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THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



such aids as animal manure cannot be given, excellent stimulants may be found in the shape of 

 sewage, liquid manure, guano mixed with soil in the autumn when the leaves are off the 

 trees, and night soil. Fowls' dung and manure from piggeries should be mixed with water or 

 soil in the winter months. In Kent a large trade is done with the well-known Kent Cob, and in 

 some seasons the crops are much finer than in others. In 1894 the yield in Kent was enormous, 

 as no less than two tons to the acre were obtained from well-cultivated trees. Of late years 

 the yield, though not approaching the quantity referred to, has been fairly good, and this makes 

 Nut culture more profitable than a year of abundance followed by a time of scarcity. 



In the Kentish districts a regular system of culture is followed, and of course the soil 

 is suitable, as from this county the best hardy fruits are obtained if good cultivation be 

 given. Nuts will often flourish where fruits fail, and 1 have had excellent crops in stony 

 ground, on banks, and in a dry soil. These trees appear to like dryness when once they have 

 attained some size. On the other hand, the close-pruned trees, such as are seen in the 

 Kentish fields, produce the heaviest Nuts and the best crop. Here they are grown on a single 

 stem, the heads being formed somewhat like a vase — that is, the centres are kept open, 

 and the side growths, when the)' have grown a few feet in length, are closely spurred in. The 

 only difficulty with some kinds grown thus is the scarcity of catkins, and, of course, these are 

 needed to set the blossoms. It is often advisable to plant a few trees of the common Hazel 

 in Nut plantations for the purpose named. 



1 have briefly touched upon propagation, and, doubtless, the most common way is 

 by suckers. These, taken from the parent plant in the autumn and cut back to, say, 15m. 

 in length, may be planted in rows and at a distance of 2ft. apart, with half the distance 

 between the plants. They will then be fit for planting out in their permanent quarters 

 after three years. During the first year the lower buds, say 6in. to gin. from the soil, 

 should be rubbed off. This is to form the clear stem of the tree, and the next year a 

 little pruning will decide its shape if the leader is removed and the side growths reduced to 

 half-a-dozen from the side of the leading shoot. In the third year five shoots will develop, 

 and the following season the young trees will be fit to plant in their permanent quarters, 

 say, at a distance of 10ft. to 12ft. each way, according to the ground at command, or there 

 may be double or even more that distance between the rows and the land filled with low- 

 growing crops, leaving a space of 5ft. clear from the stem of the trees. After culture 

 mainly consists in keeping the plants free from sucker growths, and regular feeding will also 

 be advantageous, but this 1 have referred to. Another method of culture at the start is by 

 layering, which should be done in the autumn. Many growers say that trees from layers 

 are more profitable than from anv other way of propagation. They certainly make less 

 sucker growth, and, 1 think, are less inclined to run to rank' wood than from suckers. After 

 the layers are rooted (having been pegged down the previous autumn), plant them in rows 

 for a couple of years, as advised for suckers, and treat similarly, but they will be ready 

 to plant in their permanent positions in two years. The plants are also produced from seed, 

 which should be sown in October or November in light soil in rows, say, 2ft. apart, but 

 mice and rats devour the seed. It will be found a safe plan to sow thickly in boxes and 

 plant out in rows in the spring. A few kinds, such as the Cosford, come fairly true from 

 seed ; others are less reliable, and in such cases 1 do not advise this mode of culture 



Varieties are fairly numerous. The Kent Cob is one of the most popular on 

 account of its free cropping and quality. It is a large Nut, and distinct, being broader, 

 shorter, and with less husk than some of the Filberts. There can be no doubt but that 

 this is one of the best for planting on a large scale or for the garden, on account of its 

 free cropping. The Cosford is not termed a Cob Nut by some, but it is much like 

 the true type, yet distinct, having a thinner shell than the Kent Cob, and is quite as 

 good. 1 am not sure if it be quite as prolific ; on the other hand, it will grow in almost any 

 soil and is a splendid garden variety. The Atlas Cob is a very large Nut, and, though not 



