FOREST REGENERATION AND TREATMENT. 81 



time for planting is in the late autumn, or very early in the 

 spring, and the best cuttings are those about twelve inches 

 long. Put these cuttings in so that their tops are even with 

 the ground, but do not cover the tops with earth. Some 

 growers prefer to set the cuttings about four inches apart 

 in rows twenty inches apart for best results. This gives 

 a thick, close growth, which sufficiently shades the soil 

 between the rows that weeds cannot grow there. If 

 the plants should prove to be too thick, every alternate 

 one can be grubbed out after the third year. This method 

 will require about 65,000 cuttings to the acre. Other 

 growers prefer to set twelve inches apart in rows three 

 feet apart. This gives a chance to work between the rows 

 with a horse, which is quite an advantage under some 

 conditions. This method requires about 15,000 cutr- 

 tings per acre. (See figure 25.) 



On land that is wet late in autumn the Willows are 

 liable to grow too long, and not ripen their shoots, which 

 is an important consideration in the growing of basket 

 Willows, since if the shoots are not ripened at the time 

 growth ceases, they are worthless for basket purposes, 

 being soft and brittle. The rods should be cut the first 

 year, even if of no value, for if the cutting is delayed until 

 the second year, the plants will have branched, and will 

 produce much less valuable material. The rods should 

 be cut as near the surface of the ground as possible. They 

 should then be tied in bundles about ten inches in diam- 

 eter, and, if it is intended to sap-peal them, these bundles 

 should be placed in running water, standing upright, 

 until the leaves or sprouts appear in the spring, when they 

 should be ready to peel. This method of peeling is 

 termed sap-peeling. When it is intended to remove 

 the bark by steaming or boiling, the bundles may be 

 set up anywhere until dry, when they may be stored 

 in racks or in covered sheds until wanted. Rods thus 



