172 



for profit, seventy years ago/' in the reign of 

 Queen Elizabeth. He adds, " gardening 

 crept out of Holland into Kent/' 



It is supposed, that within a few miles 

 round Maidstone in that county, there are 

 more filberts growing at the present time, 

 than in all England besides, there being se- 

 veral hundred acres planted with filbert-trees 

 in the vicinity of that town. The London 

 market is entirely supplied from thence with 

 these nuts, which are excellent in quality, 

 and, if quite ripe, will keep good for several 

 years placed in a dry room. 



Filberts are not only much more agree- 

 able than the common nuts, but are esteemed 

 wholesome and nourishing when taken with 

 moderation. The cream of these nuts is good 

 for the stone and heat of urine. Emulsions 

 may also be made of them. The Romans 

 used them with vinegar and wormwood seed 

 for the yellow jaundice. 



Filberts are not found to answer well but 

 on very few soils : they seem to like a stony, 

 sandy loam ; for in rich soils they grow too 

 luxuriantly to produce fruit, but 'much de- 

 pends on the skill and management in prun- 

 ing these trees. In Kent, they are not suf- 

 fered to grow above five or six feet high, and 

 are kept with a short stem, like a goose- 



