154 FRUIT GARDEN. 



The English Filbert has not, as yet, been cultivated 

 with much interest or successin the United States, the 

 "v^oods of which, however, produce a native hazelnut, 

 which, by judicious culture and perhaps hybridizing with 

 the European Filbert, might be made a desirable fruit, 

 equal to and perhaps superior to any kind known at the 

 present day. Mr. Downing has published a paper upon 

 the culture of the filbert in the United States, to the soil 

 and climate of wliich he thinks the varieties known in 

 England as Cosford, Frizzled, and Northampton Proli- 

 fic, best axiapted. When gathered ripe, filberts will 

 keep and retain a good flavor longer than any other 

 kind of nut. In dry rooms they will keep well for many 

 years, whilst in air-tight jars they may be kept an in- 

 definite period. 



The AYalnut [Juglans regia) is a native of Persia 

 and the south of the Caucasus, and in Britain, therefore, 

 the fruit seldom comes to complete Maturity, except in 

 the warmer districts. Besides the common walnu:t, there 

 are several varieties cultivated in England, particularly 

 Ihe Large-fruited or Double Walnut, the Tender-shelled, 

 and the Thetford or Highflyer, which last is said (Lond. 

 Hort. Trans., iv. 517) to be "by far the best walnut 

 grown." The varieties can be propagated with certain- 

 ty only by budding or inoculating; but the operation is 

 rather nice, and not unfrequently fails. Mr. Knight's 

 method is described in the Lo7ido7i Transactions, vol. iii. 

 p. 133. Plants raised from the seed seldom become 

 productive till they be twenty years old. The fruit is 

 produced at the extremities of the shoots of the preced- 

 ing year ; and therefore, in gathering the crop, care 

 should be taken not to injure the young wood. In 



