Nuts 



205 



obtained at 12 ft. apart each way, giving about 300 trees to the acre. 

 The intervening space may be cropped with Gooseberries, Currants (about 

 750 to .the acre), or Raspberries^, or vegetable crops until the nut trees 

 require all the ground to themselves. No returns can be expected for 

 the first five or six years from the nuts, but once in bearing the 300 

 trees ought to yield an average crop of 10 to 12 cwt. x that is, about 

 3^ to 4 Ib. of nuts to each plant. At Qd. per pound the gross returns would 

 vary from 28 to 33 per acre. The diagram, representing roughly 

 ac., shows how 



nuts and bush fruit ********* 

 like Gooseberries or ()()() 



Currants should ^^^^^^^^fc* 

 planted. 



If standard Apples, 



Pears, or Plums are *****<>*** 

 planted at 36 ft. 

 apart, about thirty- 

 three will be re- 

 quired to the acre, 

 and these will come 

 into bearing in due 

 course without in- 

 terfering with the 

 nut trees. When 

 the Apples, Pears, 

 or Plums are estab- 

 lished, the returns 

 from them would be 

 anything from 10 

 to 20 per acre, ac- 

 cording to the crop 

 and the prices pre- 

 vailing. The annual 

 cost of cultivation 



might be reckoned about 15, and after allowing for rent, rates, taxes, 

 marketing, &c., the net profit would vary from 10 to 20 per acre. 



Pruning'. This is an important operation, and should only be per- 

 formed by experienced gardeners. A good strong pruning knife should 

 be used, or if it is necessary to use a saw for thick wood, it will always 

 pay to trim the rough surface afterwards with the knife, otherwise the 

 shoot is apt to die back. As the nuts are borne on the young wood, 

 as shown in the illustration, the best of this should be retained, and 

 only the weak shoots cut out. The centre of the tree should always 

 be kept open and clear of shoots and twigs. As the plants are rarely 

 allowed to grow more than 6 or 8 ft. high, it will be necessary to 

 shorten back some of the strong leading shoots in winter, always cutting 



ut trees. Gooseberries or Currants. 



()__ ..Standard Apples, Pears or Plums. 

 Fig. 39& 



