NORFOLK SOCIETY. 477 



few in number, and they made the profit. So with the willow. 

 Those who cultivate it in the grassy meadow will reap some 

 harvest, but a very small one in comparison with that which 

 he will secure who cultivates good and more suitable land, 

 and prepares it for the plant with the plough, the harrow and 

 the hoe. 



Before willow is planted on low wet land, trenches should 

 be cut in such a manner as to allow of draining off the water 

 in wet weather, and of retaining it when necessary to moisten 

 the land. No other preparation is necessary on land that can- 

 not be ploughed. But where the land can be ploughed, it 

 should be done ; and where it cannot be ploughed, the draining 

 should be completed before the willow is planted. 



There is a great quantity of land in every State in this 

 Union, on which willow can be raised to perfection, and with 

 a certainty of large profit to the cultivator. Any one who has 

 suitable land on which to grow willow, and who lives near to 

 our large cities, or to railroads leading thither, and by which 

 they can send their crops to market, may, by cultivating it in 

 a proper manner, realize a handsome profit. 



The prices of willow range from $5 to $7 per hundred 

 weight, for English, French, Dutch, and German ; and native 

 grown willow, raised from sets imported from England, sell at 

 $2 more per hundred weight. A willow plantation, if properly 

 cared for, will continue in good condition for fifteen years. 

 The crop taken from such a plantation, will average 2,000 lbs. 

 a year, of what will be fit for the market. The first year, there 

 will be no crop ; and the second year, it will be fit for little else 

 than planting. But for this purpose, enough sets may be cut 

 to sell for about ^100. After the two first years, the crops 

 will allow of being averaged at 2,000 lbs. per year, including 

 those of the two first years. The lowest price that can be 

 allowed for the willow, is, $60 for 1,000 pounds. The sum 

 total, therefore, of the value of the crops for fifteen years, in- 

 cluding the first and second years' growth for planting, will be 

 about $1,900. The interest of the money paid for one acre of 

 land, for fifteen years, may be put down at $90. The cost of 

 the sets, and planting them, and the interest thereon for fif- 

 teen years, may be put down at $150. For replacing dead 

 sets, and weeding the plantation, we may allow $35. For 



