THE CULTIVATION OF BASKET WILLOWS 7 



bur net. The field was dragged both ways to a depth 

 of about 4 in. ; then the land was left exposed to the sun 

 for several weeks, and the same double operation 

 repeated for the purpose of further breaking up the 

 turf. After five weeks' longer exposure the process 

 was repeated, the drag going twice over the ground on 

 each occasion. The last operation completely broke 

 up the whole of the turf, the root portion of the burnet 

 by this time being withered, although quite alive where 

 embedded in the turf ; thus the head part of the plant 

 was exposed to the action of the sun in the months of 

 September and October, and all growth destroyed. 

 The land was then ploughed to an inclusive depth of 

 10 in., six horses being engaged for this work. Left 

 thus until the first week of the following February, 

 the ground was found to be in excellent workable 

 condition, and was accordingly harrowed over twice ; 

 the soil, being broken down like an ordinary garden 

 soil, was ready for planting at the end of the month. 



GRUBBING UP OLD BEDS 



In cases where an old willow bed is to be replanted 

 the presence of the old stumps prevents the use of 

 the plough, and the usual practice is to dig up the 

 stumps during the autumn and winter months, at the 

 time the land is being trenched or dug. The old stumps 

 are collected in heaps, and, when dry, they are burnt 

 and the ashes scattered over the land. This entails 

 much labour and is necessarily costly, the prices paid 

 varying considerably up to 2s. per perch, according 

 to the scale of wages in the district, the nature of 

 the soil to be dug, and the number of heads to be 

 pulled up. 



