The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-09-18
BY WILLIAM T, HUBBARD
ror.,t Service. United States Department Oh
Agriculture,

,y,u,o,v growing gives an uncom-
r,onlv high margin OF profit \ large
demand for willow is now supplied py
I,onor, and az American grown roos
orc of good quality when proper care
,s talon In their culture there rs no
,,.oson why the further development
of the industry should not be possible
,f moro American farmers can be con-
yInccd OF its practicability
or late years willow furniture mas
snrune into fashion and to-day no
minor Industry is more prosperous
than that devoted To its supply Inc
wages are good and the manufacturers
demand steady supply OF superior
willow.
This Is now almost entirely received
from Franco al a price which Will give
the entire trade to the Anerlc"n Il 'e
can equal the quality.
F,xpcrience has proved that no STOCK
Is equal TO willow when durable bes-
Lots arc demanded. The high class
basket has made place for itself IN
tho market even under present circum-
stances. and the entire decline In the
,radc has been in the low-prlccd bas-
l,et. which competcs with the foreign
wooden basket
To put a low priced basket on tne
market with raw willow at It's present
price the wages must bc cut lower
than rho normal standard in America.
For this reason tho trade is almost
entirely in the hands of immigrant
basket makers. who know no other
trade and who are seldom or never
Inn
The remedy lies I'm n reduction in the
cost OF the raw material. The cheaper
the willow Cwhen good In quality) the
better the wages which can bo pald 10
produce low-priccd basket. and
low priced basket of good quality vii
find an almost unlimited market on
this point the entire trade agrees.
Great care should be taken in thC
selection OF the willow bed. Rich, per
manently moist sandy loan gives bcs'
returns, though ordinary moist sandy
land often yields profitable crops o
willows.
Poor soils produce paying crops
where there is a market for short rods
Avoid land OF which water Is SfaGnan
during the summer. If by drainage th'
water level on such land can bo low
cred at least six feet below the surface
the situation may be considered ap
propriate,
Do not plant willows In localities
where carly frosts occur. The tendel
shoots are easily injured by the cold.
Plow ten or twelve inches deep II
the fall. prior TO planting the following
spring This turns the top layer o
the soil so deep that weed, seeds can
not spring up.
II rain is insufficient, irrlgatc th
willow bed if possible. but thoroug
drainage must be provided. as waite
must not stand on the surface. 1t
best also 10 keep the land well draine
during the winter.
Returns depend very largely upo
the method of culture. but more upo
the variety OF the willow planted. be
cause the shoots OF even the best va
rletics and i'm the most suitable so
grow brittle after the stools becom
old.
The American green and Welsh vii
lows are most generally planted. Th
rods OF the former peel readily. spl
easily. are snow white, hard. fieXibl
and heavy.
They have a tendency TO brancl
however. and unless the stools aT
planted close together a large percent
ago Of the rods branch so much ths
they are often unfit for peeled stock.