212 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
early and cheerless period in the spring. There are a num- 
ber of other species found growing in different parts of the 
Union, which may perhaps possess sufficient interest to re- 
commend themselves to the planter. 
The chief, and indeed almost the only value of these wil- 
lows in Landscape Gardening, is to embellish low grounds, 
streams of water, or margins of lakes. When mingled with 
other trees, they often harmonize so badly from their ex- 
tremely different habits, foliage, and colour, that unless 
very sparingly introduced, they cannot fail to have a bad 
effect. On the banks of streams, however, they are ex- 
tremely appropriate, hanging their slender branches over 
the liquid element, and drawing genial nourishment from 
the moistened soil. 
“ Le saule incline sur la rive penchante, 
Balan<jant mollement sa tete blanchissante.” 
In the middle distance of a scene, also, where a stream 
winds partially hidden, or which might otherwise wholly 
escape the eye, these trees, if planted along its course, con- 
nected as they are, in our minds, with watery soils, will 
not fail to direct the attention, and convey forcibly the 
impression of a brook or river, winding its way beneath 
their shade. 
The Weeping willow, however, is at once one of the 
most elegant, graceful, and interesting trees ; elegant in its 
light and delicate waving foliage ; and graceful in the soft 
flowing lines formed by its drooping branches ; and in- 
teresting by the melancholy, poetical, and scriptural asso- 
ciations connected with it. Every one will call to mind 
the captivity of the children of Israel, as connected with 
this tree : “ By the waters of Babylon we sat down and 
