191 1.] Planting, Cleaning, and Cutting Willows. 209 



France, Belgium, Germany, and Holland, to plant closer 

 in the rows than between the rows, though the reason 

 for this is not known. Mr. Ellmore's plan is to plant always 

 in squares, i.e., at equal distances between heads and rows, 

 but varying according to the natural growth of each par- 

 ticular variety. "Square planting" is a decided advantage 

 as it enables the cleaning to be done by the horse hoe for 

 the first few years. The hoe can be used in two directions, 

 which, of course, cannot be done if the distances are less 

 between the heads than the rows. The proper ripening and 

 hardening of the wood also is dependent on the action of the 

 sun, and this system gives sunlight free access to the head 

 in the growing period. It also stimulates the growth, since 

 the roots have an equal quantity of soil all round from which 

 to draw their support. 



Age of Plants. — A diversity of opinion prevails as to 

 whether the sets should be cut from one- or two-year-old 

 rods. Some growers prefer one-year-old, believing that they 

 throw off more shoots the first season than two-year-old sets. 

 This belief may have some foundation, especially if the two- 

 year-old sets are cut from the butts of a badlv-grown two- 

 year-old crop, which is often the case with inexperienced or 

 careless growers. The practice recommended, however, is to 

 leave the best-grown and healthiest one-year-old rods for two 

 years' growth, having first cut out all the smaller growths, 

 so as to afford the greatest amount of support possible for 

 those left on the head, and, in our experience, this method 

 gives the best financial result. From such rods six or seven 

 sets can be cut, and it is obvious that healthy plants will give 

 a better crop than cuttings from dwarfed or badly-grown 

 rods. When, however, only two or three sets are taken from 

 the rod, and this is a very common practice, the argument 

 in favour of the younger or one-year-old rod holds good. j, 



The third and higher sets cut from a two-year-old plant 

 throw out more shoots than the sets cut close to the butt 

 end, where the wood is harder and the eyes are consequently 

 less active, but, on the other hand, there is always a great 

 risk in using one-year-old sets, owing to their thinner size 

 and less resistant calibre. Under the influence of dry winds 

 and an absence of showers in the months of April and May 



P 



