Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-08-21
LARGE DEMAND FOR
WILLOW BASKETS

The fact that Chicago merchant is
advertising in German trade papers for
a million willow clothes baskets is
pointed to by experts on willow culture
in this country as evidence of our neg
lect of a profitable industry.
Climate and soil are as favorable for
willow culture in this country as in
Germany or anywhere else, and the
market for willow of the better grades
is the best in the world. Generally
speaking, land that will grow wheat
will grow willows. Their cultivation is
not difficult and profits are usually
good. But up to the present time
Americans have not taken hold of the
matter in earnest, though both interest
and production have been on the increase
of recent years as q result of the efforts
made by the Department of Agriculture
to inform the public of the opening
which willow growing offers.
The Germans handle the business well.
They have industrial schools where
basket weaving is taught Many of
these schools grow their own willow
rods. cut them, and peel and prepare
them for use. To the mutual advan-
tage of both pupils and proprietors,
arrangements are made to allow pupils
to work part of the time in the "holts, Z"
as the willow fields are called, belong
ing to the schools, and in that way
earn enough to pay their tuition and
board. They then become familiar with
all parts of the business, and when they
graduate they are competent to take
places as overseers of willow farms or
foremen in wicker ware factories. The
schools profit by getting much of their
work done without paying cash for it.
American willow growers and manu-
facturers of willow ware must meet
that competition; but those who have
investigated conditions here and abroad
feel confident that the American has
advantages which will enable him to
compete successfully if he takes up the
business with characteristic American
energy.
There are more than 160 manufac-
Iturers of willow ware in the United
States. One-tenth of them grow their
own willows, and about an equal num-
ber grow part of their stock. More
than q dozen varieties are cultivated in
this country, in seventeen states, and
many manufacturers assert that the
home grown rods are equal or even
superior to the imported. Good holts
pay profit the first year, though the
profits of later years are much greater.
The average price of unpeeled rods
last year was about one and quarter
cents pound, and of peeled rods about
seven cents. A well-managed willow
holt should average twenty-five hundred
pounds of rods to the acre yearly, and
the cost of growing and harvesting the
crop is comparatively low. 1t is crop
which requires comparatively little
labor, so that the small grower. if able
bodied. can be pretty independent in
the matter of hired help.
Instructions for the growing of basket
willows are sent out by the Forest
Service, upon request, together with
statement of the returns to be ex-
pected. The Service is devoting special
attention to testing every known variety
of basket willow in order to find the
best varieties for home growers. Ir
the early spring time cuttings from al
approved basket willows are SEM
gratisto applicants who desire to estab
lish willow holts.
IA fine opening, this. for colored labor
Basket making has been in all days
favorite occupation of the plantation
hands