CHAPTER VII 



IMPORTS AND EXPORTS 



IN the Midlands and the North of England the cost 

 of labour has risen so considerably that many acres 

 of willows have passed out of cultivation. Added to 

 this, there has been a depression in the local basket- 

 making trade, and the small men, who are generally 

 also growers, have considerably curtailed their industry 

 and allowed many of their willow holts to die out. 

 Large basket-making firms have increased their areas. 

 The following figures from the Board of Trade returns, 

 however, show that the home supply of rods is quite 

 insufficient for the basket-making industry : 



VALUE OF THE TOTAL IMPORTS OF WILLOWS AND CANES FOR 

 BASKET-MAKING. FREE OF DUTY.* 



1 It should be noted that the materials imported from the tropics 

 for basket-making are canes and not willows, bunt is probable that 

 they might be replaced by willows in many forms of basket-ware. 



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