secretary's budget. 413 



liill-sides, for these break the force of, and temper the cold winds in- 

 jurious to the farm crops; they induce and in some localities perhaps 

 increase the rainfall, and at all events equalize the water flow in 

 springs; and yet how often, when the farmer could have a wood lot 

 growing up from the sprouts, are the cattle allowed to roam in it and 

 destroy the young trees ; and how many worthless and worn-out lands 

 are there on our farms, where crops do not pay, and trees would be a 

 valuable addition. 



The Commissioner of Agriculture, Hon. Norman J. Colman, mani- 

 fested great interest in the discussions, and in his address said that, 

 according to his experience in planting trees, if the soil is properly 

 prepared, nothiug was more sure to grow. Other speakers related 

 their experience in raising profitable crops of trees on almost worthless 

 land. An interesting paper on the time of planting evergreens was 

 read by Mr. C. W. Strong, a well known nurseryman. The planting of 

 evergreens has always been held to be practicable during the month 

 of May, but Mr, Strong was sure that August was a much better time 

 for transplanting them. The wood is then hardened, the earth is warm 

 throughout, and danger from frosts during the night is not to be 

 feared. He had transplanted many evergreens from a low soil to the 

 north side of a hill with perfect success, and considered the question of 

 August planting settled beyond cavil. 



The cultivation of the Osier Willow and the Red Cedar was recom- 

 mended by Mr. Hersey, of Massachusetts, after an experience of forty- 

 five years. It does not require 100 years to grow cedar to muturity,asis 

 generally supposed. His trees at thirty to forty years of ag^were 

 worth one dollar each for fence posts, which he maintained was a 

 good investment on land worth $10 per acre, the price his poor gravelly 

 loam would bring. The Osier Willow requires a warmer soil ; the 

 sand of the river bottoms, subject to occasional overflow, is the best. 

 Planting may be started from cuttings as well as from roots. The first 

 crop is of no use; but the second year the willows grow from five to 

 seven feet, surpassing all imported willows. A clear profit for basket 

 work willows of $60 per acre yearly may be attained. This figure seems 

 to have been largely exceeded by a willow farmer in Georgia, who has 

 set out some 80,000 plants, and claims a profit of .$200 per acre. When 

 we consider that the importation of prepared willows and willow-ware 

 into this country amounts to more than $200,000 worth every year, this 

 would seem a profitable field for many a farmer, who has the proper 

 soil at his disposal. The outlay necessary is not great and the returns 

 come in soon and steadily every year. 



