324 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



riety to which it belongs. Generally speakinc^, the 

 filbert is but a low grower ; but still considerable 

 ingenuity is exerted in keeping it down, — it having 

 been found by general experience that the dwarfing 

 of fruit trees is the most effectual means of ensuring 

 a large and uniform crop, and fruit of superior quality. 

 The trees that are dwarfed are not allowed to exceed 

 seven feet in height ; and they are trimmed in the 

 form of a goblet, with an open centre, as is generally 

 done with well-managed gooseberry trees. When the 

 tree comes into proper bearing, this goblet has at- 

 tained a diameter of about six feet, which is every 

 season covered with filberts, both outside and inside. 

 The nuts are of excellent quality ; and it is found by 

 comparison, that a tree treated in this manner, with 

 the ground regularly hoed and cleaned, will produce 

 more than three which are planted in a hedge-row or 

 coppice, and allowed to run wild in the usual manner. 



There is something singular in the flowering of the 

 hazel : the male catkin makes its appearance in au- 

 tumn, and continues to increase till spring, at which 

 time the female ovaries, that are to produce the nuts, 

 make their appearance : this takes place as early as 

 February, and before there is yet a leaf upon the 

 deciduous trees ; so that, besides its advantages as a 

 fruit, the filbert may be regarded as an ornamental 

 tree, at that season when groves and coppices have 

 the least beauty. 



The word filbert is a corruption of the original 

 English name for this nut, fiill-beard — which was 

 apphed to the large and fringed husk, to distinguish 

 it from the closer covering of the common hazel. 

 Our old poet, Gower, assigns a more classical origin 

 to the name : — 



" Phillis 

 Was shape into a nutte-tree, 

 That all men it might see ; 



