1454 FIBRE CROPS 



acre, it is calculated that in order to avoid the exhaustion of the reserves 

 of phosphoric acid, potash and nitrogen in the soil, the following manure 

 must be applied to each acre oi cotton grown : i cwt. superphosphate (20 per 

 cent), 2 cwt. potash salts (30 per cent) and 3 cwt. nitrate of soda, containing 

 15.5 per cent of nitrogen. If nitrification and the fertilizing matters con- 

 tained in the irrigation water are taken into account, rather less of the above 

 substances will be needed. Calculations for chalk and magnesia have not 

 been made, as they are so abundant in the soil of the district. 



1080 - Osier Culture in France. — I. Mir, E. Osier Culture in France in Vie agricole et mnflc, 

 6th year, No. 32, devoted entirely to osier culture, Paris, August 5th, 1916, pp. 89-90. — 

 II. Camus, F,. G. The various Osiers cultivated in France and in neighbouring coxintries. 

 Ibidem, pp. 95-98, "fig. — III. DE la B.\rre, G. The national school of osierculture and 

 basketwork. Ibidem, pp. 105-106, i fig. — IV. Dr. Bonnardot. Co-operative osier sell- 

 ing. Ibidem, pp. 106-107. 



I. Forty years ago, France devoted about 175 000 acres to osier cul- 

 ture, and, at this time, she supplied most of the European markets with 

 osiers, especially in Germany, England, Spain and Switzerland. The 

 cultivation of osiers has declined, little by little, until now only about 

 20 000 to 22 500 acres are grown. Osier culture has suffered because : 



a) Its progress was hindered at one time by the inability of the 

 growers to organise the sale. 



b) In many districts the osierbeds were ctiltivated by hand and, in 

 the absence of sufficient labour, were allowed to become foul. 



c) Pure varieties were rarely planted, and the vigorous varieties 

 choked out the more delicate ones so that the osier beds were shortUved. 



d) Attempts were made to establish osier beds on unsuitable soil 



II. This article gives a systematic classification of the various osiers 

 cultivated in France, with their scientific and common names. Basket 

 work needs especially the varieties which yield long slender twigs, elastic 

 to bending and to twisting. 



The colour and hairiness or roughness of the plants is not important 

 from the botanical point of view, as these conditions depend upon the en- 

 vironment of the individuals, but they must be taken into account in the 

 practical cultivation of the osiers. These characters are maintained by 

 the practice of taking cuttings for planting out osier-beds. 



Commercially, much confusion exists between the names used for the 

 cultivated varieties. The same name is often applied, according to the dis- 

 trict, to several species or varieties, and the same variety is often known 

 under several different names. The Chamber of French Osier Growers 

 has appointed a Commission of Nomenclature to remedy this state of 

 things. The chief species and varieties of osiers cultivated in France are 

 the following : 



(t) Willows 71'ith the scales of the floral catkins self coloured, falling off 

 before the ripening of the fruits. — Salix alba ly. (white willow, silver willow). 

 Names recommended by the Commission of Nomenclature. : Osier blanc, 

 Suisse, ardennais. Other names : Vuisier, Saouze, Saudre, Bray. In cul- 

 tivation, one-year old twigs are often 6 14 ^^^^ long, varying in colour, 



