130 THE XUT CULTURIST. 



few persons in this country have ever attempted to con- 

 duct extended experiments in the cultivation of either 

 the native or European species and varieties of the hazel. 

 Taking this view of the situation, I shall avail my- 

 self of the small but select list of varieties given in that 

 standard work, "The Dictionary of Gardening," edited 

 by Mr. George Nicnolson, of the Eoyal Gardens, Kew, 

 England. 



SELECT LIST OF VARIETIES. 



ALBA, OR WHITE FILBERT. Considered in Eng- 

 land one of the best varieties in cultivation. From the 

 peculiar structure of the husk, which contracts rather 

 than opens at the outer edge, this filbert can be kept 

 longer in its cover than most others. As fashion 

 demands that fresh filberts must be brought to the 

 table in their husks, this variety deserves special atten- 

 tion. It is also known as Avelinier Blanche, Wrotham 

 Park, etc. 



COSFORD, OR MlSS YOUNG'S THIN-SHELLED. 



Nut oblong, of excellent quality ; husk hairy, deeply 

 cut, about as long -as the nut. Highly valued on ac- 

 count of the thinness of the shell. 



CRISPA, OR FRIZZLED FILBERT. Shell thin, some- 

 what flattened ; husk richly and curiously frizzled 

 throughout, open wide at the mouth, and hanging 

 about as long again as the nut. Ripens late, and one of 

 the most productive. 



DOWXTON LARGE SQUARE. Nut very large; shell, 

 thick and well-filled ; husk smooth, shorter than the 

 nut. A peculiarly formed semi-square nut, of the best 

 quality. 



LAMBERT'S FILBERT (Corylus tubulosa]. Nut 

 large, obloug; shell thick and strong, the kernel being 

 covered with a red skin ; husk long, rather smooth, ser- 

 rated at the edges, longer than the nut. A fine, strong- 



