LXVIIL. SALICA‘CE : SA LIX. 745 
The species vary from 2 or 3inches to 50 or 60 feet, and even to 80 or 90 
feet, in height. The branches are round and flexible ; the leaves in all cases 
deciduous, and the sexes, with scarcely any exceptions, on different plants. 
The appearance of the male plant and the female plant, of the same species, 
is generally more or less different ; and hence one of the great difficulties in 
the study of this genus, the species of which may be described as in a state 
of inextricable confusion. The growth of the dwarfest species, such as 8. 
herbacea, is slow, and, in its native habitat, not above 1 in. a year, and often 
not so much 3 that of the larger shrubs, in their native habitats, varies from 
5 or 6 inches to as many feet, especially when the plants are young or newly 
cut down. The growth of some of the kinds cultivated for basket-making or 
hoops, in good soil, when cut down every year or every two years, is often 
from 8 ft. to 12 ft. in a single season, The growth of the tree kinds, more 
especially of S. alba and S. Russellidna, is equally rapid when young; so that 
in ten years, in the climate of London, in suitable soil, and within reach of 
water, these kinds will attain the height of 50 or 60 feet. The branches of 
most of the tree kinds have an upward direction, and have a flame-like motion 
in the wind, as in S. alba ; but in others they are spreading, as in S. caprea ; and, 
in one instance, drooping in a very decided manner, as in S. babyldonica. 
Almost all the willows are found naturally either in a cold soil and moist 
climate, or, if in a sandy soil, within reach of water. The low-growing kinds 
are sometimes, however, found in dry arid soils ; but in such soils they are 
never in a thriving state. Willows are very seldom found growing on moist 
peat bogs ; the only species observed in such situations by Steele being the 
S. caprea and the S. pentandra, and these only sparingly in peat bog that was 
dry. All the willows are propagated by cuttings ; though some of the more 
rare alpine kinds root with difficulty. Some species propagate very readily 
from seeds; and there can be little doubt that grafting, inarching, and other 
similar modes of propagation, would be as successful in this genus as in 
most others. 
The best kinds of willow for growing as timber trees are :—S. alba, which will 
attain the height of from 60 ft. to 80 ft. in 20 years. S. Russelli¢na and S. 
fragilis, which are frequently confounded ; and, indeed, in external appearance, 
differ very slightly from each other except in size: S. Russellidna growing as 
rapidly, and to as great a height, as S. alba ; but S. fragilis, though it grows 
with equal rapidity, not attaining so great a height. S. cdprea, and some of its 
allied kinds, which grow as rapidly as_S. fragilis for three or four years ; and 
will attain nearly the same height as that species in the same time ; that is, on 
good soil, from 30 ft. to 40 ft. in twenty years: according to Bosc, S. caprea 
is the most valuable of all the tree willows grown in France. Other willows 
which attain a timber-like size, or about 30 or 40 feet in twenty years, are, 
S. triandra, S. rotundata, S. licida, S. Meyeridna, S. pree‘cox, S. Pontederana, 
S. acuminata, S. pentandra, S, vitellina, and 5S. amygdalina. Many of the 
other species, in good soil, if allowed sufficient room, and trained to a single 
stem, would attain the size and character of trees ; but with a view to timber, 
the four species first mentioned, viz. S. alba, S. Russellidna, S. fragilis, and 
S. cdprea, are alone worth cultivating. The best sorts for coppice-wood are 
S. caprea and its allied kinds. 
Almost all the species of willows may be grown for basket rods, but some 
are greatly preferable to others. The most vigorous-growing basket willow 
is, unquestionably, S. viminalis; and it is also the sort most generally cul- 
tivated for that purpose. It has no disadvantage that we are aware of, except 
that in cold wet seasons, and in a moist soil, it does not always ripen the 
points of its shoots. S. ribra, S. Forbyana, S. decipiens, and S. stipularis are 
excellent species, of less vigorous growth than 8. viminalis, which ripen the 
points of their shoots perfectly in most seasons: the best of these is, 
perhaps, S. Forbydna, 8S. triandra is nearly as vigorous as S. viminalis. S. 
hélix, S. vitellina, and S. purptirea are very desirable species where small 
