New-York tribune., 1905-01-16
WTLLOW FURNITURE.
Some Day the american House7cife's
Heart May Rejoice in It,
see the soft green willow sprlnging
Where the waters gently pass.
Every way her wide arms flngInS
o er the moist and reedy grass.

Kebles picture OF the willow by the watersde is
the one which naturally occurs to the unscientihc
mind when that tree is mentioned From time
immemorial the willow has grown river banks.
The captive Jews hung their harps upon it's
branches by the rivers OF Babylon and to-day,
almost the whole globe, it still follows the water
courses Nevertheless. it appears from the recent
report of the Bureau OF Forestry The Basket
Willow that the willow has constitutional
preference for water, and has taken to the river
banks only for the reason that some people take
to the woods-because it had The willow is not
tall tree, and, being intOerant of shade it finds
the only chance for life IN adapting itself soil
which other trees do care for. 1t is not sensi-
tive to moisture, and therefore it finds refuge
river banks and lowlands positions which are espe-
ctally favorable also TO the termination of it's
seeds These cannot sprout except soft. open
soil free from weeds. and. they lose their
powers of termination in few days, the soft,
aluvial deposits OF river banks are the only places
where they would be at all likely. under natural
conditions to take root.
The fact that the willow is not water plant is
evident from its structure. says the Bureau of
Forestry It has of the softness. succuence
end loose texture Of an aquatic species. On the
contrary. 1t has highly developed root system
capable OF absorbing every atom Of moisture from
the SOIL thick. heavy bark which hinders evap-
Grafton from the stem: large leaf area, showing
absorbs carbon dioxide from the air and not
from the water. and thin leaves with waxy
surface which evaporate more water than the
leaves Of forest trees growing under normal con-
ditions
From these facts It might be inferred that the
tree would do better well drained soil than on
marshv ground and the experience of European
and American growers has shown this to be the
case. The willow from which baskets and furniture
are made is grown moist, rich and well drained
bottom land, and the rods flexible.
tougher and less branchy than those grown
undrained narshland. The fair green willow
spr1ng1ng where the waters gently pass may be
dear to the heart of the poet. but commerce will
have none of her.
Most of the willows used in the United States
come from France. but the Bureau of Forestry
sees reason why this country should not produce
its own willow at price much lower than the cost
Of the imported product This is a matter Of con-
siderable importance to the housekeeper, because
the cost Of the raw material is the thing which
prevents the production in this country of the
beautiful wiIlowware which Is common in
Europe. Labor is cheap therS that the cost Of
the willows does matter much. and the
European housewife has many beautiful things
which the American can only envy. which
even undreamed of here. She puts the clothes. on
wash day. in beautiful willow baskets. instead of
ugly wooden ones. which the only kind of
neither so durable. light nor elastic as wiowware
II she keeps dairy bakery she displays her
baskets which make the store look much more
furniture of her house IS willow and if she goes
travelling she packs her belongngs in willow trunks
than any trunk and much stronger than most OF
them.
In England great quantities Of split willowware
are used. Screen doors and office window screens
beautifully fashioned in willow, and even hotel
washstand splashers made of the same
material Beautiful little mats for hot dishes at
table also made from split willow. say moth
Ing OF dainty bread baskets.
All these things the American hOusekeeper
look forward buying at fairly satisfactory prices
if the Bureau of Forestry is successful in its
efforts to increase the cultivation of willow the
United States
A great many substitutes are now being used for
willow in this country, but they all makeshifts
and would be speedily abandoned in favor OF willow
X the latter could be reduced a satisfactory price
Already good many manufacturers have given
using rattan for furniture. 5 willow Is superior
In every way. AS this material is hard to work
with, willow furniture is simpler in design than
that made from rattan. It is also lighter more
durable. more beautifully coIored and finally as
the willow is smoother than rattan does not soil