The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-04-07


linsson approximately s hsIf million
select cuttings hare been distributed
glnong farmers MIN directions fos
planting and preparing Tor MARKET
EattlculaF attention Il, given Is reject.
ang yarteties and strains best suit.
ea - re goii where The piantiaes via
be made.
Rillcwclait 3 an industry watch Is
constantly growing in Importance IN
this country yet the culture of basket
willow IN the, United States made
very little progress until 1--WE orlsIx
years ago. Even now, practically all
Of the best grades Of BASKET willow are
imported from Europe, chiefly from
France, European manufacturers com
pete keenly for the best products in
their countries. and until recently only
the inferior rods were sent to America
where they have been bought at three
times the prices quoted for similar
stock a few years ago. Experiments
have shown that the best grades Of
willow can be grown In tais country
al good profit and farmers are turn.
ing their attention to its culture more
and more each year.
This years harvest began early in
March. -Four approved varieties are
being sent out, and only the best and
most thrifty rods are selected for dis
tribution. The management of the
foits and work Of free distribution of
cuttings is charged to the United
States Forest Service. Cuttings for
experimental planting and tnforma-
ton on management OF the willow
holts are furnished those who make
the request Of the Forester at Wash.
ington.
The government recognizes the i'm.
portance of good cuttings, point
more commonly overlooked than the
matter Of cultivation. Only the best
and most thrifty rods are selected for
each seasons distribution. To pro.
duce a desirable grade OF rods It ia
very important to select planting
stock not only from thoroughly test.
ed varieties, but the cuttings should
be taken from the taiiest, perfectly
straight, cylindrical, branches, and
fully mature rods. Higa grade basket
willows Can be raised only by being
sure that the cuttings planted are from
parent stock above the average.
The policy of the Forest Service is
to increase the number of important
basket willows and determine their
value under different soil and climatic
conditions, and as the final tests Of
new varieties SIRE completed, those
proved to be valuable will be added to
the distribution list,
Cuttings of new and untried basket
willows were obtained from Europe
year ago and planted in the Ser.
vices Experimental ground. Close OBJ.
servations will be made upon the
growth of these and If the results are
favorable during the first ) years, cut,
tings from these varieties will be dis
tributed in the United States. In case
of some varieties much longer time
may elapse before their yalue can he
established.
The Forest Service is receiving
constantly increasing number of re-
quests for basket willow cuttings.
These requests come from farmers all
over the country, many OF them COM
Ing through members of Congress. The
Service is endeavorlng to stimulate
the basket willow industry in this
country by distributing cuttings OF
the most approved varieties Of will.
lows, and the FOUR varieties tested for
the last 5syears in, the experimental
holt lat Arlington, Va, can now be con.
fidently distributed. The behavior of
the plants has been carefully observed
as to Inc quantity and quality of the
crop. to their resistance and lack Of
resistance to diseases as we'll as 9th.
er points that would affect the profit.
ableness of each variety. The obser.
rations made during the first 2 years
were published in Circular 14S by tbe
Forest Service. At the close Of this
springs harvesting, now going on. the
results OF the past three years tests
will be published.