250 



THE WILLOW. 



foliage of a deeper hue. I am not acquainted 

 with the botanical name of this species, but I 

 believe the botanists call it Salix alha^ This 

 is the Huntingdon, or White Willow, a good 

 specimen of which is figured at the head of this 

 chapter ; it derives its name from the silky white- 

 ness of the under side of the leaf. 



This species is said to be one of the most useful 

 of the genus as a timber-tree ; like the rest of the 

 Willows, it grows rapidly, and acquires consi- 

 derable magnitude within the usual period of 

 human life, and may therefore, in the natural 

 course of events, be cut down, a full-grown tree, 

 by the same hand that planted it. " It groweth 

 incredibly fast," says Fuller, it being a by-word 

 in this county, that the profit by Willows will 

 buy the owner a horse, before that by other trees 

 will pay for his saddle." The wood is soft but 

 elastic, and is well adapted for the lining of 

 barges and carts, which are used for carrying heavy 

 loads of hard substances. It is durable, and makes 

 good roofing. The bark is used by tanners, and 

 it makes excellent firewood ; added to which, it 

 grows without trouble from cuttings, and thrives 

 in any soil except peat, in which situation only 

 the smaller species will grow. 



The Bedford Willow, Salix Russelliana^ is 

 another of the tribe which attains a large size. It 

 was named in honour of the late Francis, Duke of 

 Bedford, by whom it was first brought into notice. 

 Its leaves are in shape very like those of the 

 White Willow, but differ in being smooth on 

 both sides. The favourite tree of Dr. Johnson 

 was of this species. It stood near the public 

 footpath in the fields, between the city and 



