THE HAZELS EUROPEAN HAZELS. 73 



readiness with which the nuts would rattle out by a slight jarring of the trees. In 

 curing the nuts thus harvested, they are placed for a few days in lofts to sufficiently 

 dry, after which they are packed in sound casks with a slight sprinkling of salt 

 throughout the filling. Salt is also used in small quantities in storing the nuts that 

 have been freed from husks, and it is claimed for this practice that freedom from 

 ravages of insects is secured and that the nuts come out fresher and brighter than 

 by other methods. 



Generally, the hazel is marketed for dessert purposes alone, though a pleasant 

 oil, resembling olive oil, is sometimes expressed from it; and in portions of Europe 

 this nut, like the chestnut, has been used in limited quantities for making bread. 



NOTES FROM CORRESPONDENTS. 



Thomas Brigden, South Lowell, Ala. : " I believe the improved varieties of pecans, 

 the Madeira a:id the English cobnut, will prove of great value here. The last two 

 were among our most profitable crops in the south of England. They are easily 

 propagated and require but little care or cultivation. The principal point in cobnut 

 culture is the pruning. This must be done with a view to forming fruit- bearing spurs 

 or twigs and preventing the growth of the rank switches. Within 10 miles of Maid- 

 stone in Kent, England, there are hundreds of acres of these nuts, yielding a heavy 

 profit to the grower. I hope the nut question will be fully ventilated, for it is one of 

 the farmer's money crops." 



George W. Sutton, Perryville, Md., has three trees of the European hazel. Each 

 tree has several branches or bodies from near the ground which have grown to the 

 height of 25 or 30 feet. These trunks vary from 5 to 10 inches in diameter. The nuts 

 produced are nearly round, with a caliber of about five-eighths of an inch. The 

 shells are thin. (PI. 13, fig. 7.) These trees are moderately prolific, though without 

 culture, growing in a lawn. They were probably planted by a former owner of the 

 property. 



J. W. Killen, Felton, Del., is propagating a European sort that he has named 

 "Jones." It grows as a shrub; is fruitful, hardy, disposed to sprout a good deal from 

 the root. The foliage has thus far been free from mildew and other diseases in Kent 

 County, Del: The nut is short, roundish, of medium size; quality good. 



Josiah Prettyinan, Smith, Del., has a tree of European filbert 17 feet high with a 

 spread of boughs of 15 feet; the trunk is 25 inches in circumference at 1 foot above 

 the ground. It was grown from a sprout that was planted when very small, in its 

 present location, about twenty years ago. It has been pruned as peach trees are 

 pruned in Delaware. The tree has had but little cultivation and no manure. It has 

 borne nuts for several years. The nut is of medium size, oblong in form, broadened at 

 the tip; shell rather thick; kernel plump, good. (PI. 13, fig. 5.) 



VARIETIES. 



The named varieties are numerous, but the grower having a half dozen of the best 

 can well afford to forego the planting of others. Of the ten varieties named by Robert 

 Hogg 1 the Cob and Lambert are best known in reputation to Americans. We follow 

 his description of the best varieties known to him : 



BOND NUT. Husk hairy, shorter than the nut; nut of medium size, ovate and 

 oblong; shell thin; kernel large. This is an excellent nut, and the tree is a good 

 bearer. 



COB (Round Cob). Husk hairy, shorter than the nut and much frizzled; nut 

 large, obtusely ovate; shell of a light-brown color, rather thick; kernel large. A 

 good nut for early use, but does not keep well. 



1 Fruit Manual, London, 1875. 



