THE SOFTWOODS 189 



For this reason they were all known anciently 

 as ' aquatic species ' of trees. There are now many 

 kinds of willows and poplars grown in Britain, 

 though originally there appears to have been only 

 one indigenous kind of each, the Saugh, Sallow, 

 Sally or Goat Willow (S. caprcea), and the aspen 

 (P. tremula). The willows and poplars are easily 

 distinguished during their leafless winter condi- 

 tion, from the fact that the buds of the former are 

 enclosed by what appears to be one bract, while 

 the poplar buds are enclosed within several bracts. 

 Of both of these genera of the Salicace<e family 

 there are many species, and these branch off again 

 into numerous, one is almost tempted to say 

 innumerable, varieties. As regards willows, even 

 in Evelyn's time there seems to have been rather 

 a confusion between Withies, Sallyes, Osiers, and 

 'Willows. The first-named embraced the Crack 

 or Redwood Willow (S. fragilis) and the White or 

 Huntingdon Willow (S. alba), for he remarks that 

 * The Withy is a reasonable large tree, and fit to be 

 planted on high banks ; because they extend their 

 roots deeper than either Sallyes or Willows. . . . 

 There are two principal sorts of these Withies, 

 the hoary, and the red Withy, which is the Greek ; 



