58 THE FRUIT-TREE AND SHRUB PRUNER. 



older wood, you will see numerous minute pink-coloured 

 brushlike flowers issuing from the hard wood, as it 

 were. These are the fruit-bearing flowers, which 

 should be in a fit state to be fertilised with the pollen 

 falling from the male flowers above them at one and 

 the same time ; but if the weather is wet and yery cold 

 no Nuts can be expected, because the pollen cannot 

 disperse itself sufficiently to fertilise the female flowers. 

 This unfortunately often proves to be the case in cold 

 counties, but in the western parts of England it sel- 

 dom or never suffers in this way, and consequently an 

 abundance of Nuts is certain. 



The soil should be a somewhat gravelly one, with a 

 good free drainage. 



When Filberts are grown in private gardens, where 

 neatness is an absolute necessity, the pruning must be 

 done annually, but in doing so the young growth must 

 not be cut down too close, for at the base of the last 

 season's growth, or within a few inches of it, the male 

 flowers and some female flowers will come. The former 

 will spring from all the young wood, except just at the 

 top ; but if Filberts are not primed they will get com- 

 pletely out of order. 



The time of pruning should be regulated by the 

 circumstances of the case. In a fickle climate like ours, 

 it will be a very hazardous thing to prune before the 

 plants have flowered ; but as soon as that is over it may 

 be proceeded with. As the male flowers are produced 

 upon the last season's growth, none of that should be 

 cut off before the flowers have dispersed the pollen. 

 Then it may be cut off to within a few inches of the 

 base, the tree first having been symmetrically formed 

 similar to Fig. 49, to which style the plants may be 

 kept for many years. 



A Filbert plantation should be screened from the cold 

 cutting winds from the east and north-east by one of 

 Spruce Firs, or by some evergreens. 



