WILLOWS FOR BASKET-MAKING
Previous to the war, preferential railway and boat rates, aided by keen
foreign competition, wellnigh rendered the time-honoured industry of
basket-making a thing of the past in this country. The best classes
of osiers, cleaned and ready for manipulation, were delivered to our
principal markets from Continental sources at so low a price that
competition on our part was almost out of the question. There are
still, however, a few stations, such as those in Bedfordshire, the fen
districts of Lincoln and Cambridge, and along certain reaches of the
Thames, where willow culture is engaged in, though not in the same
energetic way as was the case some half a century ago.
About 7,000 acres, producing roughly 20,000 tons of osiers, are
cultivated in this country at the present time, many small plantations
having been grubbed out and the land laid down in other crops during
the past five and twenty years.
This falling off is much to be regretted, as the sorting and harvesting
of osiers and basket-making gave light and remunerative employment
to a large number of residents, both young and old, of the districts
in which the willow-beds were situated. Land that was damp and could
not well be brought under other cultivation without the expense of
drainage, gave a good return under a crop of osiers. Taking everything
into consideration, and judging from talks that I have had recently
with those who are interested in the osier industry, the formation
of willow-beds, under the plea that considerable profits attend the
undertaking, is not to be recommended. No doubt in some favoured
districts where carriage is reduced to a minimum and local demand
is considerable, osier cultivation gives a fair return for capital
invested; but until we can get back the once lucrative trade in
baskets for fruit and other similar commodities from the hands of our
Continental rivals, profits of any magnitude are quite precluded.
There is little doubt that on soil which is unsuited for farming
purposes willow culture can be made fairly profitable, but it is a
mistake to suppose that any marshy piece of stiff ground will grow
osiers, or that the planting and tending are matters of small import.
Quite the reverse is the case. The willow will not thrive for long
in water-logged soils, though periodical inundations, particularly
during winter and early spring, are highly beneficial. In addition,
the soil must be well worked, the cutting of rods carefully and
systematically carried out, and the clearing of the ground must receive
strict attention, else deterioration of the crop will quickly ensue.
Previously to planting the cuttings or sets, the ground should be
ploughed, harrowed and consolidated, all objectionable weeds being
destroyed.
For some considerable time to come there is bound to be a dearth of
willows for basket-making, as our main supplies have come from Germany
and the Netherlands. Here, then, is a chance for the owners of suitable
land in this country to set to work at once and revive a time-honoured
industry by planting up suitable grounds with the most approved kinds
of willow for basket-making. That the undertaking, if wisely carried
out, would be a remunerative one is beyond question, and the excellent
results attained at such places as Leicester and Bedford clearly prove
that willow culture is a most profitable way of utilizing naturally
dampish land in any but the most exposed situations.
For the past few years the demand in this country for high-grade
willows has been greatly in excess of the supply, in fact, hardly
one-fifth of our requirements are produced at home. Germany, previous
to the war, exported willows and rods to the value of about £42,000,
this being an increase in five years of fully one-half; while of
the manufactured articles in the way of baskets and basket ware her
total value exceeded £42,000. But as giving some idea of our wants in
this direction it may be stated that the total value of willow rods
annually sent to this country from the Continent is in round figures
about £100,000, and of baskets and basket ware fully £170,000. What a
contrast with the period in our history when an important export trade
in willows was done by this country!
The willow working industry is a rapidly expanding one. Owing to the
increasing demand, the value of peeled willows is gradually on the
increase, and present prices range from £24 to £38 per ton for those
of best size and quality. These are in the main exported and used for
high-class work in the basket trade, rougher unpeeled willows that are
largely in use for cheap packing hampers and farm purposes bringing
in a much lower price. Fruit baskets in immense numbers are annually
imported from the Continent, one firm alone having sent over £150,000;
while at Leith basket works, which mainly caters for the agricultural
and fishing industries, thousands of herring baskets alone are sent out
every month, while the packing hamper department is of great interest
and a special feature of this enterprising firm.
Previous to the war willow or osier culture was mainly in the hands of
the French for rods of good quality, the Belgians and Germans supplying
a cheaper kind probably owing to the quality of soil and inferior
varieties that are cultivated.
There are not a few persons who consider that in order to cultivate
willows successfully, any neglected, damp piece of ground, which is
unsuited for other crops, may be utilized, and the cuttings simply
stuck in without ground preparation of any kind. This is, however, a
great mistake, as experience has long ago demonstrated that in order to
make osier cultivation at all profitable, a low level, and a naturally
rather moist situation must be chosen, and further, that the soil
should be deep, well drained and thoroughly prepared.
Thoroughly drain the ground first, then steam-plough or trench the
soil to a depth of about 18 in., removing carefully all weeds,
particularly such troublesome kinds as the bindweed, couch grass and
dock. It is always preferable to take a crop of potatoes first from
the land intended to be laid down for osier culture, as it not only
sweetens and enriches the soil, but allows of the eradication of all
obnoxious weeds. Where, however, it is not practicable to crop the land
first with potatoes, the soil should be well and roughly broken up and
left so for a year, or for a winter, at least, before being planted
with the osiers. The best time to plant is from October to the middle
of March. The sets, or cuttings, should be about 15 in. long, and
formed of well-ripened rods, of one year’s growth, and the straightest
and cleanest portion of the rod only used. Three or four buds should,
if possible, be on the top end of each set. In planting, insert the
cuttings from 9 to 12 in. into the ground, leaving 3 in. above soil,
which forms the stool that bears the future crops.
It is well to exercise great caution while inserting the cuttings,
as, if the work has been delayed till the sap is rising, the bark
readily strips away from the wood, and this is very objectionable, as
the plants in such a state usually die. The sets may be placed about
15 in. apart, and the rows, which, for convenience, should be lined
off straight, about 30 in. from each other. Of course, as regards
distances, these will depend to a great extent on the quality of the
soil and the particular kind of willow being planted, but the above are
good average distances.
For basket-making, etc., the best kinds of osiers to use are
_Salix triandra_ and _S. viminalis_, but there are others. A good
basket-willow, be it of whatever kind, should, when green, twist from
end to end without breaking. It is well to bear in mind that, in order
to obtain the greatest profits from willow culture, only the very
best kinds should be planted—indeed, next to preparing the ground, a
judicious selection should be one of the main considerations. For the
first year, at least, after being formed, osier beds must be carefully
attended to in the way of cleaning and weeding. Hoeing will be found
the most convenient method of getting rid of weeds, but, in the case
of bindweed, hand-picking around and amongst the sets will be found
necessary.
Cutting the osiers must be done while the crop is dormant, or not later
than the middle of February, but not during frost, which will injure
and kill off parts of the stool. The cutting is done by means of a
rod-hook, which resembles a miniature sickle; this should always be
kept sharp, so that the cuts may be made clean. Tie the rods together
when dry, in bundles of three or four sizes, and either house or stack
them. It should be borne in mind that rods are easily spoiled by being
tied up or stacked whilst in a wet state, as they very soon become
heated, which makes them brittle and utterly valueless for the purpose
intended. What is known in England as “bolting” is simply taking a
number of osiers, as nearly of a size as possible, and laying them on
a twisted wand, at the same time keeping the butts all one way, and
level, then drawing them tightly together—not, however, to such an
extent as to injure the bark—with a rope and two levers, and finishing
off by tying the wand. The wand should be at 14 in. from the butts. A
bolt of rods should measure 40 in. round the band.
In forming a willow bed, the following short rules should be observed:—
1. Willows will not succeed well in peaty, sandy, or water-logged
soils; rich, well-drained loam, that can be flooded at will is the most
suitable.
2. Trench or plough, and thoroughly clean or pulverize the ground
before planting.
3. Plant only the best kinds, studying soil and market, and avoid a
mixed crop.
4. From November to March insert the cuttings about nine inches deep,
avoiding such as are bark-chafed, and tramp firmly.
5. Keep the beds clean and free from weeds.
6. Cut the crop close to the ground; pollard willows soon decay and in
that state harbour injurious insects.
The following estimate of the approximate cost per acre of osier
culture, and the returns therefrom for the first three years will be of
interest:—
FIRST YEAR.
£ _s._ _d._
Ploughing the ground and planting 4 10 0
Hoeing and other attention 1 5 0
15,700 willow cuttings (_Salix viminalis_) 10 0 0
Rent, rates, and 5 per cent. interest on capital 2 12 0
Harvesting 0 18 0
————————————
£19 5 0
Yield first year 3 tons, value 9 0 0
————————————
Loss £10 5 0
SECOND YEAR.
£ _s._ _d._
Rent, rates and incidentals 2 10 0
Hoeing and cleaning 1 8 0
Harvesting 1 10 0
————————————
£5 8 0
Yield about 5 tons. 20 0 0
————————————
Profit £15 8 0
THIRD AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS.
Expenditure £6. Yield £24. Profit £18.
If the ground is properly cultivated and losses made good, the
plantation should give a yield similar to the third year for fully a
quarter of a century.
In the low-lying district between Taunton, Bridgwater and Langport, in
Somerset, willow or osier culture is largely engaged in.
The system generally adopted is that the owner or tenant of the land
planted to willows keeps the land free from weeds to prevent the
withies being choked. This entails an outlay of about 25_s._ per acre
per annum if properly done. The crops are measured and marked out
in half-acre lots and sold in October or November. The purchasers
cut and remove them, and in some cases convert them into baskets,
basket-chairs, and such like. In other cases the purchasers select and
bundle the crop in the regulation sizes and sell them to dealers.
The results of some recent sales are as follows: One field of 11½
acres realized £132 and the first two half-acres, being remarkably
good withies, made £19 10_s._ Three other fields, containing 16 acres
in all, made £161 10_s._; and three others, containing 22½ acres, £222
2_s._ 6_d._ The agricultural annual rental value of this land when
pasture, before it was planted to willows, was under £2 per acre.
From the above it will be seen that if prudently entered upon and
economically carried out the cultivation of willows for basket-making
is a paying industry, and as for some years to come foreign supplies
will be barred to our markets, the enterprise should prove highly
remunerative.