168 



THE OECHAED AIsD TKUIT GAEI>E^'■. 



rous ; but they have a trick of turning in a wrong direc- 

 tion, likely to distort the head of the tree, so that they 

 should often be looked over, to correct their vagrancy 

 and to give the tree a good head. 



The fruit should not be gathered until November, 

 i.e., not before it is fully matured, or it shrivels, instead 

 of ripens, as it softens. When dry, after gathering, they 

 should be spread out singly, the calyx, or open side, 

 downwards, on a bed of sand. If the stalk end is pre- 

 viously dipped in strong brine of salt and water, it is 

 said to keep the medlars from getting mouldy. 



Propagating medlars by seed is too tedious for most 

 growers, as it generally lies two years in the ground 

 before it grows. Those who wish to try it must let 

 the fruit thoroughly decay, and then sow the seed in 

 light soil, water the seedlings often when the weather 

 is dry, and thin them to two feet apart. When the 

 young trees are four or five years old, they will be fit for 

 planting out. 



Those who have plenty of ground may like to grow 

 nuts, and will find them a satisfactory crop. By nuts 

 we generally mean Filberts, and those of the same kind, 

 the Corylus avellana. The chief kinds are the White 

 and Red Filbert. They differ only in one having a pale, 

 the other a reddish-brown skin. The Prolific Cob is 

 a fine, large nut; and the Cosford is thin in the shell, 

 good in flavour, and a great bearer. The Prolific 

 Dwarf takes little room, and so is good for small gar- 

 dens, as it is also a great bearer. Gordon's Thin- 

 shelled is a good sort. The Frizzled is very ornamental, 

 and like other nuts in other respects. The Purple Filbert 

 is purple in leaves and fruit, and equal to the Eed Filbert 

 in size and flavour. The Kentish Cob, or Lambert s Fil- 

 bert, is very late and very good, and the Merveille de 

 Bolwyller is large, good in flavour, and a plentiful 

 bearer. Nut trees may be bought for 6s. a dozen : 

 these are generally about two or three feet high, and 

 grown on their own roots. Mr. Eivers, of Sawbridge- 

 worth, recommends the above-named kinds grafted on 

 the Spanish Hazelnut; trees of this kind are 2s. dd. 



