Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-07-05

THE Willow AS A TGMBF Rn TREE -
And theis ATE some trees wh,en7 are de
serving Of more attention than has ye'
been given them in this country. The
willows, for instance, have seldom been
cultivated in large way; and yet there
are few trees so easily grown. or which
will pay better for cultivation, They
adapt themselves to a wide range Of soil
ami climate. They grow on high ground
and on gravelly soils not less than by the
sides Of streams. where we most common
i see them. They are Of rapid growth
and yield large return. The osier will
low is specially useful, we know, for the
manufacture of baskets. chairs and other
articles OF furniture, and we import i, to
the extent Of five millions dollars worth
annually, when we might produce it easily
in almost any part Of our country.
We hardly think of the willow as a
timber tree or for the production OF lun.
ber. bll only as yielding cheap, poor
sort Of fuel. But in England the wood is
greatly priced for many purposes. Though
light it Is tough /! does not break into
siiver'. Hardly any wood, is better.
therefore. for the Innings OF carts and
wagons used in drawing stone or o'her
rough and heavy articles Il makes
excellent charcoal, especially for the man
ufac.ure Of gunpowder. 1t bears exposure
to the weather. and board. made OF ii are
very ser7ieeable for fences. Some species
of it are admirable for use as live fence
or hedge. Ga account Of its comparative
incombus.ibilitv the willow is eminently
useful for the floors Of buildings designed
to be tire-proof. 1t grows to large size
and furnishes great amount Of lumber
There is white willow growing in
S.ochbrige, Mass, which at four fee:
from the ground measures twenty-five
feet IN circumference and extends is
branches fifty feet in every direction,
Tradition says it was brought from Con.
nec;icut iu 1907 by n traveller, who used i;
a q riding switch,
The Hon. Jesse ". Fell, in giving an
account OF experiments in tree planting
on an extensive scale in Illinois, says
Were | called upon to designate one tee
which, more than all oilers, | would
recommend for general planting, | would
say unhe5italingly it should be the white
willow
Ptof, Brewer says: In England.
W .tti IL - O4EcA slAtt VI ScfFhLf iCCN ~ :
in twenty years, there is no wood in
greater demand than good willow. Il is
light, very tough, soft, takes good finish
Will besr more pounding and knocks than
any other wood grown there, and hence
its use for cricket bats for floats to paddle
wheels of steamers and brake blocks CD
cars. Il is used extensively for turning.
pankng coasting vessels, furniture, OK
yokes, wooden legs, shoe lasts, etc"
Fuller says; 1T groweth incredibly fis.
it bein. by.word that the profit By
willows will buy the owner a horse before
tha. by other trees will pay for the saddle. "
The baske. willow, well cultivated. will
Weld a net income OF one hundred and
fifty dollars year to the acre. Ga the
whole, therefore, il would seem tina. the
various kinds of willow, the economic
valae Of which has been hitherto entirely
overlooked in our country, are eminently
deserving Of attention and will amply
reward those who cultivate them.-Frord
".lL.,loi3 md Pr0tH Of Tree PianIng," jL
IT. y. E5,es!9n, in Popular Science A0g!Al,
for .RGy.