THE WILLOWS 



bar willow or longleaf willow (Salix fluviatilis) has a wide 

 range, growing from Quebec and Maryland northwest to 

 the Arctic Circle and southwest to northern Mexico and 

 Lower California. It is never more than a small tree, 

 20 feet high and a few inchesin diameter, but it is abundant 

 along rivers and so quickly takes possession of sandbars 

 and newly formed alluvial soils, that it is one of our most 

 familiar and most useful willows. The leaves are 2 to 4 

 inches long, thin, narrow and coarsely notched on the edges. 

 In addition to many more native willows that are 

 interesting and well worth study, we have imported 

 several kinds from other countries that are widely planted 

 and have become naturalized. White willow (Salix alba) 

 is one of the most important of these. A variety of this 

 species known as the yellow willow, because of the bright 

 yellow color of its twigs in the spring time, is very common. 

 It grows to as large size as the black willow and is far 

 superior in rate of growth and in appearance. Crack 



BASKET WILLOW HOLT 



These bundles of willow cuttings are placed in the pit, where they remain 

 until the rods are cut up. 



willow (Salix fragilis), another tree native to Europe, 

 also grows to large size. It has earned its name from the 

 brittleness of its twigs, which causes them to break off at 

 the base when the branches are tossed in a high wind. It 

 is an attractive tree, especially when the leaves turn 

 upward and flash in the sunlight or gleam in the darkness 

 of an approaching storm. The weeping willow (Salix 

 babylonica) is a native of the East, as its appearance in 

 the famous Chinese willow-ware indicates". It is said to 

 have been introduced into Europe from Smyrna by the 

 poet Pope; a noted specimen is growing over Napoleon's 

 grave, at St. Helena, and has given rise to the so-called 



Napoleon willow. It is one of the finest examples of a 

 "weeping" form of tree, forming a fountain of foliage. 

 The long, drooping branches of this tree are so conspicu- 

 ous and so familiar a feature in the landscape that it 

 probably is our best-known willow. 



Willow trees are always graceful and in old age they 



A BASKET-MAKER AT WORK 

 These baskets are rapidly made by skilled workers, and often blind persons are 

 unusually proficient in the craft. Many of the soldiers blinded in the European 

 war are being taught the work. 



attain to dignity. They have considerable value for plant- 

 ing for fuel and shelter in portions of the prairie regions 

 and they also hold high rank for certain kinds of orna- 

 mental planting. They are nearly always propagated 

 from cuttings, which should be made from wood of one 

 or two seasons' growth. The use of cuttings is advan- 

 tageous because it produces trees exactly like the parent, 

 thus making it easier to propagate especially desira- 

 ble varieties. The rapid growth of most willows on 

 moist, fertile soils is a useful quality, especially where 

 a quick effect is needed. Certain varieties, such as white 

 or yellow willow, Bebb's willow or diamond willow, may 

 be planted on dry soils. The pussy willows have attrac- 

 tive flowers and many other kinds, such as shining willow, 

 peach-leaved willow and yellow willow, are desirable be- 

 cause of the beauty of the twigs and foliage. White and 

 yellow willow are among the hardiest trees for prairie 

 planting and the best for general planting ; they are used 

 for wind-breaks, hedges and screens. Crack willow is also 

 a hardy and rapid growing species, and may be substituted 

 . for white or yellow willow. Weeping willow gives good 

 effects when planted near streams or waterfalls, or it may 

 be planted with Lombardy poplar where contrasted 

 growth is desired. 



