The Willow. 



(lervvood. There are two purposes to which it is applied, 

 of a very distinct character : one, the making* of hop-poles, 

 hoops, hurdles, and tool-handles; the other, the making of 

 baskets and wicker-work of various descriptions. Tliose 

 Willows which are applied to the former purpose are 

 planted in coppices; those which are applied to the latter 

 purpose, are planted in aquatic situations, which are gene- 

 rally'called Osier-beds. The former are cut every eight or 

 ten 'years, according to the growth of the stuiF, which will 

 be in proportion in rapidity to the goodness of the ground ; 

 the latter are cut every year, as soon as the leaf is off, and 

 as the shoots are perfectly ripe. 



571. Willows are never raised from the seed, though 

 they all might be; and though they would, if a large and 

 straight and lofty tree were wanted, be raised most pro- 

 perly in that way. The seed of the Willow, like that of 

 the Poplar, is borne in a katkin, which comes out early in 

 the spring, and which falls off from the tree, some of the 

 sorts earlier and some later, in May, or early in June. If the 

 katkins were then collected, laid in the sun until perfectly 

 dry, and then rubbed out and sowed in the same manner as 

 I have described, and as I have so successfully practised in 

 the case of the Birch, any number of trees might be raised 

 from the seed; and these trees properly transplanted and 

 managed, would become straight, clear-trunked, and lofty 

 trees; and this might, in some cases, be very desirable, for 

 some of the sorts are greatly ornamental, besides the Weep- 

 ing Willow, which is every where looked upon as an arti- 

 cle of ornament. There is one Willow, the bark of which 

 is of a light grey colour, which sends its katkins forth very 

 early in the spring. They are large, clothed with a thick 

 down, the outside of which is a bright yellow, after having 

 first been white ; and, for the space of nearly a month, at 



