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 Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 487 



Salix purpurea, Linne.* 



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

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

 low ; 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 fire 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 pendent branches. It is most 

 valuable also for the reclamation of land along water-courses. Gives 

 a fair return even on sterile clay-soil. Preferable to all other species 

 on moory heath-ground, particularly the variety Lambertiana [F. 

 Oeyer]. Rich in salicin, which collaterally can be obtained from the 

 peelings of the twigs, when the latter are prepared 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 remuner- 

 ative 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 7^ 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 (exclu- 

 sive 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 made baskets imported that year was equal to that sum. In 

 recent years the importation into the United States of willow-material 

 for baskets, chairs and other utensils has, according to Simmonds, 

 been estimated as approaching 1,000,000 dollars. The estimated 

 annual value of basket-ware exported merely from the towns of 

 Coburg and Lichtenfels is about 200,000 [" Journ. Society of Arts," 

 1891]. Land, comparatively unfit for root- or grain-crops, can be 

 used very remuneratively for osier-plantations. The soft-wooded 



