266 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



effect is greatly heightened by the contrast. 

 This tree is not calculated for what is termed 

 rural or woodland scenery ; its softness of 

 tint, and peculiar gracefulness of growth, seem 

 to make it a proper plant for refined or em- 

 bellished landscapes. It is an excellent tree 

 to plant by the side of fish-ponds, as it is 

 generally found to lean over the water, and 

 by this means afford shade to the fishes, which 

 are frequently killed by the rays of the sun 

 in hot summers, where there is no shade on 

 the water ; and the smaller the pool, the 

 greater is the necessity to give it shade. This 

 tree also affords an agreeable canopy to the 

 angler. 



" Beneath the quivering shade, 



When cooling vapours breathe along the mead, 



The patient fisher takes his silent stand, 



Intent, his angle trembling in his hand : 



With looks unmoved, he hopes the scaly breed, 



And eyes the dancing cork and bending reed. 



Our plenteous streams a various race supply, 



The bright-eyed perch with fins of Tyrian dye, 



The silver eel, in shining volumes roll'd, 



The yellow carp, in scales bedropp'd with gold, 



Swift trouts, diversified with crimson stains, 



And pikes, the tyrants of the watery plains." Pope. 



The weeping willow is one of the first trees 

 that gives out its leaves in the spring, and it 

 retains them longer than most other deciduous 

 trees. We have frequently seen it in the depth 



