Maryland was the second largest producer (NY first) of basket willow and third in
consumption (behind NY, MA), in 1919, to make willow furniture and baskets for
sale in the region. Willow cuttings (not tree, more a bush) were planted in rows, cut, sized, put in pits with a couple inches of water, put through the brakes, then peeled, dried on racks and bundled ready to ship.
History
German immigrants to PA and NY had tried to make baskets out of wild
willows but about 1840 brought Welsh willow which by 1860 the gov’t was
distributing cuttings. Following the
Civil War the willow industry grew until it declined at the end of the
century. In Maryland, though not an
early center, remained successful for longer due to the demands of the high-quality
baskets made in Baltimore and itscultivation of the Lemley and American Green
willows.
Elk-ridge
“The center of the willow district undoubtedly lies in Howard County.
In the neighborhood of Elk-ridge alone the output exceeds $5,000 per year,
while Anne Arundel County contributes $2,500. The additional amount [for the
rest of the counties] may be put at $8,000.” 1904
“The best native willows are grown in Maryland and Pennsylvania and
these bring higher prices than those grown elsewhere. A number of basket makers
have located in or adjacent to Baltimore in order to be near growers of these
high-grade rods.” In 1906 over 1,750,000
pounds used by 141 firms; in 1907 160 firms bought over 3,300,000 pounds. 1909
The willows on the right were planted too far apart, so the 'rods' grew more curved and the three on the left -
The willows on the right were planted too far apart, so the 'rods' grew more curved and the three on the left -
Elkridge district willow growers 1919
JT Martin 7 acres
Anton Skrivonick 19 acres
Cyril Peleska 11 acres
Robert Hawkins 5.5 acres
Charles E. Pitzinger 3 acres
John Pitzinger, Sr.
Lansdowne 15 acres
John Pitzinger, Jr. Hanover 10 acres
Total 70.50 acres Maryland
total 181.75
Types,
cultivation
“It is a common idea that willows grow only on marshy land— this is not
the fact. They will grow on ground that is dry during the summer but wet in the
winter and spring…standing water is injurious to the plants and will eventually
kill them if they are inundated too long…American Green is one of the best
producing willows in this country. It has a tendency to hold its shape better
than Lemley or Welsh, and the wood is a brilliant white and very flexible…much
in demand for the making of furniture and for the heavier and better grades of
basket ware.”1919
The height of AG range from 5-10 feet per year, while Lemly is 4-8 feet
and Welsh 3-7. To start a ‘garden’, in
spring the cuttings, (made in late winter, then stored upright in a couple
inches of sand), are stuck in rows in the ground. After two years the willows can be cut back
to the ground (after the snow, Feb). Gardens can last from 8-12 years. After cutting the rods were tied by size in
bundles and left standing in pits in 2-3 inches of water.
Drafting or sorting by size
Standing in pits
Breaking (by men on right) then peeling of bark (by the women)
"Peeling is done by drawing the willow between two flexible steel plats
or bars, which exert enough pressure to break the bark, but which is not
sufficient to crush the wood. As the rods are pulled through the brakes, they
are thrown behind the breakers to the peelers, who strip off the loosened bark
by hand. Usually one man, breaking, will keep two women busy stripping bark.
Such a crew will strip from 175 pounds to 200 pounds a day, depending on the
kind of willows handled. The average wage for a man at this work is f 2 to
$3.00 a day, and for a woman, f 1.50 to $2.00. This is the most expensive part
of willow growing, as the process by hand is necessarily slow and costly.
Smaller rods are often given out to a family for peeling at about two to three
cents a pound." 1919
Drying on racks
Bundling
"After the rods have been peeled they are laid on racks and allowed to
dry for a few hours in the sun…A simple machine employed makes use of the same
principle, but is operated on a frame supporting a cradle in which the rods are
laid. The strap around the rods is operated by a crank, worked by hand or foot
power. This machine is easily made by the grower. Peeled willow rods bring from twelve to twenty-two cents a pound,
depending on length and quality." 1919
Basket
competition
"In America the market has a different aspect. Here a very large number
of baskets are made of wood, some of woven pine, oak, ash, and elm strips,
others constructed from broad veneers laid together at the bottom and fastened
at the rim by a strip. Market, clothes, and laundry baskets all are made of
wood, and the willow is forced to be content with a limited share of the
general trade. Rattan, too, has always enjoyed a high degree of favor, and has
a permanent place in the American market. Baskets made from wood other than
willow are much less durable and have not the combined lightness and elasticity
which is so desirable. Rattan is quite as lasting as willow, but it is less
rigid, and its rough surface soils quickly. It is also much more expensive.
Since baskets made of other wood are less durable than those made of willow,
they can be sold at a profit only when they are enough cheaper to offset the
difference in quality. In Europe ash, oak, elm, and rattan are relatively
expensive, and as willow can be grown at a small cost under an intensive
agricultural system and peeled by hand cheaply where wages are low, the
prepared oak or ash stock can not be put on the market at a much lower price
than the osier rods. Of course oak or ash splints, being large and easily
manipulated, are much easier to weave into baskets, but where such stock is
dear and labor cheap this advantage is more than offset.
Rattan is very much dearer than willow in Europe, and for this reason
can enter into competition with it only where its superiority is apparent. This
is only in extremely heavy shipping crates and baskets."
1904
Sources - of information and all images
1904 Hubbard, William F. The Basket Willow. US Bureau of Forestry
Bulletin. 1904 100p.
1906 Mell, C.D. Production and Consumption of Basket Willows in the
U. S. for 1906 and 1907. 14p
1909 Mell, C.D. “The Willow Ware Industry” Woodworkers Review March 1909
1911 Mell, C. D. "Basket Willow Culture in Maryland" American Forestry. October, 1911
1919 Pfeiffer, Karl. Basket Willow Culture in Maryland. Md State board of Forestry: 1919. 24p HERE©2017 Patricia Bixler Reber
Forgotten history of Ellicott City & Howard County MD
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