CULTIVATION OF BASKET-WILLOW. 211 



variety of willow which has been found to be best adapted 

 to our climate, and to furnish the best osiers for basket- 

 work. Tlie name of this variety was supposed to be Sallx 

 viminalis. It was brought into the State about twenty-seven 

 years ago under that name, and, being widely disseminated 

 as such, no suspicion was entertained that it was any other 

 variety. As it proved far superior to all other varieties 

 when grown on warm land, there seemed no occasion for 

 doubt or dissatisfaction, and so no investigation was made ; 

 but, when it was decided to prepare a paper on the subject, it 

 was thou<xht best to make a critical examination, that the 

 paper might be as free from errors as possible. When it was 

 too late to examine the blossom, the leaves were examined, 

 and found not to conform to the drawings of the viminalis, 

 being much wider at the end; tlie viminalis having a long 

 leaf terminating with a sharper point. To remove all doubts, 

 it was thought best to defer the preparation of this jiaper 

 another year, that the blossoms miglit be examined. Last 

 spring both the blossoms and leaves were compared with 

 the drawings, when it was found to compare precisely with 

 the variety under the name of Salix purpurea. To settle the 

 point, later in the season specimens of flowers and leaves 

 were sent to Professor Maynard of the Agricultural College 

 at Amherst, who pronounced them to be the flowers and 

 leaves of the Salix purpurea. 



The details are thus given, because it is believed to be im- 

 portant that all who attempt to grow willows should be sure 

 of the variety. As the true viminalis is not as well adapted 

 to our hot sun, and to high, dry land, as the purpurea, it is 

 important that they should no longer be confounded with 

 each other. 



The osiers of the purpurea are very long and slim, and are 

 considered by the basket-manufacturers to be superior to all 

 others. On high, warm land this variety will make a growth 

 of from five to nine feet in length in a single season. The 

 soil which is best adapted to its growth is that which will 

 produce a good crop of Indian-corn. In setting a plantation, 

 the soil should receive a similar preparation as for a crop of 

 corn. The willow-cuttings should be twelve inches long, 

 and not less than one-fourth of an inch in diameter ; should 

 be set in rows two feet apart each way. If the land be prop- 



