THE WILLOW. 348 



rime, and storms is moderate. It is less nibbled by cattle 

 and deer than almost any other broad leaved tree. It is 

 attacked by mistletoe. 



Insects. — The leaves support a very large number of larvse, 

 which, as a rule, are not gregarious. Injury is occasionally 

 caused by the following species : — Lipar'is dispar, and monacha ; 

 Eriogaster lanestris, Pi/;i(era hucephala. llhiinchites betuhe 

 and its allies cut and roll up the leaves. The young stems 

 are injured or killed by the larvae of species of Agrilas and 

 Sesia, and by Zeuzera ascidi. The goat-moth, Cossus, lives in 

 older trees, which are also liable in some localities in X. 

 Europe to suffer from the burrows of a bark-beetle, Sculi/tas 

 Ratzehurgi. 



Birch has no serious enemies amongst fungi. Exoascus 

 targidus produces witch's broom ; Poli/punts bctidiuns, red rot ; 

 P(dijponts hcvigatas, white rot. 



Birch is rarely pruned. Thinnings are regulated naturally, 

 as the weaker individuals are speedily suppressed by a 

 moderate number of dominant trees per acre. In mixed 

 woods the more valuable species require, during youth, to be 

 protected against the birch, as the latter generally grows 

 quicker. 



10. Willow — Scdix (Tournef.). 



Of the numerous species of Willow only the following four 

 need be mentioned here : — 



(a.) Common sallow, or goat willow = .S'a/y',i- caprea, L. 



(/>,) White willow = Salix olba, L. 



{<■.) Crack willow, or withy = Scdix frag ills, L. 



(d.) Common osier = Salix viminalis, L. 



The willows yield a soft light timber which is little prized, 

 except for some special purposes, as for cricket bats ; their 

 principal value consists in yielding withes and materials for 

 basket work, cask hoops, etc. The wood is not good fuel, but 

 may l)e converted into charcoal for the manufacture of gun- 

 powder. The bark is used for tanning. The osier yields the 



