now TO CUT WILLOWS. 



127 



HOW TO CUT WILLOWS. 



^n.i.ow sets na commonly planted, would have 

 uppiwrance of fij:. 1. It will be perceived that 

 eye is above the jjround, and more frequently 

 J arc two. At the end of the first summer's 

 ,-th, it lias the appearance of fig. 2. These, we 

 suppo.'e, are cut back, as shown at fig. .3.* It 

 be seen that a " snag " is left on the old stem, 

 ;h will increase at all subsequeut cuttings, leaving 



can answer for it; the contrast in the willow-beds 

 will be still greater than on paper. Little explana- 

 tion is necessary on this point. 'I'he rods given by a 

 stool like fig. 4 have to draw all their nourishment 

 through the stem, imd will, as a conpequenee, be weak 

 in contrast with those given by a stool like fig. 9. 

 Where the whole stool, to the very top, is in the 

 ground, roots are emitted from every point, and the 

 stools swell accordingly ; and when growth com- 

 mences in .spring, shoots will be thrown up all around 



Fig. 1. F.g. 2. Iig. . 



ort stem of it, perhaps a few inches, between 

 I and the surface of the ground. At the end of 

 second year, we have a plant like fig. 4 ; and at 

 end of the third year, like fig. 5. At this and 

 2quent ages, many of the " stools" will be getting 

 iided, from the breaking off of "snags" by care- 

 ess or accident; and when the stools stand close 

 ther, many shoots will be weak and worthless, 

 is a very bad system ol cutting, yet in England 



Fig. 4. Fig. S. 



the stool, from the under side of the headed-down 

 branches. These shoots springing out of the soil, as 

 soon as fairly growing, also emit roots in every direc- 

 tion, from the point of junction with the previous 

 year's wood. It will be clearly seen, under circum- 

 stances such as these — a stool from which roots ram- 

 ify in every direction, with the young rods rooting 

 into the soil as well — the rods must, as a consequence, 

 be of superior growth to the other system. From 



I 

 I 



I 



Fig. C. Fig. 7. Fi<?. 8. 



the general one. A much better system is prac- 

 1 by a few good growers. When the cutting is 

 ted, it has the appearance of fig. C — the top bud 

 with the surface of the ground. It will be 

 d that the shoots given the first sum.mer, as 

 fu at fig. 7, will be much .stronger than that 

 vn at fi"-. 2. The reason is obvious: as soon as 

 shoots fairly commence growing, roots are emit- 

 at the ba.se of the pushing buds, which, being 

 ■ the surface, greatly assist their growth. When 

 e are cut back, it must be done close to the sur- 

 of the ground, as seen at fig. 8. The next sum- 

 the .stools will give a luxuriant gi'owth of " rods," 

 t fig. 9. showing a great contrast to stools of the 

 e age, as at fig, 4. Persons unacquainted with 

 ow-growing must not think this overdrawn, as I 



t is much better not to head them back until tne end of the 

 id yeiir, .xs it materially strengthens the stools. Many good 

 ■ers ocraainnally let their old plactationa stand two years, to 

 them regater vigor. 



Fig. 9. 



the system of cutting back, the stool spreads to a 

 considerable distance; three feet in diameter will soon 

 bo common in a good soil and under good culture. 

 I have seen them much wider. The rods having 

 more distance, and deriving the same nourishment 

 from the parent .stool, are not only long, but uniform 

 in size. If cut on the other system, many weak 

 shoots will be given, for want of room, air, nourish- 

 ment, itc. This system of cutting close to the ground 

 must be adhered to at all subsequent cuttings. It 

 will be plainly seen that under this mode the stools 

 must be planted at a considerable distance apart, — 

 on no account should they be closer than three feet 

 each way; three and a half feet will be a still better 

 distance; and on favorable soils, with the veiy strong- 

 est willows, four feet each way will not be too much. 

 I am happy to be able to endorse all that Mr. 

 DowNi.vG says of the willow imported by Dr. Grant. 

 It is now twelve years since I became acquainted 



