WILLOWS: THEIR GROWTH, USE, AND IMPORTANCE. 43 



years, whereas if the cutting is not done each plant develops one 

 to three large trunks which in from 20 to 30 years reach maturity 

 or are broken, the vigor of the original tree being thus practically 

 destroyed. The capacity of a willow tree to put out vigorous sprouts 

 begins to decline somewhat at the age of from 20 to 30 years, depend- 

 ing upon the soil and moisture conditions, but it never entirely passes 

 away. If the willows are to be considered permanent, they should 

 be cropped in periods of 8 to 10 years, either by gradual or clear cutting. 

 At the first evidence of decreasing vigor new trees should be set out 

 and the first ones cut as soon as the second planting is large enough 

 to be effective. Ordinarily the willows should be considered a 

 temporary shelter or a nurse crop and provision made for the estab- 

 lishment of conifers or of the better hardwoods to take their place. 



PLANTING WILLOWS. 



SOIL REQUIREMENTS FOR WILLOW PLANTING. 



Willows grow best on a moist, rich, well-drained sandy loam. 

 They will, however, tolerate a considerable variation of these con- 

 ditions and still make a reasonably satisfactory growth. They will 

 grow faster for the first 25 years than any other of the northern 

 broadleaf species, with the exception of cottonwood, on any but 

 the driest soil. They endure excessive moisture conditions better 

 than cottonwood. Willows are not sensitive either to acid or alkaline 

 soils, but a poor growth can be expected on soils where either of 

 these conditions is very pronounced. Willows prefer land that is 

 flat or nearly so, but they grow well on any slope where the other con- 

 ditions are favorable. The adaptability of willows makes them 

 particularly a waste-land species, but their greatest superiority 

 shows itself in plantations on overflow land in the vicinity of streams. 



SPECIES FOR PLANTING. 



In the North undoubtedly the best willow species for planting is 

 the crack willow. Its rapid growth, upright form, and freedom from 

 side branches or water sprouts when fairly closely planted make it 

 superior to every other. Many plantations in the treeless region 

 have been of this species, although generally reported as white wil- 

 low. The second best species is the white or yellow willow. In 

 sheltered positions the weeping willow will grow almost as fast as 

 the crack willow, but if exposed will be broken up by the wind at an 

 early age While it is possible for the weeping willow to produce 

 almost as much fuel as the crack willow, the form of the tree makes 

 the material it produces of little ralue for anything else. The weeping 

 willow recommends itself over- the crack willow only for situations 

 where it- p.ut ienlurly striking ;ni<l beautiful foliage can be made 



