379 
Salix nigra, Marshall. {S. FursMana, Sprengel.) 
The Black Willow of North America. It attains a height 
ot’ 25 feet. This species was not included in the list of trees, 
published by the Acclimatisation Society in its last year’s 
report. The Black Willow is one used for basket-work, 
although it is surpassed in excellence by some other species, 
and is more important as a timber-willow. Mr. W. Scaling, 
of Basford, includes it among the sorts, which he recom- 
mends in his valuable publication “ The Willow ” (London, 
1871) . Brom his treatise, resting on unrivalled experience, 
it will be observed, that he anew urges the adoption of the 
Bitter Willow (also called the Eose-Willow or the Whipcord- 
Willow), S. purpurea, L., for game-proof hedges, this species 
scarcely ever being touched by cattle, rabbits and other 
herbivorous animals. Not only for this reason, but also for 
its very rapid growth and remunerative yield of the very 
best of Basket material he recommends it for field hedges. 
Cuttings are planted only half-a-foot apart, and must be 
entirely pushed into the ground. The annual produce from 
such a hedge is worth 4s. to 5s. for the chain. For addi- 
tional strength the shoots can be interwoven. In rich 
bottoms they will grow from 7 feet to 13 feet in a year. 
The supply of basket material from this species has fallen 
very far short of the demand in England. The plant grows 
vigorously on light soil or warp land, but not on clay. 
S. rubra, Huds., is also admirably adapted for hedges. The 
real Osier, S. viminalis, L., is distinguished by basketmakers 
as the soft-wooded Willow, and is the best for rods requiring 
two years’ age, and also the most eligible for hoops, but 
inferior to several other species for basket manufacture. 
8. triandra, L., is a prominent representative of the hard- 
W'ooded Basket Willows, and comprises some of the finest 
varieties in use of the manufacturers. A crop in the third 
year after planting from an acre weighs about 12 tons, 
worth £3 for the ton. 8. fragilis, L., and 8. alba, L., are 
more important as timber-willows, and for growing hoop- 
shoots. Their rapidity of growth recommends them also for 
shelter plantations, to which advantage may be added their 
inflammability and their easy propagation ; the latter 
