56 OSIERS AND WILLOWS 



deteriorate, or frequently get covered with mealy bug 

 or other insect life. When a constant supply of fresh 

 water has been maintained, rods have been known to 

 stand in the pit from March, which is the usual time 

 to begin pitting, to the end of July. Where the amount 

 of available labour is limited, or the season proves to 

 be wet and unsuitable for outdoor peeling, pitting has 

 a great advantage and there is no fear of a double 

 skin being produced. Even with a good sound bottom 

 for the dyke, it is a wise plan to rinse the dirt from the 

 butt ends of the willows in clean water and allow them 

 to dry somewhat before peeling is commenced. 



PEELING FOR WHITE 



The rods are peeled by the hand assisted by " fixed 

 breaks," and women and children are employed for 

 the purpose. Although much time and money have 

 been expended on constructing machines to do the 

 peeling, very little improvement has been made in 

 the process used fifty years ago. The peeler stands by 

 his break, which is fixed to a table or post, with a 

 bundle of green rods at his side, the butt ends all being 

 near the break. The rods are taken separately, the 

 butt end drawn through the break, splitting the skin ; 

 the rod is reversed and again pulled through the break. 

 The skin is removed and the rod comes away clean and 

 white. 



The process is the same in every district, though the 

 actual breaks used differ in shape and form. 



Breaks. A break in its simplest form consists of 

 two metal blades pressed together by the hand whilst 

 the rod is being drawn through. The appliance 



