410 
Pliny's natural histoet. 
[Book XVI. 
cut, continues to thrive, and, indeed, throws out more thickly 
from the top, which, when closely clipped, bears a stronger re- 
semblance to a closed fist than the top of a stump. It is a tree, 
which, in my opinion, deserves to be placed by no means in 
the lowest rank of trees ; for there is none that will yield a more 
certain profit, which can be cultivated at less expense, or 
which is less liable to be influenced by changes in the weather. 
CHAP. 69. — TEEES IN ADDITION TO THE WILLOW, WHICH AKE OP 
USE IN MAKING WITHES. 
Cato^*^ considers the culture of the willow as deserving to 
hold the third rank in estimation, and he gives it precedence 
to the cultivation of the olive, tillage for corn, or laying out 
land for pasture. It is not, however, because the willow is 
the only tree that produces withes ; for they may be procured 
also from the broom, the poplar, the elm, the blood-red cornel, 
the birch, and the reed itself when split, or else the leaves of that 
plant, as we know to be the case in Liguria. The vine, also, 
will furnish them ; the bramble, too, with the thorns re- 
moved, as well as the twisted hazel. It is a very singular thing, 
that a wood after it has been beaten and pounded should be 
found all the stronger for making withes, but such is a striking 
peculiarity that exists in the willow. The Greek red^^ willow is 
split for this purpose : while the willow^® of Ameria is whiter 
but more brittle, for which reason it is used in an uncut state for 
tying. In Asia there are three varieties known of the willow ; 
the black willow, which is best adapted for making withes, 
the white willow, employed for various agricultural purposes, 
and a third, which is shorter than the others, and known as 
the helix.^^ 
With us, also, there is the same number of denominations 
given to as many varieties of the willow ; one being known 
56 De Ee Rust. c. 6. Fee remarks that the notions of modern agricul- 
turists are very different on this point, 
5^ The Salix purpurea of Linnaeus : the Salix vulgaris rubens of C. 
Bauhin. 
58 This belongs, probably, to the Salix helix of Linnseus. 
Fee queries whether this may not be the Salix incana of Schrank and 
Hoffmann, the bark of which is a brown green. 
^0 Belonging to the Salix helix of Linnceus. 
