PREPARATION AND MARKETING 55 



on the ground and then place the next row from 3 ft. 

 to 4 ft. behind, so that the tops of the back bundles 

 wrap well over the butt ends of the row in front 

 continuing this until all are in the pie. The willows 

 are then lightly covered over with old peelings, and 

 watered once or twice a week, according to whether 

 the season is wet or dry. In this manner they will 

 keep in a peeling condition for weeks. The small 

 rods in the bundles must not be allowed to heat, and 

 in order to avoid this, it is as well to turn the bundles 

 over if they are likely to lie for more than two or three 

 weeks. Couching and pieing are only attempted by 

 a few growers, the majority rely on pitting, which is 

 customary in almost every willow centre. 



Pitting 



In pitting, the bundles are placed in an upright 

 position in a dyke in from 5 in. to 8 in. of water. The 

 rods should not be tied too tightly and all butts should 

 stand level to ensure that they are in the water ; 

 light and air should be allowed to penetrate freely. 

 It will be found a good plan to space the bundles into 

 " bays," so that each bay will contain 18 to 24 bundles 

 according to the size of the bundle. If the bundles do 

 not exceed 33 in. round, 24 may be placed in each 

 bay; but if they are 36 in. to 38 in., 18 bundles will 

 be found quite sufficient. 



In pitting it is essential that the water should not be 

 too hard or too cold, and that fresh water should always 

 be passing through. If the water is stagnant, the rods 

 will make a satisfactory growth for a short time and 

 then remain in about the same state for a week or ten 

 days. Afterwards they will gradually turn sickly and 



