WILLOWS FOR CRICKET BATS 383 



the most valuable of all the bat Willows. The quicker the 

 trees are grown and the wider the annual rings, the more 

 valuable is the timber for bat making. So again, the greater 

 the amount of sapwood, the more valuable the timber ; for, any 

 heartwood is darker in colour, heavier, and more apt to split. 



The timber of Salix fragilis and its varieties is darker in 

 colour than that of the trees just mentioned ; and it is also 

 heavier and more readily split. Hence, therefore, its inferiority 

 for the manufacture of cricket bats. 



Soil and Situation. Willows require a deep, moist soil. 

 They should never be planted on dry soils, or on shallow 

 soils, or on soils where there is stagnant water. They are 

 found naturally on the deep, rich, silty soils near the banks 

 of streams. But they may be planted with every chance of 

 success in nearly all deep, moist soils, provided there be no 

 stagnant moisture. Very stiff clay soils are, however, not 

 suitable; though they usually succeed well on fairly stiff 

 clay soils. 



The trees are tender as to spring and autumn frosts ; and 

 a fairly sheltered position is preferable. 



Cultivation, etc. The trees are very light-demanding. 

 They should usually be grown pure, when the young trees or 

 the " sets " may be placed 5 to 6 feet apart from each other. 

 Sometimes Larch may be mixed with them, so as to afford 

 more valuable thinnings. In such cases the Larch and 

 Willow can be mixed in almost equal proportions, the trees 

 being planted 4 feet to 4 feet 6 inches apart from each other. 

 In most instances the Willow trees will grow very much faster 

 than the Larch, but the latter should generally attain a fair 

 size before being suppressed, and will then be readily sale- 

 able in most districts. 



Before, however, the Willows are planted, a choice must be 

 made between planting large " sets " (or cuttings) about 10 

 to 1 5 feet long and between planting young trees raised from 

 small " sets," and schooled for a year in a nursery. 



If the "sets" have to be bought, the latter method will 

 generally be preferable, since the long " sets " are very 

 expensive to buy. But in cases where the " sets " can be 



