WILLOWS AND WILLOW CULTURE. 



as at Montrouil. The ookler the season, the more leaves are taken oir. It must not, 

 however, be forgotten, that an excessive defoliation may prove <.letrin)cntal to the full 

 devolopment of the fruit ; and that, as leaves are essential to the existence of the eyes, 

 or buds, that grow from their axils, it is necessary to cut the leaf with tlie sC'cateur, 

 and to retain the petiole, and sometimes a third or half of the leaf, in order to pre- 

 serve the embryo buds. It is also important not to take off any leaves from weakly 

 shoots, the growth of which requires to be encouraged. Defoliation must be so per- 

 formed as to assist the maturity and coloring of the fruit, taking care at the same 

 tin-.e that it may not prove prejudicial to those young productions that should insure 



us future crops. 



{To be continued.) 



WILLOWS AND WILLOW CULTURE. 



BT CnAS. DOWNING, NEWBUEGII, N. Y. 



When we consider the variety of profitable uses to which Willow may be applied, 

 and the extent to which it is cultivated iu other countries, the question is suggested, 

 Why has so little of it been grown hitherto in the United States ? A satisfactory 

 answer may be found in the following considerations : The most vigorous growers of 

 England, whose succulent leaves present a fine delicate texture, are not able to with- 

 stand the drying winds and scorching suns of American summers; consequently the 

 growing is, at the approach of hot weather, either stopped for the season or suspended, 

 until the warm rains of autumn produce an aftergrowth that is so feeble and branch- 

 ing as to be worthless ; or, in some varieties, as Caprea, the shoots become so rigid 

 and wanting in pliability that they are of little value. Salix viminalis, of which 

 more is sold in the Loudon market than of all others, (so popular that it is called 

 the Osier,) fails entirely of giving good shoots in this country, although it grows to 

 the size of a tree ; and the celebrated Longskin, of Nottinghamshire is no better. 

 The Bedford or DisKley Willow (5. Busselliatw) and the Huntington branch very 

 much, and are quite inferior. 



Thus from the failure of the most esteemed varieties of Europe, in consequence of 

 non-adaptation to our climate, a great discouragement arose at the commencement of 

 Willow culture in this country, which has been in operation from the time it was un- 

 dertaken at the suggestion of the elder Prince to the present day. But that obstacle 

 has been removed, as well as others of scarcely inferior magnitude ; and the way to 

 success has become obvious and easy, and the knowledge necessary to secure it as 

 easily acquired as that of any other culture, A few years since a friend of mine 

 found himself surrounded by circumstances which rendered it very desirable that he 

 should cultivate Willow successfully. He diligently set about a thorough investiga- 

 of the subject, determined to bring into his service all available elements of 

 Tn furtherance of this object (chiefly through my agency) he imported 



