■ Osiers. 557 



The price of cuttings is entirely dependent upon their purity or 

 freedom from any admixture, the sort of willow, and the rarity — 

 new varieties when good fetch large prices. The commoner class, 

 known simply as osiers, without any distinctive character or guaran- 

 tee, can be bought for 10s. or 12s. 6d. per 1,000 — selected sorts, true 

 to name, los. to 20s. per 1,000, 



Willows do not require much shelter, they are better without it, 

 except in very exposed situations ; and even then, much the best 

 screen or shelter is to plant a few rows of the common osier, or better 

 still a few rows of Scdix acuminata, round the outside of the plan- 

 tation. 



In conclusion, no one can advise what sort to plant without know- 

 ing the locality, because the sort of willow that suits one market 

 would hardly find a buyer in another district; therefore it would not 

 be justifiable to advise H. S. to plant a sort in the south of England 

 that could only be sold in the north to advantage. 



