RED-WOOD WILLOW. 



39 



the rich easy clay by the sides of our poxios (the old 

 Scottish term for those sluggish natural drains of 

 our alluvial districts), thromng out its fibril roots 

 in matted-like abundance under the water : it also 

 flourishes in the more sandy and gravelly alluvion, 

 by the sides of rivers and streams, which does not 

 become too dry in summer. 



This tree, similar to some others which, like it, are 

 continued by cuttings or layers, is, in certain sea- 

 sons, especially when of considerable size, subject to 

 a derangement in the sap-concoction, which leads 

 to the death of some of its more recent parts, parti- 

 cularly the uppermost branches ; whence its withered 

 top sometimes assumes the appearance of a stag's 

 head of horns, which, from the indestructibility of 

 these dead branches, it retains for many years ; new 

 branches springing out from the sides, of much luxu- 

 riance. This disease, similar to canker in the genus 

 Pyrus, is generally concentrated to certain places of 

 the bark and alburnum, the portion of branch above 

 these places thence withering, the connection with 

 the root being cut off; though sometimes the points 

 of the twigs appear to be nipped, without any pre- 

 vious disease. From these affections, and also on 

 account of the branches and stem being often rifted 

 by the winds, the tree is frequently found with rot 



