Cultivation of Grafs-Land. Management of Woods. Underwoods. 6 1 9 



may be ufed to keep them down : this is abfolutely necciTury to enfure a good 

 plantation. It is alfo equally necefTary to keep the ground \vell drained, to prevent 

 the tides remaining upon it any confiderable time, for on that alfo depends the 

 firmncfs and good quality of the rods. 



&quot; The willows are cut over the fir ft year with a bill-hook : the (hoots are cut 

 offclofc to the flock, and bound up in bundles, or boults, as they are called, which 

 meafure forty-two inches round, at fixtcen inches above the butt ends. The fame 

 procefs of weeding muft be purfued every fummer, while 4 they are (hooting up 

 from the ftem. 7&quot;he next cutting feafon a portion of them is left to (land another 

 year, where large fluff is wanted for the ribs of large balkets, &c. 



&quot; The planting of willows is expenfive the firft year j but if well managed they 

 produce a great profit, as they improve in quantity every year.*&quot; 



As the demands for this fort of produce are very great, wherever the farmer has 

 lands that are fuitable for this kind of culture they mould not be neglected. On 

 fuch moift boggy foils the cultivation of the Huntingdonfhire willow has alfo been 

 found extremely profitable when grown for the purpofeof hop poles.^ 



Management of Woods. It is always a convenience, and in many cafes and fitua. 



* The names and ufesof the fpecies employed in the vicinity of Brentford are thus defcribed : 

 &quot; Ift. The sulix titallina, or yellow willow, which is cultivated chiefly by the nurfery-men, and 

 being of a tough yielding nature, is ufed for binding packages of trees and flirubs in the drawing feafon 

 ^ml for tying np the branches of wall and efpalier trees. 



&quot; 2d. The salix awygdalina, or almond leaved willow, is a fpecies of which there are feveral varieth s 

 one of which is called by the planters &quot; the fmall red willow, &quot; or &quot; binding rod;&quot;it being chiefly ufed 

 for binding the produce of garden-grounds. Another kind of this willow is at prefent known by the 

 loofe appellation of the &quot; new kind ;&quot; it is of large growth, and produces a great crop, is ufed both by 

 the bafket-makers and the corn-fiere-inakers, and is fit for any work which requires a firm as well as 



a tough rod. 



&quot; 3d. The salix viminatit, or ofier willow. Of this fpecies there are alfo feveral varieties, which 

 are called among the planters by the name of &quot; the jellow and brown ofiers,&quot; or, &quot; Comb s ofiers.&quot; 

 They are chiefly ufed by the bafket-raakers, being very pleafant working rods, and as they produce a 

 great crop are much cultivated. 



&quot; Thefe three defcriptions comprehend the moft ufeful varieties, and are the moil profitable in 

 point of crop, of any that are cultivated in this diftricl. There is, however, a coarfe fort of willow 

 known by the name of &quot; the Spaniard :&quot; but whether it is a diftinft fpecies or not is not decided ; it 

 Blight be rendered extremely ufeful in counties where much brulh or underwood is bound.&quot; 



t Corrected Report of Nottingham (hire. 

 K 2 



