HOW TO CUT WILLOWS. 



Willow sets, as commonly planted, would have tlie appearance of fig. 1. It will 

 be perceived that one eye is above the ground, and more frequently there are two. At 

 the end of the first summer's growth, it has the appearance of fig. 2. These, we will 

 suppose, are cut back, as shown at fig. 3.* It will be seen that a "snag" is left on the 



old stem, which will increase at all subsequent cuttings, leaving a short stem of it, per- 

 haps a few inches, between them and the surface of the ground. At the end of the 

 second year, we have a plant like fig. 4 ; and at the end of the third year, like fig. 5. 

 At this and subsequent ages, many of the "stools" will be getting one-sided, from the 

 breaking off of "snags" by carelessness or accident; and when the stools stand close 

 together, many shoots will be weak and worthless. This is a veiy bad system of cut- 

 ting, yet in England it is the general one. A much better system is practiced by a few 



Fig. 10. 



good growers. "When the cutting is planted, it has the appearance of fig. 6 — the top 

 bud level with the surface of the ground. It will be found that the shoots given the 

 first summer, as shown at fig. 7, will be much stronger than that shown at fig. 2. The 

 reason is obvious : as soon as the shoots fairly commence growing, roots are emitted at 

 the base of the pushing buds, which, being near the surface, greatly assist their growth, 

 Yv'hen these are cut back, it must be done close to the surface of the ground, as seen 

 at fig. 8. The next summer the stools will give a luxuriant growth of "rods," as at fig. 

 9, showing a great contrast to stools of the same age, as at fig. 4. Persons unac- 

 quainted with Willow-growing must not think this overdrawn, as I can answer for it; 



* It is much bettor not to head tlictn back until the end of the second year, as it materially strengthens the 

 Many good growers occasionally let tlieir old plantations stand two ycirs, to give them greater vigor. 



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