BRITISH FOREST TREES 329 



likely to be deposited on them for the improvement of the 

 soil. In the artificial formation of osier-beds the forester is less 

 dependent on the greater moisture of the soil than on its 

 general fertility ; and many localities, in which osier cultiva- 

 tion is at the present time profitably carried out, are far re- 

 moved from the possibility of inundation and of natural 

 enrichment through silt and humose deposit. 



Osier-beds may be worked with different periods of 

 rotation, some being cut over annually for the production of 

 fine withes, or every two or three years for coarser material 

 for wicker-work, or with a fall varying from three to six 

 years if required for hedging, fascine-work, and the like. 

 Where the market demands render such treatment advisable, 

 a mixture of two rotations can be introduced, the majority 

 of the shoots being removed annually, and the clear 

 coppicing in hags taking place only once every three to 

 six years. Pure coppicing can be carried on wherever 

 inundations are not liable to occur at the time of the flush 

 of young shoots in spring, and a somewhat close stand of 

 the stools decidedly favours the production of long, 

 straight shoots, which sometimes reach a length of six to 

 nine feet during the year, and are characterised by greater 

 flexibility, and more equal thickness throughout, than the 

 more branching, thickly-foliaged and tapering shoots of less 

 dense plantations. Soil, period of rotation, and age of 

 the willow-stools of course all exert their influence in regard 

 to the best normal density, but in general it may be reckoned 

 at i, 800 to 2,000 per acre whilst in full working order, 

 although in the formation of new osier-beds the number 

 should be considerably greater, as many stools die off, and 

 in any case the production of shoots is not so great from 

 young as from seasoned stools. Where stronger assortments 

 of withes are desired, it is best to thin out all but the 

 best six to twelve shoots, and leave only these to develop, 



