CHAPTER XXVII
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.