302 THE FILBERT. 



one year's growth, and bear fruit the next. The fruit is 

 borne in a cluster on the end of a small twig produced 

 from the bud bearing the female organs. 



It is said that in the neighborhood of Maidstone, county 

 of Kent, England, the filbert orchards occupy several 

 hundred acres, and from these the principal supply of 

 the London market is obtained. One acre has been known 

 to produce £50 sterling, or $250 worth, in one season. 

 The pruning of these Kent growers is supposed to bo 

 most perfect of its kind, especially for their soil and cli- 

 mate. It is described as follows in the " Transactions of 

 the London Horticultural Society : " 



" The suckers are taken from the parent plant generally 

 in the autumn, and planted in nursery beds (being first 

 shortened to ten or twelve inches), where they remain 

 three or four years. They are slightly pruned every year, 

 in order to form strong lateral shoots, the number of 

 which varies from four to six. But though it is the usual 

 practice to plant the suckers in inirsery beds, I would ad- 

 vise every one to plant them where they are to remain, 

 whether they are intended for a garden or a larger planta- 

 tion ; and after being suifered to grow without restraint 

 for three or four years, to cut them down within a few 

 inches of the ground. From the remaining part, if the 

 trees are well rooted in the soil, five or six strong shoots 

 will be produced. Whichever method is practised, the 

 subsequent treatment of the trees will be exactly the 

 same. 



'" In the second year after cutting down, these shoots 

 are shortened ; generally one third is taken ofi". If very 

 weak, I would advise that the trees be cut quite down a 

 second time, as in the previous spring; but it would be 

 mucli better not to cut them down until the trees give 

 evident tokens of their being able to produce shoots 

 of suiHcient strength. When they are thus shortened, 

 tlitit they may appear regular, let a small hoop be placed 



