36 



NEW ENGLAND FABMER. 



Jan. 



myself. I think I have fully appreciated this ; and 

 how far these noble purposes have been accom- 

 plished, is not for me to say. 



Is my position any thing more than Tvhat may 

 be acccmplished by "Poor Farmer," or farmer's 

 boy in New England ? And if from this imperfect 

 example, a single boy in the land shall be stimula- 

 ted by like resolves and high purposes, to attain an 

 honorable position in the community, the great ob- 

 ject of this sketch will have been accomplished. 

 While obtaining my education, I went over half the 

 States of this Union. I have been a close observer 

 of men and things to the best of my ability. I 

 have closely watched the different methods adopt- 

 ed by farmers in carrying on their operations, un- 

 der a great variety of circumstances, and I have 

 come to the cimclusion that there is altogether too 

 much muscular labor, and not half enough head- 

 work among the farmers ; that wherever there is 

 the most head-work, there, as a general thing, you 

 will find the best farms, and the greatest profits. 

 For the past five years, I have studied geology to 

 the extent of my means, in connection with the 

 theory of farming, and I have, I think, successfully 

 carried into operation the theory I have formed in 

 the cultivation of my two acre farm. Have I an- 

 swered the question, or have I given more than 

 was bargained for ? Perhaps at a future time, I 

 may more definitely answer the query in a farming 

 point of view. T. Q. N. 



JVovtmber, 1856. 



For the New England Farmer. 



BASKET WILLOW. 



Though much has been written upon the culture 

 of this new branch of agricultural interest, compar- 

 atively few have in any degree the information they 

 wish for upon the subject. To those who are look- 

 ing with interest to read, and anxious to learn 

 whatever may be true with regard to tlie willow 

 culture, the following is submitted as the result of 

 a, visit to the willow plantations of G. C. Colby, of 

 Jonesville, and Erastus Parker, of Waterbury, 



lengths,without in the least injuring or bruising the 

 rods. They may be passed directly from the ma- 

 chine into a bleaching-box, and thus made white 

 and ready for use at any season of the year. When 

 pealed at any proper season, in June, they require 

 no bleaching. But if steamed or boiled they may 

 probably be pealed at any season, and then bleached 

 should it be necessary, to give them the desired 

 whiteness. 



This machine must add greatly to the profit in 

 cultivating the willow, as by it a large proportion 

 of the labor may be saved. Its cost will not be out 

 of the reach of ordinary farmers. As but one haa 

 yet been made, the exact cost is unknown. Mr. C. 

 has spent much labor and thought in perfecting his 

 machine, and we v,-ish him a good sale and hand- 

 some compensation. 



Both these gentlemen purchased yelloiv willow 

 at $15 per thousand, and would gladly be delivered 

 from them, root and branch. They thrive well in 

 some localities, but here they are full of twigs and 

 branches. They may be useful even here for pas- 

 ture hedges, but not for Osiers. The purple willow 

 they consider the only one worth their culture. 

 Those who choose a handsome yield and an extra 

 growth, must give them extra care and a good soil. 

 Like all the vegetable kingdom, they thrive best 

 where best treated. A thorough clean cultivation 

 will of course suit them best, but is not indispensa- 

 ble. 



Why may not some one make a fortune by lea 

 ing the land at the side of our railroads and using 

 such ])ortious as may be suitable to grow the Avillow 

 upon ? If there is a profit in the willow, would 

 there not also be in the protection to the railroad ? 

 They may be set in such places without much care, 

 and as the land costs little or nothing, may yield a 

 handsome profit. 



V/hile passing over the Vermont and Massachu- 

 setts Railroad a few days since, near Athol, I 

 measured a twig of the native willow which grew 

 spontaneously between the rocks, full eight feet 

 long. If these are but natural productions, what 

 n-;ay not be expected from thoee which have care 

 and attention? 



