Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-10-20

as good, but any soil that will rails
corn or potatoes, can be made adapta
BILE to basket willow if properly worked
if it does overflow it will benefit tn
crop unless such overflow occurs whel
the plant is growing and does not re
main under water too long.
Question:
How about the cultivation of tn
land?
Answer
The condition of the soil is OF frs
Importance, We must consider that al
osiery once planted is for a number o
years. therefore it is requisite tha
labor is not stinted. The soil an,
subsoil must be thoroughly ploughe,
and loosened in order to give the plan
a good chance to root we'll and deep
this is of great importance, although
not needed by many, it has the ad
vantage of drawing the moisture t,
the surface, the plant will get the de
sired nutrition and success is, as near
ly as circumstances will permit, as
sured.
Question:
How much will one acre of vel
cultivated osier bring?
Answer
No definite reply can be made here
from two to eight thousand pounds o
peeled willows are realized, but per
haps two tons to the acre will be /,
fair average, the price at present i
from 6 to 9 or even 10 cents for choice
per pound, but one must remembel
that the yield in the first year or tw'
is rather limited unless under very ia
vorable circumstances.
Question:
When is the best time to plant tn,
cuttings?
Answer
There is difference of opinion
among growers, whether the cutting
should be planted in the fall or spring
some claim the fall in order to Civ,
the cuttings chance to root, but mos
prefer the spring, claiming that tn,
plants will thereby be prevented from
suffering from early frosts.
Question:
Are many varieties of willows cult
waited.
Answer:
DR.. Horst OF Vienna, has cultivated
over 800 sorts. The Duke of Bedford
at WOodburn Abbey about $50 sort
and the nursery at Basford, England
contains over 800 varieties, but of al
the Salix Fragalis, or willow proper
the Salix viminals, or osier willow il
perhaps in our climate the best species
to plant for the following reasons
rather more prolific, has long, straight
solid shoots and is free from sid,
branches.
Question:
What age of cuttings are best t
plant?
Answer
Formerly it was thought the oldel
cuttings the best, but now only one Of
two-year-old shoots are used, if one
year-old shoots are we'll grown the,
will stride more easily, and throw out
quite. as strong spray of shoots as two
year-olds, and are not quite so expen
sive.
Question:
When and how should the shoots
be divided into settings? What size
ought they be? How and when should
they be planted?
Answer
Much difference of opinion exist:
among growers as to the size of cut
tings; the distance between the plants
how far it is necessary to push them
in the soil; and how far to leave them
out or above the ground. Those who
have carefully examined the various
methods have tried and experimental
upon them, find the following plan to
be the best, producing the heaviest
crops, best quality, more easily and
consequently more cheaply cleaned
the least exhaustive to the soil, and il
it is desirable to change to arabic land
again. it can be done at very mode.
rate expense. The shoots intended
for cuttings may be selected late in
the fall in small bundles, placed in
trenches and covered with soil, until
required. The cuttings should be
but at most 9 inches long, and cut
from the rod with sharp knife in q
slanting direction. The bottom OF
root end OF the rod is first sharpened
then first eight or nine inches are
taken by a clean and sharp cut, again
sharpen the rod and cut off second
and 90 on for the third if the rod i:
finely grown. Not more than three
cuttings should be taken from one rod
unless it is two-yesr-old, in which
case it may be cut up to the entire
length of the first years growth. In
cutting the sets not more than one
cut should be made, however thick the
rod may be, as it is necessary to have
the ends without any split or shatter
If the rods from which the cuttings
are obtained are in good condition the
cuttings will sustain no injury by re-
maining out of the ground for five Oh
six weeks, if not exposed to very dry
winds. All varieties of Salix fragalis
or willow proper, will do best, planted
IL inches by II, the Salix and its va
rieties known as Spaniards, Germans
Italians, ETC., will do best and produce
the heaviest crops planted 16 inches
by 3; this distance will do for all the
finer kinds OF willows.