258 The Wild Garden 



much value for its timber. Around this tree, naturally 

 grouped so to say, there are various forms of even 

 greater value, of which the shoots assume yellow, red, 

 and other hues — trees which are almost as large as the 

 common White Willow in good soil by rivers, or in 

 marsh land. But in effect and colour they are even 

 more important, one of them, the scarlet form, glowing 

 with splendid colour in the winter sun. 



The better known yellow form (S. vitellina) is 

 most delicate and charming in colour in the winter 

 or in the sun after showers, and indeed in all 

 lights. The colour in the summer is beautiful 

 certainly, but it is the change from the silvery 

 foliage of the summer to the bright decisive colour 

 of winter that is so charming in this and its allies. 

 Simply massed in groups, as things arrange them- 

 selves, these willows give us all we could desire in 

 the way of pictures and beautiful effects in places 

 where there is any breadth or expanse of marsh ; 

 but these great spaces are not necessary for single 

 trees ; Red and Yellow Willows may be grown in a 

 small garden and be there beautiful. By putting in 

 a few cuttings in the dykes of many farms these 

 Willows will soon give a living picture. 



Among British Willows there are some that claim 

 our attention more than others. No doubt every 

 one is interesting from the botanical point of view, 

 but what we seek are effective and picturesque 

 things that can take their place among the trees 



