478 NORFOLK SOCIETY. 



cutting the willow and preparing it for market, we may allow 

 $400. In all, $675. We may express these sums in figures, 

 thus : — 



Total value of crops for fifteen years, . . . $1,900 00 

 Total expenditure for fifteen years, .... 675 00 



Total profit, $1,200 00 



To this statement, I do not fear any contradiction. And I 

 am convinced that I shall thereby mislead no one, or cause 

 him to engage in an unprofitable speculation. In preparing 

 this statement, I have been governed by my own experience 

 and observation, and not by the sayings of other men. 



For willow of good quality there is always a ready market ; 

 and there is good reason to believe that such a market will 

 continue for many years. In this country, as it was once the 

 case in England, ash and oak baskets are much in use. But 

 the time is fast approaching when willoio baskets will drive 

 them out of the market. In England, formerly, all light goods 

 were packed, for transportation, in light boxes and in mats, 

 and so were vegetables. Now baskets are in universal use, 

 except for goods that will be injured by getting wet. Willow 

 packing-baskets are in general use for almost every purpose 

 of transportation, by farmers, gardners, wholesale dealers of all 

 kinds, and by all classes in the community, for every possible 

 purpose. 



In Europe willow baskets are so much in use, that the 

 American traveller notices the fact almost as soon as he arrives 

 there. To this fact, many will bear witness. In the United 

 States, basket making with willow is yet in its infancy. In 

 the year 1825, it had been barely introduced. At that time, I 

 believe, there was scarcely a willow worker in the city of Bos- 

 ton. In the year 1852, there is sent to stores in Boston at the 

 rate of six thousand dollars' worth of willow goods manufac- 

 tured by the writer's own family. 



In the year 1845, the writer of these remarks commenced, 

 and is now connected with, the largest willow ware manufac- 

 tory in the United States. We purchase and work up into 

 ware more willow than any other person or company in these 

 States, and have, therefore, had an excellent opportunity to 



