1.518 



ARBORETUM AND FKUTJCKTUM. I'.XliT III, 



1311 



of the female rather longer, lax, with smooth lanceolate ovaries." The 

 following matter may be understood to relate chiefly, or wholly, to the female. 

 A native of Britain, in marshy woods or osier grounds, and, in many places, 

 flowering in April and May. This tree, like S. fragilis, is frequently found 

 from 80ft. to 90 ft. high. According to Mr. Forbes, it is more handsome 

 than S. fragilis in its mode of growth, as well as altogether of a lighter or 

 brighter hue. The branches are long, straight, and slender, not angular 

 in their insertion, like those of S. fragilis ; and the trees of both species, 

 when stripped of their leaves, may be distinguished respectively by these 

 marks. The leaves, Sir W. J. Hooker observes, are of a peculiarly hand- 

 some shape when in perfection ; deeply sinuated, and much attenuated. This 

 extremely valuable tree, the same high authority observes, was first brought 

 into notice by His Grace Francis Duke of Bedford, about the beginning of 

 the present century, and thence most appropriately honoured by bearing the 

 family name. Of the size to which it reaches, some interesting details are 

 given in the present Duke of Bedford's introduction to the Salictum Wo- 

 burnense. The favourite tree of Dr. Johnson, at Lichfield, was of this species. 

 It is commonly said that this tree was planted by Dr. Johnson ; but, " in the 

 Gentleman's Magazine for July, 1785 (seven months after Dr. Johnson's 

 death), there is a particular account of this tree, wherein it is stated that it had 

 been generally supposed to have been planted by Dr. Johnson's father, but 

 that the doctor never would admit the fact. It appears, however, to have been 



