38 



Tin- yearly eonsumption of osiers in England is far greater than the 

 national -upi>lv. an. I as the luisket industry is constantly on the increase, it 

 would also on this account be advisable to further the cultivation of the osier 

 willows. !,,! li^lit. sandy banks, the best willow should be Salix purpurea, and 

 as it is so easily propagated, it will well repay the cost of cultivation, besides 

 binding tin- 1 tanks, making them firm and adding to the health of the locality 

 as well as that of the water. For more clayey soil, 8. viminalis and the more 

 celfl -rated S.capracB, so much sought for powder factories, should be the best. 

 The cuttings must be taken from the one to two-year-old shoots, and be put 1 

 to H foot a pan, in double or treble rows 2 to 3 feet apart, care being taken to 

 leave only half an inch or less above ground. 



There are many localities where comparatively vr lueless land, close to the 

 mouths of rivers and canals, might be made highly profitable, at the same time 

 as the cultivation of it with the before mentioned trees and plants would improve 

 the state of the fishing, and, before placing spawn and fish in any water, I con- 

 sider it important to pay great attention to this question. Where few or no> 

 trees exist it will be necessary to cultivate them, and I feel certain that such, 

 proceeding will enhance the chances of the success of pisciculture. I will not 

 here enter further upon the practical details of the qeustion. These are bound 

 to vary with the locality, and the local foresters will know how to deal with 

 them. 



In drawing the attention of the conference to this question, it is with the 

 sincere hope that it may enlist your sympathy, and that the public opinion may 

 be won for it. That it is important for all fresh-water fishing is evident. That 

 is one more reason added to the many why we should regard the forest as a pre- 

 cious heirloom to be deeply revered, properly used, and, through careful main- 

 tenance, descend improved and enriched to posterity. 



