VALUE OF OSIER-PLANTING. n 



soil has been well trenched, may grow and thrive for 

 a few years, but after a while they give unmistakable 

 signs of being out of their proper element, and display 

 comparatively little vigour and comeliness, when com- 

 pared with trees of the same kind planted in more 

 congenial situations. 



Those lands near rivers which are constantly 

 flooded by every tide, have been converted into very 

 valuable parts of the estate upon which they are 

 situated, by the judicious planting of osiers. On the 

 banks of the Severn, which is noted for its high tides, 

 osiers perhaps grow in their greatest perfection. 

 Some of the best osiers which are grown, and which 

 supply the London market, where there is a very 

 large consumption for packing-baskets, are grown 

 in Berkshire and Oxfordshire, on the banks of the 

 Thames and Kennet But for size and bulk of crop, 

 perhaps, there are none which exceed those which 

 grow on the banks of the Thames between Chelsea 

 and Richmond. The overflow of the Thames often 

 does a great deal of damage to the houses and pro- 

 perty of the residents near the river, and of late 

 years, the subject has acquired much prominence, and 

 various methods have been suggested for dealing with 

 it ; the embankment of the river, and the removal 

 of old London bridge having modified the action of 

 the flowing of the tides considerably. The soil on the 

 banks of the Thames is naturally very rich, and it is 

 thought that the action of the steamboats keeps the 

 water in a constantly turbid state, which leaves upon 

 the grounds a top-dressing of rich mud every time the 

 tide overflows them, which is now very constantly, 

 up to Kingston and Ditton. Above this district, 



