210 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



for hoops, ties, etc. ; and we are informed, that in the north 

 ern parts of Europe, and throughout the Russian Empire, 

 the twigs are employed in manufacturing domestic uten- 

 sils, harness, cables, and even for the houses of the pea- 

 santry themselves. From the fibres of the bark, it is said 

 that a durable cloth is woven by the Tartars ; and the 

 bark is used for tanning in various parts of the eastern 

 continent. 



But by far the most extensive use to which this plant is 

 applied, is in the manufacture of baskets. From the 

 earliest periods it has been devoted to this purpose, and 

 large plantations, or osier-fields, as they are called, are 

 devoted to the culture of particular kinds for this purpose, 

 both in Europe and America. The common Basket willow, 

 an European species {S. viminalis), is the sort usually 

 grown for this purpose, but several others are also employed. 

 For the culture of the basket willows, a deep, moist, though 

 not inundated soil is necessary ; such as is generally found 

 on the margins of small streams, or low lands. " Ropes 

 and baskets made from willow twigs, were probably among 

 the very earliest manufactures, in countries where these 

 trees abound. The Romans used the twigs for binding 

 their vines, and tying their reeds in bundles, and made all 

 sorts of baskets of them. A crop of willows was consi- 

 dered so valuable in the time of Cato, that he ranks the 

 Salictum, or willow field, next in value to the vineyard 

 and the garden. (Art. Salix. Arb. Brit.) 



Among us, the European Basket willow is extensively 

 cultivated, and very large plantations are to be seen in the 

 low grounds of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The wood 

 of some of the tree willows, and particularly that of the 

 Yellow willow, and the Shining willow (S. lucida), is 



