THE CULTIVATION OF BASKET WILLOWS 13 



broken up, will subside a little during the summer, 

 leaving the head about 2 in. out of the ground. If the 

 sets are cut longer the extra length is wasted, because 

 the roots seldom strike more than 10 in. below the 

 surface, whilst if the sets are left higher out of the 

 ground the crop after the close of the growing season 

 will be needlessly exposed to the winter winds, which 

 may sway the heads to such an extent as to loosen them 

 and indirectly kill them by the admission of frost and 

 water. Particularly is this the case with the first, 

 or maiden, crop, on account of the small root growth. 

 The closer the head or stool is to the ground, the less 

 it suffers from storms. Many French growers are 

 accustomed to plant sets at an angle of 45" on the 

 supposition that they thus root more freely. This is 

 believed to be an error, and is now being discarded in 

 favour of vertical planting. 



Sets can be purchased from most willow growers 

 at prices ranging from 155. to i per 1000 sets, 

 including packing for travelling. The price varies 

 with the variety of willow, and the age of the 

 sets required. Those from two-year-old rods always 

 realise a higher price than those cut from one-year- 

 olds. 



When buying it is indispensable that every set 

 should be true to its kind, so as to produce an even and 

 true crop. This point cannot be sufficiently empha- 

 sised. The growing of a mixed crop of willows is to be 

 guarded against as the taller varieties would overshadow 

 the shorter varieties and the coarser and more robust 

 growers would crowd out the slower growing varieties. 

 The mixed crop, too, when cut would be troublesome 

 to peel as the dissimilar rods would attain their best 

 peeling period at different times. 



