366 COB FILBERTS, [March, 



of light and air. Hence the importance of pruning so as to keep tbe 

 bush open in the centre. 



* The spring, at the time when the male blossoms (catkins) are 

 shedding their pollen, is the best time for pruning, as by the shaking 

 of the tree the pollen is diffused. The young shoots should be 

 shortened to half their length, cutting to a female blossom, and 

 removing all side suckers. The nut weavil lays its eggs in the fruit 

 in June, where it is hatched and escapes in August. The remedy is 

 to remove the nuts that have been perforated by it and destroy them. 



Soil. — The filbert will grovf in almost auy soil. It is grown here on 

 a stiff clay and on a sandy soil. It also does well with peat and 

 sand, and will thrive in a light soil with a dry bottom of either chalk 

 or gravel. Produce. — The filbert, like all other fruit trees grown out 

 of doors, cannot always be depended upon for a large crop, the early 

 spring frost often nipping and destroying the blossom. It is, however, 

 a satisfaction to the grower to know that when the yield is small the 

 price is high in proportion. 



* On ten acres of ground occupied partly with house, out-buildings, 

 and a very considerable quantity of Apple, Pear, Plum, and other 

 fruit trees, eight tons of nuts have been grown at Calcot in one 

 season. 



* Varieties. — The following is a list of the sorts grown here : — 

 No. 1. Webb's Prize Cob Filbert. This is an improvement upon 

 the common round cob nut. The husk is hairy and longer than the 

 nut ; the shell is of a dark brown colour and thick, with large sweet 

 kernel. The nut is large and obtusely ovate. This is one of the very 

 best nuts to grow : it is very hardy, will do on almost any soil, and is 

 an excellent cropper. No. 2. Emperor Cob. A seedling of Mr. 

 Webb's raising and a very superior nut, in many respects resembling 

 No. 1. No. 3. Improved Cosfoed Cob. The husk of this variety is 

 as long as the nut ; the shell is soft and thin, so much so as to be 

 easily broken between thumb and finger ; the kernel large and of an 

 excellent flavour. The tree is an abundant bearer. No. 4, New Cob 

 Daviana. a larger variety than No. 3, and a deliciously flavoured 

 nut. No. 5. Prolific Close Hud Filbert. The husk well encloses 

 the nut, which is of medium size and short, with a full and well- 

 flavoured kernel. No. 6. PcED Skinned Filbert. This variety is 

 very distinct from all others, the kernel being covered with a skin of 

 crimson red colour ; it is superior in flavour to the white variety, 

 but is less prolific ; it does best in a light loamy soil, but does not 

 require manure. No. 7. White Skinned Filbert. A more abundant 

 and a more generally cultivated sort than No. 6. This is the sort 

 cultivated in Kent. The husks of both are close fitting to the shell, 

 and so contracted towards the apex of the nut as to prevent its falling 



