FILBERT AND NUT. 189 



the height of six feet, but never higher ; and the 

 middle of the tree is always kept free from shoots 

 and branches, so that a well-trained head resembles 

 a large bowl. 



The subsequent management of the trees, both 

 while gaining the desired form, and after having 

 gained it, consists in preserving all the short spurs 

 which will be produced on the branches, and cutting 

 away or shortening the laterals which every year 

 rise from the same. The management of these 

 laterals is of great consequence. If they exceed the 

 length of six inches, they may be cut back to a few 

 buds ; but if less, they should be preserved, as their 

 points are generally fruitful. The grand object with 

 the pruner is to have the branches thickly beset with 

 fruitful spurs, and which are only reduced in length, 

 when after a few years' growth they become too 

 distfint from the branch, when they are cut back to a 

 healthy spur behind. If any part of the branch 

 becomes accidently naked, a strong shoot from the 

 bottom may be led up, and managed so as to fill up 

 the vacancy. 



When filbert trees are thus managed, and have arrived 

 at their full volume in width and height, they may be 

 kept in the same state for many years — say twenty 

 or thirty, — by the knife only, and with the requisite 

 skill in using it. 



The plantations in Kent are either in single rows^ 

 or in entire quarters or fields. The plants are put 

 in at eight or ten feet distances, more or less, ac- 

 cording to the quality of the soil. Six hundred and 



