274 A MANUAL OF FORESTRY. 



d. Osier. 



Bussia, North Asia ; cultivated throughout Europe. 

 It is extensively grown in osier beds, which are gene- 

 rally established along river banks and other low-lying 

 parts of the country, on loose, moist, sandy soil ; it is, 

 however, exacting as regards general fertility of the 

 soil. It is light-demanding, with a thin crown ; grows 

 rapidly ; fairly hardy, but suffers sometimes from frost, 

 insects and fungi. 



The Osier is treated as coppice. The rotation depends 

 on the desired material, and ranges from one to six and 

 even eight years. Material for fine basket-work is obtained 

 by cutting annually. Reproduction is powerful, but the 

 stools do not last for more than perhaps 15 years, and 

 frequently not so long. 



The Osier is propagated by cuttings as described for 

 the Common Sallow. In England the cuttings consist 

 frequently of whole shoots, of which only about one 

 foot of the lower end is inserted into the ground. 



Willows generally are injured by numerous insects, 

 which are common to most species. The wood, chiefly 

 of Salix albaj is much attacked by Aromia moschata, 

 Lamia textor, and other Longicorn beetles, and by the 

 goat-moth, Cossus. The leaves are attacked by various 

 Bombyces, as Liparis salicis and Pygcera bucephala ; by 

 sawfly larvae, and by plant beetles, especially the species 

 of Phratora and Galeruca. These are very injurious to 

 Salix viminalis, as are the leaf-binding larvae of JZarias 

 chlorana. The twigs are injured by Sesiidce and by gall- 



