App. /.] PLANTATIONS OF OSIERS. 555 



power to increase or diminish the number of shoot* 

 from the stools under his care : For if he take off the 

 shoots clean by the stem of the plant in spring, the 

 number of shoots will be proportionally diminished in 

 the following season. 



The proper season for cutting willows is any time 

 during the month of November, or in. the month of 

 March. If they are cut after November, they have the 

 chance of encountering much damp, and severe frosts, 

 which never fail to injure the stools, and dimmish the 

 strength of the shoots, in the succeeding season. If 

 the cutting be deferred till the month of April, fcbe 

 sap has probably begun to ascend with rapidity ; and 

 must necessarily continue to exude from the wound, 

 till nature find more proper channels in some of 

 the adjoining buds. If, therefore, the cutting of wil- 

 lows be properly attended to in regard to the season, 

 the extremes pointed out will be avoided. No doubt, 

 in some seasons, the winter cutting may extend to the 

 middle or end of December ; and the spring cutting 

 from the middle of March to the middle of April, ac- 

 cording to the state of the weather. 



With regard to the manner of cutting, it may be 

 proper to notice, that the cut should be made to within 

 two or three buds of the place from whence the shoot 

 issued, and even, if possible to attend to directions in. 

 the form of the cut, it should be in a sloping direction, 

 it the back of the uppermost bud left on the bottom of 

 the shoot on the stool. 



In cutting hoop willows from the stools, the swell at 

 the bottom of the shoot only should be left. ' This part 

 is amply furnished with proper outlets for the rising 

 sap, so that it is unnecessary to leave so much at the 

 bottom of those as above advised for basket willows, 



especiallv 



