246 
Willows and their Cultivation. 
larva, so abundant on the various species of Salix, is that of the 
beautiful bright green Willow Beetle, Plimtora vitellinee. A 
keenly observant naturalist, Mr. Robert Newstead, F.E.S., 1 tells 
me that when touched this little creature emits a double row 
of liquid globules along its back. A tiny drop of the liquid 
placed upon the tongue produces a peculiar numbing sensation — 
a fact which he has proved by personal experiment. There 
are, further, the various galls upon the leaves of Willows mani- 
festing themselves in different ways. In the case of Salix Helix , 
the so-called Rose Willow, the terminal shoots are often con- 
verted into rosette-like forms, for which reason, apparently, this 
variety is called in many country places Rose Willows or Rosy 
Willows. The fusiform or hard oval swellings on the stems or 
twigs are produced by the dipterous fly Cecidomyia salicis. There 
are other features of entomological interest which we need not 
here follow further. Little can be said, with any degree of 
certainty, as to the best methods for dealing with these insect 
pests. “ Spraying,” with some of the insecticides most generally 
used, would probably be in great measure effective, but the 
results of insect attack in this particular field of cultivation 
have not been so seriously harmful as to call for special remedial 
measures. 
Cost of Cultivation and Yield per Acre. 
I have not said anything as to the profit and loss account. 
This, indeed, is a matter that can scarcely be spoken about with 
anything like certainty. After the preparation of the land the 
account need not contain a long array of items, which might be 
set down somewhat as follows: 20,000 cuttings at 10s. to 15s. 
per thousand; planting at say Is. per thousand ; summer clean- 
ing, say 20s. per acre ; cutting the crop, say 30s. per acre. The 
first cost would then be, say, 
Preparation, &c. 
Cuttings, say 
Planting „ 
Cleaning „ 
Harvesting „ 
it S. ( 1 . 
10 0 0 
10 0 0 
10 0 
2 0 0 
2 10 0 
£25 10"0 
But after the first preparation of the holt the items of expense 
would naturally be curtailed, as there would only be the making 
up of deaths and deficiencies, cleaning and cutting ; so that apart 
1 Memorandum from Mr, R, Newstead, F.E.S.* curator of the Grosvenor 
Museurp, Chester, 1893, 
