teriorate. Scaling estimates the value of an acre of willow-timber to 

 be about 300. The Golden Osier, Salix vitellina, L., is a variety; 

 this is the best for cricket-bats, of which article about 100,000 are 

 annually required merely for Australia [Alfr. Dye]. The shoots are 

 used for hoops and wicker-work. With other large willows and pop- 

 lars one of the best scavengers for back-yards, where drainage cannot 

 readily be applied; highly valuable also for forming lines along narrow 

 water-courses, or valleys in forests, to stay bush-fires. All willows, 

 as early flowering, are of particular importance to apiarists [Cook, 

 Quinby]. The extreme rapidity of growth of most willow-trees and 



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