THE HAZEL-NUT 



Corylus Avellana L, 



Maltese gtlleuza Italian nocciuolo. French =r 



This shrub is cultivated in our gardens more as a 

 curiosity than for its utilitarian character. It is readily 

 propagated by suckers from December to February, and 

 with some difficulty, also by well ripened and woody 

 cuttings during the same winter months. It is also easily 

 grown from seed, which is sown in February or March. 

 The hazel thrives best in a cool and rather shady situa- 

 tion, and does well in any soil provided it is not too dry. 



With us, the male catkins are produced in autumn or 

 in winter, and the female flowers appear early in spring 

 and consequently the blooming period of the male 

 flowers does not usually coincide with that of the female 

 flowers. This is probably a peculiarity due to the 

 climate, with the result that as a rule the female flowers 

 fail to set, or if they do the nuts rarely form the kernel. 

 However, artificial fertilization will give good results. 

 The male catkins may be gathered when they are fully 

 developed, well dried in the shade, and kept until the 

 appearance of the female flowers in spring. 



Besides the commoner varieties, usually raised from 

 seed, the following are met with here and there in local 

 gardens: Bergeri> a tro sanguine a, elongata and macro- 

 carpa. 



The Oriental hazel-nut, Corylus Colurna L., is a 

 large shrub and was introduced in 1906, but succumbed 

 after a few years of precarious life, probably not agreeing 

 with our calcareous soil. 



