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THE WILLOW. 



The Willow is a tree beautiful in appear- 

 ance ; and considerably more useful in the arts 

 of life. There are many species ; of which the 

 principal are^ the Osier^ the White Willow, 

 and the Weeping Willow. 



Osiers are willows of a smaller growth than 

 the others. Of the extremely tough and pliant 

 twigs of this shrub, wicker baskets are chiefly 

 made ; and I know not exactly what we should 

 do without them. The consumption of osiers 

 for this purpose is so great, that plantations 

 of them are exceedingly profitable to their 

 owners. In low marshy places, or by the sides 

 of rivers, osiers occupy many thousands of 

 acres. They are cut about once in three 



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