Putnam patriot., 1909-04-16
Putnam
Government Encouraging Willow Culture

The government is right n ihe midst nf the harvest of most unique crop at its experimental farm near Arlington, just across the Potomac from Washing. ton where scofe of labofe1s III charge of trained fafestefs, ate preparing fur the annual free distribution of lut,tNn basket willow cuttings.
 Uncle Sam k encouraging the grow ing Of high grade wtllo" rods in this country, and in the five years since the establishment of the holts al Afiing- ton approximately ahalf million select cuttings have been distributed among farmers, with directions for planting and preparing ter market, eafliculat attention Is given to selecting the van. eticst and strains best suited to the soil where the pIanlings will he made Wilowctafl k m industry which is constantly growing In importance in this country, yet the culture ot basket willow in the t'nited States made very l httle progress until five or six years ago. Even now, practically. all oi the best grades of basket willow are impof' ted from Europe, fly from France. l The European manufacturers compete l keenly for the best products in their countries, and until recently only the | inferior rod. were sent to America, where they have been bought at three times the prices quoted for similar stock few years ago. Experiments have shown that the best grades ei will low can be grown in this country at a good profit and farmers are turning | their attention to its eultN ation mofe and more each seat.
 This years harvest began early tn | March. Four approved varieties are | being sen, oat, and only the best and most thrifty rods are selected for distri, | button. The management al The hoils and work ot free distribution oi cut. tings is charged to the United s taies ' Forest Service Cuttings for eNperi. mental planting and information on management of the willow holts are | furnished those who make the request of the Forester at Washington. The government neeognizes the im. porianee of good cuttings, point noFe commonly overlooked than the matter of cultivation. Only the best and most thrifty rods are selected for each sea son's distribution. To produce desir- able grade of rods il tx very important to select planting stock not only from thoroughly tested varieties, but the cuttings should hc taken trum the tall. est, perfectly straight. eranehless, ey- hndrical, and fully mature rods. High l grade basket willows can be raised only by heing sure that the entiings planted are from the parent stock above inc | average.
 The policy ef the Forest Service is to increase the number of important aas- ket willows and determine their value under different soil and climatic condi. | tions, and as the final tests of new Wa
 rie,ies are completed, those preved te
 hS valuable will he added to the dtstfi. | button list
 Cuttings of new and nntried basket
 willows were obtained from Europe a
 year ago and planted tn the >eFsiee's
 Experimental ground. Close ohserya-
 tions will he made upon the growth of
 these, and if the results are favorable
 during the arst three wears, cuttings
 from these varieties will oe distributed
 in the United states. In ease oi sane
 varieties much longer time may
 elapss hesare their sslae can ee estah.
 .ished.
 The Forest Ssrsiee Is receivinsia . e>sn'
 sfansly increasing number of fs1aesss for basket willow cuttings. Th1ke r- quests come froin farmers all efer lhs