PREPARATION AND MARKETING 61 



The varieties of S. viminalis, with the exception 

 of Long Skins, do not make good buff. Long Skins 

 may be left until late in the season, since by 

 reason of their good quality the rods leave the 

 boiling-tank with sufficient colour to be stacked as 

 soon as dry. 



Owing to the low percentage of tanning properties, 

 the purpurea varieties are seldom used for buff, and the 

 only sorts in large demand are Light, Dark, and Old 

 Dicks and Kecks. The Light and Old Dicks are eagerly 

 sought after for all articles requiring a small, long, and 

 tough taper rod. The Dark Dicks, being of a larger 

 growth, generally provide stakes or skeins, but, in the 

 event of their not growing large enough, the Kecks are 

 the only other variety suitable to supplement them 

 giving the same shade of colour. 



Each of these sorts is best left until the early spring, 

 when the sun begins to exert its influence and materially 

 assists in developing the desired light-golden colour. 

 In the absence of sun it is often necessary to expose 

 these willows on the grass for from two to three weeks, 

 turning them over during that period several times in 

 order to get the required colour and to prevent mildew 

 or black spots appearing, for both those defects materi- 

 ally reduce the market value. If the season is a dry 

 one the rods should be sprinkled with a fine spray of 

 water; sun and air will then produce the necessary 

 colour. It is most desirable that an equal colour be 

 obtained all through the output, and since the sun 

 plays such an important part in producing this, the 

 exposure need not be so long during the later weeks 

 of the peeling as in the earlier part of the season when 

 there is less sun and light. 



The whole of these varieties should be boiled in the 



