DIVISION OF FORESTRY. 223 



even recommended, the combination of agricultTire with forestry for 

 obvious reason can be considered only detrimental to both. 



CONCLUSION. 



As in medicine the charlatan will prescribe without diagnosis, so 

 in forestry he must be called a charlatan who would attempt to give 

 rules api^licable to all conditions and under all circumstances. A 

 diagnosis not only of the local conditions as to soil, climate, flora, 

 &c., but also of the objects and the financial capacity of the would- 

 be forester, must precede special advice. In this report, therefore, the 

 attempt has been made only to outline the first principles, from which 

 a thinking reader may find the application to his special case. 



OSIER WILLOW CULTURE. 



Many inquiries have come to the Department in regard to methods 

 of Osier planting; showing that this branch of forestry, applicable to 

 many soils, seemingly simple and promising quick returns, has at- 

 tracted widespread attention. The Division has, therefore, begun to 

 prepare a manual on willow culture, as a preliminary of which the 

 following brief instructions are here given, compiled, from reliable 

 authorities. 



It should be premised that osier growing for profit is not so simple 

 and easy or inexpensive an enterprise as might at first appear. The 

 market for the material is the first point to be considered, and in con- 

 nection with it the kinds that will grow successfully and profitably. 

 So far it seems that the climate of the United States, in most parts, 

 with its long, hot summers, is not very favorable to the growth of the 

 finer grades of osier rods, at least not of the European kinds, which, 

 with one exception, are pronounced unsuitable,, while American wil- 

 lows are not yet sufiiciently tested to warrant their extensive employ- 

 ment for osier holts. 



The importation of osier rods, formerly under a duty of 30, now of 

 25 per cent, ad valorem, amounts annually to over $50,000 in value, 

 while that of manufactured basket and osier ware, under a duty of, 

 formerly 35, now 30 jDer cent., during the last five years has averaged 

 $243,185. To obtain the material thus imported, which cannot be 

 lessthan 10,000 tons, we might well devote 6,000 to 10,000 acres of 

 agriculturally worthless soil, if we can so secure a desirable product. 



Selection of soil. — To make osier holts profitable such soils should be selected as 

 cannot otherwise be used to advantage. Very poor soils, however, should be avoided, 

 unless there is a good market for inferior material. The best soil is a fresh, black 

 sand, but even a heavy, compact loam, and rich but sour meadow land, which pro- 

 duces the poorest quality of grass, is always equally acceptable. 



Peaty soil, if it can be covered with a layer of sand or loam (from the drain ditches), 

 will produce a good gi-owth. The Caspican willow will thrive on poorest sand. 

 Planted on the embankments of brooks, ponds, ditches, the osier will secure the 

 embankment and yield a good profit besides. Never plant on soil liable to be cov- 

 ered with stagnant water in summer. By making drains in such localities, how- 

 ever, good crops can be procured. Localities liable to late spring frosts should be 

 avoided. 



Cultivation of soil. — Plow or spade the ground 16 to 20 inches deep; deeper if 

 tlae subsoil brought up would improve the ground (sand or loam below peat); less 

 deeply if the soil is shallow and the subsoil meager. Spading offers oj^portunity of 

 burying the weedy surface more effectively. Wet ground should be formed intp 

 raised beds of from 30 to 50 feet wide, leaving 2-foot ditches, by which the water is 

 quickly drained off. 



The water-level should be laid at least one and a half feet deep. In spading care 



