CHAP. CUI.

SALICA'CEiE. A’a'i.IX.

1477

but this horizontal rod may be dispensed with where the rods are plantedcrossing each other; as, when that is the case, each is kept in its place by asingle tie at any point of intersection near the top of the fence. The advantageof placing the rods either sloping or intersecting is, that they push equallythroughout; whereas, when placed perpendicularly, they push chiefly at thesummit. The durability of fences of this description depends entirely on theirmanagement; on suffering no one rod, or plant, to grow more vigorously thananother; and cutting the hedge regularly every year, either in summer for theleaves as fodder, or in November for the twigs for basket-making; and inkeeping the base of the hedge at least twice the width of the top.

Culture of Willows as ornamental Trees or Shrubs, It is almost needless torepeat what we have before stated on the subject of rendering trees and shrubseither gardenesque, or picturesque, according to the character of the scene inwhich they are to be placed. As gardenesque objects, all the shrubs, as wellas the trees, will have most effect when trained to a single stem, if only to theheight of 2 ft. or 3 ft. This alone gives them the character of art. All thetrailing sorts, such as S. herbacea, S. reticulata, &c., to be truly gardenesque,ought to be grafted standard high, for the same reason. For picturesquedecoration in artificial scenery, all the upright shrubby and tree willows maybe scattered or grouped along the margin of water; and all the creeping ortrailing kinds placed on rockwork, and left to take their natural shapes.Such species of willow as S. pentandra, S. lucida, and one or two others,from having little of the aspect common to the willow family, and, conse-quently, their forms not being associated with the idea of moist soil or water,may be placed near a house, or in a shrubbery or flower-garden, on accountof their fragrance and early blossoms: but this cannot be recommended withrespect to willows in general, which always convey the idea of the vicinity ofwater, or of marshy ground.

A Salictum is the only scene in which a complete collection of willows canbe displayed to advantage ; because, as we have already observed, willows arenot trees that will associate well with any other kinds. We would by nomeans recommend a salictum to be formed along the margin of water wherethe plants can be seen only on one side; unless, indeed, the object were to formpicturesque scenery. In this case, the plants may be grouped in various ways;some on the margin of water, others on the open lawn, and some on rocks,banks, and stony places. A salictum where the object is to preserve as muchas possible the indigenous characters of the kinds, ought to contain varioussurfaces and kinds of soil; and be wholly aquatic in some places, and rocky,gravelly, sandy, or arid, in others. Such a salictum is admirably' adapted forhilly countries; and, as almost all the willows are natives of cold climates,a salictum of this kind would be a scene particularly suitable for thenorth of Scotland. A gardenesque salictum is that which would producemost effect in a fertile and level country; and, if water is at command, it mayeither be conducted in drains under the surface, for the purpose of irrigationat pleasure; or it may appear in a canal, surrounding the salictum, and assum-ing a gardenesque or artistical form; or in a geometrical or gardenesque pondin the centre. In such a salictum, all the plants ought to be placed singly,with an ample space between them to allow each to attain its natural size andshape. The creeping and trailing sorts ought also to be planted singly, andallowed free space to extend themselves on every side; because, here, theobject being more to display botanical character in a gardenesque mannerthan to exhibit the curious gardenesque, it would hardly be proper to graftthe creeping and trailing sorts standard high, so as to make trees totallydifferent from any ever seen in nature.

As all the species of Nalix flower in early spring, or from the beginning ofMarch to the middle of June, and as the flowers are, in the daytime whenthe sun shines, covered with bees, the salictum is one of the most cheerfuland inviting of garden scenes after the gloom of winter has passed away.For this reason, it is desirable that the soil of the salictum should be dry at

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