278 The Willows. 



THE WILLOWS. (Genus Salix). 



1121. The willows form a great number of species, 1 and run into 

 hybrids and varieties that render their study botanically a matter 

 of unusual difficulty. 2 They occur in a great variety of soil, but 

 generally prefer humid localities, and many kinds occur chiefly 

 along the borders of streams. Their roots in such places present the 

 most efficient means for preventing erosions, and they may be 

 planted for this purpose with great success. 



1122. Willows produce seeds much like those of the poplars, and 

 these ripen in the spring. They are, however, best propagated from 

 cuttings from the robust young wood or in sections from the roots. 



1123. These cuttings may be made late in the fall or in winter, 

 but always after the fall of the leaf, and before the sap starts in the 

 spring. They should be selected from sound and thrifty young 

 wood, of the previous year's growth, tied in bundles and set in a 

 damp cellar, their lower ends set in sand or wet moss, and their 

 tops prevented from drying ; or, instead of this, they may be set in 

 trenches not liable to standing water, and covered from the frost. 

 They should be set early in spring, in ground previously prepared, 

 and will need cultivation till they are above the reach of weeds. 



1124. There are several of the willows that grow to large trees 

 and produce valuable timber. Their rapidity of growth, under fa- 

 vorable conditions, is remarkable. The wood is light, tough, and 

 easily worked, and in some kinds it is used for hoops, tool handles, 

 and turned wares. The bark contains tanning and medicinal qual- 

 ities, and the charcoal from its wood is used for making gunpowder. 



1 About 160 in number, of which about f>0 occur in North America. 



2 It is remarked by Grigor that "there is no genus of plants in general 

 cultivation whose species are more confused than that of the willow. This 

 is accounted for partly from the more prominent kinds having been hj'brid- 

 ized, and yielded intermediate varieties without number, and partly from 

 each species, containing male and female plants, and the same species dif- 

 fering to some extent in appearance at certain seasons of the year. Add 

 to this the circumstance of old trees assuming a very different appearance 

 from young ones, and that no tree is more apt to change its appearance 

 from a change of soil and climate, and it will not be surprising that some 

 confusion should exist in the genus, and that the more prominent species 

 only should be readily recognized." (Arboriculture, page 310.) 



