210 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
for hoops, ties, etc. ; and we are informed, that in the north 
ern parts of Europe, and throughout the Russian Empire, 
the twigs are employed in manufacturing domestic uten- 
sils, harness, cables, and even for the houses of the pea- 
santry themselves. From the fibres of the bark, it is said 
that a durable cloth is woven by the Tartars ; and the 
bark is used for tanning in various parts of the eastern 
continent. 
But by far the most extensive use to which this plant is 
applied, is in the manufacture of baskets. From the 
earliest periods it has been devoted to this purpose, and 
large plantations, or osier-fields, as they are called, are 
devoted to the culture of particular kinds for this purpose, 
both in Europe and America. The common Basket willow, 
an European species ($. viminalis), is the sort usually 
grown for this purpose, but several others are also employed. 
For the culture of the basket willows, a deep, moist, though 
not inundated soil is necessary ; such as is generally found 
on the margins of small streams, or low lands. “ Ropes 
and baskets made from willow twigs, were probably among 
the very earliest manufactures, in countries where these 
trees abound. The Romans used the twigs for binding 
their vines, and tying their reeds in bundles, and made all 
sorts of baskets of them. A crop of willows was consi- 
dered so valuable in the time of Cato, that he ranks the 
Salictum, or willow field, next in value to the vineyard 
and the garden. (Art. Salix. Arb. Brit.) 
Among us, the European Basket willow is extensively 
cultivated, and very large plantations are to be seen in the 
low grounds of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The wood 
of some of the tree wallows, and particularly that of the 
Yellow willow, and the Shining willow ( S . lucida), is 
