OSIER-CULTURE. 



England as " bolting " is simply taking a number of osiers, 

 of as nearly a size as possible, and laying them on a twisted 

 v/and, at the same time keeping the butts all one way, and 

 level, then drawing them tightly together not, however, to 

 such an extent as to injure the bark with a rope and two 

 levers, and finishing off by tying the wand. The wand 

 should be at 14 in. from the butts. A bolt of rods should 

 measure 40 in. round the band. 



In forming a willow bed, the following short rules should 

 be observed : 



(1) Willows will not succeed well in peaty, sandy, or 

 water logged soils ; rich, well-drained loam, that can be 

 flooded at will, is the most suitable. 



(2) Trench or plough, and thoroughly clean and pulverise 

 the ground before planting. 



(3) Plant only the best kinds, studying soil and market, 

 and avoid a mixed crop. 



(4) From November to March insert the cuttings about 

 9 in. deep, avoiding such as are bark-chafed, and tramp 

 firmly. 



(5) Keep the beds clean and free from weeds. 



(6) Cut the crop close to the ground ; pollard willows 

 soon decay, and in that state harbour injurious insects. 



Taken as a whole, osier-culture is not now a very profit- 

 able undertaking, foreign supplies being sent into the 

 English markets at a cheaper rate than they can be produced 

 in this country. 



Mr. Scaling, the well-known cultivator of osiers, and 

 author of several works dealing with the cultivation and 

 marketing of this produce, writes as follows : " I am sorrj 

 to say that,since my report to the Highland and Agricultural 

 Society was written, osier cultivation has ceased to pay r 

 from the same causes that wheat growing has ceased to pay 

 viz., foreign imports, aided by railway preferential rates,, 

 which enable a French, Belgian, or Dutch grower to deliver 

 his produce into the large inland towns of England at a 

 lower rate per ton than a grower can from the centre of the 

 railway system. The wisdom of this policy of self-extinction 

 will some day be called in question. Meantime, I abstain 



129 K 



