The White Willow.—Its Ornamental Value and Elevated Growth.— Manner of Growth and Usefulness.—Its Supposed Worthlessness the Eesult of Fraud.—Description of its Wood.—The Brittle Willow.—Its Height, Growth, Rarity, and Uses.—Weeping Willow.— Its Ornamental Advantages.—Places Favorable to its Growth.— Largest Specimens, Where Produced.—Grafting of the Kilmarnock and American Willow.—Shining Willow —Its Exceeding Ornament.—Its Growth on Careful Culture.—Its Favorite Places of Growth.—How Recognized.—Peculiar Feature of its Leaves.

The Brittle Willow

This species grows to the height of ninety feet, and is rather rare in some sections of the country. It is used in the manufacture of baskets. A brother species, the Bedford willow, is the most valuable willow of the British Isles.

Weeping Willow

This well-known tree is cultivated only for ornament, and is found principally on the shores of lakes, ponds, and streams. Long Island produces the largest trees of this family. The American and Kilmarnock willows are grafted on other species, several feet from the ground, as they do not rise to any height if grown from cuttings.

Shining Willow

This is the most ornamental tree of all the willows. If carefully cultivated, it may reach the height of fifteen or twenty feet, but in its wild or native state it is much smaller. It is most frequently found among the mountains and along the streams of New England, and is recognized by its leaves, which have the appearance of being varnished. It is never found west of New York.