By the Rev. William Williamson. 147 



to the Filbert and the Hop, it would soon occur to the intelli- 

 gent cultivator, that probably woollen rags might be as bene- 

 ficial to the Filbert as they are known to be to the Hop. 



Pruning. The method of pruning the Filbert being so dif- 

 ferent from that of every other tree, as far as I know, and 

 being not generally practised beyond the county of Kent, a 

 particular explanation of it will be necessary. 



Before any one can possibly prune a tree with propriety,, 

 it is necessary that he perfectly understand the mode of its 

 fructification. The fruit of the Vine is produced only upon 

 shoots of the preceding year ; Cherries are grown chiefly upon 

 short spurs emitted from the sides of the larger branches ; if, 

 therefore, the last year's shoots of the Vine, or the spurs of 

 the Cherry tree, are destroyed, there can be no fruit. Now, 

 in some respects, the Filbert is similar in its fructification to 

 both these trees ; the bearing branches being always those of 

 the preceding year, similar to the Vine, and these branches, 

 if the tree be properly pruned, might with great propriety 

 be called spurs, allowing for the difference between the Fil- 

 bert and the Cherry ; these short twigs or spurs are not more 

 than a few inches long, every bud of which, in a good year, 

 produces fruit. The great object of the following method of 

 pruning is to cause the trees to throw out these spurs in great 

 abundance ; and when they are got to a proper bearing 

 state, more than sufficient will be produced. 



But though it is the usual practice to plant the suckers in 

 nursery beds, I would advise every one to plant them where 

 they are to remain, whether they are intended for a garden 

 or a larger plantation : and after being suffered to grow 

 without restraint for three or four years, to cut them down 



