iSyi.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 277 



I have every reason to suppose that the maggot or grub proceeds 

 from the root; therefore, if placed in such circumstances as " W. H.," 

 I would turn the whole stock into the rubbish heap, and procure a 

 fresh supply from a clean stock. 



In closing this paper, I will say a few words about seedlings ; and 

 although we have not yet discarded the named varieties, I must say 

 that the quality of the seedlings we have grown for some years back 

 would compare favourably with the named ones. We sow none but 

 Wetherill's prize strain, j^rocured direct from B. S. Williams. We sow 

 in April and May. Their treatment does not differ in any material 

 point ; but they are, if anything, less troublesome, and can be got to 

 flower much earlier than the named sorts ; at least, such has been my 

 experience of them. D. I. 



THE CULTIVATIOISr OF HAHDY FRUITS. 



NUTS. 

 {Continued from page 226.) 



The Filbert. — The Filbert, which is just the common Hazel-Xut of the woods 

 in a cultivated state, is not in very general cultivation throughout Britain, although 

 it has been indigenous therein for a very long period. It is, however, more cul- 

 tivated in the southern counties of England, especially Kent, than in any other 

 portion of the British Isles. In the north of England and in Scotland the Filbert 

 is only cultivated in some of the more extensive places, and that in many instances 

 more for the name of the thing than for the sake of the yield of crop. In the south 

 of Europe, and more especially Spain, this forms an article of commerce of con- 

 siderable importance, the export trade from some of the Spanish ports being very 

 large. The Kuts imported from Spain are decidedly superior both in flavour and 

 size to any grown at home. This is to be accounted for from the fact that the 

 soil of Spain is very well adapted to its cultivation, and that with a brighter sky 

 and a longer summer the Filbert is more thoroughly developed and better ripened 

 than it is ever possible to obtain it in this country. 



There are several varieties of the Filbert in cultivation — M'Intosh, in his ' Book 

 of the Garden,' enumerating eleven sorts, while in Thompson's ' Gardener's Assistant ' 

 there are described twelve d ifferent kinds, all of wh ich are highly recommended as well 

 worthy of cultivation. The propagation of the Filbert is effected either by seeds, 

 suckers, layers, or grafts. Like everything else where new and improved kinds 

 are wanted, this can only be accomplished by the sowing of seed. For this pur- 

 pose the finest Xuts should be selected from the varieties from which it is intended 

 to raise seedlings. The Nuts should be sown in autumn in lines 1 foot apart, and 

 from 3 to 6 inches seed from seed. The lines may be about the usual depth 

 made for Peas ; and as rats and mice are very apt to attack them in the seed-bed, 

 the best method to repel their advances is by thoroughly rubbing every Xut over 

 with a thick coat of red-lead at the sowing period. AVhen the seedlings have 

 arrived at one year old, they ought to be transplanted into lines 2 to 3 feet apart, 

 and 14 to 2 feet plant from plant in the row. They may remain in these lines 

 for 2 or 3 years, according to the progress they make, and by the end of this time 



