The Garden Magazine, July, 1920 
320 
IN THE LAND OF ITS NATIVITY WHICH IS THE CHI NO-THIBETAN BORDERLAND 
Here, in the Min Valley, this Willow of Babylon is growing wild and in 
splendid solitude, remote indeed from the country of Psalmist and Prophet 
during his exile there, and a seat was placed beneath it at 
his request, where he often used to sit, as old prints represent 
him. 
All the Babylon Willows known in Europe are female and in 
all probability originated from a single tree, introduced either 
by Wheler or Tournefort. It is rather tender and not a long- 
lived tree, and large specimens are rare in England and in north- 
ern Europe. When it was brought to America is not known, but 
probably toward the end of the eighteenth century. It has 
also been carried to South America and travellers say that in 
Chile, especially by sides of irrigation canals, magnificent speci- 
mens occur. Around Boston, Mass., it is scarcely hardy, but 
in the Arnold Arboretum some trees raised from cuttings which 
1 sent from near Ichang, in central China, are promising. 
A HYBRID, Salix Salamonii — supposed to be between S. 
babylonica and S. alba and of which likewise only the 
female is known — is a much more hardy tree. It is not quite so 
pendulous, but its increased hardiness is a great asset and only 
the specialist can detect the difference. There are fine old trees 
of this Salamon’s Willow around the Lake at Kew but their 
exact age is not known. This valuable tree originated on the 
estate of Baron de Salamon near Manosque (Basses Alpes) 
some time before i86q, when it was put on the market by 
Simon-Louis of Metz. 
Another handsome Weeping Willow, a supposed hybrid be- 
tween S. babylonica and S. fragilis, named Salix blanda, is also 
a much hardier tree than the Babylon Willow. It is a very fast- 
growing tree with long pendent branchlets which almost reach 
to the ground. There are two forms of this Salix blanda, one 
with yellow shoots called “Niobe,” and one with reddish shoots 
known as the "Wisconsin Weeping Willow.” Then there are 
Salix purpurea pendula and Salix alba vitallina pendula, both 
Weeping Willows. 
In the extremely cold northern parts of this country these 
forms pass for the Willow of Babylon, but as a matter of 
fact the real thing is unknown there since the cold is too great 
for it to grow. Even in England and also in Germany and north- 
ern France the true Babylon Willow is rare, and these other 
Weeping Willows frequently masquerade under its name. They 
are all very beautiful and right well take the place in a practical 
manner of S. babylonica — but they suffer through their lack 
of that association which makes us regard it as a tree espe- 
cially to be venerated. 
T HE Lombardy Poplar and the Weeping Willow have 
peculiar merits in landscape planting, but the former espe- 
cially has been much abused. Their strong contrast makes 
them companions and near water both are seen to good ad- 
vantage. The Poplar adds grace and lightness when sparsely 
associated with round-topped trees, and maybe associated with 
buildings to advantage, whereas the Willow is best kept well 
away from these. The Poplar is also well adapted for plant- 
ing in narrow streets, and by bridges of masonry it is seen to 
excellent advantage. The Willow also is extremely effective 
in such a situation, especially if the bridge is picturesque and 
irregular in character. 
Rightly placed and rightly used indeed the Lombardy Poplar 
is one of the most useful trees in gardening art. In France it 
has been much planted in the past but to-day it is not looked 
upon with so much favor. To thrive properly it requires fairly 
good soil and to be well supplied with water at the roots. Nowa- 
days it has a decided tendency to form dead wood and become 
scrawny, and some have suggested that this is a sign of old age. 
Since all are and have been propagated by cuttings from the 
original tree, hence are as old in one sense as it, this may be 
the true explanation of the present decline in health and vigor 
of the Lombardy Poplar. 
