willow. 275 



are formed from the twigs of this tree, whilst 

 its trunk prevents the banks of rivers from 

 being washed away by the force of the cur- 

 rent. 



The basket osier, Salix Jissa, is principally 

 propagated in the fens, and is preferred to all 

 other willows or osiers for basket-work. 



The great round-leaved sallow, Salix caprea, 

 delights in a dry rather than a moist soil ; it is 

 generally used for hurdles, and the trunk is 

 admirable for many purposes with the turner. 

 This tree is known by its round or rather 

 oval leaves, which are rough and waved, in- 

 dented at the top and woolly underneath. 

 The catkins are very large, and white, and 

 appear early in the spring, on which account 

 they are much resorted to by the bees, on 

 their first coming out of their hives at that 

 early season, when few other flowers are ex- 

 panded, and the quantities of pollen which 

 the numerous anthers of this plant give, enable 

 them to obtain both food and wax in abun- 

 dance. 



All the sorts of willows are easily propa- 

 gated by planting cuttings or sets either in the 

 spring or autumn, but the spring is found to 

 be the most favourable time for this purpose ; 

 and as they are quick growing trees, they 

 should oftener invite the attention of those 



t 2 



