20 OSIERS AND WILLOWS 



is invariably done on piece-work terms. All sickly 

 heads should be removed each winter, and the vacant 

 places filled by well-grown one-year-olds of entire 

 length, or tall-grown two-year-olds cut off at the 

 start of the two-years' growth. A still better method 

 is to set apart a small plot of ground and grow yearly 

 a sufficient number of each variety for transplanting, 

 in which case the cuttings may be set 12 in. square. 

 The tap root and also the longest and weakest of the 

 fibres should be shortened a little with a sharp knife, 

 care being taken to leave no ragged wounds to bleed 

 when active growth should be in progress. Only one 

 shoot, the longest and strongest, should be left on the 

 head. A healthy transplanted maiden head will never 

 fail to establish itself. In this way the life may be 

 prolonged almost indefinitely. A willow ground 

 cultivated as directed will last fully twenty years in a 

 full-bearing condition, and still be a profitable source 

 of income for ten years longer. 



THE MAIDEN CROP 



Good first-year crops are sometimes grown on the 

 best land, but more generally the crop is of little value 

 owing to the plant having to make root development 

 and shoot above at the same time, and at times the 

 crop does not pay for cutting. If allowed to remain 

 on the head, they would only produce poor second- 

 year rods, and thus the financial result for the second 

 year would also be poor. The majority of growers, 

 therefore, make it a practice to cut the maiden crop 

 during the first winter which follows the planting. 

 The object of this cutting is to give the grower the 



