70 OSIERS AND WILLOWS 



though far superior to these in quality, caused much 

 dissatisfaction amongst merchants because of the care- 

 less grading as to quality, several varieties frequently 

 being found in one bundle. 



Brown, and How to Preserve it. 



The rods which have been neither " buffed " nor 

 " whitened " are known as brown being sold with their 

 skins on. This class of material under normal con- 

 ditions of labour generally consists of rods of inferior 

 growth or quality, and, consequently, the price is low. 



If the whole crop is to be sold as brown, cutting may 

 be done after the rods have ripened, which is soon after 

 all the foliage has fallen. Any time after this, and 

 before the sap begins to flow, would be a suitable time. 

 The cut willows are tied into bundles and spread out 

 in heaps of six bundles deep in long rows, with the butt 

 ends pointing all towards the south, where under the 

 drying action of the wind and sun the rods become cured 

 and turn brown. To prevent the willows heating in the 

 heaps, it may be necessary to turn the bundles two or 

 three times. When dry, the rods must be tied into 

 bundles securely, taking care that the loop end of the 

 band is strong, because it is the loop that represents 

 the strength of the band; the bundles should be 

 shaken level at the butt end and tied firmly with at 

 least two bands. If the crop is free from weeds the 

 bundles, without curing, may be stacked in the open 

 much in the same manner as a farmer stacks his hay. 

 The roof after being built up as an ordinary haystack, 

 should be thatched with the roughest bundles of the 

 crop. Start by placing a row of bundles side by side, 

 sufficiently up from the eaves so that the tips will 



