These willows are grown on high land and on low land, on wet and dry land, and on very cheap land, and on land that is worth one thousand dollars per acre. The crop needs to be planted but once, and an average yearly crop can not be worth less than one hundred dollars per acre. As the timber suitable for baskets is getting scarce and dear, it is plain that the demand for willow will increase every year. In most parts of the country are Germans who understand working the willow, and it is a great benefit to them and to their neighbors to have this industry introduced. Not one farmer in a dozen has on his place as many baskets as he needs, for the reason that they are scarce and dear. This willow is the easiest thing in the world to raise, and yet we import from Europe $5,000,000 worth a year. About two hundred tons of willow are manufactured every year in one little village in this State. One man in Syracuse told me he should send to New York this winter one hundred and forty tons of peeled willow, mostly of his own growing. In all the large cities more or less willow is manufactured every year, and the amount thus worked in the city of Milwaukee is very large. This industry is a benefit to the whole community and deserves to be encouraged, and the West especially should take a deep interest in extending it. The fact that it gives employment to poor during the winter, thus making comfort take the place of want, should exert a great influence in its favor. Here then is a means by which the farmer can put money in his pocket and help his poor neighbor at the same time. I have no interest in this matter as I do not raise, buy, or sell, but I do know it has been a great blessing to our State. There is one variety grown here that is much preferred to any other, but I can not find out the true name for it. Even the man that brought it here does not know its name. In a future number I will give directions for planting, etc. A. M. WILLIAMS LONG ISLAND, N. Y. * * * * * SEEDS, Etc. [Illustration] VICK’S FLORAL GUIDE For 1884 is an Elegant Book of 150 Pages, 3 Colored Plates of FLOWERS and VEGETABLES, and more than 1000 Illustrations of the choicest Flowers, Plants and VEGETABLES, and Directions for Growing. It is handsome enough for the Center Table or a HOLIDAY PRESENT. Send on your name and Postoffice address, with 10 cents, and we will send you a copy, post-paid. This is not a quarter of its cost. It is printed in both English and German. If you afterwards order seeds deduct the 10 cents. VICK’S SEEDS ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD. The FLORAL GUIDE will tell how to get and grow them. VICK’S ILLUSTRATED MONTHLY MAGAZINE, 32 Pages, a Colored Plate in every number and many fine Engravings. Price $1.25 a year; Five Copies for $5. Specimen numbers sent for 10 cents; 3 trial copies 25 cts. Address. JAMES VICK, Rochester, N. Y. * * * * *