60 OSIERS AND WILLOWS 



been left to dry, and then peeling them. In the case of 

 boiling dried rods, it is most important that these shall 

 .not be heated in any way, as in that case blotches will 

 be left upon the wood, the labour involved in stripping 

 will be considerably increased, and the value of the 

 rod will be greatly depreciated when peeled. All the 

 heated places instead of coming out an even buff will 

 show light -coloured patches. 



The boiling for buffing is done in specially constructed 

 long tanks for some hours. The exact time varies 

 according to the variety of willows under preparation 

 and the class of soil in which it was grown. Thus in 

 the Midlands the average time of boiling is about five 

 hours, but in Somerset a much longer time is necessary 

 if a good buff colour is desired. By boiling, the tannin 

 matter present in the bark is liberated and acts as a 

 dye on the underlying wood, giving it that pleasing 

 colour so characteristic of buff rods. 



Varieties suitable for Buffing 



In order to meet the large demand usually experi- 

 enced in autumn for buff rods, it is essential that growers 

 should plant several varieties, ranging from French to 

 Mauls or Mottled Spaniards. Stacks of green willows 

 soon dry when exposed to the spring winds, and the 

 grower should, if possible, boil the varieties with the 

 thinnest skins first, such as Spaniards. Black Maul 

 and New Kind, having thicker skins, will remain green 

 up to the end of March or April, and 5. hippophaifolia 

 will buff well up to the middle of May. These rods 

 have the thickest skins, and if need be can be peeled 

 when the bark has dried by placing them in cold water 

 at the commencement of the boiling. 



