198 Pruning Conifers. [Oct., 



and furnishes the best materials for baskets, which are indispensa- 

 ble on every farm. It forms a hardy and useful hedge for exclud- 

 ing boisterous winds; and as it flourishes best in wet situations, is 

 frequently planted with a view to prevent banks of rivers and 

 dams from being washed aw^ay by the force of the current. 



In the spring of 1845, I caused an acre and a quarter of rather 

 moist ground, too wet for the finer grasses, to be carefully turned 

 over with the plow, and then thoroughly harrowed. It was then 

 marked into rows three feet a part, and set with cuttings of wil- 

 low, about eight inches long, one foot asunder. It took about 

 11,000 cuttings, some of which were quite small, which rendered 

 the growth the first and even the second year, quite diminutive. 

 The growth of the sprouts, this year, however, will average from 

 three to five feet high. 



The osier, like all the willows, is easily porpagated by cuttings. 

 After it has taken good root, say the third or fourth year after 

 planting, in good moist soil, the shoots or sprouts grow from six 

 to nine feet in a season. 



The sprouts should be cut every spring, unless very large wil- 

 lows are wanted, and the number is thereby annually increased. 

 The best w^ay to divest them of the bark is to cut, sort, and tie 

 the osiers in small bundles early in March, and place the bundles 

 in a stream or pond of water, and at the season the leaf buds are 

 bursting, the bark will readily peel off. The osier may then be 

 laid \ip to be used when leisure will permit, or sold to the basket- 

 makers. 



The art of fabricating baskets from them, for farm purposes, is 

 easily acquired, by any ordinary hand, and may be practised in 

 evenings and stormy days in the winter, with little or no expense. 

 A well made basket of the osier willow is worth three or four 

 made of ash splints. We have them in use for years, and are 

 still good. To give them firmness and durability, a good rim, 

 ribs and handle of oak, hickory or other substantial w'ood are ne- 

 cessary. 



PRUNING CONIFERS. 



The best mode of pruning coniferous plants, particularly pinus 

 and abies, is to pinch the tops off the young shoots when half 

 grown; and if you mean to dwarf a cedar of Lebanon, ])inch out 

 the leading shoots until you obtain your object. No time is good 

 for cutting away large branches of pines, but winter is the best. 



The same practice is recommended for shortening grape vines, 

 that is pinching ofl" their extremities. 



