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Show BASKET WILLOW CUTTINGS FREE Washington, D. C. Feb. 19. The Department of Agriculture Is getting ready to fill requests for tbo basket willow cuttings grown last yoar on Its experimental farm at Arlington, Va. Distribution of these cuttings takes placo early In, March each spring, to farmers and others who wish to mako trials of basket willow on lands too wot for other crops. From CO to 100 cuttings aro given each person. Tho distribution is not a mere glv Ing away of government matorial to persons who deslro to get something free; becaus0 It Is required that each recipient of cuttings shall mako a report of tho treatment given nnd tho results obtained. Several felect ailctles aro included In each set that Is distributed, and tho aim is to sccuro information as to tbo best variety for each locality, slnco no ono kind can bo rolled upon to yield maximum results over a wide range of territory. In tho basket willow Investigation carried on at tho Arlington Farm, Arlington, Va, nnd at Ames, Iowa, by tho Forest Service particular attention at-tention has beon given to tho development devel-opment of American species for basket bas-ket making purposes. Tho European species now commonly used havo nover proved themselves entirely adopted to American conditions and aro ns a rulo loss thrifty than tho nativo species. At present tbero Is nt Arlington a willow garden contain ing nearly 500 lots gathered from all parts of tho country and representing represent-ing practically every species and variety va-riety found In the United States and Canada. A system of selection which has been carried on for soveral years is already Indicating which strains show tho beBt baskot willow characteristics charac-teristics for American conditions. |