The cultivation of osiers and willows. Edited, with introd. by Thomas Okey

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THE CULTIVATION OF
OSIERS AND WILLOWS

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Frontispiece

7
Pir CULTIVATION

OF

-OSIERS_ AND WILLOWS

BY

WM. PAULGRAVE ELLMORE

EDITED, WITH INTRODUCTION, BY

THOMAS OKEY

MCMXIX
LONDON AND TORONTO

J. M. DENT & SONS, LTD.
PARIS: J. M. DENT & FILS

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INTRODUCTION

_ Tue basis of this work originally appeared in the

pages of the Journal of the Board of Agriculture during
_ the years Ig1I and 1912 ever the signatures of Mr.
_ W. P. Ellmore and the present writer. Revised by
_ Mr. Ellmore, the articles were published in 1913 by -
_ the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries in the form of
a pamphlet which is out of print. With the permis-
sion of the Board, and further revised and amplified
by Mr. Ellmore, they are now issued in book form to
the public at a price which it is hoped will ensure
_their wide and careful consideration and result in their
practical application.

The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have, of
‘course, no responsibility whatever for this book as
now issued.

Mr. Ellmore’s thanks are due to the Board for per-
“mission to reprint from the Journal of the Board of
Agriculture a chapter on “ Insect Pests’’ which appeared
in the issue of November 1917, and for the loan of
_the blocks of the photographs illustrating this volume.
_ The treatise on willow (or osier) cultivation here
‘offered to the public is the first attempt in English
to deal in a compendious and practical manner with
é much-neglected branch of agriculture. Among other
deficiencies in home supplies of raw material which
the war has revealed, that of willows for basket-making
purposes has been patent. The output of certain war
‘material and the harvesting and marketing of farm

Vi INTRODUCTION

produce have been seriously imperilled owing to the
failure of imports from the Continent and elsewhere
on which basket-makers and willow-workers have
hitherto relied for half their consumption. This defect
in the national resources is the more to be deplored
in that no country in the world is better adapted for
the cultivation of commercial willows than our own;
and noe crop, granting intelligent and skilful treatment,
affords a more profitable return to the grower. Indeed,
the elder Pliny in his Historia Naturalis (1. xvi, ¢. 60)
remarks that Cato held an osier bed in higher esti-
mation than an olive plantation or than wheat or
meadow land.

The writer of the present Introduction is able to
assure those concerned, from half a century’s practical
experience as a basket-maker and dealer in willows,
that the responsible author of the ensuing treatise,
Mr. W. P. Ellmore of Leicester, is second to none in
this country in possessing the expert knowledge and
matured judgment necessary to warrant the publica-
tion of a work of this nature—knowledge and judgment
based not only on English methods, but on those
adopted by continental growers in Belgium, Holland,
France and Germany.

A relevant. word which the present writer alone is
responsible for may not be inopportune. From time
immemorial commercial willows have been exclusively
propagated from cuttings, and the curious may learn
from Columella’s De ve Rustica (1. iv, c. 30) that the
methods employed in ancient Roman times for the
propagation and cultivation of osiers are substantially
those described in the present treatise. So enfeebled,
therefore, have the stocks become by artificial methods
of reproduction that the rods fall an easy prey to

— >, ——

_ heard of the matter.

\

INTRODUCTION vii

insect and fungoid pests. In a letter to the Board
of Agriculture (October 18, 1918) Mr. Ellmore stated:

“TI have just recently spent most of a fortnight in
looking round crops in this (Leicestershire) and other
districts, and I have never seen such general destruc-
tion before, arising from grubs of various kinds and
beetles. Varieties that have never been known-to be
attacked have suffered considerably this last season.”
The willow in its natural state, as a moncecious plant,
is reproduced by cross fertilisation. Under such con-

_ ditions it attains great vigour of growth, and its range
_ of distribution reaches to the line of perpetual snow.

An effective method, therefore, of combating destruc-
tive agencies, especially diseases of a fungoid nature,
would be to renew and fortify stocks by cross fertili-
sation, and thus increase their disease- and pest-

resisting power. Experiments in this direction have

already been made by a leading authority on the

_ order of Salices, the Rev. E. F. Linton, who between
_ 1891 and 1897 was able artificially to hybridise certain
_ species, and who believes that under suitable conditions
_ he could raise improved osiers by cross fertilisation.
_ The present writer.drew attention to this aspect of .

willow cultivation during Mr. Walter Runciman’s tenure

_ Of office, who expressed his great interest in the sug-
_ gested improvement of osier stocks by cross fertilisation,

and quite agreed in its possibility as a profitable

subject for research. The Minister also wrote that he
would see what he could do to bring it before the

notice of agricultural scientists. Nothing since has been

THOMAS OKEY.

1 A leaflet entitled ‘‘ Insect and Fungus Pests of Osiers and
Willows” is about to be issued by the Board of Agriculture
and Fisheries.

4 eS

CONTENTS

_ INTRODUCTION - é 2 ‘. : a ote ae

4 CHAPTER I
| Tue Cuttivation oF Basket WILLOWS . . ‘ I

Soil and Situation—Preparation of Grass and Arable Land—

Grubbing up Old Beds—Drainage—Supply of Labour—

altivation or Cleaning—Manuring—Harvesting—

are the Maiden Crop—Tying into Bundles and Carting
—Summary of Directions to.Willow Cultivators.

CHAPTER II
"EXPENSES AND RETURNS ns 27

Cost of Cultivation and Yield—Cost of Catting the Crop cia
Carrying Off.

CHAPTER III
VARIETIES OF WILLOWS . ‘ . 3 = motile: «|
’ CHAPTER IV
_ PREPARATION AND MARKETING , : ote ee

Preparation of the Rods— White Rida —B reparation for
Whitening—Couching—Pieing—Pitting—Peeling for White—
Breaks—Drying White Rods—Buffing—Suitable Varieties—
Time of Cutting—Boiling—Tanks for Boiling—Peeling Buff by
Hand and by Breaks—Drying for Buff—Grading and Tying into
Bundles—Brown and how to Preserve it.

CHAPTER V ~
Pests OF Basket WILLows . ; . 74

to Leaves and Terminal Buds—Dantage to Rods—
to Stumps—Insect Pests: Willow Aphides—Willow
Beetles— Willow Sawflies— Willow Moths— Willow Gall
Midges—Methods of Control.

CHAPTER VI
Wittows . 87

Salix cerudea or Blue Willow—Salix fragilis or ; Cock Willow
—Salix alba or White Willow—Salzx cerulea.

CHAPTER VII
PORTS AND Exports . F ; ‘. a
ix ‘s
}

_—

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PEELING FoR WHITE ° . : ; . Frontispiece

Facing page

PLANTING CHAIN . j ; ; ‘ : 8

GRUBBER : ; : . : ‘ ‘ 8

Hooks SUITABLE FOR CuTTING WILLOWS . Maes

Rops In THE CoucH ; : , , ee.

MACHINES FOR PEELING WILLOW Rops . 56

. BRAKES md i! 34 c aa Ee ea ee

. WHITE Rops out To Dry ; : : 69

GRADING WILLOWS INTO DIFFERENT LENGTHS . 69

MACHINE FOR TyiING WILLOW Rops FoR EXPoRT 72
STEEL PEG AND CHAIN FOR TIGHTENING THE

BUNDLE i F ‘ ‘ ; , eae f

. MACHINE FOR Ty1InGc WILLow Rops . ‘ o tea

ss a ra * eR $ Alea f

A WILLOW TREE. ‘ ; , : 88

OSIERS AND WILLOWS

CHAPTER I
THE CULTIVATION OF BASKET WILLOWS

: THE term “basket willows”’ defines those species
of plants of the genus Salix which are grown for the
making of basket-ware.

willows into two main groups, viz.; (1) Hard rods, and
(2) Soft rods. While these terms are used in a relative
sense only, they indicate the main difference existing
etween the two classes. The “hardness” of a rod
depends upon the proportion of wood to the pith in
any given rod, as well as upon the closeness in the
texture of the wood itself. ‘‘ Hardness,” therefore,
in the sense that it is used by the basket-makers, is
determined by the working qualities of the rod for
basket-making. Hard rods belong to the species S.
triandra and S. amygdalina. The soft varieties belong
to the species vzminalis and are more open grained in
the wood. They contain more pith, and as the rods
bOssess working qualities somewhat inferior to the
nard rods described above they are termed “ Soft
. ” by the willow-workers.

7

2 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

tops.” Rods of S. purpurea and most of the varieties
of S. triandva and S. amygdalina are more pointed,
hence the name of “ fine tops.” The rods of the S.
purpurea and alba have both a fine top, but not so
fine as the t#zandra. In some districts the term
“osier ’’ is applied to all rods of the viminalis class,
the rest being called ‘‘ willows,’’ but both these terms
are used quite loosely and irrespective of species.

In making a selection of varieties for planting, a
grower naturally wishes to choose those sorts that will
ultimately yield him the best return financially. Owing
to continental competition the market gardeners’
basket-making ‘industry has in late years undergone -
changes, the tendency being for English workers to
produce high-class goods and to leave the making of a
large quantity of the cheaper baskets to other countries.
It is, therefore, difficult to find a market for rods which
are badly grown or of poor quality, but rods of better
quality when peeled and prepared as “white” or
* buff,’ are in more demand than hitherto.

Growers should certainly plant more than one sort
to meet variations in season, which may suit one kind
better than another; but it seems almost essential
that the larger proportion planted should consist of
varieties suitable for ‘‘ white’ or “ buff” rods. Soft
rods being vigorous growers are suitable for producing
large sticks, which are much required by all makers of
basket furniture and transit hampers.

A basket-maker having willow grounds naturally
grows those sorts which are the most suitable for his
business, and in cases where a constant local demand
for a certain class of rod exists, it is generally good
policy on the part of the grower to cater for it, provided
the soil of his district is suitable.

CULTIVATION OF BASKET WILLOWS 3

SoIL AND SITUATION

_ Basket willows are to be found growing in river
sys in all parts of the United Kingdom, but the
most extensive beds are found in the valleys of the
rivers Thames, Parret, Kennet, Great Ouse, Cam, Soar,
Trent, Stow and Welland.
Willows of one kind or another will do reasonably
ell on most soils, and where there is a loam of from
6 to 8 in., with a stiff marl or clay subsoil, there need
be little doubt as to the results being satisfactory.
Ideal land for willows should allow of irrigation during
summers. During the months of May to August
ilmost every one of the best fine-top kinds will do better
ii aidedin this way. _
_ In order to meet this condition I have employed
near Loughborough a Hornsby 4 h.p. oil engine,
nounted on a concrete bed, standing 6 ft. above the
evel of the land; together with a centrifugal pump
pable of pumping from a well at the rate of 20,000
allons per hour. The water was for the purposes of
this bed distributed by double-armed delivery pipes
© portable troughs—15 ft. long by 7 in. wide and
9s in. deep; the bottoms being #? in. thick and the
des 2 in. These troughs were connected by an
idditional piece of wood secured under the bottom,
ind two pieces forming flaps at the sides. They
yere extended to the highest point of the land upon
temporary “‘ horses,” consisting-of two supports made
rom 2 in. willow poles driven into the ground, and a
averse piece across the top, graduated with sufficient
all to carry the water to the furthest point, where
he main discharge is made. Fine-top rods aided in
his way maintain a constant healthy growth.

4 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

It is necessary that the ground should be well —
drained to avoid the injury to the crop which would —
arise from excess of wet during the winter months.
The life of the heads, the quality of material, and the
yield are very materially affected by wet and cold. —
S. triandra and S. purpurea will do best under damp
and moderately heavy soil conditions. Other varieties,
chiefly those of the S. viminalis species (the true osier)
will thrive under much drier conditions. |

It should be clearly understood that willows of
commercial value will not grow on wet, undrained, —
swampy or peaty ground. |

At the same time the situation of the willow holt —
should be such that the long spreading-rootlets of the
plant can draw upon abundance of moisture at all
times. These conditions can best be fulfilled by low-—
lying land in the neighbourhood of rivers or water- —
courses. The water-course provides a cheap and easy
means of carriage from the holt to the ‘a aga
yards.

PREPARATION OF GRASS AND ARABLE LAND

As arule arable lands not equal to meadow, because
it usually lacks that high state of fertility which follows
the breaking up of old turf. Even in the case of old
turf it is found that the willow crop greatly benefits
by the headlands having a good, heavy dressing of
manure ploughed in. No willow crops grow so wellon
the outside as on the sheltered, inside portion; conse-
quently the extra stimulus to the poorer fringe—which
is exhausted by tree and hedge growth—will bring the

1 The types of soil best suited to the different varieties are
discussed in the section on ‘‘ Varieties of Willows.”

THE CULTIVATION OF BASKET WILLOWS 5

outside more into character with the rest of the field.
It is sometimes stated that willow growing impoverishes
he land, but this is not the case, as may be judged
“from the following example :—

Some twenty-five years ago 40 acres of good, heavy,
able land at Thurmaston, near Leicester, were taken
‘by a grower for willow cultivation, and after being
fallowed for one summer to clean it from twitch, etc.,
‘about 60 loads of well-rotted farmyard manure to
z ong acre were applied before ploughing 12 in. deep.
The land was planted in the following spring with
satisfactory results. It was cropped for fifteen years,
when it was taken over and cultivated by a successor,
who, during 1909 and 1910, grubbed it up and turned
it again into corn land. In the autumn of IgI1r it
yielded eight quarters of excellent marketable wheat
to the acre, and was sown again with wheat the
following season, producing seven quarters to the acre.
Instead of willow growing impoverishing land, the
heavy foliage which falls each autumn materially
enriches it, especially if the leaves are turned under
the soil for some 2 or 3 in. in the wake of the
cutters.

_ Of the recognised ways of breaking up grass land,
double digging unquestionably produces the best
results. That method, however, although showing by
lar the best after-returns, is a very expensive one, and
is only recommended where the area is small, or where
the land is unsuitable for the plough.

A strong and specially made plough may be em-
ployed, fitted with a revolving cutting knife in front
the coulter to cut the grass about 3 in. deep, followed
by a skimmer about 5 in. wide, and fitted with a 24-in
wheel for the furrow. The breast-plate of this plough

6 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

should be much longer and have more throw-over
than that of the ordinary plough, to enable it to turn
over the ridge or seam and lay it as flat as possible, and
plough the soil not less than 9 in. deep. This process
gives the young roots a better chance of penetrating
the deeper soil. The cost of this method works out,
including the after-harrowing, at £3 4s. per acre; it

needs six horses and a more than usually strong ©
ploughman, owing to the great depth to be turned up —
and to the exceptional strength required to handle
and turn round such a heavy plough. It is only —

recommended where there are no Specatly: undesirable
weeds in the land.

If weeds such as burnet, docks, reed grass, pilewort;
and meadow-sweet are present, a double course of
ploughing to break up the land is very desirable. An
ordinary plough with two horses should go first and

take off about 3 in. of turf. This should be followed —

by the stronger plough with six stout horses, as de-
scribed above, in order to break up the subsoil to a
further depth of 9 in. This system, which, together
with the harrowing, costs about £3 18s. per acre (pre-

war price), enables the turf to be laid flat at the bottom

of the furrow, and as the head of the burnet is shielded

in the turf, it is largely killed. This weed is difficult

to eradicate, and if odd patches of it appear again the -

following summer, the most effectual treatment is to

have the patches forked out. Hoeing tends to pro-—

pagate rather than kill, and if the men employed use

4

reasonable care the roots of the willows will not be

damaged by the forking process.

In preparing for osiers at Loughborough in 1910 it
was found that the use of a steam cultivator was the
most efficacious way of getting rid of large masses of

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*

THE CULTIVATION OF BASKET WILLOWS 7

burnet. The field was dragged both ways to a depth
of about 4in.; then the land was left exposed to the sun
for several weeks, and the same double operation
repeated for the purpose of further breaking up the
turf. After five weeks’ longer exposure the process
was repeated, the drag going twice over the ground on
each occasion. The last operation completely broke
up the whole of the turf, the root portion of the burnet
_ by this time being withered, although quite alive where
embedded in the turf; thus the head part of the plant
_ was exposed to the action of the sun in the months of
September and October, and all growth destroyed.
The land was then ploughed to an inclusive depth of
to in., six horses being engaged for this work. Left
thus until the first week of the following February,
_ the ground was found to~be in excellent workable
condition, and was accordingly harrowed over twice;
the. soil, being broken down like an ordinary garden
soil, was ready for planting at the end of the month.

GRUBBING UP OLD BEDS

In cases where an old willow bed is to be replanted
the presence of the old stumps prevents the use of
the plough, and the usual practice is to dig up the
stumps during the autumn and winter months, at the
time the land is being trenched or dug. The old stumps
_ are collected in heaps, and, when dry, they are burnt
and the ashes scattered over the land. This entails
much labour and is necessarily costly, the prices paid
varying considerably up to 2s. per perch, according
to the scale of wages in the district, the nature of

the soil to be dug, and the number of heads to be
pulled up. 4

8 * OSIERS AND WILLOWS

I use for grubbing purposes a tool specially de-
signed to lever the old stumps out of the ground
(see illustration, Fig. 2). The tool should be of much
use to willow growers in the future, as it will enable
the work to be done quicker and at less expense, since,
when the old stumps have been cleared, the land may
be ploughed as indicated above.

In Berkshire and East Anglia the beds are replanted
with sets in-the following spring, and in both districts
there are many fields that have been cropped with
willows continuously for over a hundred years. The
practice, however, is not advisable in all districts, and

in Somerset the growers prefer to give their land a —

short change before replanting. There, the land
which has been cleared of the old stumps and dug over

is left fallow for a summer; in the autumnitis ploughed ~

up into ridges and replanted with sets during the
following spring. Quite recently a few of the growers
in thaf district have grown one crop of wheat on the
land before replanting it to willows—a practice to be
commended at the present time.

* Unfortunately the fertile land usually found in the
willow districts abounds with weeds of various kinds,
and an energetic effort must be made to clean the land
by harrowing and dragging it in the spring. In cases
where the weeds are very numerous and troublesome,
it may be necessary to summer fallow the land, to clean
it thoroughly for planting during the following spring.
It is highly important that such weeds as dock, rushes,
reeds, grasses, pilewort, meadow-sweet, convolvulus,
and burnet be cleared off, as they seriously interfere
with the growth of willows.. Such weeds are difficult
to eradicate by cutting when once the willows have
been planted. —

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é

Fic. 1.—A PLANTING CHAIN, Fic. 2.—‘*‘ GRUBBER,”
Which is provided with rings at Or tool used for pulling old stools
intervals of every 20 in. At this from the land when the holt is

ring the set or cutting is pushed being grubbed up.
into the ground.

To face page 8.

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THE CULTIVATION OF BASKET WILLOWS 9

Whatever system is adopted, the aim should be to.
cultivate the soil to a depth of 9 or Io in. so as to reduce
it to a loose, friable condition, free from any trouble-
_ some weeds.

DRAINAGE

_ Sufficient attention is seldom paid to the question
of drainage. Before planting willows on fresh land
_ it is important that a proper system of drainage should
be devised and carried out. If this is done, frequent
and heavy floodings will not be harmful to the willows.
‘Surface drainage must be accomplished by means of
_trenches or grips, and pipe drainage i is absolutely useless
because in a few years the pipes become choked with
“root growths. The number and size of trenches
required will be determined by the character of the
tand, and the quantity of water to be removed.

_ Sewage farms are usually thrown up into beds with
‘open grips on each side. Although willows grown on
this system have in most instances proved a complete
failure, this is entirely owing to the unsuitable varieties
which have been planted. The variety S. hippo-
_phatfolia is the only species suitable for this intensive
‘system of culture. It has stood the tést of time and
‘yields a quality equal to many rods produced under
ordinary conditions. For all work where a full top is
‘desirable it is probably unequalled, and will make
excellent white, buff or brown.

SUPPLY OF LABOUR

eit is inadvisable to attempt willow growing exten-
sively where there is any scarcity of labour. No

Io OSIERS AND WILLOWS

branch of agriculture needs so much expenditure for
labour per acre as that of willow growing if the ground
is efficiently cultivated, and the produce properly
sorted, graded, peeled, and prepared.

In many districts of England, willows «are in con-
siderable demand unpeeled, either green or brown,
7.é. dried. The difficulty of obtaining an abundant
supply of labour is in these districts surmounted by
cutting the crops in the winter—usually from December
to March—when work is slack. But conditions are
considerably altered when the willows are to be peeled
for buff, an operation which is generally carried on by

women in the winter months, or for white, in the

months of May, June, and July, just at the time when
labour is in demand.

PLANTING

Land trenched or ploughed in the autumn will be
ready for planting as soon as it has settled down into

a firm bed. This will usually be about the end of ©
February or during March, but, if the land was pre- —
pared before the autumn, the sets may be planted any

time between November and March.
The general method of planting is to use an Italian

hemp cord of three-ply with strips of linen passed —

between the strands of the cord at regular intervals as
indicators for the sets, the distances at which the
strips are placed being determined by the variety being
planted. (For distances of the different varieties see
particulars given under the heading“ Varieties of
Willows.) This method often throws the sets out
of their true distances, because in the length recom-
mended (40 yds.) the cord varies according to the

THE CULTIVATION OF BASKET WILLOWS 11

dryness or humidity of the atmosphere. This method,
however, will probably be found as.useful as any other
in the case of a small area.
A still less expensive way is to use any kind of cord
as a guide for the straight lines and to cut a stick
equal in length to the distances between the plants,
and using that as a guide for planting.
__ To overcome the difficulty created by a shortening
or lengthening of the cord, a planting chain may be
used, somewhat similar to those employed by land
surveyors, with I-in. rings inserted at equal distances
as guides for the planter. © Every third link should be
fitted with a swivel, to prevent the twisting or kinking
of the chain (see illustration, Fig. 1).
It is customary for willow growers, alike in.Great
_ Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, and Holland, to
_ plant closer in the rows than between the rows. Plant-
_ing in squares, 7. e. at equal distances between heads
and rows, but varying according to the natural growth
of each particular variety, has, however, decided
_ advantages. “Square planting ’’ enables the cleaning
for the first few years to be done by the horse-hoe in
both directions. 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 even growth,
since the roots have an equal quantity of soil all round
from which to draw food.
_ Either one- or two-year-old sets may be used for
propagation purposes, but unquestionably two-year-
olds are the best. Some growers prefer the 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

12 _ OSIERS AND WILLOWS

are cut from the butts of a badly grown two-year-old
crop, as they often are in the case of inexperienced or
careless growers. The practice recommended, how-
ever, is to leave the best-grown and healthiest one-yeas-
old rods for two years’ growth. F

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 for the younger or one-year-old rod holds
good.

j

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

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 being thinner and less hardy. With
dry winds and an absence of showers in the months of
April and May one-year-old sets will very often die
or sicken, whilst two-year-old sets, being much stouter
and_their bark far thicker, will withstand the dry time
more successfully.

Twelve inches is the best length to cut the sets.
They must be cut on the slant for inserting in the
ground; but the end which is to remain out of the
ground should be cut nearly straight and just above
_ aneye. With this extra care very few sets will show
any dead wood, and a nicely-shaped head will be the
result. The cutting of the sets must be performed
with a sharp knife, in order not to bruise the bark or
wood. They must be buried so that about 1 in. is
left exposed above the surface, and the eyes must

always point upwards. The land, being freshly

_ THE CULTIVATION OF BASKET WILLOWS 133

_ broken up, will subside a little during the summer,
leaving the head about 2 in. out of the ground. If the
' sets are cut longer the extra length is wasted, because
_ the roots seldom strike more than ro in. below the
_ surface, whilst if the sets are left higher out of the
_ ground the crop—after the close of the growing season
_ —will be needlessly exposed to the winter winds, which
_ May sway the heads to such an extent as to loosen them
_ and indirectly kill them by the admission of frost and
' water. Particularly is this the case with the first,
or maiden, crop, on account of the small root growth.
_ The closer the head or stool is to the ground, the less
it suffers from storms. Many French growers are
accustomed to plant sets at an angle of 45° on the
supposition that they thus root more freely. This is
» believed to be an error, and is now bere discarded in
- favour of vertical planting.
_ Sets can be purchased from most willow growers
at prices ranging from 15s. to {1 per 1000 sets,
' including packing for travelling. The price varies
with the variety of willow, and the age of the
sets required. Those from two-year-old rods always
realise a higher price than those cut from one-year-
_ olds.
When buying it is indispensable that every set
should be true to its kind, so as to produce an even and
‘true crop. This point cannot be sufficiently empha-
‘sised. The growing of a mixed crop of willows is to be
_ guarded against as the taller varieties would overshadow
' the shorter varieties and the coarser and more robust
growers would crowd out the slower growing varieties.
The mixed crop, too, when cut would be troublesome
to peel as the dissimilar rods would attain their best
peeling period at different times.

14 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

Having regard to the importance of sets being
supplied from healthy cuttings, a guarantee-should be
obtained from the supplier, who, if he is a man that
understands his business, will have no hesitation in
giving it, that the cuttings are true to their respective
names or kinds, and cut from rods which were not
in the previous season attacked by aphis or any
disease.

Growers should always plant more than one sort to
meet variations in seasons, which may suit one kind
better than another. It is indispensable that every
species or variety be planted true to its kind. This
point cannot be sufficiently emphasised, because
different kinds produce marked contrasts in quality,
even when the treatment is identical, and when this
is the case the market for high-class manufactured
goods is either lost or a much lower price realised.
Nothing from the standpoint of the skilled worker is
worse than to see several sorts of material in his product.
By planting several sorts the requirements of an all-
round trade will be met, and the longest time possible
be gained for harvesting the crop. Between the sap
rising in the earliest and the latest sorts there is some-
times a period of three weeks.

CULTIVATION OR CLEANING

After the ground is planted it is most essential that
all weeds should be kept down by hoeing. Weeds, if
allowed to spread, not only affect the growth of the
willows, but also the quality of the material. Especi-
ally is this the case with the finest and choicest kinds
of willows when one year old. Any saving effected

THE CULTIVATION OF BASKET WILLOWS 15

by sparing the hoe is more than lost when the crop is
to be used for white or buff peeling, because the
_ grasses have then to be sorted out by hand—a tedious
and cold operation at that period and involving tying
“up twice. The net result would be a saving of {1
‘in the summer, and an expenditure of {1 5s. in the
winter.

In the case of maiden crops, hoeing right up to
August 1 is resorted to, in order to maintain the
surface of the soil in a loose condition. If this is
‘allowed to bake or crack, many heads will be found
dead the following spring, and the grower will be
fortunate if failure to keep the top soil open does not
render the crop subject) to disease. It should be re-
membered that a heavy strain is imposed on the plants,
which are endeavouring to develop simultaneously a
shoot growth above ground, and a root growth below.
For lack of sufficient hoeing during the first year many
acres may be destroyed by green fly and honey dew,
especially if the spring proves to be a dry one; and
this not only results in a year’s loss of growth, but also
necessitates planting again the following season. In
he case of older heads the hoeing ought not to be dis-
continued so long as the men can move freely in the
op, generally up to the middle of June. By that
ime the willows begin to make such rapid growth
that they smother all the undergrowth, and only
in the outside rows will any further attention be
equired.

Several methods are adopted for keeping the land
slean. One found most suitable in Leicestershire is”
the employment of a three-tined horse-hoe with an
arrow-head shaped blade on the front and two L-shaped
‘blades behind. This can only be used if great care is

a,

16 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

exercised to prevent barking the head by striking it
with the hoe, thereby occasioning considerable ex-
haustion of the plant, and consequently a defective
crop. Moreover, this hoe can only be brought into
play for the first year or two, whilst the heads are
sufficiently small, and the spaces allow a pony or
small horse to travel between the rows. A swan-
necked hoe will usually be found the best tool for
this purpose.

For the purpose of filling up a bed in after years,
it is a good plan to allocate a small portion of the ©
ground devoted to each variety for transplanting
purposes. When necessary take up an entire plant,
cutting off all the rods except two of the best grown
ones, and nicely and cleanly cutting back the roots;
place this in the space from which you have taken a
dead head and leave it to grow for two years, after
which you may cut it down, and by this means keep
your ground in a thoroughly healthy planted-up
condition.

In Lancashire where the variety Dicky Meadows
is extensively grown a unique method of cultivation
is practised. In the early spring a double-breasted
ridging plough is run down the centre of the rows
one way; this breaks up the soil and banks it near
the heads of the plants, which are in this district
planted from 9 in. to 10 in. apart and 21 in. between
the rows. After the soil has assumed a nice crumbly
condition, a scuffler is run down between the rows,
thus clearing the soil from the heads and levelling
the whole.

The Board of Agriculture issue a leaflet (No. 112)
which contains useful advice on the suppression of
weeds.

THE CULTIVATION OF BASKET WILLOWS 17

MANURING

_ Many of the willow holts are flooded during the
inter months, and the thick sediment left contains
valuable plant food. In such instances no other
dressing is required. It is a good plan to give poor
holts a top dressing with farmyard manure, by the
id of which the yield is said to be increased._ Mr.
Hutchinson, of the Midland Agricultural College,
found that a dressing of sulphate of ammonia increased
the length of the rods grown, but states that the result
‘of applying superphosphate (36 per cent. soluble) at
the rate of 5 cwt. per acre, sulphate of potash at the
‘rate of 3 cwt. per acre, and sulphate of ammonia at
the rate of 1} cwt. per acre, together at four different
centres, showed that the plots had received advantage
from the treatment, but the increased crop did not pay
for the cost of the manures.

' It has been found that lime considerably sweetens
‘and fertilises soils having a sluggish drainage and a
tendency to grow moss, but lime may not be suitable
to all classes of soil and all situations. The practical
agriculturist will determine for himself whether its
application is suitable or otherwise. It may be of
considerable interest to growers to know that willow
Deelings, up to now regarded as a by-product of no
value, form excellent manure for potato growing and _
Other purposes. It was demonstrated in 1906 by
Messrs. Sutton & Sons on their experimental grounds
‘at Reading, that this manure, used at the rate of
30 tons per acre, produced a heavier crop than farm-
ard manure at the same rate. The peelings are

a eed to lie on the ground and rot for twelve months
c

18 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

or more before use. Peelings have also been used with
success for cucumbers and vegetable marrows, and
celery grown by the aid of willow peelings always
obtained first prize at a Midland Counties show. The
peelings, when ground down into a fine powder, are
found to be a fine fertiliser for many kinds of
plants.

HARVESTING

The termination of the growth and the ripening of
the wood will be determined better by the fall of the
leaf than by the calendar. This stage varies in England
from the end of October to the middle of November.
When the leaf has nearly all fallen the rods are ready
for cutting, but it is not advisable to commence cutting
at this early period except for the purpose of buffing,
which operation should be begun on the earliest possible
date, in order to take full advantage of the short mild
season before Christmas.

It will be found profitable to leave a portion of the
one-year-old crop standing for two-year-olds. This
undoubtedly gives the heads a rest, and the succeeding
crop of one-year-olds will be found taller and heavier
than that from the heads which have been cut each
year. This practice might be carried out about every
fifth or sixth year. Another good practice is to cut
out with a sharp knife or fine shears all the smaller or

rough growths. This will amply repay the grower for —

the labour expended, for, if left on the heads, these
worthless growths will draw a certain amount of
vitality from the head, and ultimately get smothered

by the more vigorous rods, and need to be sorted out

“anlysyIog pue yasiauiog ul pasn aytuyy—"y ; ;
‘(az1s TVALOV f) SMOTTIM ONILLAD YOU AlavLiIns sHoop{—'f ‘oI

THE CULTIVATION OF BASKET WILLOWS 19

when cut. There is always a very keen demand for
_ well-grown two-year-old rods of good quality, either
_ as buff or white, for manufacturing strong hampers,
_ such as are largely used in the hosiery-making dis-
| tricts, as well as in Yorkshire and Lancashire. These
_ two-year-olds are required for staking, or lid and
_ bottom sticks, around which the one-year-old rods
_ are worked.

_ Cutting is usually done by men with knives illus-
| trated (Fig. 3). In no circumstances must this part
' of the work be performed in a slipshod or careless
'manner: The knife must be inserted on the outer
» side of the rods, and cut inwards and upwards, quite
_ close to the head, with a sharp and clear cut, free from
_ split wood or torn bark. When the cutters are careless
| many small spurs will remain on the head, and since
| these spurs form the butt end of the rod, much weight
' of material is sacrificed. Moreover, as the crop is
| sold by weight, a needless financial loss is the result.
| The spurs also invariably die off during the next grow-
’ ing season, dead wood accumulates, and still further
| and longer spurs are left when cutting time again comes
round, until in the course of a few years the head,
which should at no period be larger than a cocoanut,
is frequently found as big as a cabbage. Round this
' accumulate moss and various fungoid growths, and the
bearing capacity of the head is reduced in some in-
_ stances quite 50 per cent. When some of the spurs
' live, as frequently happens, they throw off many
_ small and half-developed rods, tending to the earlier
_ exhaustion of the head. Cutting the maiden crop,
_ Over which too much care cannot be shown, and on
? which the future compact head-formation depends,
_ should be done by day workers. Afterwards cutting

20 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

is invariably done on piece-work terms. All sickly
heads should be removed each winter, and the vacant
places filled by well-grown one-year-olds of entire
length, or tall-grown two-year-olds cut off at the
start of the two-years’ growth. A still better method
is to set apart a small plot of ground and grow yearly
a sufficient number of each variety for transplanting,
in which case the cuttings may be set 12 in. square.
. The tap root and also the longest and weakest of the
fibres should be shortened a little with a sharp knife,
care being taken to leave no ragged wounds to bleed
when active growth should be in progress. Only one
shoot, the longest and strongest, should be left on the
head. A healthy transplanted maiden head will never
fail to establish itself. In this way the life may be
prolonged almost indefinitely. A willow ground
cultivated as directed will last fully twenty years in a
full-bearing condition, and still be a profitable source
of income for ten years longer. —

THE MAIDEN CROP

Good first-year crops are sometimes grown on the
best land, but more generally the crop is of little value
owing to the plant having to make root development
and shoot above at the same time, and at times the
crop does not pay for cutting. If allowed to remain
on the head, they would only produce poor second-
year rods, and thus the financial result for the second
year would also be poor. The majority of growers,
therefore, make it a practice to cut the maiden crop
during the first winter which follows the planting.
The object of this cutting is to give the grower the

—

_ THE CULTIVATION OF BASKET WILLOWS 21

chance of securing a satisfactory crop during the
_ second season.

_ On the contrary, a well-known grower states that
; the maiden crop should never be cut until the second
' year, on the ground that the young plants will have
_ expended little energy in shoot formation and root
_ growth will have been encouraged; but when this is
_ the case the rods are extremely tender, and on account
_ of the plant not having proper root support the rods
_ will be found only suitable for sale as brown, that is,
_ withthe barkon. The third-year crop will compensate
_ for all previous loss.

TYING INTO BUNDLES AND CARTING

_ As soon as the willow cutters have cleared sufficient
ground they proceed to tie the rods into bundles,
often called bolts or bunches, with willow bands of
_ regulation sizes. The size varies with each willow
_ area throughout the country, but is constant for each
particular district.

In the Midlands the bundles are tied each 36 in. in
girth, the band being fixed 8 in. from the butts.
Somerset growers tie up in “bolts” of 38 in. The
bolt of Berkshire and East Anglia is recognised as
-42in.in girth. In the Isle of Ely and East Anglia the
‘Tods are bunched green with a girth of 45 in.

_ Carting of the ground in many instances presents
| a very serious obstacle, owing to the uncertainty of
' the weather and the natural conditions of the soil in
4 the months between December and March, when much
| of the cutting is done. I have introduced and had
in use a special vehicle for twenty years, and have

22 ‘OSIERS AND WILLOWS

found it possible to use it in almost all conditions
of the weather, when it was possible for the cutters
to work. It is a very lightly constructed vehicle, and
the wheels are boxed so that there are no spokes
visible, and two iron tyres about 3$ in. wide by # in.
thick are placed on each side of the wheel, which
enables it to be run over the ordinary macadamised -
roads without detriment to the wood of which the
wheel is formed. The axle is an ordinary Warners
patent. The body is raised from the axle by V-shaped
supports, and another support of the same character
from the centre of the body to the inside flange of the
axle. Two loose swing-hooks are placed on the sides
for roping the load down. The total weight of the
cart is under 6 cwt., and there is not the slightest
difficulty in drawing off the ground with an ordinary
cob loads of from 20 to 22 cwt.

Dimensions—

ft. in.
Length inside bottom of body. 6-4
Width _e,, ou s : 7 ees 2
Depth _e,, ts ws 53
Length ,, top of body 6 4%
Width ” ” ” + 43
Depth from ground over all eae
Diameter of wheel 3. 64
Width e 11}
Width over axle caps 6 33

“Summary of Directions as-to Willow Cultivation

1. Cuttings should always be used for planting a
willow ground. If two-year-old cuttings are used,
arrangements should be made twelve months before

| THE CULTIVATION OF BASKET WILLOWS 23

_ they are required, in order to ensure not only that the
' requisite sorts are delivered, but that the sets are cut
_-from strong, healthy stock. Some surplus plants should
- also be planted for replacing any sickly or dead heads
that may be found in the ground in the following year.
¥ Care should be taken in lifting surplus cuttings not to
_ fracture the roots. Failing two-year-old réds, strong,
_ healthy, full-length one-year-old rods may be used.
_ If two-year-old rods are used, they should be cut
__ off at the top of the first year’s growth.

| 2. After planting, it is of the greatest importance
_ for the first two years that a good loose tilth should
' be maintained on the top, especially where the soil is
strong and liable to crack in a dry period. The rows

_ Must be kept clean by hoeing, in order to prevent
‘ weeds from choking or retarding the growth of the
willows.

_ 3. Willows will not thrive on water-logged land, in

_ peat bog, or in dry soil of a sandy character. The

' best soil for a willow ground is a strong loam, in a

» position where it can be flooded at will, though the

' land must be well drained to provide against an
abnormally rainy season.

4. In England willows may safely be planted at any
| time from the end of October to the middle of April,
_ March being, perhaps, the best time if autumn planting
' is not resorted to. October planting is in all respects
_ equal to spring planting, and allows other work to be
_ done, such as cutting, sorting, and preparing for the
— cleaning and peeling season.

_ 5. If possible, a good cultivator should be employed
eto break up the ground; this is more economical than
digging, and almost as good in its results.
__ This work should be carried out in ample time, to make

24 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

certain of the land being in proper condition for the
subsequent planting, for, if the cuttings are stuck into
unbroken clods of soil, success can scarcely be expected
to follow. ~

6. The best sorts should be procured, no matter at
what cost, for basket willows. The cuttings must be
healthy, and not have been retarded in the prévious
season by attacks of insects, and they must be adapted
to the requirements of the market for which the produce
is intended. A mixed crop is only of small value,
whilst it involves a deal of extra labour at peeling time.
Moreover, a little additional trouble and expense at

the outset is well repaid, since a willow ground will -

last from twenty to thirty years if properly cut and

cared for. All new plantations should be protected

against ground game, for even the shoots of the bitter

varieties of willows are not proof against rats, rabbits, —

or hares.

7. After the cuttings have been planted, the ground
around them should be thoroughly trodden down;
if this is done in a slovenly manner many cuttings
will die.

8. If the bark of a cutting is much chafed or entirely
broken, the cutting should not be used.

9. Basket willows will not pay if planted in small,
out-of-the-way corners. Any patches of spare land
may be planted for poles or timber, but not for basket
willows.

10. Willows make good wind screens or nurse trees,

and the species known as S,. vepens will grow on ~

the seashore sand-dunes. It forms an excellent
shelter for seaside gardens and promenades, and is
largely used at the best French coast resorts and golf
grounds for that purpose. Some willows will grow on

Ss Te

i p
es . ee

“SHE CULTIVATION OF BASKET WILLOWS 25

land occasionally overflowed with salt water, provided
it is suitable in other respects, whilst slightly brackish
_ tidal water suits all vigorous-growing sorts, as can be
seen on the islands and banks of the Thames, Severn,
Trent,*etc.

_ 1. Willows, when planted on the banks of rivers,
possess an additional value by preventing denudation ;
_ their long, fibroys roots have great range and tenacity,
_ and the shoots, if cut every two or three years, can be
_ readily sold as sticks.

_ 12. Thé inclusive cost of planting good-quality
_ basket willows was before the war about {1 5s. per
_ thousand or a little over, based on 19,360 plants per
-acre, the number necessary if planted 18 in. by 18in.,
which is the best distance for the choicer sorts.

_ 13. All cuttings should be inserted in the ground
_ from ro in. to II. in.

14. The number of cuttings required for an imperial
acre is as follows :—

Planted 16in. by 16in. . P . 24,502
_1z8in. by 18in. . ; . 19,360
20in. by 20in. . : . 15,681
22in. by 22in. . , . 12,960
24in. by 24in. . ; . 10,890
27in. by 27in. . . . 8,604
30in. by30in. . : . 6,970
36in. by 36in. . . . 4,840

15. When cuttings are planted with a view to grow-
= timber trees, all the first-year shoots should be cut
“to the ground, and any defective or crooked shoots
‘temoved at the end of the second year, leaving straight,
clean stems to grow on for timber.

26 OSIERS AND WILLOWS ~

16. Pollarding a willow destroys its value as

timber suitable for bat-makers. The produce from —

a pollard tree can only be used for fencing purposes ;
moreover, the head harbours all kinds of noxious

insects, and wet and frost soon destroy the heart of —

the trunk,

ts

z 4
ge Be, Oe eae ee eT Re

‘CHAPTER II

EXPENSES AND RETURNS

a a Cost oF CULTIVATION AND YIELD
_ THE cost of preparing the land and establishing a
basket-willow holt varies much more than in the case
of the ordinary farm crop; consequently there is also
a wide variation in the returns per acre. The initial
Outlay is very heavy, and in some cases {12 per acre
is expended on double digging alone, but ploughing
is cheaper and is probably quite satisfactory. It is
important to bear in mind that a willow ground poorly
managed will not pay, but well managed will return
good profit. Willow growing certainly requires an
exact knowledge of the nature of the land, the require-
ments of the willow plants, the treatment of the rods,
and the marketing of the same.
' The rent of the land too varies considerably. In the
Somerset area the rent of willow-growing land is
yenerally between £4 and £5 per acre, and little can
2 obtained at a lower price. In the Soar Valley and
Trent Basin the rent ranges from {1 tos. to £2 Ios.
er acre when the ground consists of several acres.
sher rentals are paid where the ground is less than
‘an acre. In the Isle of Ely the rent is nearer {1 to
£1 10s. peracre. In Berkshire much of the willow land
is of little value for any other purpose, but in the best
willow-growing districts in that country the rent
ranges from {1 10s. to {3.

27

28 ‘ OSIERS AND WILLOWS

It is now proposed to indicate the approximate cost
of preparing, planting, cultivating, and cutting per

acre,,and to give estimates for the probable yield for —

the first three years.

In estimates of this sort very great variations are
possible in the cost of labour, rents and rates, and, what
is of even greater importance, in the cost of the cuttings.

These were purchasable at from ros. to £1 per 1000, —

before the war, and the number required may vary
from 24,500 per acre if planted 16 in. by 16 in. to only
4840 when set out for the purpose of growing sticks.
The following particulars should, however, enable any
intending grower to estimate, approximately, the cost
to him, according to local conditions. The figures for
cuttings refer to selected healthy cuttings about 12 in.
long, true to name, and of the best varieties of tviandra,
varieties costing 15s. per 1000 at the grower’s.

The first column represents labour at a wage of
£1 5s. per week. The second column, which represents
the equivalent cost in the spring of 1918, is based upon
the foreman’s labour of £2 a week and ordinary
willow-ground workers at {1 17s. per week. The
figures are more or less approximate from the fact
that no extensive planting has come to my notice this
season.

th
o.9
on

Ploughing old Turf, per acre
19,360 Cuttings (18 in. by 18 in.),

£

4 4
including packing and carriage . I5 0 Oo Ig I0 O
Planting, if let by the piece . egestas tue : IIo oO
First year—hoeing four times over 2 10 0 3 10 O@
Rent and Rates . . oe ELS II5 0
Cutting and Carrying off ees 1 5
Interest on outlay 4 £5) $20 1.32
26 15 Oo 33 17 0
es eee eee

|
1
.
’

— oe

ee a

~~ oie

a

3

p

es

EXPENSES AND RETURNS 29

' The returns to be set against this expenditure vary
very much, and are dependent on the season. Some
land planted at Barrow, Leicestershire, with Black

: old at £4 2s. 6d. per ton on the ground after it was cut,
Ww in another case many acres were planted the
following spring, and, owing to the very hot and dry
‘Summer, the crop did not pay for cutting. This is
the “usual risk experienced by farmers, but it may be

gg more or less risky in the first year. When the

The second year’s outlay is much reduced, whilst the
returns are much greater and involve less risk, owing to
the plants having made a liberal growth of root during

ne first year, so giving additional support to the

Pre-war. In 1918.
: ree A £ s. ad
ent and Rates . B24. 40 I 15

oeing four times ov 210 Oo 3 10 O
tting and Carrying off (at 7s. 6d

en bore) IIo o 4 2.6
meidentals and filling in plants that

failed I5 0 17 6
5 per cent. ‘interest on first ae’ 5

_ outlay . I- 5. 0 112 0

715 0 914 6

-_ 4 wee

_ The returns may be estimated at four tons of green
rods to the acre, sold in the Midlands at £5 per ton in
| (915-16.
_ 2 The above figures deal exclusively with the crop when

30 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

The third-year conditions for the grower greatly

. improve, and the expenditure may be regarded as

.» ®

typical of that for the next twenty years :—

Pre-war. In 1918.

8. iad. £ s.d,

Rent and Rates . : : 2) Sa=6 ae oe)

Hoeing three times ; < of ae ae 232-8

Cutting and Carrying off ; ee EAS 3°06

Incidentals, fillingin, etc. . : Io oO Iz 6
5 per cent. interest on first year’s

outlay . ‘ ; ; i ee Bi 1-2. 4

7 5 0 912 0

a ecaeeeniael

The returns should be six tons of green rods at £5

_per ton (this being an average price for first quality

and growth), or £30 in 1915-16.

By this time the crop is at its best for quality, and
it should remain good for many years, provided proper
care is taken and reasonable seasons prevail. Much
heavier yields in certain exceptionally good seasons

‘have been known; in fact, twelve tons to the acre of

green one-year-olds have been cut, though such a yield
is seldom obtained, and when it is the yield is invari-
ably far less the following season, owing, no doubt, to
the abnormal drain on the plants.

The net cash results as shown thus work out as
follows, taking present-day nee (1917-18) as a basis
for calculation :—

Expenditure. : , Receipts.
SS ty £ $s. @
First year . . 33 170 First year. . 8 §. @
- Second year . 9 14 6 Second year! . 32 0 Oo
Third year . . 9Q 12 0 Third year? . 56 0 O
53.38 96 5 0

1 Providing the maiden crop was cut.
2 A crop grown at Mount Sorrel, Leicestershire, which

EXPENSES AND RETURNS 31

Cost of Cutting the Crop and Carrying off

Although the following prices apparently show great
variations, the actual net results are very much the
‘same in whatever district the work is undertaken, it
‘being a question entirely whether the bundles are
tightly or loosely tied and the height that the cutter
fixes his band from the butts. Capable cutters in
any of the districts named, will during the short days
of the cutting season earn with a full week’s employ-
ment from {2 to {2 tos. Very expert men considerably
exceed this amount in the longer days of the early
spring. The system of payment and the methods of
cutting vary considerably in each of the districts in
which willows are mainly grown.

_ In the Midland Counties embracing Leicestershire
and Nottinghamshire, 3s. per score was the price paid
in 1918 for bundles 36 in. in circumference, with the
band about 8 in. from the butt. In the Isle of
Ely the price was 4s. per score, and the size of the
‘bundle 45 in. In other parts of East Anglia 4s. 8d.
to 5s. 6d. per score was paid—according to the
size of the crop—for bundles 42 in. Berkshire was
paying 6s. to 7s. per score for bundles 42in. In Somer-

urned off seven tons to the acre, realised £8 per ton in 1918
when cut and bundled as grown. The working quality of
this material, we understand, was of the best. In East
Anglia, where the crops on the whole in 1917 did not do
well, as much as {fro per ton was paid for well-grown best
quality Long Small, Threepenny, and Small Middlesboro’, but
this ‘additional price is only about equivalent to the Barrow
ale, because the Small, the Large, and Rough have all been
thrown out, and of course will not realise anything near the
Same price. In both instances the material was bought for

“Dicky Meadows ” have sold freely by auction at from {10
30 £52 per ton in the season of 1917-18.

32 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

set for 38 in. bundles (weeds included) the price paid
was 5S. 6d. per score. In Lincolnshire the system
usually adopted is to pay by the chain of 22 yd.—r}d.
per chain. This system is also employed in Lancashire,
where the payment runs from 2d. to 2$d. per chain,
the price being entirely dependent upon the fully
planted condition or otherwise, and weight of the crop.

Another common way of letting by the piece is to
pay 7s. 6d. (pre-war price) per ton for a one-year-old
crop, including the carrying of the bundles to various
points on the bed for collection by the carters. The
prices vary according to the sizes of the rods, the larger
varieties being the cheaper. The last-named manner
of piece-work obviates all dispute as to whether the
bundles are tied up tightly or loosely.

be Se

CHAPTER III
VARIETIES OF WILLOWS

ib

a Mucu has from time to time been written on the
ik botanical side of this subject, but such information
is of small practical use to growers or workers.

The description given below of the choicest known
varieties of willows for basket-making purposes, is,
therefore, written exclusively for the guidance of the
practical grower, and not from the botanical point of
view. The general market prices will be found attached
_ to some of the choicest and best varieties, grown under
the best conditions, for Leicestershire and Nottingham-
shire productions. These prices may scarcely be realised
for many years, but owing to the great shortage of
_ labour associated with the war very considerable areas
of willow ground have become derelict and overrun
with weeds; and seeing that this equally applies to
France, where willows of equal quality are produced,
it is reasonable to suppose that the best willows,
_ though they may not continue at these present
fancy prices, will for a number of years command
_ extremely profitable and lucrative prices. The varie-
_ ties to which prices are not fixed are of a more
_ ordinary kind, and, generally speaking, do not realise
g anything approaching the prices given for the best
sorts.

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34 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

SALIX TRIANDRA

This is a species embracing numerous varieties,
known to the basket-maker in some districts as fine
tops, in contradistinction to the many varieties of the
common osier (S. viminalis) which are known as full
tops or soft rods. The former species supplies the
varieties most suitable for peeling white or buff as |
one-year-olds. Many varieties of tviandra are less |
suitable for two-year-olds, owing to closeness of the
grain of the wood and the limited growth made
in*one season by the choicest sorts. Some of the
largest-growing varieties of this group are more open
in the grain, and consequently better suited for pro-
viding the larger rods required by hamper-makers.
After standing on the head three years this species
sheds its bark, a feature not common to other kinds of
Salix, and perhaps affording the readiest method of
identification. All varieties of this species thrive ona
cool, strong loam, and make the best growth in a wet
season. Ina dry period they are very liable to honey
dew, green fly, and gall attack.

The following are varieties of S. triandra :—

“Black Maul,” a variety believed to have been
brought prominently to the notice of the trade by a
practical worker named Maul in Leicestershire, is one
_ of the best willows for all kinds of baskets subjected to
long and hard service. It is extensively and chiefly
grown in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire; shoots,
4 ft. to 6 ft. 6 in. long; requires a rich, loamy soil,
with strong, cool subsoil; is a heavy cropper, and
always realises good prices—before the war £4 to £5
per ton as green one-year-old (in 1917 up to £8), and
£24 to {26 per ton (in 1918 from {60 to £85) as

-

VARIETIES OF WILLOWS 35

: 4 —
white or buff. Plant 18 in. by 18 in. For the first
‘two years this willow has a tendency to grow curly-
‘butted (with a bend at the butt-end), but as the heads
_ get established and the produce heavier, this objection-
able feature disappears. Consequently close planting
is recommended in order to secure a straighter growth.
_ “Black Italian,’’ a superior and harder willow,
‘thrives best on a damp, alluvial loam, and its fertility
is increased by temporary floods. A “shy” cropper,
it is not extensively grown, except on land especially
, suited to it, when it will produce six tons of one-year-old
green to the acre. This realises high prices, and is
_ much sought after by makers of the finest baskets or
chairs in buff or white. As buff, its colour is a rich,
dark gold, and it whitens equally well. {£26 per ton
_was not, before the war, an unusual price for white or
i buff. In 1918 it fetched {60 to £85. Shoots, 3 ft.
to 6 ft. Plant 18 in. by 18 in.
| “ Black German ”’ ranks amongst high-class willows,
and is easily recognised by a wavy appearance in the
é growth of the shoot. Less hard than some of the varie-
_ ties, it is suited to a medium loam with good drainage ;
it will resist blight and thrive through a dry period
better than many other varieties of S.triandra. Shoots,
3 ft. 6 in. to 6 ft. 6 in. long, a heavy cropper, and
straight at the butt. This willow often cuts six tons
' to the acre, worth as green £4 per ton, or as buff or
| white £25 to £26 per ton (in 1918 from {60 to £80).

/It does not strip well for white from the water,
_and peels best when cut from the head about May 1.
| Produces a good buff. Plant 18 in. by 18 in.

| “French,” like many of the varieties of the triandra
"species, produces both light and dark coloured bark.
_A superior slender working willow; shoots, from 4 ft.

~

36 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

to 6 ft. long. Equally suitable for white or buff. -

Thrives on upland soil, and does not require so much
moisture as many other varieties of the tviandra. A
liberal producer, and ready seller at good prices. As
green it realised £4 10s. to £5 per ton; white or buff,
£24 to £26 per ton (in 1918 £55 to £60). Plant 18 in.
by18in. (This must not be confused with the “ French
Osier ”’ S. viminalis.)

“Pomeranian,” a variety imported and highly
prized by the late Mr. William Scaling. A high-class
willow closely resembling ‘‘ French,” less vigorous in
growth, but harder in quality; an ideal willow for
straightness; long and slender; shoots average from

3 ft. to 5 ft.; admirably adapted for the finest willow ~

work. Equally suited for white or buff, and a ready
seller at very high prices. As white, it had been known
to realise £34 per ton before the war, and sold readily
at {95 in 1918. Plant 18 in. by 18 in.

‘‘Counsellor,”’ first brought prominently into the
trade by one of the oldest wholesale willow-working
families in England named Mills, of Leake, Leicester-
shire, who employed this willow, which at that time
was the best variety known, in the manufacture of all
kinds of flat skein work, such as chair-back screens,
washstand screens, table mats, etc. It is one of the
best willows known, but has been neglected in its
cultivation, because that branch of the business to
which it was adapted has fallen on evil times and has

been largely captured by the French. It is suited ©

to a rich cool loam, and makes a growth of from 3 ft.
to 5 ft. in the season. It yields a beautiful coloured
buff and an equally good coloured white, extremely
tough, and grows straight, and in many ways similar
to the “ Pomeranian,’ excepting that its bark is of a

:

VARIETIES OF WILLOWS 37

decidedly dark greyish colour. I am inclined to think

A _ by its general habits and growth that it is a darker

_ skinned variety of the “ Pomeranian,” the skin of

_ which is light. A noticeable feature of the triandra

species, is that many of the varieties produce a light

and dark skin. The “ Counsellor ” is well worth, pro-

_ pagating owing to the extremely high price it com-

by mands. In 1918 this willow sold most freely at £65

¢ per ton, white, and £70 per ton, buff. Plant 18 in. by

18 in.

It should be pointed out that the sales which are

_ here referred to are exclusively of Nottinghamshire

' and Leicestershire material. The same prices are

_ unrealisable for material grown in any other part of

{ England. This is efitirely due to the soil conditions

of the areas in which these willows are grown, yielding

a result which is not found in any other part of the

country. Although varieties have been transplanted

_ from these districts to many other parts of England,

_ the working quality is very much below the production

_ of the special districts referred to above.

' “ Brilliant,” a variety from the south-west of France,
_ first brought to this country by myself in the spring
_ of 1916. It has obtained its name “ Brilliant ” from
_ the fact’ that when whitened it has an unusually
BD bricht clean appearance. It does well on alluvial

: soils with a heavy tendency. It is a heavy cropper,
and makes an annual growth of from 4 ft. to

6 ft. 6 in. Plant 20 in. by 20 in.
“Sarda,” another French rod discovered and
Drought to England at the same time as the pre-

_ ceding one. This willow in the districts to which

it is indigenous makes the longest and slenderest rod

_ of any of the triandra varieties. Its working quality

+

38 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

ranks amongst the first, and although it attains the
height of 7 ft. 6in. and frequently above, its Small
is quite of a good working quality. It cannot be
regarded as a heavy cropper, which probably accounts
for the unusual quality of the Small, and will when
on the market command one of the top prices. A
rod that it is certainly well worth cultivating where
the soil suits. It was found growing on a strong
marl, and probably will do equally well under the
same conditions in this country. Plant 20 in. b
20 in. ;
“Mottled Spaniards,” the best of the several rods
known as “ Spaniards,” and quite different from arod .
called by the same name and grown in East Anglia.
Is easily distinguishable by small red blotches, produc-
ing a mottled appearance on the bark on the upper
part of the rod, when the growth is completed and the
wood ripe. A heavy cropper ; shoots, 5 ft. to 7 ft. 6in.
long; fairly sound quality; makes useful two-year-
olds; suited to all general work; prefers a damp, cool
warp or loamy soil, well drained; and makes equally
good white or buff. Plant 20 in. by 20 in.
“Lincolnshire Dutch,” a vigorous grower closely
resembling ‘‘ French,’ described above, and chiefly
‘grown in the waterbasin of the Trent (Gainsborough
district) ; much prized by growers of that locality as a
good cropper. Thrives well on a heavy warp land,
subject to freshets of water. Not regarded by the
high-class basket-maker as a first-quality willow.
Shoots, 4 ft. to 6 ft.6 in. long. Plant 18 in. by 18 in.
- “ Stone Rod,’”’ the hardest-wooded of the triandra
species, makes the choicest white or buff. Its natural
defect is that it grows so bent at the butt—a feature
associated with all the very best quality rods. This

VARIETIES OF WILLOWS 39

can be partly counteracted by close planting, which
compels the shoot to apply upwards for light and air.
_ This willow thrives in the valley of the Severn and some
_ parts of Gloucestershire and Somersetshire. It has
_ been tried on several kinds of soil in Leicestershire,
but with comparatively little success; it is regarded as
_ a “shy” cropper, but very valuable. Shoots, from
- 2 ft. to 5 ft. long. Suited to a damp, alluvial, warpy,
clay soil. Plant 16 in. by 16 in. Worth in 1918
_ £100 a ton when graded into three sizes.

_ “ Rayns’s Ten-feet,”’ a vigorous and heavy cropper
_ of the Spaniard class: Attains a length of from 6 ft.
_ to 10 ft., and is principally employed for white hampers.
_ Suited to a damp, cold loam. Plant 20 in. by 20 in.
for one-year-olds.
“Black Holland,” one of the largest and longest
of this species, is believed to have been brought by the
Dutch and planted first in the East Anglia low country,
where it thrives better than on the water-basin of
Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. On a favourable
- soil it is a vigorous and heavy cropper. The shoots
are 6 ft. to 8 ft. long, and it makes an excellent two-
year-old white. Grows best on strong warp land.
_ Plant 22 in. by 22 in. for one and two years’ growth, or,
_ if for covert purposes, 24 in. by 24 in. As brown or
_ white for large and strong gardeners’ baskets it is much
_ sought after. If the sheots are left on the head for

_ three-year-olds they make excellent sticks, for which
_ there is an ever-growing demand, either as brown,
white, or buff, and they command good prices.

“ Glib Skins,” a name given by growers in the East
Anglia fen country to a variety closely allied to the
“Brown Norfolk,” is largely grown in Hunts and
the Isle of Ely. It is regarded as an excellent willow

40 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

for all kinds of market gardeners’ baskets. A heavy
cropper, and suited to yery damp warp lands with
reasonable drainage. Shoots, 5 ft. to 7 ft. 6 in. long.
It is often attacked by fly, which greatly reduces its
market value. When the crop is sound it makes a
good second-quality white, and yields a satisfactory
return. Plant 22 in. by 22 in. If the shoots are left
on the head for three years’ growth they make excellent
sticks.

“New Kind ” (light and dark), often called ‘“ Nor-
folks,’’ is one of the best of the larger-growing varieties
of S. tviandra and a very heavy cropper. It is suitable
for either white or brown, and as brown is mainly ~
used for all work that requires a superior rod, 7. e.
fitching, handling, and tying. It always commands
a good price and*a ready market in any district where
brown goods are made. Well suited for growers who
have no convenience for whitening. Shoots, 5 ft.
to 8 ft. long. Suited to a damp, heavy loam or warp
land. Plant 22 in. by 22 in.

“Long Bud” is chiefly grown in Berkshire, where
it enjoys a high reputation for quality. This rod when
grown in Leicestershire appears to be identical with
the rod known as ‘‘ Dark New Kind.” It is a very
heavy cropper, and finds a profitable market. It is
classed amongst the first quality of the large varieties
of the tviandra group. Shoots, 5 ft. to 8 ft. Suited
to a heavy loam. Plant 22 in. by 22 in.

‘Champion Rod.’’—This name is applied to a
variety largely grown in Somersetshire, where the soil _
seems to suit it well, in view of the great length
which it attains, up to gft. The middle and larger
sizes make a moderate-class white.

Salix. amygdalina.—This is extremely difficult to

—

VARIETIES OF WILLOWS 41

differentiate botanically from S. éviandra, and in fact
_ by some authorities is considered to be a variety of
_ S.triandra. So far as the working quality is concerned,
_ the following three varieties are equally good, and
_ belong “to the fine-top class: “ Brunette Noire,” or
' Black; “‘‘Grisette Droite,” or Straight; “‘ Grisette
_ Courbe,”’ or Bent. These are of French origin, and
_ were first brought to this country by myself in 1910.
| They are of excellent quality. The lengths attained
" are: Courbe, about 5 ft.; Droite, 6 ft.; and Noire, 7 ft.
_ The Courbe variety requires a damp, rich alluvial loam
_ or clay, whilst the Noire and Droite appear to do well
| onacoolloam. Plant, 18 in. by 18 in.

| “ Trustworthy.’’—This is a tall and vigorous grower,
' and frequently attains a length of 7 ft. to 8 ft. It is
. grown in Suffolk and Berkshire, and is well adapted for
| market gardeners’ requirements. The small of this
| variety is exceedingly soft and seldom whitened. When
| grown under similar soil conditiors at Loughborough it
_ is not distinguishable from the rod so extensively grown
in Somerset, known as the “Champion Rod.” Plant
| 22 in. by 22 in.

_ “ Whissenders,”’ a variety grown extensively on both
_ light and heavy soils of the Trent Valley. Itisregarded
| as a good yariety because of its productiveness and
; quality as buff, white or brown. Its rods are of the
ight class closely resembling those of “ Early Dutch,”
ut it differs from the latter in the greater length of
' shoot which it ultimately makes (5-6 ft.), and may
be distinguished from other triandra varieties by the
un dulatory and unevenly serrated character of its
' leaf margins. Plant 20 in. by 20 in.

42 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

SALIX VIMINALIS, OR COMMON OSIER

This important species embraces many varieties,
which differ very widely in their working qualities;
in fact, many are not worth cultivation. Viminalis
is a far more vigorous and hardy species than triandra,
and is commonly known amongst basket-makers as a
full-top or soft rod, carrying as it does a more uniform:
size to the top than either ¢viandra or purpurea. It is
distinguished by the strength and length of the shoots,
which, in some instances, reach 11 ft., and even longer,
in one season. All varieties of this species are very
accommodating in their habits, and generally do best ©
in a dry season, providing the soil is fairly strong and
cool; in fact, they will grow in almost any soil, from
drift to clay, and make a vigorous growth in a wet
period, although the quality of the wood is then
deficient, owing to the rapidity of the growth.

“Long Skin ”’ (perhaps “‘ Long Skein ”’ would be the
more correct term), when it is true to kind, is the closest-
grained and the hardest-wooded of all the viminalis
species, and makes the toughest skeins; but it gives
rise to more contention with buyers than any other
willow grown, since many growers who possess a good-
quality osier persist in describing it as “‘ Long Skin,”
in the hope of realising the fancy prices sometimes
paid for the true sort. Although a vigorous grower, it
seldom yields a smooth crop, being frequently damaged
by the larve of insects, which cause the top of the
rod to throw out side-shoots. This defect, commonly
~ known. amongst basket-makers as rose-top, greatly
reduces its value, and the variety is not grown exten-
sively, owing to the uncertainty of the crop being
smooth. Shoots, 4 ft. to 6 ft. 6 in. Good for white

VARIETIES OF WILLOWS 43

_ one- or two-year-olds, but scarcely equal to second-
_ quality triandra for buff, unless grown on a strong
| clay soil Plant 20 in. by 20 in.

| “Brown Merrin” is a more lengthy rod than “ Long
' Skin,” with the additional advantage that the fly does
not attack it nearly so much; moreover, it generally
_ grows smooth. When grown on strong clay it makes a
+ good second-quality white one-year-old, or first-quality
| two-year-old, or excellent brown. Shoots, 4 ft. to 7 ft.,
_ and a heavy cropper. Plant 20 in. by 20 in.

_ “The French Osier,” first imported from France by *
_ myself, is the best of the viminalis group grown in

_ that country. In the North of France it is greatly
_ prized as a skein rod. Shoots, 4 ft. to 7 ft.6in. Re-
* quires a strong loam bordering on clay. Plant 20 in.
_ by 20 in. It should be understood that the term
_ “Osier” is applied exclusively to the varieties of
_ S. viminalis ; thus, ‘“‘ French,” described on p. 35, and
_ “ French Osier ” are quite distinct.

_ “Yellow Osier,”’ a fair cropper and invariably
' smooth, has been observed year after year to escape
all attack by fly. The largér sizes make good second-
' class white, and the full crop excellent brown, when
| grown on strong upland or meadow clay soil. Shoots,
| 4ft.to7ft. Plant 20 in. by 20 in.

_ “Black Top Osier.’’—A very good class osier on soil
E a to it. Does best in a ee loam. Attains

e rate white, but the small is too soft for peeling. Plant
© 2 2 in. by 22 in.

& “ Reed Osier,”’ so called from its great length and
Pa straight growth, and the “ Continental Osier,”’ another
variety similar in many respects, are the most vigorous

=:
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j os -
iS
Sale

44 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

known; they are very suitable for holding up river
.banks, for wild-bird coverts, or low, out-of-the-way
places, and often reach a length of 11 ft. and over in
one season. After the heads are well established little
attention is necessary, the foliage being dense enough

to destroy the vegetable growth underneath. These |

two varieties provide the straightest and longest sticks
grown, and when left for two or three years’ growth
command a brisk demand amongst all makers of transit
hampers and basket furniture—which latter business
has developed into a great industry in this country,

and which in the past has been mainly supplied from _

Germany. When cut as one-year-olds they make.

good brown, and supply a larger proportion of staking
than any other variety. Plant for one-year-olds,
22 in. by 22in.; if for sticks, 26 in. by 26 in.

‘« Meally Top Osier.’”—Another very vigorous-grow-

ing variety, chiefly to be found in Somersetshire and_

some districts of the Eastern Counties. It is best suited
to a heavy soil and frequently attains ro to 11 ft. in one
season. Cannot be recommended for white but makes
excellent brown for market gardeners’ work, and equally
good sticks which can be whitened or buffed. Plant
24 in. by 24 in.

A strong loam or clay soil is necessary for all the
varieties recommended for sticks because of the great
length to which they attain; otherwise the action of
the wind during the winter season would so loosen the
roots in a lighter soil that there would be a great risk
of them dying. Are unsuitable for peeling white as
one-year-olds, but make excellent white or buff sticks.

All the viminalis varieties are characterised by their

heavy yields, and most by their adaptability to all

soil conditions, and the low quality of the rods which

VARIETIES OF WILLOWS © 45

they produce. When one-year-old the rods are used
as brown in the making of the coarsest kinds of basket
ware. As two- and three-year-olds the rods, called
‘sticks, are used as the main supporting parts of the
' heavier classes of hampers and basket furniture.

SALIX PURPUREA

_ Salix purpurea, or the bitter willow, embraces many
' varieties, the best of which are the most slender for
_ their length of ail willows, and it also includes the two
extremes in size. The smallest, known as “ Dicks” or
_“ Red Buds,” is one of the toughest willows known,
/ whilst others grow to 9g ft.; they are easily recognis-
able, since all are yellow on the inside of the bark, are
very bitter to the taste, and show red eyes at the
sp! growth. Rabbits and cattle will seldom touch
‘them unless under great stress of hunger.

The purpurea are unsuitable for white. Some of
| the varieties make excellent buff, to which reference
| will be made under their respective headings.

' “ Kecks,” or “‘ Welch,” is a long, slender, and very
tough rod, and one seldom attacked by ground game,
“owing to the extremely bitter character of the bark.
This variety invariably grows quite smoothly, thrives
equally well under dry or wet conditions, and has never
been known to be blighted. Shoots, 3 ft. to 7 ft.
Plant 18 in. by 18 in. Makes a good light-colour buff.
It is used for binding purposes by nurserymen and
Market gardeners, but the latter now prefer one or
other of the alba class for that purpose because of the
more pleasing colour of the bark.

_ “Welch.”—This was a variety supplied to me

46 OSIERS AND WILLOWS
by the U.S.A. Government in March 1910, at which

time it certainly differed from the “ Kecks” or’

“ Welch,’ known here in the outward appearance and
colour of its bark, but after being planted for three
years the apparent difference—as in so many instances
of the kind—entirely disappeared, and they were un-
distinguishable from the English variety. A similar

rod in Berkshire and Gloucestershire is called *‘ Gold-

stone.”

“Dicky Meadows,” or ‘“‘ Red Buds,” supposed to
have been first cultivated by a man of that name in
Lancashire, is a variety which runs along the ground
like strawberry runners; it is a very beautiful rod,

wiry, and a heavy cropper, but very difficult to keep

clean, since the weeders must work unshod and with
their feet clothed in some soft fabric in order to avoid
bruising the shoots. Unsuitable for white, but makes
very choice buff, and is now largely used in the making
of. tea and luncheon baskets; for all classes of fine
buff goods ithas noequal. Shoots 18 in. to 4 ft. 6 in.
Will do equally well on drift or heavy soil, and is not
affected by dry or wet seasons—a feature peculiar to
all varieties of purpurea, Plant 16 in. by 16in. This
variety this year (1918) is making most extraordinary
prices, and is selling as green at £52 per ton. Many

instances are on record of lots being sold to the users —
when buffed and graded into their five sizes at from —

£90 to £150 per ton.

“‘ Light Dicks ”’ is another variety in all respects like ;
the above, except that the bark is of a very light colour, —
and comes into flower somewhat earlier than the ‘‘ Red —

Bud.” It frequently attains a somewhat larger growth —

than the ‘‘ Dicky Meadows.’”’ Shoots, 18 in. to 5 ft.
Heavy hazel soil. Plant 16 in. by 16 in.

Se ier, *

.

VARIETIES OF WILLOWS 47

_ “Dark Dicks,” another of the same variety, grows
longer than either of the above and upright; it is
used for staking and also for skeins. Shoots, 2 ft. to
6 ft. This variety does best in a very hot season, and
5 capable of yielding a second-quality white. Soil
conditions as for ‘‘ Red Buds.” Plant 16 in. by 16 in.
_~ “ Pyramidalis” is a tall, slender rod, sent to me
from Germany as one of their best, and classed by
-a German botanist as purpurea—a doubtful classifi-
cation, since it makes a good-colour white, which no
English purpurea will do. Shoots, 5 ft. to 8 ft. Plant
20 in. by 20 in.
_ “Brittany Green,’ a beautifully slender rod of
‘great length for its substance, was brought by me
from France and planted at Loughborough in the
“spring of 1911, on a rather dry, rich loam, or mar! soil,
18in. by 18in. In spite of the severe drought of 1911,
‘it wholly escaped the blight, from which so many
suffered, and at the end of July had made a satisfactory
and healthy growth. In France it is regarded as a
Se rod. Shoots, 3 ft. 6in. to 6 ft. 6 in.

SALIX PENTANDRA ~

The three following sorts, viz. ‘‘ Lumley,” “ Patent
Lumley,” and “ American Green,” were sent to me
by the U.S.A. Forestry Department in March rogro,
‘and are stated to be the best suited to trans-
atlantic climatic conditions. They gave in I9II a
growth of 4 ft. to 6 ft. under a very dry and trying
Season, and escaped the green fly, with which the
adjoining varieties were badly troubled, owing to
drought. They are good croppers but of third-rate
quality when peeled white.

.

¢

48 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

SALIX ALBA

“ Africans.’’—This variety as grown in England is
the better of two kinds largely imported. It does not
make the same long growth as in its native country.
A rich alluvial clay is suitable. Shoots, 4 ft. to 7 ft.,
3 ft. 6in. to 10 ft. inits native climate. A very suitable
and excellent willow for warm, humid places.. Plant
20 in. by 20 in.

Salix alba var. vitellina.—The variety known as
“ Golden Willow ”’ is one of the toughest willows grown
if used with the bark on in a green state. It is chiefly —
sold for tie-rods to market gardeners, nurserymen
and celery growers, who get their prineipal supplies
from the Reading district and Suffolk. Strong, damp,
rich soil is required. Shoots, 3 ft. to 6 ft. 6 in. If
peeled, the colour is dirty and the rods poor in
quality, and when dried for brown the bark goes
black in-patches, making consequently but a second-—
rate price in this condition. Plant 20in. by 20in.

Salix alba var. cardinalis—The ‘“ Belgian Red ~
Willow”’ is the best working-quality willow that
Belgium produces, but is far inferior to the triandra—
varieties of Great Britain ; it is a moderate cropper, —
but the shoots rarely exceed 5 ft. 6 in., and they do
not make a good colour as white; it finds a ready
market with gardeners and nurserymen as green for
tie-rods, and is well suited for that purpose. Its great —
toughness lies in the bark. Plant 18 in. by 18 in. ona '
damp loam soil. ‘

SALIX HIPPOPHAIFOLIA (for sewage farm purposes) }

Botanically this willow resembles both S. étviandva—
and S. viminalis and is therefore classed by botanists —

|
i

VARIETIES OF WILLOWS 49

-as a hybrid. It is characterised by a green base and
_a brown top. It is a vigorous growing willow, and
_a very heavy cropper, frequently cutting more than
eight tons to the acre. The willow requires a rich
soil, and is, therefore, adapted to the method of
cultivation practised on sewage farms. Furthermore,
“it produces dense foliage which checks the growth
of weeds. Its wood is exceedingly hard, and the
quality does not appear to deteriorate when grown
under sewage farm conditions. Of all the willows tried
on sewage farms, this alone has proved satisfactory,
“producing a rod equal in quality to those produced
under ordinary conditions. Whilst growing, the largest
' rods have a tendency to throw out side shoots, but as
these are usually of a tender character, they fall away
_ during the winter season or at peeling time. For
all purposes of work where a full top is desirable it is
probably unequalled, and it is equally good for white,
buff or brown. The shoots are from 4 ft. to 7 ft. long.
' It should be planted 20 in. by 20 in.

i

SALIX WIGSTONIENSIS

This rod was developed from S. hippophaifolia, but
' differs in the colour of the bark, being of a red, coppery-
‘brown colour. Very little grown, but I have found
it an extremely useful rod, making excellent white
‘or buff. Grows 4 ft. to 7 ft. Requires a rich loam.
Plant 20 in. by 20 in.

“Americana ’’’ was first introduced here by my-
self from Silesia, where it is known as “ Americana ”
from the fact that it has been extensively exported
from Germany to America. It is a long supple
. «= ,

3

50 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

willow apparently with a strain of purpurea in it,
from the fact that in the spring-time it shows red
eyes—a characteristic of the purpurea species. Of

moderate working quality, has a good marketable ~
appearance, and may be regarded as a splendid —

willow for brown because it invariably grows smooth
and singularly free from insect attacks. It makes a
growth of about 7 ft. on an average loam, and is a
good cropper. Plant 20 in. by 20 in.

SALIX DAPHNOIDES

There appears to be only one willow of this class

grown commercially, and because of its violet bloom ~
it is known to the trade as “ Violets.” The number of ©
shoots to each plant is few, but being a vigorous grower —
it frequently produces shoots 8 ft. to Io ft. long in one ©
season. Such shoots if left uncut until the second ~

year should produce valuable sticks. This willow will
do with a poor, strong class of soil. Plant 22 in.
by 22 in.

Unclassified Rods

In addition to the above there are other varieties,
known as “ Gelsters,’’ ‘‘ Russets,’’ ‘‘ Harrisons,’”’ “‘ Red

Root,” all of which thrive without much care if —

conditions are suitable to their requirements.

“ Harrisons ’’ and ‘‘ Red Root”’ possess character- —

istics. common to both S. viminalis and S. purpurea,
and may be regarded as hybrids of these. The
question of hybridation in willows touches a very —

i
f

:

i

VARIETIES OF WILLOWS 51

_ definite has been decided.

In addition to those enumerated, which are the
_ best commercial varieties, there are numerous others
_which.only command a very low price and are not -
worth the attention of any intending grower to
_ plant, and for that reason are not referred to.

i controversial point in classification, and nothing really
;
:

| Note.—tThe prices specified in this chapter are
_ already rendered out of date as these pages are
| passing through the press. Dicky Meadows (p. 46)
_ cannot now (November 1918) be bought under {£200
_ the ton as buff.

CHAPTER IV

PREPARATION AND MARKETING

PREPARATION OF THE RODS

In cases where the grower has no facilities for prepar-
ing the willows they are marketed direct from the field
as “green.” The rods in this condition are heavy, .
and the freight charges for transit are therefore high.
Furthermore, the buyer has to sort out, grade, and
prepare the willows in many ways before they can
be used by the average basket-maker. Some of the
poorer grown and those of inferior quality are at times
used green for making the very cheapest-grade baskets
used by seedsmen, yeast merchants, etc., and as such
baskets are usually non-returnable, the price of green
for this class of basket work is very low. To secure
the best prices it is advisable to plant only the best
varieties, and to prepare for buff or white.

White Rods

White rods are prepared in the spring after the flow
of sap has become active. Cell activity commences in
the region of the apices of the shoots and travels
downwards. Consequently the upper portions of a
rod may be “ peelable,’’ while the butt end has the
skin still firmly attached to the wood. A backward

52

| PREPARATION AND MARKETING «53

: - spring suddenly followed by a few warm days causes
: rapid sap-flow, which is closely followed by develop-
-ment of new wood. Under such conditions satis-
_ factory peeling may not be possible for longer than
_ three or four days for the early varieties. Under _
_ opposite conditions the peeling period may last fourteen
_ days when the crop consists of early and late varieties.
The period during which the process of whitening _
_rods is possible, can be prolonged by growing several
varieties which attain in succession the best peeling
condition, as, for instance, Champion Rod, Black Maul,
New Kind and French.

Preparation for Whitening

_ The several methods of pfeparation for whitening
| are known as cutting from the head, couching, pieing,
| and pitting. All are necessary in the case of growers

' the earliest possible moment and prolong it as late as
_ they can.

| Cutting from the Head.—After the greater part of
| the crop has been cut for buff, or put into the pit or
the pie for whitening, the first process is known as
| cutting from the head. The first willows to peel will
be those cut from the heads when bursting into leaf.
The time between cutting the early and late varieties

order not to allow willows to stand on the head until a
on ow growth begins to form, as this produces a second
“skin, which shows itself when peeled in fine strips or
shreds on the top of the old wood and presents a very

54 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

ragged appearance when worked up. Such “ double-
skinned ’’ rods are greatly depreciated in value and
useless for good work; moreover, an exhaustion or
bleeding of the head results. The correct period for
commencing to cut from the head for white peeling
cannot be determined by the calendar. It has been
known to vary from March 10 to May 10. The proper
time is when the leaf begins to show or when the
catkins appear, for the sap has then begun to flow.
On many varieties the catkins appear before the leaf.

Couching

A limited number of the spring-cut bundles are
placed in heaps in definite order on the ground.
Usually a layer of bundles is placed with the butt ends
all one way, and a similar layer is placed on the top
- with the butts at about the centre of the bundle
forming the bottom layer. This is repeated until the
heaps are about six bundles deep. The object is to
keep the tops from heating, and to permit the flow of
the sap. It will be found a good plan to throw a
liberal quantity of water over the whole to aid the ©
sweating and prevent heating; then to cover the heap —
lightly with old peelings, which keep the willows warm
and exclude wind and sun. By the time the material
cut and peeled from the head is finished the contents’
of these stacks should be quite ready for peeling
(see illustration, Fig. 4).

Pieing

If they have plenty of spare ground, some growers —
instead of couching prefer to put one row of bundles —

Fic. 4.—Rops IN THE Coucn.

To face page 54.

PREPARATION AND MARKETING 55

on the ground and then place the next row from 3 ft.
to 4 ft. behind, so that the tops of the back bundles
wrap well over the butt ends of the row in front—
continuing this until all are in the pie. The willows
' are then lightly covered over with old peelings, and
' watered once or twice a week, according to whether
_ the season is wet or dry. In this manner they will
_keep in a peeling condition for weeks. The small
rods in the bundles must not be allowed to heat, and
in order to avoid this, it is as well to turn the bundles
over if they are likely to lie for more than two or three
weeks. Couching and pieing are only attempted by
_a few growers, the majority rely on pitting, which is
_ customary in almost every willow centre.

Pitting

In pitting, the bundles are placed in an upright
position in a dyke in from 5 in. to 8 in. of water. The
_ rods should not be tied too tightly and all butts should
stand level to ensure that they are in the water;
light and air should be allowed to penetrate freely.
It will be found a good plan to space the bundles into
_“ bays,” so that each bay will contain 18 to 24 bundles
_ according to the size of the bundle. If the bundles do
not exceed 33 in. round, 24 may be placed in each
_ bay; but if they are 36 in. to 38 in., 18 bundles will
_ be found quite sufficient.
In pitting it is essential that the water should not be
_too hard or too cold, and that fresh water should always
be passing through. Ii the water is stagnant, the rods
will make a satisfactory growth for a short time and
then remain in about the same state for a week or ten
_days. Afterwards they will gradually turn sickly and

*

56 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

deteriorate, or frequently get covered with mealy bug

__ a.

or other insect life. When a constant supply of fresh —
water has been maintained, rods have been known to ~

stand in the pit from March, which is the usual time

to begin pitting, to the end of July. Where theamount ©

of available labour is limited, or the season proves to
be wet and unsuitable for outdoor peeling, pitting has
a great advantage and there is no fear of a double
skin being produced. Even with a good sound bottom
for the dyke, it is a wise plan to rinse the dirt from the
butt ends of the willows in clean water and allow them
to dry somewhat before peeling is commenced.

PEELING FOR WHITE

The rods are peeled by the hand assisted by “ fixed
breaks,’”” and women and children are employed for
the purpose. Although much time and money have
been expended on constructing machines to do the

peeling, very little improvement has been made in

the process used fifty years ago. The peeler stands by

his break, which is fixed to a table or post, with a
bundle of green rods at his side, the butt ends all being
near the break. The rods are taken separately, the

butt end drawn through the break, splitting the skin;
the rod is reversed and again pulled throtigh the break. —
The skin is removed and the rod comes away clean and —

white.

The process is the same in every district, though the

actual breaks used differ in shape and form. ;

Breaks.—A break in its simplest form consists of -
two metal blades pressed together by the hand whilst —
the rod is being drawn through. The appliance

F
.

¥

A, machine
worked by
foot; will
pee! two
rods at one
time. B,
machine
constructed
so that the
peeling
blades
when worn
can easily
be removed
an re-
placed ; will
peel two
rods at a
time. C,
machine
adapted for
peeling two-
year - olds

(The illus-
tration in

uaF

Fics. 5 AND 6.+ MACHINES AND BRAKES FOR PEELING Wittow Robs.

1660

8

the centre
[1860] is of
an actual
machine
used sixty
years ago
at Leicester
and still
used in
certain dis-
tricts of the
West of
England).
D, E and
F, peel

one rod

machines
shown in
this photo-
graph are
fixed to
posts stuck
in the
ground.

To face page 56.

PREPARATION AND MARKETING 57

marked 1860 in Fig. 5 shows a simple break of this
kind which has been in existence for sixty years and
is still used in some parts of England. If used care-
_ fully the work is done well, though slowly, but often the
» peeler exerts too much force and splits the rod. In
_ the more modern type the principle used is much the
' same as in the break described above, but the blades
_ are kept together by a spring so that the operator
"has both hands free to pull the rod. It possesses

which does not damage the rods. E and F, Fig. 6,
_tepresent two breaks of this type, modification. of
which are generally found most useful by willow
i . Several more complicated breaks, such as
' Tepresented by A, B and C, have been invented and

_ Drying White Rods.—The freshly peeled rods are
_ dried in the open air by resting them against stretched
ee. The wire should certainly be ee to

the rods on to a couple of wooden rails fixed 2 ft.

ie from the ground. The wind can then exert a drying
influence without the fear of staining. The first con-
‘of sideration is a good colour, and in order to attain’
this, white rods ought not to remain out of doors

a In suitable weather all material peeled before noon
x should be warehoused the same night, and this can

ze nd can play underneath as well as on to the top.
_ As good colour is of so much importance, the workers

-

58 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

should be discouraged from handling rods with dirty
hands. The peelers must be taught to lay the rods
between pegs, according to their various sizes—usually
three, but sometimes four, according to the class of the
rods. When dry, the rods are graded, bundled, and
stored in a dry house.

The cost to the grower in Somerset who whitens —
his own crop may be estimated according to the prices
current in July 1916, at £18 per ton, made up as
follows :— —

Three tons of one-year-old green, at £4 10s. a ton, will
produce one ton of white at a cost for labour of £4 Ios.,
t.€. £3 15s. for peeling and 15s. for tying and other —
incidental expenses. In the past, in the Midlands,
white peeling was paid for at a daily wage of Is. 3d.
to 2s. 6d., according to the experience of the workers.
The tendency now is to adopt the more businesslike —
method of paying by weight, which ensures the ©
peelers a suitable reward for their labour. In Leicester- —
shire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire peeling is
usually done by weight. The peelers sort their one- —
year-old rods into two classes, known as hullings and ©
rods, the price being 7d. per stone for the rods, equiva- —
lent to £4 6s. 8d. per ton, whilst the hullings cost —
Is. 3d. per stone or £10 per ton (this was in I917). ©
As the hullings represent about one-third of the rods,
this. works out at approximately £5 15s. per ton, to
which must be added the labour associated with tying —
and drying. At one of the principal peeling yards in ©
the Midlands, where the peeling staff exceeds a hundred, ~
objection was taken to any form of piece-work rates,
and 20s. a week of 44 hours was paid to the women ©
in the spring of 1918, resulting in the cost exceeding ©
that of any previous year.

PREPARATION AND MARKETING 59

_ In the Midlands I have utilised my steam instal-

lation for buffing in a novel manner as follows for
forcing the rods to grow in the winter months. A
pit, g in. deep by 5 yds. wide and 10 yds. long, was
‘built of concrete and bricks. The width was divided
‘into three sections, each of the two outer being 2 yds.
wide, whilst the centre, of 1 yd. wide, provided
a path. The two outer bays were supplied with a
_ steam-heated pipe, which gave the water a tempera-
4 ture of from 55° to 65° Fahr. The water was changed
twice a week to ensure a constant supply of fresh
water. After the rods had been standing in the water
“for a little over a fortnight, the sap flowed and the rods
. _ peeled satisfactory. As the end of each section became
“empty it was filled up again with fresh material. By
using this process, many tons of rods were peeled
three months before they would be ready for peeling
‘under natural conditions. At a time when white
is realising fancy prices, this novel method seems
attractive. As there is a strong probability that very
high prices will be realised for some years to come,
this i inexpensive method of peeling out of the natural
‘ “season is worthy of consideration.

BUFFING

_ This is the earliest operation that can be undertaken
when the willows have fully grown, and may be com-
-menced at any period when the foliage has fallen.
_ Whilst there is no calendar period to indicate this,
_ the wood will usually be sufficiently ripe by the early
part of November. Bufi rods are produced by boiling
in their skins freshly cut rods and those which have

\
60 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

been left to dry, and then peeling them. In the case of
boiling dried rods, it is most important that these shall
not be heated in any way, as in that case blotches will
be left upon the wood, the labour involved in stripping
will be considerably increased, and the value of the —
rod will be greatly depreciated when peeled. All the
heated places instead of coming out an even buff will —
show light-coloured patches.

The boiling for buffing is done in specially constructed —
long tanks for some hours. The exact time varies —
according to the variety of willows under preparation —
and the class of soil in which it was grown. Thus in ~
the Midlands the average time of boiling is about five
hours, but in Somerset a much longer time is necessary
if a good buff colour is desired. By boiling, the tannin
matter present in the bark is liberated and acts as a
dye on the underlying wood, giving it that pleasing
colour so characteristic of buff rods.

Varieties suitable for Buffing

In order to meet the large demand usually experi-
enced in autumn for buff rods, it is essential that growers —
should plant several varieties, ranging from French to —
Mauls or Mottled Spaniards. Stacks of green willows
soon dry when exposed to the spring winds, and the
grower should, if possible, boil the varieties with the ~
thinnest skins first, such as Spaniards. Black Maul”
and New Kind, having thicker skins, will remain green :
up to the end of March or April, and S. hippophaifolia
will buff well up to the middle of May. ‘These rods —
have the thickest skins, and if need be can be peeled
when the bark has dried by placing them in cold water
at the commencement of the boiling.

ee

The varieties of S. viminalis, with the exception

got on Skins, do not make good buff. Long Skins
left until late in the season, since by

Bresson Poi their good quality the rods leave the
Phoiling- tank with sufficient colour to be stacked as
soon as dry.
_ Owing to the low percentage of tanning properties,
_ the purpurea varieties are seldom used for buff, and the
‘only sorts in-latge demand are Light, Dark, and Old
Dicks and Kecks. The Light and Old Dicks are eagerly
sought after for all articles requiring a small, long, and
tough taper rod. The Dark Dicks, being of a larger
growth, generally provide stakes or skeins, but, in the
"event of their not growing large enough, the Kecks are
“the only other variety suitable to supplement them
giving the same shade of colour.
_ Each of these sorts is best left until the early spring,
when the sun begins to exert its influence and materially
assists in developing the desired light-golden colour.
In the absence of sun it is often necessary to expose
these willows on the grass for from two to three weeks,
turning them over during that period several times in
| order to get the required colour and to prevent mildew
or black spots appearing, for both those defects materi-
ally reduce the market value. If the season is a dry
one the rods should be sprinkled with a fine spray of
“water; sun and air will then produce the necessary
‘colour. It is most desirable that an equal colour be
‘obtained all through the output, and since the sun
‘plays such an important part in producing this, the
‘exposure need not be so long during the later weeks
of the peeling as in the earlier part of the season when
there is less sun and light.
_ The whole of these varieties should be boiled in the

q .
4 PREPARATION AND MARKETING © 61

62 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

green state, and peeled by the fingers, so as to prevent ©
splitting, which would destroy their value. |
Time of Cutting —Cutting the crop for buffing can be
started as soon as half the leaf has fallen, 7. e. usually
about the third week in October. The remainder may
be cut after the whole leaf has fallen, and may be
stacked in the open without harm to the rods. ¥

Boiling.—The size of the boiling tanks will vary
according to the kind of willow and to the number of -
peelers employed. Four peelers. on each side are as
many as can work on average rods to advantage. The
eight peelers should empty in one day a tank 12 ft. by
4 ft. 6 in. by 4 ft. 9 in. deep inside, holding about
30 cwt. of ordinary green one-year-olds, which, when —
peeled and dried, give 10 to 11 cwt. of buff. This size
tank will also be found useful for sticks. ;

In the case of Dicks or any similar small-growing —
varieties, a tank 7 ft. long by-2 ft. wide and 2 ft.
deep (inside measurements) is large enough. In ie
north-west of England, where the Dicks are largely
grown, wooden tanks, of the dimensions above, having
a sheet of iron on the underside of the tank, are used. ~
The water is heated by a fire underneath, with a single
flue running up a cheaply constructed chimney at the
end. :

For the grower of ordinary willows the following
arrangement will be suitable :—Having decided on the
size of the tank, the flue should be run underneath th
centre for the full length of the tank, raised or bridged —
two-thirds of the way along the bottom to save fuel and
give greater heat, turned at the end so as to pass along
the side and across the front above the furnace doom
and then along the opposite side and up the chimney. —
The tanks are made of compressed steel sheets bolted

1]

|

i Se, tn. 4

>
[

PREPARATION AND MARKETING 63

together and fitted up with brickwork in such a
manner as to leave the flues as mentioned. By this
‘arrangement the maximum amount of heat will be
given to the tank before the smoke ascends the chimney.
| The tank should have an inside flange at the top in

f
i

addition to an outside one, in order to keep the wooden
sinkers which hold the rods under the water during the
process of boiling, in their places.
_ For continuous use in the Midlands, it is found
advisable to work so that all the rods in the tank on
‘any day can be peeled by four o’clock in the afternoon,
which is as late as the peelers can see in the winter-time ;
: fire should then be stoked and the water brought to
the boil. This done, the tank should be closely packed
om willows, some of the peelings placed on the top
to keep in the heat, and the wooden sinkers fixed across
‘under the flange to keep all the bundles immersed.
After the willows have been boiled for about five hours,
the fire should be banked up and the tank left until the
following morning. The water should then be heated
warm the rods ready for the peelers. In Somerset
the bundles of willows are placed into boiling water in
‘the tanks at twelve (noon), and the water kept boiling
until the evening. The fire is then banked up and
left until the following morning, when the willows
‘are removed and peeled. The water is brought to the
boil and the tank refilled with willows at twelve (noon).
The tanks are thus kept in continuous use for a fort-
night, when the fire is withdrawn, and the flues cleaned.
The tanks are emptied of water, cleaned of refuse,
and refilled with fresh water.
_ The simple method described above will be found
equally good in the case of larger plants. . In one case,
2 range of four large tanks and one small one was

—

4

64. +OSIERS AND WILLOWS

heated by means of a 12 h.p. Cornish boiler, which
not only provided the steam for boiling the water in
each tank, but also pumped the cold water from a well

for filling both the boiler and tanks and furnished the

heat required for drying the buff.

For heating by steam, the coils of copper piping that —

lie along the bottom of the tank should be hinged, so
as to allow them to be raised up either from the end or
side for the purpose of removing the sediment which
accumulates between the pipes and on the bottom of
the tank. Attention to these details will be rewarded
by the brighter colour of the buff.

Of the five tanks referred to above, only two had

flues fixed underneath, and either or both of these
could be fired at a less cost than putting steam on.
The object of placing flues underneath is to afford
another means of heating in the event of the steam
boiler going wrong.

It is preferable to complete the buffing before the bark
dries, but if this is not possible, the rods may be buffed
by putting the rods in cold water when the bark has set
and then by boiling them as indicated above.

The average price for first-quality growth of one- —

year-old green in the winter of 1915-16 was £5 per ton.

Three tons of green when boiled give one ton of buff,
and, taking the cost of the coal and labour, including

a foreman, to be about £6 ros. per ton, the net cost
of producing a ton of buff will be fat 1os. The sale

price generally shows a good profit.

Tanks for Boiling.—In addition to the two styles

described under the heading ‘‘ Boiling,” there are less”

expensive methods of meeting these requirements. The

sizes are entirely dependent upon the area and quantity”

of material the grower intends to buff annually. A

eb eh. one

PREPARATION AND MARKETING 65

simple and effective method for the small producer will
be found to answer, by placing out of doors a wooden
tank about 7 ft. by 21 in. wide and 24 in. deep, made
from sound wood 2 in. thick. This should be fitted
with a sheet-iron plate underneath the bottom; erected
on bricks and a flue fixed as previously described,
straight under the centre of the bottom but bridged
- two-thirds along, and a cast-iron chimney supported
_ as circumstances will present themselves to the person,
according to the location in which he is going to place
it. Such a boiling-tank may be erected all complete at
_ the present time (1918), including an inexpensive cover,
under £30. It of course must be understood that if
this boiler is out of doors an indoor place must be
_ provided for the women to peel the material. A further
_ inexpensive method where the boiling facilities are of a
More extensive character, is to purchase half of an
ordinary steam boiler cut longitudinally, bricked in
_ and flued as in either of the cases mentioned under the
' heading “ Boiling,’ with soot-cleaning doors fixed on
_ each side, so that a constant clear draught can always be
_ assured. But buffing in the most satisfactory way can
- only be done by fixing the boiler in a building which is
large enough for the peelers to stand on each side and
peel the rods directly from the hot water. To attempt
_ to peel rods when in a cold condition adds greatly to
the labour and splits the rods in consequence of the
peeling being performed with breaks. Further, it fails
to give that good buff colour which is so essential for
high-class productions.

pene Te ~

66 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

Peeling Buff

The boiling process not only gives the rods a pleasing
colour, but also prepares the skin for peeling, which is
usually done by women or boys. The skin may be
removed by the hand alone or with the help of breaks.

(a) By the hand alone.—The peelers stand on either —
side of the tank and strip the rods whilst they are still -
hot. They commence by gently forcing the skin back
from the butt end for an inch or more, so that it forms
a kind of rosette around the rod. The rod is then
reversed, the skin pressed by the fingers and thumb, and
the rod pulled by the butt end with the other hand.
The skin is left in the one hand, and the rod comes
away clear, free from all bark, and quite unbruised in
any way. This process of peeling certainly leaves the
rods in an excellent condition.

(b) By the aid of breaks.—(1) Some growers of exclu-
sively small material use a forked hand-break, made
either of a hard wood or iron, something like a tuning
fork. The peeler, holding about six rods in her hand,
uses the break to release the bark at the butt ends and
to force it back as before to form rosettes around the
rods. The rosettes of skin are then gripped with the
left hand and the rods drawn through with the other
hand. This process entirely strips the rods of their
skin, and several are drawn at a time.

(2) When the rods have been graded before boiling, so
that they are of even size, a more expeditious method
may be employed. Two pieces of wood, the bottom
fixed,and the top hinged at the end of the bottom one
and worked by a spring suspended from above, are used
to forma break. Both pieces of wood are fitted witha
strip of india-rubber about 15 in. long by 4 in. square.

PREPARATION AND MARKETING 67

_ The work is difficult and can only be well done by two
. strong workers, one of whom takes from eight to twelve
rods in his left hand and with his right rubs the butt
’ ends together until he forces the peel for 8 in. back into
_arosette or knot; these peeled butt ends are laid inside
the wooden jaws, the top wood is brought down and
_ pressed on to the rods by means of the foot on a cord.
_ The second man grips the butt ends of the rod and pulls
; them through the break.

: The skins are left behind and fall to the ground. The

_ india-rubber has a soft action on the rods and there is no
_ splitting or bruising.

_ This system gives the quickest results, but saves

H little in cost owing to the high wages demanded by the

_ men who do this laborious work.

___ (3) In the West of England the rods are stripped by

_ the use of the fixed breaks in the same way as for

: “white ’ rod. The practice is less suited to boiled rods,

as they get bruised and split, and their value is greatly
reduced.

__ The rate paid for peeling buff by hand i in 1918 was
_ usually 6d. to 84d. per bundle, according to the size of
the crop, in a green state.! The “bundle” is 36 in.
in girth, as measured with a strap about a foot
from the butt end as the rods lie on the rack behind

_ the peelers.

The peeled rods are afterwards drafted into different
lengths, any rough or badly grown rods being thrown

Out in preparing high-class material. In this work a
wooden standard is used, on which are marked the
different lengths: it is fixed on the inside of a tub
sunk two-thirds’ into the ground. The first drafts,
being the longest, are called No. 1, and vary from

1 If the rods are buffed dry, the price is increased.

68 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

6 ft. 6in. down to about 5 ft. 6in.; then follow No. 2,
5 ft. 6 in. to 4 ft.6in.; No. 3, 4 ft. 6in. to 3 ft. 6 in.;
- No. 4, 3 ft. 6 in. to 3 ft.; and if any smaller are left
(Nos. 5 and 6) they are usually put together.

Drying for Buff

After the skins have been stripped off, the rods are
placed on end in the open air, resting against a support
of galvanised wire fencing or rails so as to dry out
the bulk of the water through exposure to the sun and
air (Fig. 7). If ordinary wire is used it soon becomes
rusty. This is calculated to leave an impression on
the rod, which for high-class material must be avoided.
As the drying continues, colouring develops. The
depth of colour produced varies with the variety of
willow used, the length of time of boiling, the length
of time of exposure and the light and sun conditions.
All the rods should, therefore, be exposed so as to get
a uniform shade of colour. This drying process needs
skill and experience to produce good results, and the
process should be under the supervision of a skilled
worker. When the correct colour shade of buff has
been obtained, the rods are taken into the drying-rooms
and laid on wooden racks, supported on rests from the
floor to the ceiling. This room should be fitted with a
drying-fan, as, without the aid of artificial drying, it
is almost impossible to buff on an extensive scale in
winter-time. Buffed willows are peculiarly subject to
mildew, and, if stacked away in a damp condition, will
soon turn mouldy and become spotted.

Even when the rods are dried by heat, the bunching
of buff should not be hurried during the winter months,
since the atmosphere has a powerful effect on buff

Fic. 8.—GRADING WILLowS INTO DIFFERENT LENGTHS.

To face page 69.

i> eg

PREPARATION AND MARKETING 69

rods, and, if bunched tightly for export, they may be

"greatly damagéd during a journey of any considerable

Grading and Tying tnto Bundles

Grading.—Good rods always find a ready market, and
the difficulty of selling increases with the poorness in
quality. It frequently suits a grower to clear all his

t stock annually, so as to save labour, to avoid storing and
_ waste, and to make room for the next crop. In such
cases grading is purposely not practised. In former

years grading was, perhaps, not so necessary, as the
j basket -maker made many kinds of goods and could thus
“use up all kinds of rods. The industry has, however,
_ now become so specialised that a maker can find little or

no use for rods which are unsuitable for making his one

special class-of goods. The price offered for ungraded
rods and mixed willows is low, because of the expense of
sorting out the material required, the packing, and the
necessity for reselling those rods which are unsuitable.
In view of the higher price obtainable, the grower would
_be well advised to grade his rods. Grading according
to length is not sufficient. Quality and evenness in
colour must also be taken into account (Fig. 8).

Tying.—The bundles should also be neatly tied. If

the rods are placed upright in the bundles and secured

with two, or, in the case of long rods, three, bands tied
‘neatly, the bundles present a pleasing appearance and
Bae better prices.

It is known that the rods imported from Belgium
Se Germany were far inferior in quality to the home-
grown rods, but found a readier Iarket because they
were graded in a satisfactory manner, neatly bundled
and tied. On the other hand, the rods from France,

70 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

though far superior to these in quality, caused much
dissatisfaction amongst merchants because of the care-
less grading as to quality, several varieties frequently
being found in one bundle.

Brown, and How to Preserve it.

The rods which have been neither “ buffed” nor
“ whitened ” are known as brown—being sold with their
skins on. This class of material under normal con-
ditions of labour generally consists of rods of inferior
growth or quality, and, consequently, the price is low.

If the whole crop is to be sold as brown, cutting may
be done after the rods have ripened, which is soon after
all the foliage has fallen. Any time after this, and
before the sap begins to flow, would be a suitable time.
The cut willows are tied into bundles and spread out
in heaps of six bundles deep in long rows, with the butt
ends pointing all towards the south, where under the
drying action of the wind and sun the rods become cured
and turn brown. To prevent the willows heating in the
heaps, it may be necessary to turn the bundles two or
three times. When dry, the rods must be tied into
bundles securely, taking care that the loop end of the
band is strong, because it is the loop that represents
the strength of the band; the bundles should be
shaken level at the butt end and tied firmly with at
least two bands. If the crop is free from weeds the
bundles, without curing, may be stacked in the open
much inthesame manner as a farmer stacks his hay.
The roof after being built up as an ordinary haystack,
should be thatched with the roughest bundles of the
crop. Start by placing a row of bundles side by side, —
sufficiently up from the eaves so that the tips will

Fic. 9.—MACHINE FOR TyING WILLOW Rops FoR EXxPorRT.
It enables the bundles to be tied of equal size at each end, and also in the middle.
a@ shows the style of tying adapted for export, with all tops protected.

Fic. 10.—STEEL PEG AND CHAIN FOR TIGHTENING THE BUNDLE
BEFORE PUTTING ON THE WILLOW BAND.

Te face page 72.

PREPARATION AND MARKETING 7

overhang the sides about 2 ft. Then place the next
row higher up the top, the butts being in a-line with
the ridges and the tips overlapping the butts of the
first series. Repeat this on the opposite side with
longer stuff, so that the top series of bundles have an
overlap of about 18 in. over the butts on the other side
which come level with the ridge. Secure these bundles
with ordinary thatch pegs into the body of the
stack. In this condition the willows will keep sound
and saleable for several years, so that a grower may
await the best market. Large quantities of brown are
accumulated by some growers, much ultimately being
wasted, whilst others manage to dispose of all their
“ brown ”’ each year.

It may be gathered, therefore, that only rods of the
same variety and of approximately the same size and
length should be included in the bundles. The rods
should stand upright in the bundles and be secured
by willow bands tied in a careful manner. |

The fact that the size of the bundle varies with each
district makes trading difficult, and selling by weight is
now becoming more popular and should be adopted by
all. Leicestershire now has no standard size or weight
of bundles, but sells exclusively by the hundredweight,
_ including the bands. Nottinghamshire growers tie in
“ half-bunches,” weighing 35 Ib. of rods. A pound
extra is allowed per half-bunch for the two bands, which
are breeched. All growers in that county, as well as in
- the adjoining parts of Lincolnshire, quote at the present
time a price per bunch of five stone of 14]b. Those
districts prepare and sort only into two sizes, called
hullings and rods.

In Huntingdonshire and Cambridge they are sorted
into sizes known as Small, Threepenny, Middleboro’,

72 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

and Great. These are tied by the aid of a special
machine in bolts of 40 in. in girth, measured 8 in. for
the smaller sizes, 10 in. for the Threepenny and Middle-
boro’, and 12 in. for the Great, up the bolt from the ©
butt. Rods are afterwards “ pricked in” round the
band so as to fill up every crevice. The grower quotes
his price per load of 80 bolts, the average weight of a
load being about one and a half tons (see Figs. 9-12).

The tying machine (Fig. 9 (2)) was made especially
for export tying, and is the only one known in this
country. It enables a bundle to be tied of equal size at
each end and also in the middle. This was found to
be necessary because shippers would only carry rods by
the measurement ton. The bundle (Fig. 9 (2a)) shows
the style of tying adapted for export. It protects all the
tops from injury. The steel peg and chain (Fig. ro) will
be found a very efficient tool for tightening the bundle
before putting on the willow band. Fig. 12 is a very
simple and efficient machine suitable for growers who
are not expert tiers.

Somerset growers tie up in bundles of 38 in. at 3 in.
above the butts, and here again (with few exceptions)
always quote a price per bolt. Berkshire growers, who
usually produce a good class of large stuff, grade their
willows into Tack, Short Small, Long Small, Three-
penny, Middleboro’ and Great, tie their bolts 40 in.
in girth at I0 in. above the butts, and quote by the
load. In Huntingdon, Cambridge, Eastern Counties
and Berkshire the actual growers frequently decline to
do business unless the buyer will take the entire crop.
This plan is very inconvenient, for it often happens that
a buyer who has contracted to take the entire produce
finds himself overdone with a size of material not well
adapted for his particular class of work, and the makers

_ 4

Fic. 11.—MACHINE FOR TYING WILLOW Rops.
A very simple and efficient machine suitable for growers who are not
expert tyers.

Fic. 12.—MACHINE FOR TYING WILLOW RopDs INTO BUNDLES.
The rods are ‘‘ pricked in” round the band, so as to fill up every crevice.
To face page 72.

PREPARATION AND MARKETING 73

of special goods are forced to purchase from rod mer-

_ chants. The profits of these middlemen might just as

eg

well be obtained by the growers.
There are no established markets for willows in this
country. In the West of England auction sales are

_ held annually, when fields are sold at prices which have
_ realised up to £19 ros. per acre in the autumn of 1917,

the purchaser to cut and harvest the crop. The average

” over a considerable area worked out at about £18. Also

here and elsewhere the buying is in the hands of
merchants and manufacturers, who regularly visit the

_ willow-growing centres towards the end of the growing
_ period to judge the value of the crop when standing
and to purchase any dry material which the growers

may have in-stock. Frequently sales are effected by
the forwarding of samples. Sewage-farm grown willows
are often advertised for sale by tender.

If, as is invariably the case, some part of every crop
—especially the outside portion of the bed—is inferior
or rough, it will be found best to lay such material on
one side for brown, or, if peeled, tie it up by itself and
sell according to its value.

The export business, at one time of considerable
value, has been much neglected in this country. The
growers in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, whose
crops twenty years ago were frequently shipped as
white, have for years sold their crops as green before
Christmas for buffing. Consequently very limited
quantities have been available for export. This trade

has been absorbed by the Belgians, Dutch, Germans,

and French. The export business has since-the war

largely recovered itself, and if attention is given to
_the proper grading of qualities, there is every prospect
of the trade being retained.

CHAPTER V

INSECT PESTS OF BASKET WILLOWS

Few plants are more subject to the attacks of

>
=

insects than willows or osiers, and in any season the ©
crop may be so damaged as to be almost worthless. |
The fungus diseases, on the other hand, are not so —
numerous. It is only possible to deal here with a few —

of these pests, most of which will already be familiar
to growers, though in many cases they have no well-
known English names. They may, as a rule, be
recognised by the type of injury they cause, and it may,

therefore, be convenient in the first place to describe ©

certain characteristic attacks to enable the grower to
recognise the pest by which his crop is damaged. The
types of injury are divided into (I) those which affect
the leaves, the top or terminal bud or shoot of the
rod; (II) those which affect the rod itself; (III) those
which affect the stump.

The following table is intended to assist the grower
in recognising the pests by which his beds are attacked.

I.—Damage to Leaves and Terminal Buds

(a) Leaves and shoots eaten by dark green or blue
beetles (which fall but do not jump when disturbed)
or by their larve, which are blackish or yellowish
grubs, sometimes known as Army Worms. See also

74 :

On le ae) a eS a a

INSECT PESTS 75

II (a) below. Common Willow Beetles (Phyllodecta
vitelline and P. vulgatissima).

(5) Similar damage, but light brown beetles present.
Galerucella Beetle (Galerucella lineola).

(c) Leaves eaten by livid blue and orange cater-
pillars. Willow Sawfly (Nematus salicis).

(d) Leaves with yellow or red lumps on them.
Willow Gall Sawflies, Ponitania salicis, and others.

(ec) Leaves and young shoots covered with black or

_ green fly or “ blight,” or with sticky honey dew, or
with honey dew and black mould. Willow Aphides

(various species).
Terminal or end bud of shoot tied up with a few
fine strands of silk and often containing a brown

t chrysalis or a small caterpillar which feeds on the
_ young growing leaves. See also II (a) below. Small

Willow Moths (various species).

(g) Terminal or end bud in the form of small rosette
or button, often known as “ button top.’” Gall Midges
(Cecitdomyia heterobia and C. rosaria, etc).

(h) Leaves covered, especially on the underside, with
orange-yellow spots. Spots brown later in the season.

Willow Rust, caused by the fungus Melampsora.

II.—Damage to Rods.
(a) Rods with lateral or branch shoots near the top,

_ usually shorter than normal rods, often known as
‘- “bushy topped.”’ This injury is usually the result
of the destruction of the terminal bud when the rod
_ is growing. Willow Beetles, Willow Moths, Aphides,
and, perhaps, Gall Midges.

(0) Rod covered with black fly or blight, the

76 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

insects closely crowded together and often killing
the rod. Willow Aphides (especially Melanoxanthe-
vium salicis). |

(c) Young rod in early summer broken. as if by
wind, but close examination shows a hole or puncture
at the point where the break occurred. Willow
Weevil (Crypiorrhynchus lapathi).

(d) Rods, especially of two years’ growth, with
minute pin-holes through the bark near the base.
Inside are small burrows often containing minute
orange red (or green?) grubs. Willow Wood Midge
(Cecidomyia saliciperda).

(e) Rods, mainly when of two or more years’ growth,
with a channel bored up the centre near the base,
sometimes containing a white grub or a beetle. Willow
Weevil or Willow Clearwing Moths.

(f) Cankerous wounds on the rod. Developing
mostly in winter. Wounds not preceded by elongated
orange yellow pustules. Willow Canker, caused by
the fungus Botryosphaeria gregaria.

(g) Cankerous wounds on the younger portion of —

the rods. Always preceded by elongated orange
yellow pustules which are found in summer. Rust
Canker, due to wounds formed by the rust fungus
Melampsora.

~~,

ITI.—Damage to Stumps

Stumps with burrows and channels, often dying and

containing white grubs; chrysalides, or beetles. Willow
Weevil, Musk Beetle, Willow Clearwing Moths.

The following sections deal in greater detail with
the insects and fungi themselves. -

Fie ares

INSECT PESTS ) 77

INSECT PESTS

Willow Aphides—There are several species of
_ aphides which attack willows, and, on the whole, they
_ are, perhaps, the most serious pest with which the
_ grower has to contend. By sucking the juices of the
_ plants, they stunt and kill both leaves and rods.
_ They also secrete large quantities of honey dew which
_ falls on the leaves, coating them over with a kind of
_ varnish, and greatly accentuating the damage done by
the insects themselves. Further, a black fungus or
_ “mould,” commonly grows on the honey dew, coating
' the leaves still further, and making it impossible for
them to carry out their functions. It should be
emphasised that the honey dew is always the product
of the aphides, and is not a separate form of blight
_ due to climatic conditions, an opinion which is commonly
held but which is quite erroneous.
: It is unnecessary here to enter into the features by
' which the various species are distinguished, and, in
many cases, their habits require further investigation.
p It may, however, be mentioned that certain common
_ species (Siphocoryne capree and S. pastinacee) live
' partly on the willow and partly on weeds such as
hemlock, wild parsnip, chervil, angelica, etc. (Umbel-
liferg), and special attention should, therefore, be paid
_ to the eradication of such weeds.
Species of Aphis common on the leaves and shoots
are Aphis saliceti, the two species above mentioned,
: and Pierocoma pilosa. The most common species on
_ thérod itself is Melanoxantherium salicis,
_ Willow Beetles (Phyllodecta vitelline,P. vulgatissima).
_—TIn the adult state these insects are shining dark
green or blue beetles. They first appear in spring

s

78 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

and early summer and at once attack the developing
shoots and leaves, causing great injury by eating into
the growing point of the rod. Eggs are laid in
groups on the underside of the leaves, and in a
short time produce small dirty grey or yellow coloured
grubs or larvz, which at first remain together eating
away the underside of the leaf. Later, as they grow
larger, they spread to other leaves, devouring each so
that only the upper paper-like cuticle is left, and, in
severe cases, all the leaves on the plants are killed.
When full fed, the larvee fall to the earth and change

into pupe from which beetles are produced. There

are two broods of beetles in the season, but the genera-
tions overlap somewhat, so that beetles and larve are
often found together. The beetles of the second brood
leave the rods in autumn and. crawl into heaps of
rubbish, under the bark, and into the crevices in
pollard willows, and shelter there during the winter,
reappearing to attack the willows again the following
spring.

Beetles of the genus Phyllodecta are common all over
the country, and all willow-growing areas are subject
to their attacks. They are perhaps especially harmful
in the Midland and East Anglian districts.

Galerucella Beetle (Galerucella lineola).—This insect
in the adult state is a yellow brown beetle with dark
markings on the upper surface. In its life-history and

habits, with the exception of certain minor differences,
it resembles the Phyllodecta beetles just described. It ©
appears, however, to spend the winter in damper places, —

and is specially harmful in the Somerset district.
Willow Weevil (Cryptorrhynchus lapathi). — This

P
u

beetle, on account of its long trunk or proboscis is —

sometimes known as the elephant beetle. It is partly

‘h
’

<2 eo,

; INSECT PESTS 29

- blackish-brown in colour and partly yellow (or pink
_ when freshly emerged).
_ The adult beetle appears from early summer onwards,
and may be found clinging to the rod with its trunk
_ buried in the soft growing portion, which subsequently
_ bends over as if broken by the wind. At the smallest
_ disturbance the beetle falls to the ground and remains
_ motionless, looking very like a bird dropping. Eggs
are laid in the stumps or rods (?) and produce white,
; grub-like larve which burrow in the stumps and

_ sometimes up into rods of two years’ growth. Cryptor-
_ rhynchus larve have no legs, which distinguishes them
_ from the larve of the clearwing moths, and they are
i round and somewhat short, and so differ from the
Slarve of the Musk Beetle, which are rather long and flat.
When full“fed they pupate in the burrows and the
"beetles emerge from the pupe in the autumn, but,seem
| to remain in the burrow until the following spring.

Cryptorrhynchus lapatht attacks alder as well as

willow, and is common in all willow-growing areas,
notably in Somerset. It is a serious pest, for in
_ addition to the annual destruction of a large number
_ of rods by the adult, the larva does great injury to the
stumps.
_ Musk Beetle (Avomia moschata).—This insect is a
large, shining blue or green beetle with long antennz.
When disturbed it gives out a strong musky smell.
e larva is a large white grub, legless, and rather
long and flatin shape. It feeds in pollard willow trees
/and in old willow-stumps, especially when these are
} grown with a “long leg.”’ It can hardly be regarded
as a serious pest when willows are well grown, but is
worthy of mention as it is so large and conspicuous
that it is apt to excite interest. ~

7

80 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

Willow Sawfly (Nematus salicis).—Reference is made
to this insect as it causes much loss on the Continent
and occasionally does so in this country. The larva
is a livid blue and orange caterpillar which feeds on
the willow leaves and may completely defoliate the —
rods. It can hardly be confused with any other pest.
Recently notes of serious damage have only been
received from the Peterborough district, and informa-
tion in the event of further attacks would be welcomed.

Willow Gall Sawflies (Pontania gallicola).—There are
also other species of sawfly besides N. salicis which
may be expected at times to do damage. Enquiry is
often made as to the cause of the red and green globular —
or bean-shaped swellings which are so common on the
leaves of willows. The insects responsible are certain
species of gall sawfly, of which that mentioned above
is most common. The sawfly larva lives in the gall,
and when full fed burrows out and pupates in the ©
soil. Unless the galls are so numerous as to weigh
down the rods, the injury does not seem to be serious.

Willow Moths.—The larve of many different moths
feed on willow, but with certain exceptions they are
‘seldom present in sufficient numbers to do serious
harm. The exceptions comprise (I) various species
of small moth, the larve of which feed in spring and
summer in the terminal shoot of the rod; (2) certain
clearwing moths whose larve burrow in the stumps —
and in the rods. :

(x) Further investigation is required before the life-
history of each species can be described in detail. 4
The larve first become noticeable in late spring when |
they spin together a few leaves at the tips of the grow-
ing rods, forming small tubes or nests, one larva only
being found in each shoot. They feed on the growing —

=f)
y

3
;

ee

7

{

:
) INSECT PESTS 8r

buds and leaves, and when full fed change into brown
; ides in the nests, from which in due course the
mothsemerge. The damage is serious, since it prevents
‘the rod from attaining its full length and also, owing
the destruction of the growing point, encourages
‘the production of lateral shoots, a condition known as
“bushy top.” So far as the Somerset district is
‘concerned the most common species are Hypermecia
‘cruciana and Depressaria conterminella.
_ (2) There are two species of willow clearwing moth,
= which the first, Trochilium bembeciforme, the Willow
et Clearwing, so closely resembles a large wasp or
ornet that it may readily be passed over. The second
ies, the Red Tipped Clearwing (Sesia fomiceforme)
has little resemblance to a moth, and is perhaps
‘more like an ichneumon fly. The larvz of these moths
are white, grub-like caterpillars with brown heads and
eight pairs of legs, which are small but evident. The
Hornet Clearwing larva lives inside the stumps and
‘especially in rods of two years’ growth or more. The
larva of the Red Tipped Clearwing lives mainly on the
s amps. The larve of both species pupate in the
‘spring in the burrows, and the moths emerge in June
and July. The damage done by these insects is not
‘very evident unless a few stumps are cut open, when it
‘is often found that the wood is tunnelled in all direc-
tic ns by the larve, which at first reduce the produc-
fiveness of the stump and later kill it altogether.
‘These two species and the Willow Weevil (Crypior-
vhynchus lapathi) are the insects chiefly responsible
for the decay of stumps.
- Willow Gall Midges.—These insects in the adult
‘Stage are minute midges or flies. The most injurious
scies lay eggs in the terminal buds of the rods, which

v2 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

subsequently fail to develop normally and become
bunched together or form a distinct rosette. These
galls are usually known as buttons or button tops.
In the galls are found one or more minute orange-red
larve, which, when full fed, either pupate in the galls
or fall out and pupate in the soil. There appear to be
two generations in the year, and it is believed that
the winter is spent as a larva in the galls, but statements
on these points do not always agree.

The most injurious species is known as Cecidormyia
heterobia, and may be recognised by the fact that the
buttons contain many larve and are rather shapeless,

- not as a rule in the form of a neat rosette. A second
species, Cecidorniyia rosaria, produces galls which may
be distinguished by the fact that they each contain
only one larva and are rosette-shaped,

The injury done by these insects is decidedly serious,
since attacked rods are stunted and may also be
“ bushy topped.”

There are several other species of gall midge which
attack willows, but mention need only be made of the
willow wood midge, C ecidormyia saliciperda, The larvee
of this insect live in burrows in the rods, usually near
the base. They pupate in the burrows and the flies”
emerge, through minute pin-holes in the bark. The
winter is spent in the larval condition in the rods. .

Attacked rods which are more often of two years”
growth are of little value, as the attacked” portion is
weak and must be cut away. 4

Methods of Control.—No suggestions as to practical
methods of control have been given in the preceding
sections since the few forms of treatment known may
be applied in the case of attack by several kinds of
pest. Notes under this heading may be divided into

=. «a7.

INSECT PESTS ~ 83

_ (x) direct measures which may be adopted when an
_ attack is expected or is actually in progress; (2) in-
_ direct measures which will tend to reduce the numbers
" of the various pests in the beds and so prevent further
_ attacks.
(1) Direct Measures—As a matter of general prin-
: ciple, when the foliage of any plant is-being eaten by
i beetles or caterpillars, the first measure to be considered
is some form of poisonous spray which will leave a
- coating of poison on the leaves and so kill the insects
as they feed. The poison most commonly used for
i this purpose is lead arsenate, but it should be noted
that in the case of the basket willows grown in this
- country, spraying with lead arsenate has proved a
: complete failure, probably on account of the fact that
‘ the leaves have such a smooth surface that the poison
cannot stick on. If this explanation is correct, the
' difficulty should be easily overcome; but until a
formula has been proved successful by experiment, it
F is suggested that in the case of all attacks by leaf-
eating beetles, caterpillars, or grubs, a wash containing
; "nicotine and soap should be used.. Insecticides of this
oe have been found efficient in practice, and

their application is treated below in connection with
aphides.
_ When plants are attac by_ aphides or other
i s which feed by sucking up the juices of the
lant and not by eating the solid parts, it is necessary
to use a contact insecticide, that is to say, an insecti-
cide which kills those insects which are touched by it.
_ There are several such washes, but the only one which
to have been properly tested on willows is
ine, which is undoubtedly the best contact insecti-
it known. It has also the additional advantage of

my + ett es

84 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

being quite efficient when used against leaf-eating
insects, such as willow beetles. The great drawback
to it is its expense, but’this is, at least in part, balanced
by the number of different pests which it can destroy.
It is now widely used in the Somerset district, and
some growers are so satisfied with the results that they
spray regularly with it as a preventive, even though
no insects are at the moment doing any injury. When
used in this way it must be looked on as a form of
insurance.

The following details of the costs of spraying were |
obtained from the Somerset growers who usually use ;
a proprietary nicotine and soap mixture :—

Amount of spray fluid used per acre, 40-60 gallons.
Cost of spray fluid per gallon, 1d. to 1}d,
4. €. 5 gallons cost 5d. to 6d.
Cost of spray fluid for 1 acre, 3s. 4d. to 6s.
Cost of labour per acre (piece-work), 2s. 6d.
Amount which one man can spray in one day using —
knapsack sprayer, I acre to 2 acres.

Messrs. Bradford’s figures :—
40 gallons of water. s
14 lb. Nico-soap at 2s. per 1 Ib.
i. €, 3S. per acrp.
Man spray 2 acres a day on piece-work at 2s. 6d, per acre.
7. €. cost 5s. Od. per acre. ‘

WHE ahs Pave

Ake Ease

It is probable that the cost of nico-soap has risen
beyond the original price of £1 per ro lb.

Messrs. Bradford estimate the cost of material
slightly less than that given above, but these detai
are, of course, only approximate, since, in the fir
place, the amount of fluid used will vary in acosaale
with the size of the rods; and secondly, the price of
nicotine is liable to fluctuation.

The percentage of nicotine in these ocoprictalll

eeees E

oe —.

, INSECT PESTS 85
insecticides cannot be stated, but those who wish to
‘make up their own wash with a known nicotine content
might try the following formula, varying it from time

‘to time to find the minimum percentage of nicotine
which is effective :—

:

: Nicotine 98 per cent. . 302.

; - Softsoap . : . 2 Ib-4 Ib. (latter

‘ if water is some-
what hard).

j Water - 7 . 40 gallons.

The number of times which it is necessary to spray
“is also variable; sometimes as many as three applica-
tions are made as a regular routine, but it is probable
“that if the willows are well sprayed in late May or
“early June it will seldom be necessary to spray again

_ Apart from spraying which will deal with aphides,
leaf-eating grubs and beetles, and to a less extent with
the moth caterpillars which live in the shoots, no other
direct measures for control can be recommended for
-actual experience. On the Continent the leaf-eating
willow beetles are caught by various forms of apparatus
by means of which theinsects are shaken off into trays,
/and some such method might be of service in this
country in the case of the Willow Weevil (Cryptor-
: Snchus lapatht), against which sprays are useless. No
‘control measures are known in the case of the midges
}causing button top or in those of the various insects
/which burrow in the stumps or rods. In button top,

however, assuming that the insects pass the winter
in the buttons, and remembering that affected rods
are usually of little value, it seems regrettable that
‘such rods should be left about in the neighbourhood

/

86 OSIERS AND_WILLOWS

of the beds until the late spring, when the midges
will emerge and attack the new crop.

(2) Indirect Measures.—In addition to the direct
measures of control which can be applied to the grow- —
ing crop there are certain precautionary measures
which are worth consideration as they would tend to
prevent the necessity for spraying. It has been
pointed out that willow beetles spend the winter in
heaps of rubbish, under bark, etc. It is, therefore,
obvious that all such heaps left until the spring are —
a source of danger, while equally, if they are burnt —
during the winter, they will have acted as traps, and —
allowed the easy destruction of many pests. In the —
same way it is probably a mistake to allow old pollarded ©
willows—however picturesque—to remain close to —
willow beds. They are always thoroughly infested by —
willow-feeding insects.of all kinds, and must act as —
centres from which these insects spread to the neigh- —
bouring beds. If willow trees are needed they should —
be of a variety which will pay for proper attention, :
and they should not be pollarded. Neglected and —
decayed willows, poplars or alders are all undesirable
in the neighbourhood of willow beds.

Willow stumps which are partly dead or weak are ~
usually attacked by the insects which burrow inside, —
such as the larve of Cryptorrhynchus lapathi-and off ys
the clearwing moths. Such stumps should be removed —
_ and burnt as soon as the rods are cut. If they are
left, the insects will emerge and attack fresh stumpeil
and the bed will graduaHy become unproductive.

aie eee

ag arene

Sp OETA.

ee
‘

CHAPTER VI

TREE WILLOWS

4 THERE are in Great Britain only two species, known
in the trade as White and Red Willow, that produce
commercial timber, but of each there are several
varieties and local forms. The wood of the White
Willow is always more or less tinged with red, but the
Red variety is decidedly redder than the White and
finer and closer in its grain, and the timber is heavier
_ per cubic foot ; but as my object is not to go into small
botanical details, but to confine myself mainly to the
_ practical features, reference will be made only to those
_ for which there is a large commercial outlet.
_ The species are—~
_ (3) The Salix fragilis, or White Willow, known also
as the Crack Willow, easily distinguished by its open
or coarse bark, with deep corrugations and with a
e deeply serrated leaf double the size of the Red Willow.
- (2) The Salix rubra, or Red Willow, is easily dis-
_ tinguished from the White by its finer, closer and much
; ' shallower corrugations on the bark, and by its smaller
_ and very finely serrated leaves.
_ Both these willows may be seen growing in every
' part of the British Isles, mostly as pollarded trees,
_ which destroys their commercial value, excepting for
fencing poles or bobbin turners.
’ The Salix cerulea, or Blue Willow, also known as
_ the Cricket Bat Willow, or Close Bark Willow, is an

*

88 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

intermediate variety between the ordinary red and
white species and is clearly distinguished by the blue
’ tone of the foliage, whence its name is derived. Its
habit of growth is marked by an upright or pyramidal
character, not spreading out to anything like the same
angle as the two species previously named. In all
other respects as to size of foliage and serrations it is
very similar to the ordinary Red Willow.

This variety of the Red Willow has found the ©
greatest favour and realised the most fancy prices.
Its main branches (see illustration) grow at angles of
30 to 45 degrees. At the Agricultural Show held at
Nottingham in 1915, when I exhibited specimens of
the Cerulea variety growing in tubs, several manu-
facturers of high-class cricket bats assured me that
they had paid in isolated instances as much as £100
for a single tree; whilst the prevailing prices at that
period (1914-15) for the best grown Czerulea reached —
14s. per cubic foot, and ordinary qualities of the Red ©
Willow realised 5s. to Ios. per cubic foot—prices
sufficient to justify an extended cultivation. It will ©
be found to do best in a rich loam with heavy subsoil.

The so-called Huntingdon Willow is a variety of the

ordinary White Willow, and up to a comparatively ~
few years since was regarded as an ideal kind for ~

cricket-bat making. The Red Willow is also largely —
grown in the Huntingdon and adjoining districts. A
colleague of mine planted in the Leicester district a
White Huntingdon Willow in rich alluvial soil. ~ At
eight years old it had grown to a height of 35 ft., and its
circumference at 1 ft. from the ground was 33 in.
Another of the same variety, planted on gravelly soil, —
reached 24 ft. in height, and at a foot from the ground
measured 23 in. in circumference; a third planted in —

ow TREE.

ILL¢

AW

Fic. 13.

TREE WILLOWS 89

a peaty soil, with a subsoil of clay, only attained 26 ft.
in height and had a girth of 24 in. at a foot from the
_ ground. These experiments show the class of soil on
which this willow gives the best results.
On page 1520 of Loudon’s Arboretum Britannicum
reference is made to a cutting planted-by Mr. Brown
of Hetherset, Norfolk, that in ten years became a tree
of 35 ft. in height, with a girth of 5 ft. The same
_ publication cites a twenty years’ tree at Audley End,
_ Essex, which reached 53 ft. in height and 7 ft. 6 in.
in :
In the Kew Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information
No. 8, 1907 (p. 311, No. L.), in an article by W. J.
Bean, Esq., on the Cricket Bat Willow, it is stated
_ that “‘ No question in connection with profitable tree-_
_ planting has roused greater interest in recent years
_ than that as to the kind of willow best adapted for the
' manufacture of cricket bats. It has only attained
’ importance in recent times because it is only lately
+ that the supplies of the best bat willow have become
_ seriously limited, and that prices have risen in pro-
_ portion. At a sale of willows of Sir Walter Gilbey’s
at Sawbridgeworth in February, 1906, the best bat
willow realised prices estimated to be equivalent to
_ 7s. per cubic foot. I have recently been informed by
_ the agent of a large estate in Essex that he had de-
_ clined an offer of £1500 for 100 of the best willow trees

firm of Shaw & Shrewsbury, Nottingham, last winter
offered £40 for a tree. When it is known that trees
have been known in favourable situations to reach a
saleable size in twelve years (having in that period
attained a girth of 50 in.) these prices show that there
is no timber so profitable at the present time as that

on the estate, and Mr. John Shaw, of the well-known -

90 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

of the cricket-bat willow. It is not surprising, there-
fore, that owners of land suitable should have been
attracted. by this tree. As a matter of fact a large
number of trees have been planted during the last few
years with a view to meeting the future demands,
but we have it on the authority of Mr. Shaw—one of
the largest buyers as well as a leading expert—that
not more than one-fourth of the trees that are being
planted are the best cricket-bat willow.”

The increasing demand for willow timber for the
making of artificial limbs has practically denuded the
country of supplies suitable for this purpose. I have
received applications from French, Belgian and South
African Government Departments, asking if this
material is procurable in England. Unfortunately,
in spite of many inquiries I have been unsuccessful in
finding much of the right quality. Makers of arti-
ficial limbs for the Allied Forces have been compelled
to seek their supplies from America, where merchants
have done a large and profitable business in a variety
known in the U.S.A. as Salix nigra-Marsh, a variety
which is not common in this country. It is recorded
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bulletin
No. 316, that this variety grows to 4 ft. in diameter,
5 ft. from the ground, and 140 ft. in height. The
bark of this particular variety is very corky, in some
instances being 1} in. to 2 in. thick. The leaves are
3 in. to 6 in. long, a bright green, and rather shiny.
The timber appears, from its clean-cleaving qualities,
to be related to our English White Willow.

The wood of the willow is light, smooth, soft and
extremely tough. It will bear more hard knocks
without splinter or injury than any other wood, and
has no rival for making cricket bats. There is nothing

eh Ogee i ie ee

>»

J =<"

TREE WILLOWS ot

_ to equal it for floats for paddle steamers or the strouds
_ of water-wheels, and it wears longer in water than any
_ other wood. It provides the best brakes for railway
coal-wagons and luggage trucks; it is the only wood
é that will stand that kind of pressure and concussion
without fracture. Its extreme elasticity and tough-
" ness make it the best of woods for the sides and bottoms
' of carts and barrows when work such as loading coal
_ or stone is required, and, were it obtainable in sufficient
_ quantities, it would be the best material for construct-
_ ing passenger carriages for our railways; since car-
_ Yiages made of this wood would be less liable to be
_ splintered by collision. The wood of the willow, like
its kindred timber, the poplar, burns slowly and is
_ not easily kindled, a quality which ought to be a con-
_ siderable recommendation where it is necessary to use
wood in close proximity to fire. Years ago willow
_ was very largely used by powder manufacturers for
_ charcoal, and was preferred to any other wood. It is
still so employed in the U.S.A., and its discontinuance
has only come about owing to the short supplies. The
_ wood of the willow is much esteemed by painters for
_ their crayons, and for domestic uses nothing is so
suitable for making wooden bowls, Lancashire clogs,
_ yokes for milkers, milk buckets, moulds for buttons,
cutting-boards for all classes of trades requiring boards ;
basket-makers greatly appreciate it for sieve rims,
_ seed-hoppers and scuttles.
In the remote event of any extensive planting of
the best willow trees, an acre, if planted 3 ft. apart
with trees of two years’ growth, would require 4840.
This would not be too close for the first eight or nine
years, when they might be thinned out to half that
number. The thinnings would find a ready sale for

92 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

general farm purposes. At about sixteen years they
might be further reduced to 1210 trees—or 6 ft. apart
each way, which would afford ample space for their
“further development. There is plenty of evidence to
show that it is not an uncommon thing for a thirty-
year willow tree to yield 45 ft. of measurable timber—
or at the rate of 14 cubic ft..per annum. Not, however,
calculating on such great results, I will further assume
that 110 trees out.of the 1210 are worthless (a much
greater margin than would be probable) gnd that in
forty years only one-third of the above quantity, or

say half a foot instead of 13 ft. per annum, is pro- —

duced; we shall then have 1100 trees containing an
average of 20 cubic ft. each, or 22,000 ft. worth, at
the lowest computation, 2s. per fé., or £2200, as the
produce of an acre, apart from the two thinnings out,
which would be more than sufficient to cover the cost
of labour.

The tree willow is-one of the.easiest to propagate, ©

and the following will be found a very inexpensive
and profitable way of securing a stock. Rooted trees
of two or three years’ growth, if planted 4 ft. apart
each way, will demand 2722 to the acre. They should
be thinned out when six or seven years old to 12 ft.
apart by taking out the two centre ones. When they
* are about twelve years old the trees may be further
reduced to 300 to the acre, and at about twenty years,
or a little more, providing the soil and conditions are
favourable, they should be in perfect condition and of
a saleable size. The thinnings out in this, as in the
previous estimate, should recoup the cost by the sale
of the poles. Or, for planting at a small cost, cuttings
may be employed and inserted in the ground in the
same manner as ordinary basket willow cuttings.

ys. o Ee tS UUme Se eee ee

es a eT eee es ae

TREE WILLOWS 93

_ The first growth must all be cut off, because the shoots,
_ being short and spriggy, are useless for good trees.
_ Open up the soil and add some farmyard manure to
stimulate the growth. The following seasén the
_ shoots will reach from 4 ft. to 6 ft. in length, or
_ grow even longer. Cut away all shoots excepting
_ the straightest and cleanest and leave the one single
shoot. At twenty years, with favourable conditions,
the growth should be sufficient to cut four bat
_ lengths.
_ Pollarding trees destroys their value as timber.
_ The produce of a pollard tree can only be used for
_ fencing purposes. Moreover, it harbours obnoxious
_ insects, fungi, etc., and the wet gets in and deteriorates
_ the interior of the wood.
~ With all cuttings and trees that I supply, I give
a guarantee that they are the best cricket-bat strain
of the Czrulea. The stock was originally obtained
_ from Kew Gardens, and is certified by the authorities
’ as the true variety. At the time of writing—Decem-
’ ber, r918—I have an unusually well-grown stock of
_ two- and three-year-old rooted plants which I am
_ prepared to offer at exceedingly reasonable prices.

Cuttings from two-year-old wood, 12 in. to 14 in. long,
IOs. per I00. :

Two-year-old rooted trees, 4 ft. to 6 ft. long, 35s. per
I00.

Three-year-old rooted trees, 6 ft. to 8 ft. long, 5os.
per 100.

If the trees are selected and pruned, 10 per cent.
extra. Net cash, carriage forward, packing charges
extra.

94 -OSIERS AND WILLOWS

The period for planting in the British Isles is from
November to the early part of April. | F:

My willow grounds and nursery contain over seventy
different varieties set out in beds of each kind and can
be seen by appointment by those interested in the
business.

CHAPTER VII
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

In the Midlands and the North of England the cost
_ of labour has risen so considerably that many acres
of willows have passed out of cultivation. Added to
this, there has been a depression in the local basket-
making trade, and the small men, who are generally
also growers, have considerably curtailed their industry
and allowed many of their willow holts to die out.
_ Large basket-making firms have increased their areas.
_ The following figures from the Board of Trade returns,
_ however, show that the home supply of rods is quite

insufficient for the basket-making industry :—

VALUE OF THE ToTAL ImpoRTS OF WILLOWS AND CANES FOR
BASKET-MAKING.—FREE OF Duty.*

From Igto. | IQII. IQI2. | I913. | 194.

£ ay eae £ 3
Germany . : - | 30,366] 33,698) 38,211] 34,246] 26,983
Netherlands . 2 ‘ 9,702 14,781 | 14,109| 19,509! 25,773
Java . e Sees 3,005} 7,058! 4,911} 10,477| 12,269
Other Dutch Possessions 8,177} 7,292; 1,754} 7,806] 7,297
Belgium 7,925| 11,160 12,614! 12,288} 8,416

_ Other Foreign Countries| 6,509 7.538 | 6,851| 9,798} 10,896

_ Total, Foreign Countries | 65,684 ssa 78,450 | 94,274} 91,634'
:
Straits Settlements and

$i, sagas , including
14,360| 21,091 17,747| 28,852 1349
_ Other British Possessions 5,842/ 3,678| 1,514 347 = 43

Total . . = 85,886 106,296 | 97,711 |123,4734125,479

.

_. } It should be noted that the materials imported from the tropics
_ for basket-making are canes and not willows, buf*it is probable that -
"they might be replaced by willows in many forms of basket-ware.

95

96 OSIERS AND WILLOWS

VALUE OF THE TOTAL IMpoRTS OF BASKETS AND BASKET-WARE —
FREE oF Durty.

From 1910. | 191z. | 1912. | 1913. | r9T4.
& ph ee 4 £

Germany . 40,409 | 42,413) 42,001| 40,344] 20,456
Netherlands . 45,187 | 45,128| 43,692] 43,302| 50,265
Belgium 52,127| 51,717| 52,741| 52,162] 37,099
France ; 19,502] 21,072] 19,428] 10,689} 12,271
Switzerland . ; 2,307| 2,456) 1,864] 1,145 410
Portugal 3,074| 4.437| 4,972} 4,846) 2,839
Japan, including Formosa

and Japan-leased Terri-

tories in China . 27,066| 33,216] 55,071} 61,108] 37,955
Other Foreign Countries 5,064| 3,675} 4,6014| 6,295] 3855
Total, Foreign Countries [195,396 |204,114 |224,383 |228,891 |165,150 ~
Total from British Pos-

Sessions . A 925| 2,047| 1,50%| 1,196] 1,771

Total; : - |196,321 |206,161 |225,884 |230,087 |166,92T

¢

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY RICHARD CLAY & SONS, LIMITED,
BRUNSWICK ST,, STAMFORD ST., 5.B. 1, AND BUNGAY, SUFFOLK,

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