THE PRACTICE OF PRUNING. 383 



and after the full expansion of the catkins. When the latter have fulfilled 

 their purpose, they faE off. After fertilisation, the buds b, h, lengthen into a 

 twig much the same as other buds ; but towards midsummer the formation 

 of the cluster can be seen. The cluster is always terminal. 



The ooimty of Xent has been long celebrated for the production of large 

 crops of Filberts. The method pursued by the Maidstone cultivators is 

 minutely detailed by the Rev. William Williamson in the fourth volume 

 of the first series of the Transactions of the Sorticultural Society. 



" Plant the bushes unpruned, and after being suffered to grow without 

 restraint for three or four years, 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 wUl be produced. 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 wiU 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 wUl 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 

 shortened two-thirds. In the fifth year several small shoots wiU 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 situated 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 wiU 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 

 whether decayed or not they are always cut out by the pruner, and a fresh 

 supply must therefore be provided to produce the fruit in the succeeding 

 year. The leading shoot is every year to be shortened two-thirds, or more 

 should the tree be weak, and the whole height of the branches must not 

 exceed six feet. The method of pruning above detailed might, in a few- 

 words, be oaUed a method of spurring, by which bearing shoots are pro- 

 duced, which otherwise would have had no existence. Old trees are easily 

 induced to bear in this manner, by selecting a sufficient number of the main 

 branches, and then cutting the side-shoots off nearly close, excepting any 

 should he so situated as not to interfere with the others, and there should 

 be no main branch directed to that particular part. It wiU, however, be 

 two or three years before the fuU effect will be produced." 



