WILLOW. 255 



except at intervals of about two feet, at which places they sprout 

 and grow. 



Properties of Wood. Soft; light, tough, strong and very flexi- 

 ble. 



Uses. The White Willow is one of the most valuable trees 

 to use for windbreaks on our prairies. Wonderfully hardy even 

 in dry locations. It sprouts vigorously from the stump and fur- 

 nishes good straight poles of uniform size, which if cut in sum- 

 mer and the bark peeled off will last for a number of years 

 exposed to the weather. When thoroughly dried they make 

 fence posts that will last about six years, but generally are not 

 durable. The fuel if dried under cover has greater value for 

 summer use than is generally supposed. Some data collected by 

 the Minnesota Experiment Station seem to. show that the White 

 Willow, on good land, may yield as much as five and one-half 

 cords of firewood per acre per year. In Europe the wood is 

 used for rafters of buildings, for the lining of carts used in haul- 

 ing stone, in turnery, for baseball and cricket bats, and for any 

 purpose where a very light, strong, tough wood is needed. The 

 leaves are used as forage for cattle and the bark for tanning 

 leather, for which purpose it is considered nearly as good as 

 oak bark. A row of White Willow set about four feet apart 

 with barbed wire put on them makes a very permanent and 

 serviceable fence. Live willow posts or stakes that are used to 

 support barbed wire soon root and become permanent trees in 

 moist soil. The White Willow will not make a good low hedge, 

 as it does not stand very close pruning. 



Varieties. The White Willow has given rise to a large num- 

 ber of varieties, among the best of which are the following: 



Salix alba vittellina. Common Golden Willow. 



A pretty tree at all seasons, but particularly so in winter and 

 early spring, on account of its bright yellow bark; form like that 

 of the species. This variety has been largely planted, but is 

 now generally supplanted by the next, which is a better orna- 

 mental tree. This has become naturalized in this country, though 

 it is probable that only the pistillate form is found in this sec- 

 tion. 



