NUTS. 



197 



NUTS. 



Several kinds of Nuts (Corylus Avelland) have been planted at Wai- 

 lington, but nothing in comparison with the long list published by Mr. 

 Webb of Calcot near Reading, who has made nuts an object of special 

 study. Varieties are raised from seed and selected for their superior 

 quality, and are propagated by grafting on the common hazel, or by 

 planting suckers from the improved kind. Rivers, always oh the 

 watch for improvements, has grafted many kinds on the tree-nut, the 

 Corylus arborescens. In 1870 his grafted trees were wonderfully fruitful, 

 but that season was an abundant year for nuts ; therefore the question 

 cannot be considered as settled from that experience. At my 

 garden we grow the Red Filbert (fig. 370), the envelope of the kerne 



FIG. 370. Red Filbert. 



FIG. 371. Cosford Nut. 



FIG. 372. Cob Nut. 



of which is covered with a red membrane. It is a nut of the highest 

 flavour, but is a bad bearer. Again, we grow the Purple Filbert, the 

 colour of the leaves of the trees being that of the leaves of the 

 copper-coloured beech, or even darker. The tree itself is a great 

 ornament, and the nuts produced are fairly good. This 

 variety should only be grown for the ornamental foliage. 

 The Cosford (fig. 371) has a very thin shell; it ripens 

 early, and, to my mind, it is one of the most excellent 

 of nuts ; in fact, it is my favourite. The White Filbert 

 is good, and the Atlas bears in immense clusters. 



The Kentish Cob (fig. 372) is large, with a full kernel 

 This nut is the most valuable for spring use, and with 

 care will last more than a year. Fir 373 ._ Nut> Male 



,., \ r t i j_i i an< i Female flowers. 



All nuts have blossoms (fig. 373), of which the male 



1 All the figures of nuts are drawn one-half of their diameter. 



