I024 



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 2in. or 3in. 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 ouite 



± 



dead and dry, and 

 the Nuts will then 

 be fit to place in 

 jars with a litde 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 Balauinus 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 GHl). By S. T. AVright. 

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

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



Fig. 662. — Nut Weevil and Grub. 



