FIBRE CROPS 1455 



often being pale grey, dashed with green, or yellowish, or even oliA^e-green. 

 Very widely cultivated. 



S. Alba ly. var. Vitellina, Ser., 5. Vitellina L,. Names recommended : 

 5. Vitellina, var. rouge, var. jaune, Amarinier, Osier de tonellerie. Other 

 names : Osier de Metz, osier rouge (a name leading to confusion) osier 

 jaune, Bouton blanc. Grand roux, Saule dore. The branches are longer 

 and more slender and flexible than in the preceding case, with, at the end 

 of the summer, a coloiu: varying from citron yellow to orange yellow or 

 sometimes to coral red. These two species above described yield a much 

 valued type of osier. 



S. fragilis L- Names recommended : . Saule fragile or Osier fragile, 

 var. pourpree, Osier franc. Other name : Osier rouge (leading to confusion). 

 This osier is weak at the joints, but still it is much used in semifine 

 basket work. 



With these species may be compared 5. pentandra L. and S. bahylo- 

 nica L- 



(2) Catkins appearing before the leaves ; scales persistent, discoloured : 

 Salix viminalis I,. Names recommended : Osier viminal, O. jaune, O. 

 vert, O. des vanniers, queue de renard, merrin brun. Other names : 

 lusse, pecher jaune, O. noir de Hollande, O. de longues feuilles. 



The shoots reach a length of 10 to 13 feet. This excellent species com- 

 prises a rather large number of varieties, of which one is known abroad 

 as the " French Osier ". 



S. purpurea L-, S. monandra Hoff. Names recommended : O. a une 

 etamine. Sardine, Verdiau. This is known in England as Dick with varieties, 

 Dick with red buds, black Dick, old Dick and Dick of the fields. Not ver\^ 

 much cultivated. 



Near this willow comes S. rubra Huds, or the red willow of botanists, 

 which is specially recommended for introduction into cultivation. 



(3) Catkins appearing at the same time as the leaves, scales self-coloured, 

 persistent : S. triandra L- This includes two botanical varieties : 5. amyg- 

 dalina ly. for which the names osier brun or vache brune are recommended 

 and S. triandra L- Brunette, Grisette, Saule a feuilles d'amandier or a 

 a trois etamines. 



Other varieties suggested for use in basket work are : — S. cinerea L. ; 

 S. daphonides, S. Caprea 1^., S. aurita L-, 5. nigricans Sm., and S. repens L-, 

 var. argentea Koch. 



III. The National School of Osier Culture and Basketwork, founded by 

 resolution on Jan. 3rd., 1905, is situated at Fayl-Billot (Haute Marne). 

 The length of training is three 3^ears, with a faculty course for adults. A 

 diploma is awarded at the close of the school course to the students who 

 have satisfied the examiners. The school has organised experimental fields 

 where 80 varieties are cultivated. A rational nomenclature is sought. Va- 

 rious cultural methods are investigated dealing with manuring, distance of 

 planting, depth of soil, length and thickness of cuttings, methods of 

 checking parasites, grafting especially on poplar, etc.) ; and laboratory 

 experiments have also been carried out on the coefficients of torsion and 



