Willows for Basket Making 245 



crease in five years of fully one-half ; while of the manufac- 

 tured articles in the way of baskets and basket ware her total 

 value exceeded 42,000. But as giving some idea of our 

 wants in this direction it may be stated that the total value 

 of willow rods annually sent to this country from the Con- 

 tinent is in round figures about 100,000, and of baskets 

 and basket ware fully 170,000. What a contrast with 

 the period in our history when an important export trade 

 in willows was done by this country ! 



The willow working industry is a rapidly expanding one. 

 Owing to the increasing demand, the value of peeled willows 

 is gradually on the increase, and present prices range from 

 24 to 38 per ton for those of best size and quality. These 

 are in the main exported and used for high-class work in 

 the basket 'trade, rougher unpeeled willows that are largely 

 in use for cheap packing hampers and farm purposes bringing 

 in a much lower price. Fruit baskets in immense numbers 

 are annually imported from the Continent, one firm alone 

 having sent over 150,000 ; while at Leith basket works, 

 which mainly caters for the agricultural and fishing indus- 

 tries, thousands of herring baskets alone are sent out every 

 month, while the packing hamper department is of great 

 interest and a special feature of this enterprising firm. 



Previous to the war willow or osier culture was mainly in 

 the hands of the French for rods of good quality, the Belgians 

 and Germans supplying a cheaper kind probably owing to 

 the quality of soil and inferior varieties that are cultivated. 



There are not a few persons who consider that in order 

 to cultivate willows successfully, any neglected, damp piece 

 of ground, which is unsuited for other crops, may be 

 utilized, and the cuttings simply stuck in without ground 

 preparation of any kind. This is, however, a great mistake, 

 as experience has long ago demonstrated that in order 

 to make osier cultivation at all profitable, a low level, and a 

 naturally rather moist situation must be chosen, and further, 

 that the soil should be deep, well drained and thoroughly 

 prepared. 



Thoroughly drain the ground first, then steam-plough or 

 trench the soil to a depth of about 18 in., removing carefully 



