379 



Salix nigra, Marshall. (S. Pursliiana, Sprengel.) 



The Black Willow of North America. It attains a height 

 of 25 feet. This species was not included in the list of trees, 

 published by the Acclimatisation [Society in its last year's 

 report. The Black Willow is one used for basket-work, 

 although it is surpassed in excellence by some other species, 

 and is more important as a timber-willow. Mr. W. Scaling, 

 of Basford, includes it among the sorts, which he recom- 

 mends in his valuable publication " The Willow " (London, 

 1871) . Erom his treatise, resting on unrivalled experience, 

 it will be observed, that he anew urges the adoption of the 

 Bitter Willow (also called the Bose-Willow or the Whipcord- 

 Willow), £. purpurea, L., for game-proof hedges, this species 

 scarcely ever being touched by cattle, rabbits and other 

 herbivorous animals. Not only for this reason, but also for 

 its very rapid growth and remunerative yield of the very 

 best of Basket material he recommends it for field hedges. 

 Cuttings are planted only half-a-foot apart, and must be 

 entirely pushed into the ground. The annual produce from 

 such a hedge is worth 4s. to 5s. for the chain. For addi- 

 tional strength the shoots can be interwoven. In rich 

 bottoms they will grow from 7 feet to 13 feet in a year. 

 The supply of basket material from this species has fallen 

 very far short of the demand in England. The plant grows 

 vigorously on light soil or warp land, but not on clay. 

 S. rubra, Huds., is also admirably adapted for hedges. The 

 real Osier, S. viminalis, L., is distinguished by basketmakers 

 as the soft-wooded Willow, and is the best for rods requiring 

 two years' age, and also the most eligible for hoops, but 

 inferior to several other species for basket manufacture. 

 S. triandra, L., is a prominent representative of the hard- 

 wooded Basket Willows, and comprises some of the finest 

 varieties in use of the manufacturers. A crop in the third 

 year after planting from an acre weighs about 12 tons, 

 worth £3 for the ton. S. fragilis, L,, and S. alba, L., are 

 more important as timber-willows, and for growing hoop* 

 shoots. Their rapidity of growth recommends them also for 

 shelter plantations, to which advantage may be added their 

 inflammability and their easy propagation ; the latter 



