38 Wisconsin state agricultural society. 
ne for fuel. He says, “ A good fence may be grown in from five 
to seven years, according to the land and attention the fence re¬ 
ceives.” Will grow more rapidly on low moist land than on high 
dry soil. My plan of growing a fence is to plow and pulverize the 
soil thoroughly and deep where the hedge is to stand, then set the 
slips one foot apart, leaving the top a little above the ground; 
cultivate and keep the ground clear of weeds for two years, cut¬ 
ting back or bending down to make a tight fence when sufficient¬ 
ly large. The willow does not sprout up if a root is cut off. I 
have plowed by the side of a hedge row, and broke off numerous 
roots, large and small, and never have seen a single shoot from 
such broken roots. I have willow fences on both dry and wet 
land and believe that I can convince any one that it is no hum¬ 
bug. As to its value for firewood, I am honestly ol the opinion 
that five acres of willow upon moist land of twelve years growth 
will supply a family with fuel for a thousand years. The rapidity 
of its growth is wonderful.” 
In the monthly report of the Commissioner of Agriculture lor 
August and September, 1873,1 find practical instructions for plant¬ 
ing and cultivating the willow for hedges, being part of a series 
of papers by Wm. Scaling, Esq., of England, a gentleman of many 
years experience in the propagation of the willow, and whose ad¬ 
vice may be relied upon as of much value. He says : 
“To form a good efficient willow-liedge the ground must be dug to a depth 
of 15 to 18 inches, and effectually cleared of weeds, and, if poor, manured; in 
fact it is necessary it should undergo a similar preparation to what would be 
required if it were intended to plant a thorn-hedge. Should the ground be 
very low, and charged with stagnant water, it will be necessary to throw out 
a ridge to plant upon, for no willow will flourish in a swamp. 
“ If it he desirable to form a hedge at once, willow stakes, 4 or 5 feet long* 
may be used, the ends of which must be sharpened and pushed 12 inches into 
the prepared ground, 6 inches apart, in a slanding direction thus ////// , 
and be temporarily wattled at the top to hold them in position, until such 
time as they shall have fastened themselves by the spray which will grow up 
perpendicularly, thus www. Or, if it be preferred, they may he pushed in 
straight, and as the shoots put out at the sides they can be wattled together, 
and thus form a fence equally effective as the above. 
“Another method is to plant a double row, crossing them in the manner 
following xxx. These should he secured temporarily by a baste-tie, until by 
growth they become fastened in position. The above methods are the most 
expensive on account of the extra length of the cuttings required, and would? 
