184; Remarks on Rogers's " Fmit Cultivator" 



Trees may also be raised by layers from stools kept on purpose in the 

 nursery." 



The following; remarks on the filbert well deserve atten- 

 tion : — 



" That style of pruning which is found the best for the currant is also the 

 best for the filbert. 



" The young plants which are chosen by the Maidstone growers are such as 

 have been raised from layers, and which have been lined or bedded out in the 

 nursery for two or three years. Each plant should have one strong upright 

 shoot, of not less than 3 ft. in height, this being necessary in order to the 

 future form of the head ; and this, early in the spring, after the trees have 

 been put out in their final stations, is cut down to about 1 ft. 6 in. from the 

 ground. This height will admit of a clear stem of 1 h. below ; and which part 

 must be at first and ever afterwards kept free from shoots, as well as suckers 

 from the root. This deprivation of shoots and suckers will cause the buds 

 left at the top to push with greater vigour. If eight strong shoots be pro- 

 duced in the first summer, they must be carefully preserved, as that number 

 is required to form the head ; but if less than this number come forth, then 

 two or three of the strongest (or the whole, if necessary) must be shortened 

 back to half their length at the next pruning, in order to obtain the requisite 

 number. 



" The sufficient number of branches being obtained, if not in the first, cer- 

 tainly after the second pruning, they are to be carefully preserved, and trained 

 outwards and upwards ; at first nearly horizontal, but curving gradually up- 

 ward at the point. The easiest mode of doing this is by using a hoop of the' 

 proper size placed within the shoots, and to which the latter are tied in star- 

 like order, and at equal twelve-inch distances. Such a laterally curving po- 

 sition may be much assisted and caused by a careful pruner, always cutting at 

 an outside bud, which, when grown sufficiently far outwards, naturally turns 

 up to form the permanent branches. 



" The points of the branches are allowed to rise to the height of 6 ft., but 

 never higher,- and the middle of the tree is always kept free from shoots and 

 branches, so that a well-trained head resembles a large bowl. 



" The subsequent management of the trees, both while gaining the desired 

 form, and after having gained it, consists in preserving all the short spurs 

 which will be produced on the branches, and cutting away or shortening the 

 laterals which every year rise from the same. The management of these 

 laterals is of great consequence. If they exceed the length of 6 in., they may 

 be cut back to a few buds ; but if less, they should be preserved, as their points 

 are generally fruitful. The grand object with the pruner is to have the 

 branches thickly beset with fruitful spurs, and which are only reduced in 

 length, when, after a iew years' growth, they become too distant from the 

 branch ; when they are cut back to a healthy spur behind. If any part of the 

 branch becomes accidentally naked, a strong shoot from the bottom may be 

 led up, and managed so as to fill up the vacancy. 



" When filbert trees are thus managed, and have arrived at their full volume 

 in width and height, they may be kept in the same state for many years, say 

 twenty or thirty, by the knife onlj', and with the requisite skill in using it. 



" The plantations in Kent are either in single rows, or in entire quarters or 

 fields. The plants are put in at 8 ft, or 10 ft. distances, more or less, accord- 

 ing to the quality of the soil. 680 plants are required for an acre, at 8 ft. dis- 

 tances every way ; at 10 ft. distances, 435; and at 12 ft. distances, 302 trees 

 will be required. 



" The Kentish pruners, who, as observed before, are neither botanists nor 

 physiologists, are, notwithstanding, well aware of the use of the male catkins, 

 rejoicing to see them in great quantity, and carefully preserving them. From 

 the greater or less number of the catkins, they usually predict what share of 

 crop will follow." 



