THE CULTIVATION OF WILLOWS. igi 



Intensity III. — No trees dead. Considerable numbers of 

 the terminal shoots of lateral branches have had eggs 

 laid in them. Little or no browning effect in mid- 

 summer. 



Intensity IV. — No trees dead. Very few lateral shoots 

 show signs of attack. 

 The Board are endeavouring to organise an experiment in 

 controlling the saw-fly, and will be glad to hear from owners of 

 attacked plantations who are willing to assist. 



28. The Cultivation of Willows. 



The following notes on the cultivation of osiers in Scotland 

 and elsewhere will prove of interest to our readers. 



Mr Walter G. Coles, Engineer to the Secretary for Scotland, 

 communicates the following : — 



The Cultivation of Osiers in the Island of Skye. 



In the winter of 1906 permission was obtained by the writer, 

 from the Congested Districts Board, to experiment with the 

 growing of willows on the estate of Kilmuir, recently purchased 

 by them. On the western side of the estate was the site of 

 an old loch, which had been drained out by the former proprietor 

 fifty years or so previously. This site at present grows an 

 abnormal crop of grass year by year. About an acre of this 

 ground was prepared, and cuttings of Black Mauls planted 

 19 inches apart. Near the loch was the old garden of 

 Monkstadt House, which was also ploughed and planted with 

 the same kind of willows. 



It was found that the Black Mauls in the loch did not do 

 well. Great difficulties were experienced in keeping the beds 

 clean, which is a sine quit non of successful willow-growing. In 

 the garden, however, where the soil was richer, the Black 

 Mauls did exceedingly well, and they have continued to do so 

 in the seasons since 1907. In the writer's opinion, the head 

 of the loch is of too cold a nature to encourage a good root 

 growth. 



In the winter of 1908, a further experiment was tried with 

 other kinds of willows, namely, Longskins, Whissanders, and 

 Black Osiers. Further sets of Black Mauls were also given 

 to crofters in various parts of the estate. The result of this 



