310 How to Prune the Filbert. 



though it is the usual practice to plant the suckers in nur- 

 sery beds, I would advise every one to plant them where 

 they are to remain, whether they are intended for a gar- 

 den or a larger plantation ; and after being suffered 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 off. If very weak, I 

 would advise that the trees be quite cut down a second time, 

 as in the previous spring ; but it would be much better not to 

 cut them down till the trees give evident tokens of their 

 being able to produce shoots of sufficient strength. When 

 they are thus shortened that they may appear regular, let a 

 small hoop be placed within the branches, to which the shoots 

 are to be fastened at equal distances. By this practice two 

 considerable advantages will be gained — the trees will grow 

 more regular, and the middle will be kept hollow, so as to 

 admit the influence of the sun and air. 



"In the third year a shoot will spring from each bud; 

 these must be suffered to grow till the following autumn or 

 fourth year, when they are to be cut off nearly close to the 

 original stem, and the leading shoot of the last year short- 

 ened two-thirds. 



"In the fifth year several small shoots will arise from the 

 bases of the side branches which were cut off the preceding 

 year ; these are produced from small buds, and would not 

 have been emitted had not the branch on which they are sit- 

 uated been shortened, the whole nourishment being carried 

 to the upper part of the branch. It is from these shoots that 

 fruit is to be expected. These productive shoots will in a 

 few years become very numerous, and many of them must 

 be taken off, particularly the strongest, in order to encourage 

 the production of the smaller ones ; for those of the former 

 year become so exhausted that they generally decay ; but 



