642 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [176] 



dike expenses. The entire expense of starting a "willow plantation, how- 

 ever, will be 1,340 marks per hectare [$335], the interest on whicli sum at 

 5 i)er cent would he 67 marks [$10.75]. To tliis should be added about 

 10 marks [$2.50] per hectare for taxes and various incidental expenses; 

 so that a total of 77 marks | $19.25] would have to be subtracted from 

 the net profit j;iven above if the willow plantation was to be considered 

 independent of the dikes. It is difficult to say to which variety of wil- 

 lows the preference should be given, as this will mostly depend on local 

 circumstances, the nature of the soil, &c. Basket-makers want willow 

 bra#ches which are as long and thin as possible, exceedingly pliable, 

 and Avhich, Avhen peeled, have white wood with a natural gloss. Most ol 

 these qualilications are lound combined in the Salix vitelUna. Next to 

 it comes the Salixaurata, which has comparatively short branches, which, 

 however, are exceedingly tine and suitable for fancy baskets, and finally 

 the Salix purpurea and a Aariety resembling the Saliv viminolis. The 

 branches of the i^alix purpurea and its A^arieties are particularly distin- 

 guished by theii" slender gi'owth. Salix pentandra and Salix viminalis 

 have also long brajuthcs, but these are also very thick and aie not suit- 

 able for peeling. They are all the better for coarse. wicker-work in 

 which the bark is left on the branches. The iiond cultivator has it in 

 his power by suitable treatment to cause the branches to grow longer 

 at the expense of the thickness. If planted very close together 'even 

 the otherwise useless SaVix fragiUs does not have any side branches, but 

 produces long and slender branches like the Salix viminalis and the 

 Salix pentandra^ while these latter, if i)lanted close, will furnish also 

 some material Avhich can be used for tine work, liecently the Salix 

 caspica has been favorably mentioned. It has a bark of a dark violet 

 color and a very white wood, and it is said that in one year it grows 

 very high and slender, and in the third year has many branches meas- 

 uring 2 to 2^ meters in length, and a very large number measuring 1 to 

 2 meters. It requires a sandy loam soil which all summer through con- 

 tains some moisture. 



The cuttings, measuring about 30 centimeters in length, are planted 

 in autumn, or early in spring, by sticking them into the ground in an 

 oblique direction, so that about two-thirds of their entire length is 

 under the ground and one-third above. They are planted at intervals 

 of one-half or 1 meter, according as one desires thick or thin brjinches. 

 At the latest, every spring all the branches which have grown <luring 

 the year nuist be cut 3 to 5 centimeters from the stem. The thin 

 branches may in part be peeled, and in part be used with the bark for 

 fine wicker-work, while the thick ones, with the bark on, can be used 

 for coarse baskets, &c. We would advise every pond cultivator to sell 

 only his willow branches with the bark on, as he will be busily engaged 

 with his ponds at the very time when the brancthes should be peeled. 

 We shall, therefore, not give any details as to the methods of peeling. 

 Any one interested in the subject will do well to peruse a i^amphlet by 



