4i6 



MY GARDEN. 



with the deep green of the pine. In the south of France and in 

 Italy the olive is somewhat similar to the white willow-tree in the 

 colour of the leaves, but the latter tree is more graceful. Any piece 

 stuck in the ground will grow, and hence it is troublesome by taking 

 root where it is not wanted. 



The Weeping Willow {Salix babybnicd) is very elegant, but curiously 

 enough I never had one, nor are there many in the district. Its leaves 



come out early in spring, and are apt to 

 be injured by frost. There is another 

 weeping willow (American Weeping Willow), 

 which has a finer and darker foliage, and a 

 far more moderate growth, and which is a 

 highly desirable plant to cultivate on lawns. 

 I have some, but they are rather crowded 

 from want of space. To grow this species 

 it must be grafted on a more vigorous 

 stock. We have several other species of 

 the numerous tribe of willows, of which that 

 one which is used in this country instead 

 of palm on the Sunday before Easter is perhaps one of the most 

 interesting: it is the Goat Willow {Salix caprea). 



Herodotus, speaking of the Scythians, says : " They have amongst 

 them a great number who practise the art of divination : for this purpose 

 they use a number of willow twigs, in this manner. They bring large 

 bundles of these together, and having untied them, dispose them one by 

 one on the ground, each bundle at a distance from the rest. This done, 

 they pretend to foretell the future, during which they take up the 

 bundles separately, and tie them again together. This mode of divina- 

 tion is hereditary amongst them." 



Sometimes willows are used for hedges, for which purpose the Salix 

 Kerksii is recommended by Scaling. This willow is bitter, and game 

 are said not to touch it. Several kinds are grown for basket work, as 

 5. triandra, but the varieties of 5. purpurea are held in the highest 

 repute. The number of varieties appears to be legion, as the Duke 



Fig. 941. — White Willow. 



