50 



Canadian Forestry Journal. 



from Northern Europe and Asia to Madagascar and South 

 Africa, and to the islands of Java and Sumatra. 



The quaHties required to constitute a perfect rod are extreme 

 toughness, elasticity, a 'evel, smooth, and brilliant white sur- 

 face after peeling, good splitting quality, freedom from branches, 

 great length of shoot in proportion to thickness, and a small pith. 

 The development of a species which will produce such rods, and 

 which at the same time is hardy and not liable to ordinary dis- 

 eases, and a good cropper, is the end for which growers should 

 strive. This demands that the greatest care should be exercised 

 not only in the choice of species, but also in methods of culture. 

 Good varieties give no results under careless methods; even in- 

 ferior kinds will pay if well tended. It should be the object of 

 every grower to lower the price and better the quality of his wil- 

 low, for on this depends the future success of American osier 

 culture. If rods equal to the French and cheaper in price can be 

 put on the market, there will be an opportunity for a great ex- 

 pansion of basket and furniture manufactures, and the growers 

 will more than make up in larger sales what they lose in price per 

 pound. The net returns from properly managed plantations 

 are estimated at from $17 to $76 per acre per annum for four- 

 teen years. 



The species usually planted are the Welsh or purple willow 

 (Salix purpurea), the Lamley or Caspian Willow (Salix prui- 

 nosa acutijolia), the American green or almond willow {Salix 

 amygdalina), and the white osier willow (Salix viminalis) . This 

 industry might find a place in Ontario, if not elsewhere in Canada. 



PRINTED BY THE ROLLA L. ORAIN COMPANY, LIMITED. OTTAWA 



