WILLOWS. 



179 



found profitable in the United States except on a small scale 

 in a few localities. When grown for this purpose, moist rich 

 land is selected and the cuttings are set in rows and culti- 

 vated with great care. The plants are cut back to the stumps 

 each season by the removal of all the new growth. 



A willow known among horticulturists as the Wisconsin 

 Weeping Willow ( botanical name not known ) has been grown 

 to a considerable extent here and is our best large Weeping 

 Willow. It attains large size in favorable locations, but is 

 occasionally killed back by severe winters. 



Salix nigra. Black Willow. 



Leaves .vary greatly in 

 size and outline on differ- 

 ent trees, but are generally 

 narrowly lanceolate, long 

 pointed, serrulate, some- 

 what pubescent especially 

 on the lower surface; 

 when mature 2i to 5 inches 

 long, bright green and 

 glabrous above, somewhat 

 paler and glabrous be- 

 neath and sometimes pube- 

 scent on the underside of 

 Fig. 36. Wisconsin Weeping willow, midribs. Stipules persis- 

 tent or soon falling away. Catkins appear with the leaves; 

 stamens 3 to 7, distinct. Our largest native willow forming a 

 large tree with dark brown or almost black rough flaky bark. 

 Distribution. Along streams and lakes, New Brunswick 

 to eastern Dakota, south to Florida, Texas and Arizona. 



Propagation. By cuttings, but seedlings may often be 

 gathered. 



Properties of wood. Light, soft, weak, close grained, 

 checks badly in drying; light reddish brown with nearly 

 white sapwood. Specific gravity 0.4456; weight of a cubic 

 foot 27.77 pounds. 



Uses. The Black Willow is seldom used for ornamental 

 or timber planting. The wood is used for fuel and the bark 

 domesbicallv in the treatment of fevers. 



