246 Practical Forestry 



all weeds, particularly such troublesome kinds as the bind- 

 weed, couch grass and dock. It is always preferable to 

 take a crop of potatoes first from the land intended to be 

 laid down for osier culture, as it not only sweetens and 

 enriches the soil, but allows of the eradication of all obnoxi- 

 ous weeds. Where, however, it is not practicable to crop 

 the land first with potatoes, the soil should be well and 

 roughly broken up and left so for a year, or for a winter, at 

 least, before being planted with the osiers. The best time 

 to plant is from October to the middle of March. The 

 sets, or cuttings, should be about 15 in. long, and formed 

 of well-ripened rods, of one year's growth, and the straightest 

 and cleanest portion of the rod only used. Three or four 

 buds should, if possible, be on the top end of each set. In 

 planting, insert the cuttings from 9 to 12 in. into the ground, 

 leaving 3 in. above soil, which forms the stool that bears 

 the future crops. 



It is well to exercise great caution while inserting the 

 cuttings, as, if the work has been delayed till the sap is 

 rising, the bark readily strips away from the wood, and 

 this is very objectionable, as the plants in such a state 

 usually die. The sets may be placed about 15 in. apart, 

 and the rows, which, for convenience, should be lined off 

 straight, about 30 in. from each other. Of course, as regards 

 distances, these will depend to a great extent on the quality 

 of the soil a-nd the particular kind of willow being planted, 

 but the above are good average distances. 



For basket-making, etc., the best kinds of osiers to use are 

 Salix triandra and S. viminalis, but there are others. A 

 good basket-willow, be it of whatever kind, should, when 

 green, twist from end to end without breaking. It is well 

 to bear in mind that, in order to obtain the greatest profits 

 from willow culture, only the very best kinds should be 

 planted indeed, next to preparing the ground, a judicious 

 selection should be one of the main considerations. For 

 the first year, at least, after being formed, osier-beds must 

 be carefully attended to in the way of cleaning and weeding. 

 Hoeing will be found the most convenient method of getting 

 rid of weeds, but, in the case of bindweed, handpicking 



