OSIERS, AND BASKET MAKING. 



equable, less cold in winter, less hot in summer. The mildest place of all is the 

 south slope of a little artificial mouud, occupied by evergreen Oaks, Aleppo Pines, 

 Loquats, &c. 



These circumstances appear to be deserving of notice, for they show that in 

 addition to the well-known protection afforded by walls and aspects, a very im- 

 portant practical effect is produced by such slight elevations as even a few yards; 

 a point too often very little attended to in forming a garden, and very possibly 

 the cause of some of the apparently conflicting results obtained by tliose who 

 have recorded the effect of cold upon exotic trees. Most especially are they 

 important as demonstrating the fallacy of thinking that a place is warm in winter 

 because it is low, and cold at the same season because it is high. The defect of 

 M. Martins' observations seems to us to consist in his taking no account of the 

 drainage of the places described by him. 



OSIERS, AND BASKET MAKING. 



South Edmeston, August 23, 1856. 

 Mr. Jay Smith. — Dear Sir: Being somewhat engaged in the Osier or Basket 

 Willow growing, which looked very sanguine for a profitable business till last 

 spring, I have not yet learned whether it is best to continue the business. 



Downing said there were from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 imported to this coun- 

 try yearly. But the report on "Commerce and Navigation" states only $150,000 

 yearly. I ask your opinion as to the prospect of a market ; whether it will pay 

 to risk much time and money on them ? 



Yours, sincerely, &c., Levi A. Beardsly. 



Otsego County, N. Y. ' 



A friend of ours, near Philadelphia, who has a large willow garden, has more 

 difficulty in deciding which applicant shall have his Osiers than in looking for a 

 market. Our opinion is, that there is no great difficulty in finding a profitable 

 market for them, where the soil and situation are suited to their growth. 



We were lately struck with the remark of a foreigner, that "the Americans 

 work too little in winter." It is true of the inhabitants of our Middle and South- 

 ern States ; at the Eastward, they employ portions of their long evenings in levy- 

 ing contributions upon us in all sorts of shapes, as, for instance, brooms, baskets, 

 and a thousand notions, that are continually draining our pockets, while we are 

 too apt to pass the time thus profitably invested, in idleness or sleep. 



For a beginner to " get along," he must have something to sell; baskets, made 

 at home at odd hours, will at any time pay for the family groceries, by the labor 

 of a single individual ; and, if skill and taste are brought to the business, a great 

 deal more will be earned. Brooms are thus made in private families, from the 

 material raised on the farm. Why are not baskets ? They would be much more 

 remunerative, for, notwithstanding the number made, baskets are a dear commo- 

 dity ; they are sold to the grocer, and retailed at a high price. 



Our correspondent and others would do well to learn the basket making busi- 

 ness, and teach it to the family ; he will then have a home market for his growth 

 thrice as profitable as his osiers ; it is of no use to raise willows if you cannot 

 manufacture them, and are too far from anybody that can, to make transportation 



pay- 



YoL. YI.~November, 1856. 



33 



