THE CULTIVATION OF WILLOWS. 193 



districts in which the willow beds were situated ; while rather 

 damp land that could not well be brought under other 

 cultivation, at least without the expense of drainage, gave 

 a good return under a crop of osiers. Taking everything into 

 consideration, and judging from talks that I have had recently 

 with those who are interested in the osier industry, the 

 formation of willow beds, under the plea that considerable 

 profits attend the undertaking, is not to be recommended. No 

 doubt in some favoured districts where carriage is reduced to 

 a minimum, and local demand is considerable, osier cultivation 

 gives a fair return for capital invested ; but, until we can get 

 back the once lucrative trade in baskets for fruit and other 

 similar commodities from the hands of our continental rivals, 

 profits to any great extent are quite precluded. 



No doubt, too, on soil that is unsuited for farming purposes, 

 willow culture can be made fairly profitable, but it is a mistake 

 to suppose that any marshy piece of stiff ground will grow 

 osiers, and that the planting and tending are matters of small 

 import. It is quite the reverse. The willow will not thrive 

 for long in water-logged soils, though periodical inundations, 

 particularly during winter and early spring, are highly beneficial. 

 The soil, too, must be well worked, the cutting of rods carefully 

 and systematically carried out, and strict attention paid to the 

 clearing of the ground, else deterioration of the crop will quickly 

 ensue. Previous to planting the cuttings or sets, the ground 

 should be ploughed, harrowed, and consolidated, all objectionable 

 weeds being destroyed. 



The best willows to plant are Sa/ix purpurea (the purple 

 osier), S. vifnifia/is, and S. triandra ; but there are many hybrids, 

 as willows cross freely. Probably the most valuable is S. 

 vifitiiialis, the rods being produced freely, while they are 

 remarkably thin and flexible, but those of the others named 

 are very good for basket-making. They produce exceedingly 

 lithe and tough wands. After the soil has been got into good 

 tilth, planting the sets or cuttings should take place. These 

 should be from 12 inches to 15 inches long, and formed of 

 well-ripened rods of one year's growth, the cleanest and 

 straightest portions only being used. In planting the cuttings, 

 great caution should be exercised to prevent the bark becoming 

 loosened or removed from the wood. The rows of cuttings, 

 may be 50 inches from each other, the individual cuttings being 



