willows: their growth, use, and impoktance. 7 



and California to New Mexico. It is a tree from 30 to 60 feet in 

 height with dark brown rough bark. The twigs are long but not 

 slender, reddish, or reddish-yellow in color. The leaves are dark 

 green on both sides but somewhat paler beneath, from 3 to 8 inches 

 long and from three-fifths of an inch to 1J inches wide. 



SOIL, MOISTURE, AND LIGHT. 



Willows grow best in deep, rich, moist, alluvial bottom lands. 

 The tree willows will grow on very poor soils, but usually as stunted 

 trees or only large shrubs. In very sandy soils where rainfall is 

 plentiful they grow thriftily but rather slowly. In dry soils or in 

 soils subject to drought during a portion of the season the willows 

 survive but grow slowly and become stag-headed at an early age. 

 On heavy clay soils they grow moderately well if there is sufficient 

 moisture, otherwise they survive with difficulty and seldom become 

 trees. In good soils the willows endure a wide range of moisture 

 conditions. Their adaptability, or rather their ability to survive, 

 and their methods of reproduction have been responsible for their 

 being crowded into wet places. Because they are seen so often in 

 such places, the willows are often considered moisture-loving or 

 swamp trees. The truth of the matter is that willows live in such 

 places in spite of the excessive moisture conditions rather than be- 

 cause of them. Willows do, however, endure a period of inundation 

 with less serious results than any but the southern swamp trees, 

 such as cypress and water oak. They attain their best development 

 along the lower Mississippi River, where these conditions and long 

 growing seasons are found. 



All willows are intolerant of shade. For this reason mature 

 stands of willow are usually very open and a second-story forest 

 exists. The black willow is slightly more tolerant than the sand- 

 bar willow and somewhat less than the peachleaf willow. Black 

 willow is also slightly less tolerant than the Cottonwood, although 

 both are ranked as intolerant species. 



SUSCEPTIBILITY TO INJURY. 



INSECTS. 



Willows are subject to the attack of a large number of insects, 

 but only in exceptional seasons is the damage of a serious nature. 

 Injury by insects is of three kinds: Defoliation, twig or shoot cutting, 

 and bark or \voo<l boring. The most important of these insects are 

 fully discussed and illustrated as to appearance, habits, character 

 of work, and remedies by Dr. F. II. Chittenden, in Bureau of Forestry 

 Bulletin, No. 46, on pages 63 80, which may be purchased from the 

 Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Oilieo. It is 



