366 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



The willows grow so easily, that pieces of the branches cut into 

 stakes and driven into the mud, readily root and grow into fine 

 trees. Rows of these rudely prepared cuttings, planted over the 

 surface of such places, would surely be more comely than wild 

 bushes and noisome weeds. The osier willow or golden willow 

 (^Salix vitellina) is a beautiful tree in summer, spring or even 

 whiter, and is worthy of note. I have seen this tree planted 

 near out-houses with signal effect. The weeping willow (^Salix 

 Babylonica) grows rapidly and large, and is very ornamental, 

 and grows from any one of its twigs planted out in the spring 

 time. There is a kind of dark green willow, a shrub with rich, 

 smooth, shining leaves, as beautiful as a foreign plant, which 

 grows easily, and very ornamental ; and the basket osier wil- 

 lows are easily raised near ditches and boundary division lines 

 of swamps, known as the Salix viminalis. The common willow 

 tree (^Salix alba) grows very large. Two immense trees of this 

 species, about fifty years old, I lately saw in a wet place in the 

 rear of an old farm house, in the branches of which were per- 

 manent seats, and room ample to spread a table for some exer- 

 cise of reading among the shady tops, or even to furnish a tea- 

 drinking on pleasant occasions. These twin trees were planted 

 by an humble domestic, whose memory is associated with these, 

 her labors. A willow answers very well to shade the pigsty 

 from the summer sun, or in drooping over the barnyard ; but 

 custom, in some sections, has preferred the butternut tree or 

 oilnut tree, (^Juglans cinerea,') which feeds luxuriantly upon 

 the superabundant manure, and appropriates rather more than 

 its share to its own ends. 



The ash trees, (^Fraxinus acuminata and Fraxinus samhuci- 



folia,') called white and black ash, do very well, even when 



transplanted in quite ordinary soils ; and their cleanly habits 



and. handsome contour and light graceful leaves render them 



all desirable. 



The horse-chestnut tree (^jEscuIus hippocastannni) is most 

 easily raised from the nuts, which should be scarcely covered 

 with earth and leaves immediately on ripening and falling from 

 the trees, and transplanted when of convenient sizes. The tree 

 of Heaven (^Ailantlms gianchilosa') grows very rapidly, and is 

 much sought for to plant in cities, where it thrives exceedingly ; 

 but its unpleasant scented flowers and disagreeable smelling 



