202 The. Osier, its Culture, Profits, and Machine for Peeling. 



deep rich loam, as reclaimed swamp, thoroughly drained, or low 

 meadow, near a river or creek. The land should be well prepared 

 by plowing- and harrowing, as early in spring as possible, and care 

 taken in setting the cuttings to have it done right. The cuttings 

 may be from eight to twelve inches long, according to the depth 

 of the soil. If the soil is not over six or seven inches deep before 

 it comes to a hard subsoil, the cuttings should not be over eight 

 inches long, as there should in no case be more than one or two 

 buds left above ground. They should be set in rows, about three 

 feet apart, and the cuttings one foot apart in the rows. If they 

 are well cultivated the first year, and a cultivator run a few times 

 through them the second year, they will require but very little, 

 ever after that. 



RESULTS OF PROPER AND IMPROPER CUTTING. 





Great care should be taken in cutting them to have it done 

 right. They should be cut within an inch of the old stock every 

 year, and no small willows left uncut. I have seen plantations 

 nearly ruined by carelessness in cutting. If they are cut three 

 or four, or, as I have seen them, six inches high, and many of the 

 small ones left uncut, the next year's growth will be nearly worth- 

 less, as there will be so many buds left and so many sprouts start 

 to grow, that none of them can grow large, and there will be a 

 great many small limbs, but no good rods. But if they are cut 

 short, and no small ends left, there will be but few shoots start 

 •and these will grow very long and slender, often reaching ten or 

 twelve feet in a season. And then it is a great loss to cut them 



