332 [Assembly 



The Chairman. — I think the practice as to the preparation of the 

 Osier for market, is to boil them, in order to carry off all the sap, 

 but I am not certain. We must look into this matter and intro- 

 duce into our country the proper kind of Osier and the best meth- 

 ods of preparing it. 



Dr. Peck of Brooklyn was requested to speak of his experience 

 in Osier. He said that his experience was but small. He had 

 contemplated, some years ago, growing it on Long Island, where 

 abundant locations suitable to it exist. An aged Irishman then 

 told me that the low grounds on the island were well adapted to 

 grow it — and that at the right season while the sap is in, they 

 strip off the bark and save it from mildew by putting it away in 

 airy sheds — that exposure to the sun would render the osiers too 

 brittle. I should think that boiling or steaming them, would 

 remove all the sap and toughen the fibres. Willows generally do 

 well on uplands — not so, I believe, the best Osiers. 



John Silverside. — I have been accustomed in my youth to ob- 

 serve the- planting and preparation of basket willow-osier — in 

 England. They always cut it when the sap was in and stripped 

 off the bark, which then comes off very easily. It is then put in 

 airy shades, to dry. I do not recollect that any machinery was 

 ever employed about it. I never heard of boiling it. 



I have seen and made beautiful hedge of it, by sticking the 

 two ends of an Osier cutting in the ground, for both ends readily 

 take root. This must be done while the sap is in full vigor. It 

 grows well along the edges of streams of water. I have never 

 seen a field of it. One might be made on ground sufficiently 

 moist, no doubt. 



Chairman — Desired the members present to look up full infor- 

 mation in reference to this subject and bring it to the next meet- 

 ing of the club, on the first Tuesday of November next — for no 

 meeting of the club takes place in October on account of the 

 * fair. 



Mr. George Dickey, said that the Osier is largely imported and 

 is sold in this market by weight. It is of commercial importance. 



