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the Israelites were commanded to dwell in booths made 
of “ goodly trees, and rejoice before the Lord their God 
seven days,” those selected for the occasion “ were 
branches of palm trees and willows of the brook to 
which Nehemiah adds branches of olive, pine, and 
myrtle. These, being all tied together with gold and 
silver strings, were carried in procession by the people 
during the feast. This festival was further designed as 
a solemn acknowledgment of the mercy of God, “ who 
crowneth the year with his goodness,” on the ingathering 
of the various fruits of the earth. 
The Latin name Salix, signifying to spring up, well 
describes the rapid growth of the willow tribe. This 
characteristic, as well as its choice of situation, seems 
beautifully alluded to in Isaiah, xliv. 4.: — “ They 
shall spring up as among grass, as willows by the water¬ 
courses.” Not fewer than one hundred and forty-one 
different species of Salix have been enumerated by Sir 
James E. Smith. The one denominated Salix babylonica 
(our English weeping willow) is a native of the Levant, 
the coast of Persia, and other places in die East. The 
manner of its introduction into England is curious: the 
account is as follows: — Pope, the celebrated poet, having 
received a present of Turkey figs, observed a twig of the 
basket in which they were packed putting out a shoot. 
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