432 BULLETIN OF THE BUSSEY INSTITUTION. 



a road was built on the south side of it, digging down some 4 or 5 

 feet, and quite a steep slope was made, the top of which was 

 within a few feet of the willows ; yet many of the osiers in this 

 dry position have continued to grow as well as ever; during 

 the past forty years, without cultivation, or the application of 

 fertilizers, a yearly growth has been made of from 5 to 7 feet. 



1 regret to say that road improvements require the removal of 

 this row of trees the present year. Having kept them so long as 

 a proof of their adaptability to dry land, I only submit to their 

 destruction because it is important for me to do so.* During the 

 forty- six years that the Salix purpurea has been grown by me, no 

 injury has been caused to the roots or leaves by insects or fungi 

 and it has proved to be one of the surest crops the farmer can 

 grow, and also a profitable crop where the osiers are in demand 

 for the manufacture of baskets and baby carriages, or for barrel 

 hoops, nail keg hoops, or binders for boxes. 



That the demand for osiers will rapidly increase, there can be 

 but little doubt ; and that most of them will be grown in this 

 country is equally certain . From statistics published by the U. S. 

 Government we learn that willow is quite rapidly taking the place 

 of rattan. In the year 1880 the amount of willow manufactures 

 in the United States was $1,992,851 ; in 1890 it was $3,633,592, 

 or a gain of about 82 per cent. In the year 1880 the amount of 

 rattan manufactures was $526,777 ; in 1890 it was $682,977, or a 

 gain of less than 30 per cent. The amount of willow imported 

 was as follows : 



1858 $55,141 1880 $21,833 



1865 28,028 1885 28,665 



1870 50,115 1890 27^646 



1875 34,4^0 



* Since writing the above, the road improvement has been made, and the 

 willows removed. While digging the earth from under the willows, it was 

 found that a tap-root the shape of a parsnip had grown from each of the 

 cuttings set to establish the row of willows ; these roots had no fibrous roots 

 below the soil, and extended to an unknown depth ; one was cut off 6 feet 

 below the soil, and found to measure 4i inches in diameter at the top, and 



2 inches at the lower end. The soil under the willows was very much darker 

 in color than that on either side, and from 3 to 4 inches deeper; it being 12 

 inches deep. Below the soil there was sand with loam enough mixed with it 

 to slightly change the color, but not enough to hold the particles of sand to- 

 gether when pressed in the hand ; under this sand was found a white sand free 

 from stones, and fine enough to make good mortar ; the depth of this sand is 

 unknown, but pipes have been driven down 20 feet without reaching the bottom. 

 Water would probably be reached at about 25 feet below the surface. 



