A SUGGESTION TO GARDENERS.
All the world of gardeners now grows some of the early and splendid varieties of prunus ; even the humbler gardens are bright with them this Easter, and very lovely they are, welcoming spring along with the primrose, anemone, and gorse. But at this season leaves are almost as attractive as flowers ; and not even massed flowers of the chintz-like Prunus triloba—to quote a popular. species—are more attractive than sprays of the Babylonian willow, which is in leaf as early as. the ribes and is only anticipated by the honey- suckles. The daintiest variety in habit and leaf is perhaps Vitellina alba ; but any weeping willow is worth its place ; and it is a mistake to suppose that the willows in general require very wet soil. They like a riverside, of course. Inci- dentally, in Australia the banks of the Murrunabidgee are entirely supported over long reaches by weeping willows from slips imported from Elba. But some willows—including the cricket-bat willow—do better on moderately dry soil, and most sorts will grow well on any soil that holds a fair modicum of moisture. For example, what fine willows there are on Hampstead Heath !
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