1520 



ARBORETUM AND FRUT1CETUM. PART III. 





After the tree was blown down, Mr. Holmes,a coachmaker residing in Lich- 

 field, and the proprietor of the ground on which Johnson's Willow stood, 

 regretting that there was no young tree to plant in its stead, recollected 

 that, the year before, a large branch had been blown down, part of which 

 had been used as pea-sticks in his garden ; and examined these, to see if 

 any of them had taken root. Finding that one had, he had it removed to 

 the site of the old tree, and planted there in fresh soil ; a band of music 

 and a number of persons attending its removal, and a dinner being given 

 afterwards by Mr. Holmes to his friends, and the admirers of Johnson. 

 The young tree is, at present, in a flourishing state, and 20 ft. high. 

 Johnson's Willow, at the time of its fall, was estimated to be of the age of 

 130 years, and its greatest height appears to have been about 60ft. After 

 it was blown down, some of Johnson's admirers, at Lichfield, had its 

 remains converted into snuff-boxes and similar articles. 



Great as is the affinity, botanically speaking, between S. Russellidna and 

 the preceding species, S. fragilis, its economical properties are wholly dif- 

 ferent. The timber of S. Russelh'awa is considered as the most valuable of 

 any of the willow tribe. So important is it as a plantation tree, that Mr. 

 Lowe, in his Survey of the County of Nottingham, states that, at eight years' 

 growth, the poles yielded a net profit of 214/. per acre; and, in two years 

 more, they would probably have produced 300/. per acre. The late George 

 Biggin, Esq., of Crossgrove Priory, an able chemist, ascertained that the 



