| Show BASKET WILLOWS IV washington ashington D C february 12 the department of agriculture la Is getting ready to fill requests for the basket willow cuttings grown last year on its experimental farm at arlington va distribution of these cuttings takes place early in march each spring to farmers and others who wish t to make trials of basket willow on lands too wet for other crops from 50 to cuttings are given each person the distribution Is not a mere giving away of government material to persons who desire to get something free because it is required that each recipient of cuttings shall make a report of the treatment given and tile the results obtained several select varieties are included in each set that Is distributed and the aim is to secure information as to the best variety for each locality since no cne kind can oe relied upon ulion to yield maximum results over a wide lange iange of territory in the basket willow investigations carried on at the arlington farm and at ames iowa by the forest service particular attention has been given to the development of american species for basket making purposes the european species now commonly used have never proved themselves entirely adapted to american conditions aud and are as a rule less thrifty than the nathe species at present there is at ai arlington a willow garden containing nearly lots gathered from all parts of the country and representing practically every species and variety found in the united states and canada A system of selection which has been carried on for several years is s already indicating which strains show the best willow characteristics tor for am conditions |
