WILLOW 123 



beauty that no other tree could supply. By the 

 Thames side there are numbers of the Weeping 

 Willow, some specimens being of unusual height 

 and branch spread. 



The Goat Willow (S. Capred) has been planted in 

 various parts of London, but it is only suitable for the 

 more open and airy positions. There are good speci- 

 mens by the lake-side in Regent's Park. This is often 

 called the Round-leaved, Sallow, or ' Palm ' Willow, 

 the last from the fact that the bright yellow catkins 

 are collected on Palm Sunday. 



The White or Huntingdon Willow (S. alba). There 

 are several gigantic specimens of the White Willow by 

 the lake-side in St. James's Park, some of which have 

 a wide branch spread and girth 15 feet around the 

 stem. 



Willow timber, particularly that of the White or 

 Huntingdon and the variety ccerulea, is elastic, tough, 

 and durable, and from its non-liability to split or splinter 

 is much used for cricket bats, lining for stone-carts, 

 and during and since the war largely for artificial 

 limbs and crutches. 



Timber of good quality has been produced all 

 over the London area, and individual trees have 

 realised from 10 to 20 each when suitable for con- 

 verting into the best class of cricket bats. Willows 

 for basket-making are successfully cultivated in the 

 London area, the best and most profitable kinds 

 being of French and Dutch origin. 



The Willows are readily propagated from cuttings, 

 which may be either grown for a year in the nursery 

 border or placed direct in their permanent quarters. 

 The cuttings may be of any length up to 8 or 9 feet, 

 but those of 12 inches are to be recommended. 



