ON FRUIT CULTURE. 



I02 ^ 



is Merveille de Bollwyller, the latter having very thick shells, 

 and being one of the best for keeping. In Filberts Lamberts 

 is a very good variety, producing its large clusters in great 

 abundance. Prolific, or Frizzled Filbert, is another remarkably 

 free sort, the flavour being very good ; it is always liked on 

 the dessert-table. The Purple Filbert is a very attractive sort ; 

 its large, deep purple foliage and fruit make it one of the 

 most ornamental denizens of the shrubbery, and the fruit is of 

 good quality, though not so freely produced as on some other 

 varieties. 



The distance apart to plant Nut-trees will depend a great deal 

 on the soil. If this is thin and of poor quality loft. apart each 

 way will be ample, but if it is rich and fairly deep 14ft. apart 

 will be a very suitable distance. In all cases it is advisable to 

 break up the ground well, to thoroughly cleanse it of weeds, 

 and to have the ground ready for planting in October. 

 Of course, circumstances may prevent such early planting, 

 and in such cases the operation may be undertaken at any 

 period between the end of October and the end of February, 

 selecting a time when the soil is in good working condition and 

 does not adhere to the tools. It is best to purchase trees 

 on a leg, or stem, thus avoiding innumerable suckers from 

 the base, and this also permits of hoeing, (Sic, under the 

 trees. Immediately after planting a mulch of strawy manure 

 should be placed over the roots ; nothing in the form of 

 strong manure should be applied until the trees are well 

 established and producing good crops of Nuts, when it is most 

 efficacious if given as a mulch, and not dug in amongst the 

 best fibrous roots, as is only too frequently done. 



The formation of the tree requires a little judgment. In 

 order to get the head well proportioned, about ten or twelve 

 main branches should be encouraged to radiate from the leg, 

 or stem, at as nearly even distances as possible from each 

 other. If one or more branches outgrow the others, and arc 

 likely to throw the head on one side — to make it, as gardeners 

 sa}^ " lop-sided "—the offending shoots should have their points 

 cut away : this will check them, and add to the strength of the 

 weaker branches. When the main branches are fairly well 

 developed, a twiggy growth ought to be encouraged from them, 

 not overcrowding the small wood, as it is on this that most of 

 the crop is produced. The middle of the tree should be kept 

 open, so that plenty of light and air can penetrate to all parts. 

 Most fruit-bearing trees are pruned during the late autumn and 

 winter, but this is never advisable with Nuts. The object of late 

 pruning is that there may be an abundance of male catkins to 

 produce pollen to fertilise the female flowers. If the trees were 

 pruned during the winter, very possibly there would be a scarcity 

 of male flowers, and the trees would be barren through a lack of 



