1024 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



pollen The flowers are quite separate and distinct; the male 



flower' is produced earlier than the female, which is quite small, 



red and in the form of a small tuft, rising from a semi-globular 



growth on the twiggy shoots. No doubt the proper and best 



time to prune is towards the end of March. It consists in 



keeping the head not only within the necessary bounds, but also 



free and open, removing growth where congested, and shortening 



back the young wood if unduly long. Any useless or exhausted 



wood should be cut away, and all suckers promptly removed, 



unless required to increase the number of trees. Opinions vary 



as to which make the best trees— those raised from suckers or 



those from layers. Our experience is that suckers make the 



largest trees in the shortest period, but that layers make by far 



the most fruitful trees. Large shoots or branches may, if desired, 



be layered, simply notching the shoots on the under-side or 



making a cut half-way through the wood, and then pegging the 



same 2m. or 3m. deep into the soil. In a year or so the 



layers will be well rooted, and may be planted out in permanent 



positions, or in nursery quarters until wanted for other purposes. 



One of the best modes of keeping nuts fresh and plump is 



that advised in " Fruit Culture for Amateurs," * . as follows : " It 



is requisite to allow the Nuts to become thoroughly ripe and 



brown. Then gather them, and lay thinly on dry shelves with 



plenty of air playing on them. In a week or ten days the 



husks will be quite 

 dead and dry, and 

 the Nuts will then 

 be fit to place in 

 jars with a little salt 

 mingled with them, 

 fastened down air- 

 tight, and stood in 

 a cool, dry place. 

 They will keep fresh 

 and good for months. " 

 Nut-trees have 

 comparatively few 

 pests. The com- 

 monest is the Nut 

 Weevil, whose well- 

 nourished grub must 

 be familiar to everyone who partakes of Nuts. • Scientifically it 

 is known as Balaninus nucum (Fig. 662). The female Beetle 

 bores a hole into the young fruits and deposits therein a single 

 egg, which eventually hatches out into the grub referred to above. 



*" Fruit Culture for Amateurs" (L. Upcott GUI). By S. T. Wright. 

 "With Chapters on Insect and other Fruit Pests by W. D. Drury. Second 

 Edition. Illustrated. In cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d. 



Fig. 662. — Nut Weevil and Grub. 



