DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 183 



a neat, middle-sized tree, with drooping branches, though 

 hardly so pendant as the Weeping willow. 



The uses of the willow are extremely numerous. Abroad 

 it is extensively cultivated in coppices, for timber and fuel^ 

 for hoops, ties, etc. ; and we are informed, that in the north- 

 ern parts of Europe, and throughout the Russian Empire, the 

 twigs are employed in manufacturing domestic utensils, har- 

 ness, cables, and even for the houses of the peasantry them- 

 selves. From the fibres of the bark, it is said that a durable 

 cloth is woven by the Tartars ; and the bark is used for 

 tanning, in various parts of the eastern continent. 



But by far the most extensive use to which this plant is 

 applied, is in the manufacture of baskets. From the earliest 

 periods it has been devoted to this purpose, and large planta- 

 tions, or osier-fields, as they are called, are devoted to the 

 culture of particular kinds for this purpose, both in Europe 

 and America. The common Basket willow, an European 

 species, {S. viminalis,) is the sort usually grown for this 

 purpose, but several others are also employed. For the cul- 

 ture of the basket willows, a deep, moist, though not inun- 

 dated soil is necessary ; such as is generally found on the 

 margins of small streams, or low lands. " Ropes and bas- 

 kets made from willow twigs, were probably among the 

 very earliest manufactures, in countries where these trees 

 abound. The Ronlans used the twigs for binding their 

 vines, and tying their reeds in bundles, and made all sorts of 

 baskets of them. A crop of willows was considered so valua- 

 ble in the time of Cato, that he ranks the Salictum or willow 

 field, next in value to the vineyard, and the garden. (Art. 

 Salix, Arh. Brit.) 



Among us, the European Basket willow is extensively 

 cultivated, and very large plantations are to be seen in the 

 low grounds of New-Jersey and Pennsylvania. The wood of 

 some of the tree willows, and particularly that of the Yellow 

 willow, and the Shining willow, {S. lucida,) is greatly used 

 in making charcoal for the manufacture of gunpowder. 



