WILLOWS AND WILLOW CULTUEE. 



The cuttings should be prepared in fall or early winter ; and if planted in the fall, 

 the ends will form the callosity preparatory to sending out roots. But this advantage 

 is generally more than counterbalanced by their liability to be thrown out by frost, so 

 that spring planting is on the whole to be recommended. 



In setting, a small portion only should remain above ground ; and the depth to which 

 they should be inserted depends much upon the character of the soil — a light, pervious 

 soil receiving with advantage to a depth that in a very retentive soil would be disad- 

 vantageous. The most vigorous growth will be obtained when the strongest roots 

 start from the lower end of the set ; and setting so deep that the end does not vege- 

 tate, causes a degree of inactivity through the whole plant. 



It should be remarked, by the way, that cuttings of vigorous upland growth, that 

 have had an abundance of room, make more vigorous and healthy plantations than 

 those taken from osier holts ; and that the wood of one year's growth, with a portion 

 of two year's wood for the lower extremity, make the best of all. 



The length of cuttings may vary from seven to fourteen inches for osiers ; but for 

 fencing purposes, from eight inches to as many feet, according to the plan adopted. 



For growing Willow profitably, the gi'ound should be well chosen, and partially in 

 reference to the varieties to be cultivated — constant requisites being depth of soil, 

 richness, and moisture, but absence of stagnant water. The ground should also be 

 level, or nearly so, and free from obstructions, for convenient tillage. Heavy, reten- 

 tive soils, deeply worked, even if elevated in situation, are excellent. Deep, rich bot- 

 toms, that are overflowed in winter and spring, and occasionally in summer, are very 

 advantageously used for the purpose. On deep, alluvial soil, freed from standing 

 water, but yet so soft that plowing is iinpracticable, will give enormous crops of tri- 

 andra, requiring no tillage but keeping the weeds down ; but on such 2^'if'fp^^^a will 

 not thrive, nor scarcely grow. There are large districts of deep alluvium, often inclin- 

 ing to swamp, in which Soft Maple delights, which, so much drained as to do away 

 with its swamp}' character, and with no other preparation than removing the trees, may 

 make excellent plantations. The sprouts from the stumps for two years would cause 

 some annoyance, but the stumps themselves would cause but little disadvantage, 

 except by their unsightly appearance, and would rather favor the growth of the 

 Willow. The deep prairies of the west leave nothing to be desired except a sheltering 

 belt of trees, which the Willow can soon furnish. "Natural meadow," composed of a 

 mixture of vegetable and earthy matter, not so adhesive as to be of difficult tillage — 

 such as in vcvt/ favorable seasons might even give a rampant crop of Corn, but it 

 would oftener fail and be given to Buckwheat — with a stream running through, by 

 which it might occasionally be overflowed, would be my ideal of an osier field. 



After a few years the Willow so overshadows the ground that the labor of tillage 

 becomes very small. Ground that is not overflowed at any time, should have a little 

 stable manure before planting, (be deeply worked of course,) and at long intervals of 

 four or five years afterwards, or the complaint will be made of deterioration ; whereas, 

 if the ground is constantly kept clean, and occasionally enriched, the plantation will 

 increase in productiveness for many years, and afford to the cultivator an amount of 



