THE CULTIVATION OF BASKET WILLOWS 3 



SOIL AND SITUATION 



Basket willows are to be found growing in river 

 valleys in all parts of the United Kingdom, but the 

 most extensive beds are found in the valleys of the 

 rivers Thames, Parret, Kennet, Great Ouse, Cam, Soar, 

 Trent, Stow and Welland. 



Willows of one kind or another will do reasonably 

 well on most soils, and where there is a loam of from 

 6 to 8 in., with a stiff marl or clay subsoil, there need 

 be little doubt as to the results being satisfactory. 

 Ideal land for willows should allow of irrigation during 

 dry summers. During the months of May to August 

 almost every one of the best fine-top kinds will do better 

 if aided in this way. 



In order to meet this condition I have employed 

 near Loughborough a Hornsby 4 h.p. oil engine, 

 mounted on a concrete bed, standing 6 ft. above the 

 level of the land; together \\ith a centrifugal pump 

 capable of pumping from a well at the rate of 20,000 

 gallons per hour. The water was for the purposes of 

 this bed distributed by double-armed delivery pipes 

 to portable troughs 15 ft. long by 7 in. wide and 

 6 1 in. deep; the bottoms being f in. thick and the 

 sides f in. These troughs were connected by an 

 additional piece of wood secured under the bottom, 

 and two pieces forming flaps at the sides. They 

 were extended to the highest point of the land upon 

 temporary " horses," consisting of two supports made 

 from 2 in. willow poles driven into the ground, and a 

 traverse piece across the top, graduated with sufficient 

 fall to carry the water to the furthest point, where 

 the main discharge is made. Fine-top rods aided in 

 this way maintain a constant healthy growth. 



