THE CULTIVATION OF BASKET WILLOWS 5 



outside more into character with the rest of the field. 

 It is sometimes stated that willow growing impoverishes 

 the land, but this is not the case, as may be judged 

 from the following example j 



Some twenty-five years ago 40 acres of good, heavy, 

 arable land at Thurmaston, near Leicester, were taken 

 by a grower for willow cultivation, and after being 

 fallowed for one summer to clean it from twitch, etc., 

 about 60 loads of well-rotted farmyard* manure to 

 the acre were applied before ploughing 12 in. deep. 

 The land was planted in the following spring with 

 satisfactory results. It was cropped for fifteen years, 

 when it was taken over and cultivated by a successor, 

 who, during 1909 and 1910, grubbed it up and turned 

 it again into corn land. In the autumn of 1911 it 

 yielded eight quarters of excellent marketable wheat 

 to the acre, and was sown again with wheat the 

 following season, producing seven quarters to the acre. 



Instead of willow growing impoverishing land, the 

 heavy foliage which falls each autumn materially 

 enriches it, especially if the leaves are turned under 

 the soil for some 2 or 3 in. in the wake of the 

 cutters. 



Of the recognised ways of breaking up grass land, 

 double digging unquestionably produces the best 

 results. That method, however, although showing by 

 far the best after -returns, is a very expensive one, and 

 is only recommended where the area is small, or where 

 the land is unsuitable for the plough. 



A strong and specially made plough may be em- 

 ployed, fitted with a revolving cutting knife in front 

 of the coulter to cut the grass about 3 in. deep, followed 

 by a skimmer about 5 in. wide, and fitted with a 24-in. 

 wheel for the furrow. The breast-plate of this plough 



