OF FOUEST-TKEES. 



251 



peelings of the branches being useful to bind arbour-poling, and in topiary CHAP, 

 works, vineyards, espalier-fruit, and the like : And we are told of some ""^^ 

 that have been twisted into ropes of an hundred and twenty paces, 

 serving instead of cables. There are two principal sorts of these Withies, 

 the Hoary, and the Red Withy, which is the Greek ; toughest and fittest 

 to bind, whilst the twigs are flexible and tender. 



separating from the stem. After they are planted, they should be thorned from cattle ; 

 and in five or six years they will be fit for lopping ; and thus they may continue to be lopped 

 every fifth or sixth year, to the improvement of ditch-sides, water-gutters, &c. were it only 

 for the fuel, as it emits little smoke, and is remarkably sweet ; it burns pure and clear to 

 the last, and therefore proper for ladies' chambers, and such people as are curious in pro- 

 curing the sweetest sorts of fire-wood. 



Willows may be planted in the autumn, but the spring is the surest season. The plant- 

 ing, however, should not be delayed later than February, as the shoots of the succeeding 

 year would not only be retarded, but the stools from whence they were taken greatly in« 

 jured. 



Amongst the ancients, the Willow was appropriated to many uses, but it was chiefly cul- 

 tivated for binders, to be employed in the vineyard. With them, every thing that regarded 

 the cultivation of the Vine was attended to with scrupulous exactness ; and Columella, when 

 describing the different things requisite for the vineyard, emphatically styles WiUows, Reeds, 

 and Chestnut-trees, " the dowries," for vineyards. Of Willows, binders were made ; 

 Reeds made frames ; and Chestnut-poles were employed for props. The quantity of land 

 required for each of these is thus described by Columella. One acre (jugerum) of Willow- 

 ground will raise binders sufficient for twenty-five acres of vineyard. A single acre planted 

 with Reeds, is sufficient for furnishing frames for twenty acres ; an acre planted with 

 Chestnut-trees is enough for propping as many acres as an acre planted with Reeds can 

 furnish frames for. Lib. iv. cap. xxxl 



The ancient Britons used boats made of Wicker, covered with skins, for passing rivers 

 and arms of the sea : 



Primum cana Salix madefacto vimine parvam 

 Texitur in puppim, csesoque induta Juvenco, 

 Vectoris patiens, tumidam superemicat amnem. , 

 Sic Venetus, slagnaiite Pado, fusoque Britannus 



Navigat Ocedno. - -. . . . . ~ lucan. 



Besides these boats, our rude forefathers knew how to make baskets of Wicker, which 

 were held in. estimation even at Rome. Of these Martial says, 



Barbara de pictis veni Bascauda Britannis : 

 Sed me jam mavult dicere Roma sudm, 



Qq 2 



