Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-04-29
Encouraging Willow Culture.

The government has just completed the
harvest of most unique crop at its ex-
detrimental farm near Arlington, just
across the Potomac from Washington,
where corps OF laborers in charge OF
trained foresters are preparing for the
annual free distribution of 10000 basket
willow cuttings.
Uncle Sam is encouraging the growing
of high grade willow rods in this country,
and in the five years since the establish
ment of the hollis at Arlington approx
mately half million select cuttings have
been distributed among farmers, with di-
rections for planting and preparing for
market. Particular attention is given to
selecting the varieties and strains best
suited to the soil where the paintings will
be made.
Willowcraft is an industry which is
constantly growing in importance in this
country, yet the culture of basket willow
in the United States made very little prog
ress until five or six years ago. Even
now, practically all of the best grades OF
basket willow are imported from Europe,
chiefly from France. European manu-
facturers compete keenly for the best
products in their countries, and until re-
Gently only the inferior rods 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 ofwilow
can be grown in this country at good
profit, and farmers are turning their at
tention to its culture more and more each
year.
This years harvest began early in
March. Four approved varieties are be-
ing sent out; and only the best and most
thrifty rods are selected for distribution.
The management of the holtS and work
OF free distribution of cuttings is charged
to the United States Forest Service.
Cuttings for experimental planting and
information or management of the willow
hollis are furnished those who make the
request of the Forester at Washington.
The government recognizes the i'm
portance of good cuttings, a point more
commonly overlooked than the matter OF
cultivation. Only the best and most
thrifty rods are selected for each seasons
distribution. To produce desirable
grade OF rods it is very important to select
planting stock not only from thoroughly
tested varieties, but the cuttings should
be taken from the tallest, perfectly straight,
cylindrical, branchless, and fully mature
rods. High 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 climate conditions, and
as the final tests of new varieties are COM
pleted, those proved to be valuable will
be added to the distribution list.
Cuttings of new and untried basket
willows were obtained from Europe a
year ago and planted in the Services Ex-
perimental ground. Close observations
will be made on the growth of these and
| if the results are favorable during the first
three years, cuttings from these varieties
will be distributed in the United States.
In case of some varieties much longer
time may elapse before their value can he
established.
The Forest Service is receiving con-
stantly increasing number OF requests for
basket willow cuttings. These requests
come from farmers all over the country,
many of them coming through members
of Congress. The Service is endeavoring
to stimulate the basket willow industry in
this country by distributing cuttings of
the most approved varieties of willows,
and the four varieties tested for the last
five years in the experimental holt at Ar
lington, Va, can now be confidently dis
tributed. The behavior Of the plants has
been carefully observed as to the quantity
and quality of the crop, to their resistance
and lack OF resistance to diseases as well
as other points that would affect the prof.
itableness OF each variety. The observa-
tons made during the first two years
were published in Circular 14S by the
Forest Service. AT the close OF this
springs harvesting, now going on, the
results of the past three years tests will
be published.