Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-01-18
Aqrtfultmral.
For the Green Mountain Freeman.
OsYER WILLOWS.


Mr.. EpIroR There has been much said
and written, within few years. on the culti-
walton of the Basket Wiiiow, but still there
are but very few that have engaged III the
business. With your permission. | will give
few facts, which | hope may wake up some
to their own interest, as well as to the interest
of the country for do not think it becomes
our far-famed Yankee character to be so slow
to engage 10 business which pays so well
1t is certainly for the interest of this coun-
try to produce any article that we can profit
ably, to supply our own markets, instead OF
importing it.; and every farmer will acknowl.
edge that it is for his interest to produce the
crop that will best pay. Now let us look at
the business oil cultivating willows-which
almost every one seems to think is beneath
his noticc-and see if the subject is not
worthy of some attention. | should not think
it beneath my notice SO cultivate pig needs,
if they would pay half as well as willows
will.
An acre of willows of the best European
varieties, will produce two tons after they are
peeled and ready for market, and ae worth
$3.50 per ton. The cost Of cutting and peel.
ing will not exceed $40 per ton when done by
hand; but there has lately been invented a
machine to peel them, which not only reduces
the cost, but allows any one to cultivate as
many acres as they choose, which they could
not do, and peel them by hand, unless they
lived near some large town or city, where a
large amount Of help could be obtained for a
short time. That has been the only objection
to cultivating them in this countryside great
amount of labor required to peel them at
once-but that is entirely removed by the in
vention of this new machine, which can be
operated by hand, horse or water power, and
will peel them with great speed. 1t is made
principally Of india rubber, so that it adapts
itself to any sized willow, and cannot injure
them. The cultivation of willows was very
profitable business before the invention Of
this machine, but it could be Car ried on only
to small extent in this country. Now it
will be still more profitable business, and
can be carried on to any extent, SO there is
now much greater inducements to cultivate
them here than ever before.
1t has been fully proved, within few years,
that the best varieties of European Osiers
will grow as well in this country as in any
other, and those raised here will always COM
mand higher price than the imported. There
is no fear about finding market for any
quantity of willows 1t would require 25,.
600 acres of the best land in tho United
States to supply our markets with as many
as are now imported, and the importation,
large as it is, does not supply the demand
which is rapidly increasing,
Scion Robinson, editor of i" The Plow."
for 1852, in long and able article on the
cultivation of the Osier or Basket Willow,
says:
There is another induccment to encourage
the immediate extensive cultivation of the
Osier in this country. England imports large
quantities from the continent to supply the
demand Of the immense consumption her own
cultvators arc unable to supply. Why should
We not come in for share in that trade-be.
porters, instead of importers In short, we
believe no kind Of crop offers greater induce
ments to American cultivators, or is more
worthy the attention and fostering care of ag-
, ricultural societies than the one Of which we
, are now writing
r Much more might be added. but think
, this is sufficient to prove that the business is
!. one worth the attention of farmers.
t GEO. J. Colby. ,
0 Jonesvile, VT, JAN, 1855.