50 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



fruit than is required to compensate for the row removed. By thia 

 system we keep the trees always young and vigorous. I am an 

 ardent experimentalist, and am continually doing these things to see 

 which plan succeeds best. I shall be very glad to show any one what 

 I am doing in the way of nut-growing, and to impart what little 

 knowledge I have about it. 



Of course, there are some sorts which pay better for growing 

 than others, but I believe that nothing is at present cultivated that 

 will produce a tithe of the return in money as the best sorts of nuts 

 and filberts. The best are, in my opinion, the Old Cob, the Kentish 

 Cob, the Bed Skin Filbert, the Improved Cosford Cob, and the 

 Davienna Cob. There are many other seedlings and nuts very good, 

 but not so prolific as those I have mentioned, save the Emperor Cob, 

 which bore the 110 lbs. crop one season. 



There are many things that will grow under the nuts, such as 

 polyanthuses, snowdrops, narcissus, and other bulbous and herbaceous 

 plants. All these things are available for any one who wishes to 

 make a profitable investment, without any trouble or expense (except 

 the first outlay), on his own land. 



I am not afraid the country will soon be overrun with nut trees 

 because I describe them as remarkably profitable, for the English are 

 slow to change their course ; but I am quite satisfied that for many 

 years to come the nut will be the most profitable crop for any soil 

 on which it thrives. As we speak of nuts and filberts, I ought to 

 add that the distinctions between them are, that the nut has a husk 

 not so long, or not longer, than the shell, but the filbert has a husk 

 which is longer than the shell. 



MAXIMS ON POTATO CULTURE. 



fUEING the past twelve years, every known variety of 

 potato, and every known method of culture (in addi- 

 tion to a few that may be for the present spoken of as 

 unknown), have been made the subject of careful trial 

 in the experimental garden at Stoke New ington. We are 

 not now prepared to enter into full particulars of results attained 

 by the costly and elaborate process followed ; indeed, we doubt the 

 suitability of such dry details for these pages. But as the season 

 in which potatoes are usually planted has once more returned, it 

 will probably advantage many of our readers if we offer a few 

 maxims on the cultivation of this root, which have a direct practical 

 bearing. 



1. Soil. — Nothing so good as a light sandy loam, lying high 

 and dry, and sloping to the south. Nothing so bad as a wet clay, 

 sloping north, or shaded by trees. Peat and bog soils are first- 

 rate, especially for seed potatoes, provided they are well drained. 

 Clay soils may be improved by large additions of road-scrapings, 

 charred vegetable refuse, leaf-mould, and other manure. 



2. Manure. — It is a mistake to suppose that manure injures 

 potatoes ; the fact is, they want it, for they make great demands 



