BULLETIN OF THE BUSSEY INSTITUTION. 435 



years' growth is large enough for keg hoops or box binders ; but 

 for barrel hoops, three years' growth is not too large. 



I have no doubt that a large and profitable industry could be 

 built up in this country by growing osiers and manufacturing them 

 into a great variety of useful articles, if the farmers could be 

 induced to get the best varieties of willows for osiers, and to plant 

 them on a soil best adapted to their growth. But because of the 

 "information" which has thus far reached the farmers, it would 

 probably happen in case osier cuttings were given to 100 of them, 

 that 99 would set out their cuttings on a bank beside a stream, or 

 on some low land of but little value for any purpose. There is 

 in this country a belief so firmly established in the minds of all 

 classes, that the home of the willow is by the side of running water 

 that it will probably not be easy to convince any considerable 

 number of persons that there is any variety of willow producing 

 excellent osiers, which grows better on sandy loam than on moist, 

 loamy soil. To establish this truth, and to do away with the 

 erroneous prejudice now current, both precept and example will 

 be needed in full measure. 



I cannot but hope that my own success during forty-six years of 

 experiment and observation, may invite others to make such inves- 

 tigations as may be necessary to ascertain what soil is best adapted 

 to the growth of each variety of willow used for manufacturing 

 purposes. 



The question will arise naturally, where did my willows obtain 

 food enough to produce vigorous growth each year for forty years 

 in succession, while during the same time it was evident to the eye 

 that the character of the soil in which the fibrous roots grew was 

 improved ? 



It is quite probable that the large tap roots of the willows reached 

 down to an abundant supply of water containing the mineral ele- 

 ments required for plant growth, in sufficient quantities to furnish 

 a full supply for the rapid growth of the osiers. A portion of the 

 mineral elements may have been obtained by the disintegration of 

 the soil, hastened by the action of acids given off from the willow 

 roots. The deepening and enrichment of the soil was evidently 

 caused by the yearly dropping of the leaves which were kept from 

 being scattered over a wide space by the numerous stumps from 

 which the osiers were yearly cut. 



