146 FOREST TREES. 
The White Willow is a handsome tree, which in 
moist situations grows to the height of seventy or 
eighty feet, with a proportionate diameter. It will 
thrive in dry soils, but does not become so large. It 
is a very rapid grower, and its culture has been 
strongly recommended for screens to break the force 
“of the wind on the prairies of the West. Several 
years since, some itinerant speculators succeeded in 
“raising the wind,” and producing quite an excite- 
ment in regard to its merits as a hedge plant. Stories 
of its excellence for this and other purposes were cir- 
culated, so extravagant as to show that their authors 
counted largely upon the gullibility of the commu- 
nity. Great quantities of cuttings were sold at high 
prices in Illinois and Iowa, and unless some of the 
sharpers were much belied, native Willows were cut 
from the swamps, and sold as the White Willow. As 
a matter of course, a reaction soon took place, and 
the White Willow is now wholly neglected. An 
impenetrable fence may undoubtedly be soon formed 
by planting it closely, but its permanence is quite 
another matter. When trees of so large size are 
crowded thickly together, a part necessarily soon 
perish. 
The wood of the White Willow is light and soft, 
and speedily decays when exposed to alternations of 
dryness and moisture, or when placed in contact with 
the earth. When grown thickly in plantations, it 
produces long straight poles, which, cut to the proper 
length, and nailed upon posts, make a good fence, 
and will last a considerable time. It is not needful, 
