238 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. Hersey. No, sir : it will be about three years before 

 you will get a large, full crop. 



Mr. Whitaker. After cutting the first year, how will 

 the succeeding crops be, year after year ? 



Mr. Heesey. The second year will be a good crop, but 

 not so much as the third year. I do not know how long you 

 can cut them ; but I presume a hundred years, perhaps more. 



Mr. Whttaker. What is the amount that could be 

 obtained from an acre every year? 



Mr. Hersey. I think you could get a ton a year from 

 good land. 



Mr. Whitaio:r. The reason I ask the question is, I 

 knew of the basket-willow growing in England ; and the 

 person who grew it made a practice of cutting about one- 

 third each year, leaving the others to grow. 



Mr. Hersey. The English climate is not warm enough 

 for this variety. I want to state one fact in regard to it, 

 showuig that our hot New-England sun is exactly adapted to 

 the growth of this shrub, or tree, whatever you may call it. 

 In rainy weather, when we would all suppose that a willow 

 would make a large growth, it does not grow perceptibly ; 

 but in the hottest, sunny days, it makes more than three 

 inches' growth a day, which shows at once that it likes warm, 

 sunny days, — just what we in Massachusetts have, and 

 just what I believe would make the growing of this crop a 

 success. If those persons who first introduced this willow 

 had understood the necessity of putting it on warm land, 

 I think Massachusetts would now be raising more than a 

 million dollars' worth a year. We import at the present time 

 five hundred thousand dollars' worth a year, I suppose, or 

 more ; but if we could raise it ourselves, and cheapen its 

 production, there is no doubt in my mind that there would 

 be twice or three times the amount used that there is now. 



Mr. Flint. The next question is. What is the best 

 method of manuring land for corn in order to secure the 

 best results ? 



Mr. Damon (of Wayland). Give it forty good loads of 

 stable-manure to the acre. Spread it broadcast any time when 

 it is convenient. Have no fear of its washing away, unless 

 it is put on a side-hill. Any time when you can get plenty 

 of manure, you can get a crop of corn. 



