The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-05-03
THE WILLOW As / TIMBER TREE.

And there are some trees which are
deserving of more attention than has
vet 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 wide range
of soil and climate. They grow on high
ground and on grayelly soils not less
Than by the sides Of streams, where we
most commonly see them. They are Of
rapid growth and yield a large return.
The osier-wiilow Is specially useful, we
know, for the manufacture Of baskets,
chairs, aud other articles of furniture,
and we import it to the extent of 3d.
900, 900 Annually, when we might pro-
duce it easily in almost any part OF our
country. We hardly think Of the viii
low as a timber-tree or for the produc-
ton of lumber, but only as yielding a
cheap, poor sort Of fuel. But in Eng
land the wood is greatly priced for many
purposes. While it is light it Is also
tough; it does not break into sliyers.
Hardly any woods so good, therefore,
for the Innings of carts and wagons used
in drawing stone OF other rough and
heavy articles. It makes excellent
charcoal, especially for the manufacture
Of gunpowder. 1t bears exposure to
The weather, and boards made Of it are
very serviceabIe for fences. Some spe-
cies Of it are admirable for use as a live
fence Or hedge.
On account of its comparative ncom-
bustibiiity, the willow is eminently use
ful for the floors Of buildings designed
to be fre-proof 1t grows to a large
size and furnishes a great amount OF
lumber. There is a white willow growing
in Stockbridge, Mass, which, at tour
feet from the ground, measures twenty
TWO feet in circumference, and extends
its branches fifty feet in every direction.
Tradition SAYS it was brought from
Connecticut in 1907, by a traveller, who
used it as Il riding witch. Hon. Jesse
W. Fell, in giving an account OF expert
ments in tree-plantIng, on an extensive
scale, in Illinois, SAYS Were | called
upon t. designate one Tree which, more
than all others, | would recommend for
general planting, | would say unhesita-
tlngIy it should be the white willow.
Professor Brewer says: In England,
where it is often sixty or seventy feet +
nigh in twenty years, there Is no wood
in greater demand than good willow. /
Il Is light, very tough, soft, takes d
good finish, will bear more pounding |
and knocks than any other wood grown
there. and hence its use for cricket-b bats, +
for floats to paddle-wheels Of steamers,
and brakc-blocks on cars. 1t is used
extensively for turning, planlliIg coast
ing-yessels, furniture, ox-yokcs, wooden /
legs, shoe-las's, etc Fuller says, 1T
groweth incredibly fast-it being by
word thai the profit by willows viii buy
the owner horse before that by other
trees will pay for the saddle" The bas
ket-wiIlow, well cultivated. will yield a
net income Of Sl5O year to he acre.
On the whole, therefore, il would seem
that the various kinds Of willow, the
economic value of which has been hith-
erto entirely overlooked in our country,
are emnenuy deserving Of attention,
and will amply reward those who cult
vatc them. From Methods and Profit
ii Tree-Pia ting" by n H. + gleston,
in Popular Science Monthly for May.