BULLETIN OF THE BUSSEY INSTITUTION. 435 
years’ growth is large enough for keg hoops or box binders; but 
for barrel hoops, three years’ growth is not too large. 
I have no doubt that a large and profitable industry could be 
built up in this country by growing osiers and manufacturing them 
into’ a great variety of useful articles, if the farmers could be 
induced to get the best varieties of willows for osiers, and to plant 
them on a soil best adapted to their growth. But because of the 
‘¢ information” which has thus far reached the farmers, it would 
probably happen in case osier cuttings were given to 100 of them, 
that 99 would set out their cuttings on a bank beside a stream, or 
on some low land of but little value for any purpose. There is 
in this country a belief so firmly established in the minds of all 
classes, that the home of the willow is by the side of running water 
that it will probably not be easy to convince any considerable 
number of persons that there is any variety of willow producing 
excellent osiers, which grows better on sandy loam than on moist, 
loamy soil. To establish this truth, and to do away with the 
erroneous prejudice now current, both precept and example will 
be needed in full measure. 
I cannot but hope that my own success during forty-six years of 
experiment and observation, may invite others to make such inves- 
tigations as may be necessary to ascertain what soil is best adapted 
to the growth of each variety of willow used for manufacturing 
purposes. 
The question will arise naturally, where did my willows obtain 
food enough to produce vigorous growth each year for forty years 
in succession, while during the same time it was evident to the eye 
that the character of the soil in which the fibrous roots grew was 
improved ? | 
It is quite probable that the large tap roots of the willows reached 
down to an abundant supply of water containing the mineral ele- 
ments required for plant growth, in sufficient quantities to furnish 
a full supply for the rapid growth of the osiers. A portion of the 
mineral elements may have been obtained by the disintegration of 
the soil, hastened by the action of acids given off from the willow 
roots. The deepening and enrichment of the soil was evidently 
caused by the yearly dropping of the leaves which were kept from 
being scattered over a wide space by the numerous stumps from 
which the osiers were yearly cut. 
