THE WEEPING WILLOW

Evening Star, Issue 21931, 18 January 1935, Page 10

THE WEEPING WILLOW

A FAMOUS TREE No tree is more worthy of notice than 'the- weeping willow. So popular has it become as an ornamental tree that it may be ffaid to be more common in almost every country of the world than it is in its native home (says the ‘ Sydney Morning Herald ’). . A native of Western Asia, its original home was along the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Baron Von Mueller states that .it extends across Asia to Japan. It was planted in China centuries ago; and Chinese artists used the willow on their screens and in ceramic ware, for instance, on their willow pattern china. In modern days, however, it is extensively cultivated in Northern India, where its branches are made into baskets and battens, which are used m the construction of weirs and the protection dfi the river banks from soil erosion. There are thirty-three species of the genus Salix in India. Many are tiny prostrate shrubs, while some are largo trees, but these species do not fringe river banks but grow on the slopes of the Himalayas, even as high as 9,000 to 16,000 feet. So adaptable are these trees to climatic conditions that dwarf willows are the last limit of plant life up to the Arctic It is on record that a weeping willow was planted in the Royal Gardens of, Kew, England, in 1672. The first historic weeping willow was planted at Twickenham, on the Thames; either by Mr Vernon, a merchant of Aleppo, Asia Minor, or else by the poet, Pope. This fine tree was a favourite haunt of the poet; but, unfortunately, after his death- it was cut down by the purchaser of his villa because ho was so harassed'by the visitors who came to see the tree which Pope had immortalThere are some very fine weeping willows in Kew Gardens on the banks of the Thames, and the trees are also grown'in many parts in the south or England. Britain has sixty-six indigenous species of willows, varying in size from the cane-like osier basket willows to the large White or Huntingdon willow Salix alba, winch rivals the weeping willow in size and height. Tlio famous Abbot’s Willow belongs to this species. It is centuries old is 75ffc in height, has a stem ovei 18ft m circumference, and its spread is over 200 ft. It stands in the grounds ot the monastery of Bury, near Bury St. itdmonds. . , . In some’ countries the weeping willows are regarded by writers and poets as emblems of sadness and sorrow. Probably on account of their graceful drooping foliage they were often planted over graves and in sacred places. This fact is noted in several passages in the Bible: “By the river of Babylon, there wo sat down; yea, we wept when wo remembered /ion; we hanged our hearts upon the willows, in the midst thereof.”

Herrick wrote; As beasts unto the altars go, With garlands dressed, so I Will, with my willow wreath, also Come forth, and sweetly die. NAPOLEON’S WILLOW.

General Beatson, Governor of the Island of St. Helena, in the Atlantic Ocean, planted a number of trees there in 1810; these he had brought from England. Among them was a weeping willow, which, planted in a valley near a spring, grew into a big tree, mpoleon when exiled on St. Helena, admired this tree,; ho had a seat placed there and spent many hours beneath its shade. The tree was unfortunately blown down during a great gale about the time of Napoleon s death, and Madame Bci-traml. wife of General Bertrand, who had shared Napoleon s exile, planted cuttings around the grave. One in particular grew to a big tree; and quantities of cuttings of it were taken to England and were cultivated and distributed as Napoleon’s willow.” About that date many ships on route for Australia called in at St. Helena, and passengers brought away cuttings of the willow also. Some or these cuttings are the ancestors of the willows in the willow pond in the bydnev Botanic Gardens. It is claimed by" residents in the New England districts that most of the weeping willow trees fringing their watercourses come from the same source. The beautification and the glory of Bathurst and surrounding districts is largely duo to the pioneers who planted all the creeks and river banks with willows, whoso light green foliage contrasts so vividly with some of our Australian river oaks. Ibe valley of the Tumut River is a beautiful example of the blending of English and Australian trees. Our sister State Victoria has also beautified her River Yarra with a glorious fringe of weeping willows. . ' . The weeping willow is a valuable timber tree. The soft, springy, closegrained wood of matured willow trees is used for many purposes, and these conditions have led to its nso for cricket bats. Bats made of willow wood are not liable to split or splinter. Willow wood is used by carpenters and joiners when this class of wood is essential. But it is the weeping willow’s habit ot developing matted masses of surface roots that makes this tree so valuable, for in holding up the earthcru banks it so prevents soil erosion. It is probable that, when the question arises of using trees to protect our watciv courses and river banks from soil erosion, the cultivation of the weeping willow tree will be increased a thou-sand-fold. It is so easily propagated from cuttings and truncheons. A truncheon is a trimmed branch about 6ft long and about the thickness of a walking stick. So easily do they grow that, in early days, when every girl rode a horse and her cavalier provided her with a willow switch, she often stuck it into the wet ground instead of throwing it away; and from such small beginnings many fine weeping willow trees arc now growing. The weeping willow also plays an important part among the fodder trees, for the loaves and branchlets are eagerly eaten by all kinds of stock. At all times when stock are pastured in paddocks where willows are growing one can see how the drooping branchlets and foliage have been cut off as high as the feeding cattle and horses could’ reach to pull down tho sorb, green leaves. There are many fiats on station holdings which, if judiciously planted with willows, would he a valuable asset for the hungry stock in times of drought; and if planted along tho watercourses the willows would have a two-fold value, in that they would protect tho banks and find additional food. In the East willows have been planted in districts which are affected by malaria. A verse, peculiarly applicable to Australian conditions, was written by the English poet, Edmeston The willow, that droops by the side of tho river, And drinks all its life from tho stream that flows by. In return, spends its life in the cause of the giver. And shadows the stream from the heat of the sky.