THE WILLOW. 313 
A deep rich soil, in the vicinity of water, is that which de- 
velops the tree-willows in great perfection, but being extremely 
hardy and tenacious of life when young, they will grow to 
some extent in ground of almost any quality. In the driest 
exposures, and at the highest altitudes, the willow is often 
found among the few plants of ligneous form. In places 
where a close cover of fir, larch, or other timber, has been 
felled, which does not spring from the root, it is often found 
difficult to form a cover of any kind of vegetation; for this 
purpose willows are valuable, and are often indigenous to such 
situations, where they are the means of sheltering and estab- 
lishing more valuable trees, As a nurse, however, the tree- 
willows require the attention and care of the forester, as they 
are apt to confine and destroy the trees with which they are 
associated. As a shade and nurse to the silver fir, the holly, 
and the yew, the willow is of much advantage. 
Willow timber is white, soft, and light, adapted to various 
agricultural purposes, such as rake and scythe handles, sheep 
flakes or hurdles; these are easily formed, and, from their 
extreme lightness, are readily removed from place to place, 
and not apt to be damaged by their own weight. When 
sawn into boards, the timber is well suited for lining for carts 
and barrows ; lightness for such purposes is a recommendation ; 
but the chief advantage in this timber is that it is not apt to 
splinter or receive damage from the fall or friction of hard 
materials. It is much sought after of late, not only for the 
construction of railway carriages, but for timber for brakes, 
as it does not readily ignite when employed for that purpose. 
The branches of the different species of the tree-willow are 
useful, when cut between October and April, for being formed 
into frames for embankments, to prevent the encroachments of 
rivers and streams. These frames should extend from the 
channel of the water to the top of the flow bank with a gentle 
slope. The larger timbers being interwoven with the smaller 
spray, and the whole being covered a few inches with sand, 
gravel, or the common soil of the banks, the branches readily 
push out numerous fibres, and create a surface vegetation in 
