276 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



who have lands suitable to their cultivation, 

 for as they make almost immediate profit, it 

 must be desirable to attend to their propaga- 

 tion, particularly in those tracts of lands fit 

 only for this purpose, and which at present 

 produce little to the owners ; but if planted 

 with osiers and willows of different kinds, 

 would turn to as good account as the best 

 corn land. Martyn says the best time for 

 planting these cuttings in the osier grounds is 

 February, for if they are planted sooner, they 

 are apt to peel, if it proves hard frost, which 

 greatly injures them. These plants are cut 

 every year, and if the soil be suitable they 

 will produce a great crop, so that the yearly 

 produce of one acre has often been sold for 

 fifteen pounds, but ten pounds is a common 

 price, which at the present time is much 

 better than corn land can be made to pay. 



In extensive shrubberies several kinds of 

 willows may be admitted, both for ornament 

 and variety, particularly the triandrous, or 

 long-leaved, three-stamened willow, Salix tri- 

 andra, which gives out such abundance of 

 catkins in the months of April and May; 

 which, by their bright yellow colour greatly 

 enliven the scene, and at the same time ren- 

 der the air agreeable, by the scent which they 

 exhale. 



