144 THE NUT CULTl'KIST. 



as rare in our markets as they were a hundred years ago, 

 and all due to the simple reason that the insidious filbert 

 blight still scatters its spores unrestrained. 



With the present almost universal employment of 

 various fuDgicides for the destruction of blights, mil- 

 dews and rusts on cultivated fruits and vegetables, we 

 may confidently assert that the diseases of the filbert 

 may be readily controlled by the same means. The 

 spraying of the trees with Bordeaux mixture and other 

 copper solutions will certainly destroy the fungus spores, 

 and with these out of the way filbert culture may be- 

 come of as much importance and as popular here as it is 

 in certain countries of Europe. In my own experience 

 I have found no other nut tree (barring always the 

 blight) that has been more satisfactory. The plants 

 come forward rapidly, fruiting freely and abundantly 

 when young, and if properly trained, the crop can be 

 gathered with little labor, and as it is ready for use a 

 month or more in advance of the arrival of fresh nuts 

 from abroad, the home market during the time is at our 

 command. 



The number of applications of the fungicides that 

 will be necessary during the season to rid the trees of 

 blight, or the strength of the copper solution used, will 

 depend somewhat upon circumstances and the condition 

 of the subjects operated upon. If the trees are growing 

 near hedges of wild hazels, where there is a constant or 

 annual influx of the fungus spores, then greater care 

 will be required to suppress them than if the trees are 

 some distance from such sources of contagion ; and it 

 may be well for those contemplating planting filbert 

 orchards, to examine their surroundings carefully in ad- 

 vance, in order to avoid local blight-breeding plants, 

 and have these destroyed if any are found. I would also 

 warn the cultivator against collecting branches of the 

 wild hazel in the spring, carrying pollen-bearing catkins 



