The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-06-18
The Willow as q Timber Tree.

ana there are some trees which are
deserving Of more attention than has vet
been given them in this country. lhe
willows, for instance, have seldom been
cultivated in large way; and yet there
are few trees so easily grown, or which
VIII pay better for cultivation. They
ADAPT themselves 10 wide range Of soil
ana climate They grow on high ground
ana on grayclly soils not less than by the
sides OF streams, where we most COM
monty see them They are Of rapid
growth and yield large return. The
osler-willows specially useful, we know,
Tor the manufacture Of baskets, chairs,
ana other articles of furniture, and we
import it to the extent Of 100000 an
nually, when we might produce it easily
IN almost any part Of our country. We
hardly think Of the willow as timber
tree or for the production Of lumber. but
only AS yielding cheap, poor sort Of
fuel. But in England the wood is treat
" priced for many purposes. While it
is light il Is also touch; it does not break
into sliyers. Hardly any wood is so rood.
therefore, for the Innings Of carts and
wagons used in drawing stone or other
rough and heavy articles. It makes eX-
cellent charcoal, especially for the man
fracture OF gunpOwder. Ii bears eX-
posure to the weather, and boards made
OF 1t are very seryiccable for fences.
some species Of it are admirable for use
as a live fence or hedge. On account Of
It's comparative incombustibility, the
willow is eminently useful for the floor,
OF buildings designed to be tro-proof
II grows 10 large size and furnishes
great amount OF lumber There is
white willow growing in Stockbridge
Mass, which, at four feet from the
ground, measures twenty-five feet in cir
conference, and extends its branches
fifty feet in every direction. Tradition
says II was brought from Connecticut
1907, by a traveller, who used it as a
riding-switch. Hon. Jesse w. Fell. in
giving an account of experiments in
tree-piantlng, on an extensive scale, in
illinois. says "Were called upon TO
designate one tree which, more than all
Others, | would recommend for general
planting, | would say unhesitatinglv it
should be the white willow" Professor
Brewer says; "In England, where it is
often sixty or seventy feet high in TWEEN
ty years, there is no wood in greater de-
mand than good willow. 1t is light.
very tough, soft, takes good finish, will
bear more pounding and knocks than
any other wood grown there. and hence
It's use for crcket-bats, for floats to pad
dle-wheels Of steamers. and brako-blocks
on ears. 1t is used extensively for turn
ing planking coasting-yessels, furniture,
oH-yokes, wooden legs shoe-lasts, etc.
Fuller says, at groweth incredibly fast
it being a byword that the profit by
willows will buy the owners horse be-
fore that by other trees will pay for the
saddle" The basket-willow, well cu-
tivated, will yield a net income of $3.50
a year TO the acre. On the whole, there
fore, it would seem that the various
kinds of willow, the economic value of
which has been hitherto entirely over
looked in our country are emincntly
deserving of attention, and will amply
reward those whocultivate them. 49, From
".NetbodS AMI Fr0W Of Tree PiaHiaG,"
By ~ H. Eg'cston, IN Popular Science
M0HthlU