354 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
and am decidedly of the opinion that this and the golden 
variety are the best deciduous trees within my knowledge for 
wind-breaks or screens, but wish to be distinctly understood as 
not recommending this tree as a “ hedge plant,” or the plant¬ 
ing of this or any other one sort to the neglect of other de¬ 
sirable varieties. Strong cuttings of this tree seldom fail to 
strike root at once in mellow soil, and will make a growth of 
from two to six feet the first season. It thrives in all kinds of 
soil, making as much wood in a given number of years as any 
other known sort, not even excepting the cotton wood, grow¬ 
ing into a large tree, sometimes four feet in diameter. The 
wood is of'rather fine texture lor a light wood, making a fair 
article of soft lumber, which bears a fine polish. It is also 
valuable for making wooden ware, bowls, trays, etc. ‘It also 
splits freely, which is a desirable quality in making fence posts, 
rails, railroad ties, and fire-wood. I would here remark that it 
is more than probable that before five years are past the pres¬ 
ent mode of infusing the gasses of coal tar into the pores of 
timber will be so improved, or some other method, that soft 
and porous wood will be rendered almost indestructible, and 
at a trifling expense. 
The golden willow is similar in growth and texture to the 
white, but I think does not make so large a tree. I have 
measured about a dozen trees of this variety (golden) which 
were planted by the roadside fifteen years ago last spring, and 
find the average circumference of the trunks, at three and a 
half feet from the ground, to be five feet and three inches. A 
white willow, standing near my house, which has grown from 
a small cutting put in thirteen years ago last spring, now 
measures six feet and two inches in circumference near the 
ground, forming a head or top thirty feet across. This vari¬ 
ety, when planted in groves, grows tall and almost perfectly 
straight. 
I 
I have carefully computed the expenses of raising ten acres 
of trees of this variety, and converting them into lumber, and 
find the entire cost not to exceed ten dollars per thousand feet. 
This estimate is based upon actual measurement of the 
