Salix 1765 



but the latter's description is vague and uncertain ; and I have been unable to find any 

 accounts of this remarkable tree as early as the eighteenth century. 



5. cosrulea is much faster in growth than either S. alba or any of the varieties of 

 S. viridis. It is true that well-shaped trees of the latter kinds, grown with clean 

 stems on proper soil, are frequently purchased at a fair price ^ by bat-makers ; yet 

 S. coerulea should always be preferred for planting. It comes to market earlier, on 

 account of its rapid growth ; and produces a wood light in weight,^ very elastic and 

 tough, which is found to be the most suitable for making the best kinds of cricket bats.^ 



Cultivation 



The best account of the cultivation of this tree is given by Mr. E. R. Pratt, 

 from whose article '' I shall quote largely. 



The choice of soil is most important, as many failures are due to the prevalent 

 idea that willows will thrive in any wet or marshy situation. This is erroneous, and 

 soils sodden with stagnant water or of a peaty nature should be avoided. The best 

 ground is undoubtedly rich light alluvial land by the side of a running stream ; but 

 good willows are also seen growing in fertile loam, where there is a good supply of 

 moisture. Clay and gravel soils are usually quite unsuitable. If willows are planted 

 in grass land beside a stream, they must be protected against cattle, during the 

 whole period of their growth ; and, in all cases, rabbits must be excluded. 



In peaty soil, except in very rare cases where the drainage is good and the 

 properties of the peat modified in consequence, willows never thrive, and after a few 

 years often die. In such cases the soil, when examined, proves to be very acid in 

 reaction ; and the willows are frequently attacked by a fungus, Physalospora gregaria, 

 Saccardo, which produces cankerous spots on the young stems. The epidermis at 

 first looks as if scorched, then dries up, turns brown, and becomes cracked by the 

 protrusion of very small black spots (the fruit of the fungus) ; it ultimately peels off, 

 exposing the inner part of the stem. Dr. T. Johnson, who has given a good account,* 

 with figures, of this fungus, believes that its ravages are much favoured by raw peaty 

 soil ; and certainly, in some cases, it is the cause of extensive failures in willow 

 plantations. In wet or marshy situations, where there is great growth of grass, the 

 willow seems more liable also to the attacks of the beetle, Saperda carcharias, Linn. 



Though rooted cuttings are frequently advertised by nurserymen, there seems 

 to be no doubt that it is much more advantageous to plant large sets. Scaling,* who 

 had great experience, says : " All varieties of tree willows grow better and more 



1 Two trees in Suffolk, growing in good soil, which I examined before they were cut down — both S. alba, but one male, 

 and the other female — were sold at 6s. 8d. per cubic foot in 1910 ; but these trees, twenty years after planting, had only attained 

 14 in. in diameter, and had short stems which made only four bat lengths. 



2 Mr. L. Fosbrooke, Ravenstone Hall, Leicester, states in Card. Chron. xxxix. 46 (1906), "The close-barked white 

 willow is Salix carulea. It is the quickest grower of all the tree willows in a moist soil, reaching 18 in. in diameter in as 

 many years. The quicker the growth, the lighter the timber, and the better the price." 



3 Mr. E. R. Pratt, in Quart. Journ. Forestry, i. 336 (1907), shows that the specific gravity of the wood of S. alia (male 

 trees) exceeds that of S. carulea (female trees) by 14J per cent. 



* Journ. Roy. Agric. Soc. Ixvi. 19-34 (1905). 



6 Proc. Roy. Dublin Soc. x. pt. ii. 153-166, plates 13-15 (1904). 



« Salix or Willow, i. Cat. p. 8 (1871). 



VII Q 



