Osiers. 



By WILLIAM SCALING, Basfokd, Notts. 



My reason for not replying to H. S. in your October issue was because 

 his questions on osier-growing were not sufficiently definite to admit 

 of a reasonably short answer, but I feel bound to do so now, because 

 the answer given by I). D. is calculated to mislead. The advice he 

 gives is at least fifty years behind the times, and if followed must 

 result in failure if the produce so grown has to be sold in the open 

 market. What does H. S. call suitable soil ? for in this matter 

 popular opinion is at variance with modern experience, and the soil 

 or situation that is suitable for one class of willows is very unsuitable 

 for others. Also what is the nature of the shelter he alludes to ? No 

 one can give a satisfactory reply to his questions in the absence of 

 this information. I will, however, give a few general rules, in the 

 hope that H. S. may be able to apply them in his own case. In 

 England there are about seventy varieties of willow cultivated for 

 basket-making purposes, and nearly all those are comprised in three 

 distinct species. Among such a number of kinds it will easily be 

 understood that there must be a great difference in quality, and con- 

 sequently a great difference in value, the best sorts being about three 

 times the price of the commonest. The commonest sorts, however, 

 can be improved by attending to certain ascertained rules. For 

 example, the quick-growing sorts should not be planted in rich 

 alluvial soils, they show better results when grown on a strong poor 

 soil, whilst those of a hard texture and slower growth are correspond- 

 ingly improved by a rich soil. Again, the distance apart at which 

 to plant must be regulated by ascertained rules. It would be absurd 

 to plant willows that grow 11 to 14 feet in a season as closely as those 

 that only grow 4 to 5 feet, but the commonest and rankest class of 

 osier should never be planted more than 2 feet apart each way. Tlie 

 old style of wide planting has been exploded years ago. A good 

 uniform rule for planting common large growing willows is 2 feet by 

 18 inches, and for the finer sorts 22 inches by 16 ; some even grow 

 best, and produce the best results, 16 inches by 8, or only 1 foot of 

 space for each cutting. When willows are planted too far apart they 

 grow crooked, coarse, and of small value, however heavy the crop 

 may be. 



