Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-05-24
Farmers department.
American Basket Willows.

HtEiC,sAl DdShct hIIUNSs
Geo. Colby, of Waterbury, Vt. in
tie Scientific American, gives tie fol
lowing useful information upon the cul
tivation of the Basket Willow. Il is
discreditable TO our country, that we
sbould be importing such quantities OF
this article
Probably nine-tcnths of the willows
used here are imported; and until with
in few years. very little attention was
given to their cultivation; but enough
has now been done to prove that they
can he grown and peeled in sufficient
quantity to supply our own market at II
price much below what they now COM
mand.
The cultivation of willows is very Sim
pie; the land mist be rich and mc;st
but not two wet; II is prepared by deep
blowing and narrowing, aud the cutting
or "jetts" (Which are pieces of willows
of the last years growth cut nine inches
long, are stuck in rows three feet by one
and cultivated during the first year as
you would choice piece of corn. At
ter the first year, once hocing in May
or June is all the attention they need.
The time of cutting and peeling varies
with the latitude Of the place, and there
are three different times and ways in
which they can be peeled. The plan
which is much practiced in England, but
very little in this country, is to let then
stand without cutting through the win
ter until the bark will slip in May and
June then cut and and peel at the same
time. The objection to this plan is that
it Injuries the plantation and puts back
the next crop to cut them so late in the
season, and it also makes the season for
peeling very short, as there will be but
three or four weeks after the bark will
start before they will be SO much grown
as to be unfit for pecling. Another plan
which is practiced to come extent in this
country is TO cut them at any convent.
cnt time after the leaves fall, and boil
them until the bark will slip. The OBJ
jections to this plan are, first, the ex-
pense of boiling, which is considerable
it there is large quantity to be peeled;
and, second, it spoils the WILLOWS for
market, as the boiling causes them to !
turn red or brown. The third plan, and
the one which have proved by expert
ence to be the most feasible aud proita-
BILE, is to cut the willows in the Fall, as
soon as the leaves are off, bind them in
convenient bundles and pile them up in
the field; then let them lie until the oc-
curencc of a fall of snow, sufficient to 90
on with slcighs and haul them off 10 a
piece ofground which have graded and
gravelcd for the purpose, and around
which | have raised an cmbankmcnt, so
that it can be flooded to the depth of one
foot On this level ground set the
bundles as thick as they can stand, each
bundle standing in perpendicular po-
siton. As soon as it tllaws in the Spring
] turn on the water so as to food the
ground to about six or eight inches depth
and keep it so flooded until the willows
are peeled. They will put out leaves
and the bark will start in this pond as
well as if they were in the field uncut,
and they will remain in a condition to
peel much longer. In the northern States
pceline may be commenced in the fore
part of May and continue until July if
necessary. Treated in this way the will
low whtens much better than by either
of the other processes, and, Of course,
command better price in market. For
merly, all willows (and at presents very
large part that are used) are peeled by
hand, one at 4 time; but r.acbincry has
been perfected, and is being rapidly in
troduccd, to. do this work mug!, faster
and cheaper than it can be done by hand
| would not advised any one to start n
willow plantation until they have visited
one that is in successful operation and
learned all the little matters that cannot
be shown in writing. When this is done
and plantation started in the right
manner, there is no more sure crop, nor
one that will pay better profit. Two
tons of peeled willow to the acre is no
more than fair average yield, and they I
will sell for 500 per tun; while the cost !
Of cultivating and pcelng, including in
tcrest on capital employed will vary from |
one to two cents per h., according to
the place, the price of labor and the con- ]
veniences for getting water power to
drive the machinery.