100 



many purposes in Europe. It furnishes hoops for casks, and makes- 

 excellent walking sticks, fishing rods, and handles for tools. Hazel 

 wood is used in large quantities for making crates or baskets. It is 

 also extensively used in Europe for making charcoal of superior 

 quality used in the manufacture of gunpowder. Coryhis colurna, 

 owing to its more robust growth, will yield the largest Hazel wood, 

 and might prove Avorthy of cultivation for this purpose. 



CULTIVATION. 



The Hazel thrives in a comparatively cool and fairly moist locality, 

 and the most favourable conditions for successful cultivation exist 

 in the more elevated regions or the gullies and slopes of mountain 

 ranges. Plants, however, will adapt themselves to various climatic 

 conditions, and may be grown with more or less success in many 

 districts, excepting the warmest and driest. Any ordinary good soil 

 will suit the Hazel, but the best is a light loam with a gravelly 



NUT WEEVIL. 

 (Bahminus nucum.) 



Insect Magnified. 



Showing Insect natural size, and Grub emerging 



sub-soil. When the ground is very rich there is often a tendency to 

 an over-luxuriant growth of wood at the expense of the crop of fruit. 

 In preparing land for the Hazel it is advisable, as with other fruits, 

 to stir deeply, and more especially in heavy soils. Drainage must 

 also be provided for if necessary, as, though the plants require moist 

 ground, yet they cannot thrive if the water stands in it for any length 

 of time. Planting may be done at any time during the winter, but 

 July is the most favourable period. The plants should stand about 

 ten feet apart in the rows, so as to give them ample room for develop- 

 ment. The best mode of training is to form the heads upon single 

 stems about eighteen inches high. In pruning the young plants the 

 growth should be so arranged as to form compact and well-balanced 

 heads. After the heads are perfect the branches should be thinned 



