PLANTATIONS OF OSIERS. [_App. _/ 



quent species in willow plantations, and it is naturalized 

 in many parts of Scotland. The leaves are long, waved 

 at the edges, but not serrated j shining green above, 

 and silvery beneath. The shoots grow very long and 

 straight, and are tough ; well calculated for the larger 

 sorts of baskets, hampers, and crets, and likewise for 

 Loops. Several well marked varieties occur in osier 

 plantations, and are there distinguished by different 

 names. It is well known, that in most species of wil- 

 low, the male and the female flowers are produced on 

 separate plants ; it often happens that the female plant 

 is considered by the osier growers as a distinct kind ; 

 and if they differ considerably in quality the distinction 

 is fair ; but kinds thus come to be created which the 

 botanist cannot recognize. 



The Auricled Osier (S. stipularis) is a very good 

 willow. The two-year old shoots make excellent rods 

 for baskets, cradles, bird-cages, and such articles ; and 

 the one- year shoots are used as Jillings. The shoots 

 are long, nearly equal in thickness throughout their ex- 

 tent, and somewhat downy, or hoary, particularly at 

 the tops or extremities. The leaves are alternate, with 

 footstalks, long and narrow, somewhat notched on the 

 edges, green and smooth above, woolly below. The 

 stipulse or leaf-scales are conspicuous and remarkable, 

 resembling a pair of ears : both the English and the 

 botanic name have reference to this part of the plant. 

 It occurs in many willow plantations, but is not 

 much attended to, being often confounded with the 

 common osier. 



The Green Osier (S. rubra), is an excellent basket 

 willow, but it is not very common. The shoots are very 

 long, tough, smooth, and of a grey colour, occasionally 

 inclining to purplish. The leaves are narrow and very 



