^2 OF CttESNUTS. 



towards the middle, to carry off the water. There 

 should be alleys between the beds, about eighteen 

 inches wide, and about two or three inches deep ; 

 these will receive and carry off the rain-water, which 

 other v\ise would be apt to rot the Nuts. Thus, a 

 five-foot bed will admit of six rows and a small 

 edging next the alley. If you find the mice begin 

 to attack them, the beds should be completely 

 covered over with slates, flat stones, or bricks, till 

 the Nuts begin to spring ; they must then be 

 taken off. If it be a hard Winter, it will be neces- 

 sary, before the stones or tiles are put on, to cover 

 the beds with some rotten dung, rotten leaves, or old 

 tan, to preserve the Nuts from the frost. If it be 

 a mild Winter, and the Nuts have been sown in 

 Autumn, they will begin to vegetate before Christ- 

 mas; but if the Autumn be wet, I would advise 

 not to sow them till some time in February, or the 

 beginning of March. By the Nuts being sown in 

 rows, you will have room to hoe betwixt the rows, 

 and be able to keep them clear of weeds, which 

 you could not so easily do if they were sown broad- 

 cast. If it should prove a very dry Summer, it 

 will be necessary to give them a good watering 

 once or twice a week, till the plants begin to get 

 strength. If they be well managed, by the end of 

 October, or in the following Spring, you may trans- 

 plant them into beds, in rows about a foot apart, 

 and at the distance of four inches in the row, where 

 they may remain for two years longer ; taking care 

 to trim all the side-shoots, leaving only one straight 



6 



