THE NEW FORESTRY. 1 81 



tion of that kind is needed. Most good osier plantations that we 

 have seen were so dense that no weeds could grow under them, 

 and the surface of the beds were covered with a layer of black 

 mould produced by the dead foliage. Top-dressing with 

 manure is not objectionable, but in producing slender wands 

 no manure is applied. The crop is cut during winter months, 

 and in cutting care is taken to cut close to the stools to keep 

 these near the ground. The sorting, preparing, and peeling of 

 the osiers for the market and for various purposes is a business 

 that can only be properly learned on the spot, and those who 

 contemplate osier culture should seek information on this 

 subject from experienced osier growers when the crop is being 

 cut and stored. The varieties of willow in cultivation for 

 osiers are not numerous, and they are the same now as they 

 were half-a-century ago or more ; strength, slenderness, and 

 toughness being the qualities . most desired, and in which 

 respect varieties differ considerably. We take the liberty to 

 add the following notes from the " Gardener's Chronicle " of 

 November 19th, 1898, on this subject: — 



" Species. — There are two species of osier here — ■ 



" ( 1 .) Salix viminalis (common osier). The leaves are 

 elongated, the bark grey. This species does well for coarse 

 wicker-work, and is the more prolific of the two. 



" (2.) Salix purpurea (Spanish osier). The leaves somewhat 

 resemble those of the peach, and easily distinguish it from the 

 common osier. The bark is reddish-purple. This species is 

 better adapted for fine wicker-work. 



" Dangers to which the crop is exposed. — Insects consti- 

 tute the chief danger. A destructive leaf -roller — >E arias 

 hlorana — is found, which often eats into the centre of the 

 leading shoots, and destroys the growth of the willows. 



"Yield. — The slips are planted 2)/ 2 feet by 2^ feet apart, 



so that we get 4 X 3 ^ ° = 6969 (say 7000) stools in an acre. 



If the stools give an average of ten wands apiece, we shall get 

 70.000 wands per acre. In France they are often grown much 

 closer than this. These shoots or wands are tied up in bundles 

 called " bolts." Each bolt contains about one hundred, wands, 

 and is worth 2s. This, gives us about £70 gross return per 

 acre. 



" This cultivating of osier coppice is a good, sensible way 

 of utilising what would otherwise be practically useless ground, 

 and is certainly to be recommended." 



