182 0/7 Planting Oz'ters and Willows, M:iy 



I am happy to obfevve a noble Peer, lately at the head of the 

 Board of Agricnltufe, ftep forward with becoming fpirit to aflert 

 the utihty of the negleded ox, and fiipport his caufe by a num- 

 ber of very cogent arguments, enforced by a rational and praQical 

 account of operations performed by this ufeful animal, under the 

 immediate obfervation of his Lordlhip, fulhcient to place his real 

 life in rural ccconomy beyond all cavil or comment. That noble- 

 man's hints in regard to * pofitive aflertions, &c. without proof, * 

 made by perfons utterly unHcilled in the real knowledge and propet 

 ufe of Draught Oxen, are well worthy of the attention of all par- 

 ties concerned. 



Rusricus Ebor. 



TO THE CONDUCTOR OF THE FARMERS MAGAZINE. 



On Tlanthig Oziers and Wilhws. 

 Sir, 



If you pleafe to lay before tlie publick the follovv^ing method 

 of planting willows in the fens of Cambridgefnire, you will pro- 

 bably render eflential fervice to many of your readers. 



In the fens, many holts (as they are provincially called), or 

 plantations of oziers, are raifed, which beautify the country, 

 keep the ftock warm in the winter, and provide much ufefuI 

 wood for balkets, cradles, and all kinds of wicker work, and alfo 

 for cribs for cattle, to eat draw or hay out of, and to make (lows 

 or hurdles to fence in flacks, part lands, &c. Sec. ; or they make 

 hedges that will lafl four years well ; and if allowed to grow 

 live years, many of them v/ould make good fork-fhafts for liay or 

 corn. 



Thefe holts, or plantations of oziers, are commonly made in the 

 middle of the land, in the north and eail corners, and fometimes 

 at any end, fide, or place, that appears molt eafy, or in any re- 

 fpe6l the moil defirable. ; 



The fituation and hze of thefe holts vary exceedingly : Some- 

 times they are made, in the middle of lands, from lo to 66 yards 

 fquare \ and in others, in the fides or ends, of from i yard wide 

 to lo, and from lo to lOO yards long. 



The mode of planting is very fimple •, firR to dig the land from 

 6 to 12 inches deep, and then to prick down cuttings of 4 years 

 growth and 18 inches long, at about three feet ditlance from each 

 other. The foil fliould be moor or clay, or any that is low and 

 v,-ct : if drowned half tlie year it will be but little the worfe. 



Thefe holts or ozier plantations nudt be fenced round either 

 wivh dikes, v/liich is moll common, or with he<lges, as is moll 



convenient. 



