CHAP. X VILLA GAKDENING 285 



10 or 12 feet apart, and when they come into bearing cut out 

 the inferior varieties ; this will give those left ample space, and 

 retain the best Nut-bearing trees. The Nuts for raising young trees 

 may be planted any time between their full matmity and the end 

 of February. Plant in drills 18 inches apart and 3 inches in depth. 

 If the mice are troublesome lay slates, tiles, or boards along the 

 rows, or cover the siu-face over the Nuts with sifted coal-ashes. 

 If the young plants make good progress the strongest may be 

 transplanted at the end of the fii'st year, but they will take no 

 harm if they stand two years. When set out in nursery rows they 

 should have plenty of space, the rows to be not less than 3 feet 

 apart, and 18 inches apart in the rows, in order to obtain handsome 

 well-balanced plants. 



Training and Pruning. — The young trees should be trained 

 up with a single stem, eight or more feet high, removing all side 

 branches as they appear. As a rule, the more all fruit-bearing 

 trees are lifted and transplanted in their youth the better it will 

 be for them ; therefore young Walnut trees should not stand more 

 than two years without being lifted, till they are finally planted, 

 and even then, if we think they are not bearing early enough, we 

 can always hurry them on by lifting ; or, if the trees are too large 

 for that, digging a deep trench round, and lifting up the roots, will 

 bring them into bearing. 



All prmiing should be carefully done, the branches (which should 

 as far as possible be taken oft" when young) should be cut close to 

 the main stem, and the wound made smooth. If dressed with 

 Stockholm tar the air will be kept out, and the formation of bark 

 over its surface facilitated. 



If AValuut trees are grown together in a plantation, or to form 

 an avenue, they may stand from 45 to 50 feet apart. Where only 

 a tree or two are planted, they may occupy a prominent position, 

 from which a pleasant view can be obtained, and where in after 

 years, when the tree aff"ords shade, a seat may be placed in summer. 

 There is something about the atmosphere surrounding a Walnut 

 tree which insects, especially gnats and flies, do not like ; and it is 

 delightful to find a quiet situation on a summer's evening, to enjoy a 

 book or to think, unmolested by the pests of the insect world. 



Gathering the Nuts. — Those required for pickling should be 

 gathered before the shell has begun to form. In most places this 

 will generally be about the middle or end of July, but the remainder 

 of the crop should be left on the trees till the Nuts are ripe and 

 begin to drop of their own accord ; they should then be bashed oft", 

 dried in an open airy place for a few days, and packed in jars or 

 casks in dry sand. The sand must be really dry, or the Nuts will 



