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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ December 20, 1864. 



paper. In general such shoots are small and short-jointed, 

 and about the end of January, if the winter has not been 

 unusually severe, small pink spots will appear, showing- 

 through the bud, these are the female blossoms, and form 

 the embryo of the fruit ; the male blossoms are expanded, 

 and han°' in catkins months before these appear. It is, 

 therefore, better for those unacquainted with this tree not 

 to begin to prune until these tokens of fruitfulness can be 

 seen ; at the same time it is not prudent to delay it too 

 long, as they are easily rubbed off, and all prospect of fruit 

 is then gone. 



The female blossoms though expanded long before settled 

 fine weather, are, nevertheless, tender, and easily injured 

 by frost, and, therefore, a declivity facing the west is often 

 thought to be the best, as the frosts of spring are often gone 

 ere the sun can shine, and thus they escape injury. Over- 

 hanging - Apple trees are likewise not altogether without 

 then- use, as they afford a little shade and shelter, so that 

 large breadths of these trees and Filberts are planted to- 

 gether, while in not a few instances there is a crop of Hops 

 overtopping the Filberts for some years ; but this latter 

 plan is not considered of any benefit to the Nuts, but 

 is merely adopted to obtain the most from the ground. 

 Gooseberry and Currant trees are by far the most common 

 accompaniments, they being invariably planted to occupy 

 the spaces between the Filberts while these are progressing. 

 Assuming the latter to be planted at 12 feet apart each way, 

 the small fruits might be 6 feet, or if the Nuts are 10 feet 

 apart, the latter would be 5 ; so that for every Cob or Fil- 

 bert there would be three Gooseberry or Currant trees, 

 unless the latter or the Nuts were intermixed with standard 

 Apple or other trees, which are often 20 feet or more apart. 

 Generally, however, the g-round is heavily cropped from the 

 beginning, and it is by no means unusual to see Currants, 

 Filberts, and Apple trees all growing together, the last over- 

 topping the former two, and scarcely a speck of ground to 

 be seen. It is very rare that a Filbert is seen on grass 

 land, the opinion being that the tree derives advantage I 

 from tillage ; and, on the other hand, as the Cherry is said 

 to be injured by this, a Cherry orchard is generally laid 

 down in grass. Such is the Kentish custom, and a long 

 course of culture based, no doubt, on practical observations 

 has determined this course to the best in both cases. 



Of the varieties most esteemed by the grower it is difficult, 

 to say much, the demand pointing out the kind most proper 

 to grow ; but there is little question that the quantity of Cobs 

 now grown far exceeds that of Filberts, and that the culture 

 of the former has been on the increase for many years, 

 whilst that of the latter has been decreasing, few young 

 plantations of these being made. The varieties of both are 

 very limited in number as compared with those of other 

 fruits. Sometimes when a grower has a reputation for fine 

 fruit a local name attaches itself to the variety he cultivates, 

 although in all probability no real distinction exists. How- 

 ever, there are some inferior kinds, and these it would be 

 proper to weed out. Subjoined I give the names of a few, 

 to which, doubtless, others might be added. 



Common Cob. — I believe a much harder-shelled one than 

 this is found in other counties, as the kind now called the 

 common one is the same as Lambert's or Kentish Cob else- 

 where, A good Nut, producing excellent clusters, with a 

 large full kernel. I may mention that, for experiment, I once 

 weighed a quantity of average quality, including the husks, 

 as they were, and had them cracked, and then weighed the 

 kernels alone, and these were found to be a trifle more than 

 half the weight of the whole, and, therefore, the reader may 

 form an idea that they were pretty full. The shell, however, 

 is harder than that of the Filbert and improved Cosford Cob, 

 but the kernel keeps better than the latter, and is equal to 

 it in flavour. 



Cosford Cob. — This only differs from the last in being 

 thinner-shelled; as regards bearing it is much the same, 

 and except that the common Cob keeps fresh longer, there 

 is not much difference between the two. 



Spanish Cob. — The distinction here is so questionable that 

 it is doubtful if the Kentish and Spanish may not be syno- 

 nymous. There are also other names, having reference to 

 localities where large quantities are grown, but it is impos- 

 sible to describe them as being applied to distinct varieties. 

 Bed-sf.innecl Filbert. — This is by many esteemed the finest 



Nut grown, and for a month or more after gathering is un- 

 questionably so, and most people admire it during that time. 

 It does not, however, keep so well as the Cob, and, as a 

 plant, is less prolific, or, rather, is more tender. A few plants, 

 however, ought to be in every collection. 



White or Common Filbert. — This is more hardy than the 

 last, and bears better ; it is also a very good nut. 



Frizzled, Filbert. — The husk which encloses the nut being 

 fringed at the point has given this plant its name. As a 

 curiosity it has its admirers, and the nut is also good, though 

 not better than those above mentioned ; but the peculiarity 

 of the husk gives it a claim to notice. 



Besides the above there are many others perhaps, with 

 which I am but imperfectly acquainted. One variety is grown 

 for the tint of its foliage resembling that of the Copper 

 Beech, and is called the Purple-leaved. I believe, however, 

 that its fruits are little, if at all, better than common hedge 

 Nuts, its merit resting solely on its foliage. There is also said 

 to be a Dwarf Prolific of high reputation, and which doubtless 

 deserves notice, but not being acquainted with it I cannot 

 speak of its merits. Possibly, however, other growers from 

 localities equally favourable to the growth of Nuts will give 

 us the benefit of their experience. There is no fruit that I 

 am acquainted with of which the cultivation seems to be con- 

 fined to so few districts as this. Assuredly the soils and situa- 

 tion suitable for it are more generally to be found than is 

 commonly supposed, and there seems to be no reason why 

 it should not be tried in many places in which there is every 

 prospect of it= succeeding. J. Robsox. 



HAEDY FEEIS'S: 



HOW I COLLECTED ASD CULTIVATED THEM.— No. 6. 



All my Fern joumies were not made in the shape of 

 tours, where public conveyances and public inns threw one 

 with a mixed society, giving to one's thoughts and associ- 

 ations a diffuse itinerant character. Some joumies there 

 were, taken in choice companionship, which stand out clear 

 and bright in my memory like sunlight on a hill, marking 

 each blade of grass, each tiny flower, with a distinct exist- 

 ence of its own ; so that I can say, " As I gathered this leaf 

 my thoughts gathered round some subject, made clear to 

 me for the first time by the light of the genius of my friend ;" 

 or, "As I uprooted this Fern along-cherished prejudice was 

 uprooted with it." 



Insensibly in my mind certain Ferns have become the 

 embodiment of certain graces ; they act upon me as monitors, 

 reminding me of voices passed away that I never heard save 

 in tones of love and charity, luring me on to a life of truth 

 and beauty open alike to all. 



Amongst ray brightest representative Ferns is the Cete- 

 rach officinarum. I have never found any difficulty in cul- 

 tivating Ceterach. Although it is a little wayward in the 

 choice of its own habitation, yet where it does grow the 

 walls will be full of it, every niche and corner adorned by 

 its prettily crimped fronds — now shining green, now russet 

 brown, as the sunlight may fall. I have usually found 

 Ceterach growing on old stone walls, where a good deal of 

 lime has been used in the mortar. In this position the 

 fronds do not attain any great luxuriance, and are often so 

 curled that only the brown mass of spore-eases at the back 

 is visible. It is sometimes to be found on rooks, and in tins 

 situation the fronds will reach 6 or even 7 inches in length, 

 while the full fructification will form a little border of brown 

 fur on the outer side. "Whenever 1 look at Ceterach it 

 seems to whisper to me — 



" He prayeth best who loveth most' 

 All things both great and small ; 

 For the dear God who loveth us, 

 He made and loveth all." 



Bound on a pilgrimage to Clevedon in Somersetshire with 

 a friend whose life taught me the spirit of the ancient ma- 

 riner's rhyme, we stopped at the little village of Ashton 

 near Clifton, and there, abounding in profusion, we found 

 Ceterach. All the lower parts of the walls had been cleared 

 by wayfarers like ourselves: but high above it hung out its 

 green banners too temptingly to resist. We tried to reach 

 it in vain. Old women in white, full-bordered cap, and neat 

 kerchief, came out to look. " Would miss like a chair and 



