342 WOODS OF COMMERCE. 



boat-building : used also in cabinet-work and for toys. Said to 

 be superior to other Willow. 



Willow, White (S. alba L.). Europe, North Africa, North 

 and West Asia to the north-west of India. Height up to 80 ft. ; 

 diam. 7 ft. S.G. 785 when fresh, 461 when dry. W 3524. 

 Branches olive, silky, not easily detached ; sapwood white ; heart 

 brownish, light, soft, smooth in grain, not splintering, shrinking 

 more than J of its bulk in drying, very durable in water ; vessels 

 uniformly distributed, indistinguishable ; pith-rays indistinct. 

 Used in Pliny's time, on account of its lightness, for shields, and 

 formerly for flooring ; now-a-days for break-blocks on railway- 

 waggons, since, owing to the absence of oil or resin, it will not 

 take fire on friction ; for wheelbarrows, especially at iron -furnaces, 

 as it will not split or warp when heated ; for the paddles of steam- 

 boats and strouds of water-wheels ; for shoemakers' lasts and 

 cutting-boards ; for whetting fine cutlery, and for toys ; but 

 especially for cricket-bats, for which purpose large sound trees 

 fetch exceptional prices. The smaller wood is used for clothes- 

 props, the handles of hay-rakes, hurdles, fencing and hoops, for 

 druggists' boxes, for paper-pulp and for fuel. 



Willow, Yellow (S. vitelltna L.). Europe; introduced into 

 North America. Height up to 60 ft. ; diam. to 3 4 ft. Sap- 

 wood wide, nearly white ; heart irregular, reddish-brown, light, 

 soft, not strong, easily worked and taking a beautiful polish. Its 

 yellow twigs, known as " Golden Osiers," are used for basket- 

 work, and larger wood for fencing, fuel and charcoal. 



In Australia the name " Willow " is applied (i) to Eucalyptus 

 piluldris [See Blackbutt] ; (ii) to Getjera parmflom ; and (iii) to 

 Pittosporum phillyrceoides, which is sometimes termed " Native 

 Willow," a name also given to (iv) Acacia salidna. (ii) Geijera 

 parviftdra Lindl. (Order Rutdcece). Known also as "Dogwood." 

 Abvrig. "Wilga." Height 2030 ft.; diam. 612 in. Light- 

 coloured, fragrant, hard, close-grained, apt to split in seasoning 

 and liable to gum-veins. Used for naves of wheels, (iii) Pitto- 

 spdrum pMlyrceoides DC. (Order Pittospdrece). Known also as 

 "Butter-bush" and "Poison-berry." Height 20 25 ft.; diam. 



