The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-10-04
Horticultural Column.
WHITE wILLOW-.Saz;r .AJa.

prairies, we believe is not fully appre-
ciated. There are varieties Of it that
grow readily upon our uplands, attain
ing in a remarkably short space of time
an altitude that gives complete protec
tion from high winds and storms, and
will when planted out thickly in the
row, in very few years make a fence
that no kind Of stock can penetrate.
Among these willows is the Uhite
UIllow-(sometimes called gray) the
wood being Of most delicate white
and susceptible Of receiving a very high
polish, and much used in some coun-
tries, especially China, for the manu-
facture Of ornamental and useful articles.
The HtninstOn, or broad-leafed will
low, is another This instead Of being
white through has a red heart. The
tree is very rapid in growth, and attains
a very great height, and is often used
for masts to small vessels in India, it
being very tough and light. Either Of
these kinds grow well ON our prairies,
and would furnish excellent hop poles
IN about three Or four years time, a
small plantation would furnish wood for
home use.
In China, the poorer inhabitants
gather from the flowers of this willow
cottony substance which they use in
place of cotton. A kind Of liquor is
also distilled from these flowers which is
very intoxicating. The Chinese use the
wood for the lining of wells, where it is
considered the most durable Of anv
wood; also for stable floors, for which
1T is considered more durable than deal
In our country it is much visited in
early spring when in flower by bees, and
Tor that purpose alone it may be profit
able to grow it.
In a recent trip in Ogle and Lee
counties, we saw and heard considerable
of the White Willow. 1t is known and
propagated there as the Green Hol-
land Uillow-it having been intro
duced into the country be Holland
cmigrants. By a careful examination
OF the wood and leaf, we are satisfied it
is the true White Willow, identical with
that cultivated by Samuel Edwards and
others THAT have been mentioned in the
Farmer.
Dir Cady has farm Of eighty acres.
lie settled here four years ago last
Noyember-then not tree or a shrub
on the place-now he has fence of this
willow around every rod of division line,
excepting gateways, from one to three
years of age. Mr.. Cady's object in
thus surrounding his whole land was to
secure protection from severe storms
and winds, and to serve as fence.
Ills manner Of
PREPARING GROUND
is to pillow up six burrows, three each
side, facing each other. This he
h roughly harrows and pulverizes.
thinking it Of as much Importance that
the land should be as well prepared as
for any other crop, to insure the best
Mr.. Cady believes much of the disap-
Polntments attending the culture of the
Usage Orange results from want of
proper preparation Of ground and after
care, and the danger is that the Willow
Will be neglected by the many. His
manner Of
SETTING TIE CUTTINGS
is to cut the sprouts about ten inches in
length, and uses even the smallest tins
of the limbs. Drawing line through
the centre Of the prepared bed, he takes
the cuttings and presses them into the
soil at slight angle, six inches apart.
the ends being sharp from being cut like
the end of whip graft; one man can
thus set out mile dav.
AFTER CULTURE.
This should be attended to as closely
rs that of corn crop; all weeds kept
out and the ground loose. Towards
fall good mulching of straw is found
TO be very beneficial, and in the summer.
should the season be very dry. The
row being kept well cleaned the first
year, but little difficulty is afterwards
found in the cultivation-an occasional
pulling out of the weeds should not be
neglected.
APPEARANCE OF TIE FENCE.
Nothing can exceed the pleasant effect
OF a row of these trees along the high
way. The regular growth gives it the
appearance OF having been regularly
trimmed, taperlng gracefully to the
peaks.
We would not create any undue ex-
citement in the public mind regarding
this tree, nor hold out any inducements