318 On the Fertilization of the Female Blossoms of Filberts. 



that of the Kentish pruners, how celebrated soever the latter 

 may be, or how extensively soever it may be practised in the 

 Filbert districts. 



In whatever soil or situation I have seen Filbert trees grow- 

 ing, as well as the common Hazel, they have been attended 

 with a continual succession of suckers from their roots ; or, if 

 the latter have not been permitted to grow up, they have 

 shewn a strong tendency to produce them. Which would seem 

 to indicate that it is natural, and therefore necessary to the 

 complete prosperity of those trees (or rather shrubs) that 

 their wood should be often renewed. It appears to me, there- 

 fore, to be in direct opposition to this propensity of nature, to 

 keep them always on the same stem; which I understand is the 

 custom in Kent. I should rather think it more like pursuing 

 the indication of this unerring guide, to permit several stems 

 to arise from the same root, and after a certain period, to be 

 constantly cutting out some of the old worn out wood, and 

 training up some of the strongest suckers in its place. The 

 more I contemplate this subject, the more am I convinced 

 that there is much room for improvement in the means of 

 obtaining regularly adequate crops of this very agreeable 

 fruit. 



I remain, Dear Sir, 

 Your very obedient Servant, 



George Swayne. 



Dyrham, near Bath, 

 January 31, 1823. 



