THE OSIER-WILLOW.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 6, 28 November 1862, Page 3

THE OSIE R- WILLOW.

r. . .-.< .■>_ • - - (From thvYionum.) We ha?e already recommended the cnltivation of the osier as a useful and valuable article, and we have pointed out how rriiriy spots throughout the colony are adapted for- .the purpose. We are now enan'ed to give some dnita as to the value of -such a crop, furnished by a correspondent of the Rural New Yorker :— CULTURE OF THE OSIER WILLOW. Having lately seen several inquiries re»ppc»ing the O9ier willow and its culture, and being a-ked almost daily, '* Do vou think it will pay 1 " I have concluded to send you my experience in its cultivation. Three years ago this spring, after cornplanting, I set two acres of the French osiers, planing them in rows three feet apart, a distance of a t-iot from each other. The first year I cultivated and hoed the same as corn, and many of the shoots attained the height of four feet. The next spring I cut and commenced peeling lost tlie crop, except a few used for sets. Lust opting I cut and commenced pet-ling by hand, which I found rather an uphill I nisi ne<s, and almost lesolv^d Jo abandon ihei culture, if they must he peeled in that way. About this time a machine wn< invented for peeling willows. I imrmdidiately procured one, which woiked to my satisfaction, and with it I finished peeling mv crop, which when ready 'or market, including som* sold for sets, a tittle exceeded a ton. These I shipped to a commission inei chant in New York, and rec ived for them HOlol. per ton. This year I liave a much heavier crop. For an an experiment I have weighed those cut from twelve stools which amount t<> lSlh. I have fonnd in pe«-lini£ ami dryinsr they waste nearly one-half. The p odure of an acre stands thu-« : — 14,520 stools per acre. l|lb. ea«-h. 2l,?80ll> ; ready for m-ir-ket five and a half tons, llodol. per ton, Gll. f > dol.; oo>t of cutting per acre 6>lol ; cost of peeling, per ton. 7dol , 88<iol.; binding and taking to market, sdol. per tori, 27d0|.; total, 72d01. Devlucting expenses, this leaves h profit per acre of 533 dol. According fo din ctions received at the time I planted. I have not cultivated mine since the first year, hut think they should be cultivaeJ every spring, to loosen the soil and keep them free from weed* and grass, iam confident th-it anyone who has su t»hle ground, and will « e>tow proper cultivation, can realise this amount from an acr^ of wilows, perhaps more. After rending the-e facts, I ihink no one can hesitate how to answer the querj, " Will it pay."