224 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



COB-NUTS AND FILBERTS. 



By E. A. Bun yard, F.L.S. 



[Read Sept. 24, 191 8 ; Mr. W. H. Divers, V.M.H., in the Chair.] 



The distribution of Corylus Avellana extends over Europe, North 

 Africa, to Central and Russian Asia, and it has been a food-plant from 

 the early days of man. Some botanists have recognized three species, 

 viz. : Coryhts Avellana, C. tubulus, and C. barcelona, which correspond 

 to our Cob-Nuts, Filberts, and Spanish Nuts. Whatever rank we 

 may give to these divisions it is certain that they have been long 

 recognized : as Theophrastus knew two sorts, " some having a round, 

 others an oblong, nut." These are the Heracleatic Nuts, so called 

 from Heraclea, now Ponderachi, on the Black Sea, from whence they 

 were supposed to have been introduced. 



To Hippocrates they were known as Carya thusia; and in Pliny 

 we first find the specific name, Avellana, from Abellana in Asia, whence 

 they were introduced. Some coming from Pontus were also called 

 Pontic Nuts. 



Abellana in Italy has presumably taken its name from the Asiatic 

 town, and it is still a nut-growing centre. 



So widespread a fruit has naturally been surrounded by an ancient 

 lore ; and the nut as an emblem of fruitfulness in marriage ceremonies, 

 and in more northern climes as a lightning-plant, a charm against 

 witches, and as a tree sacred to Thor, figures largely in European 

 Mythology. Even to-day the magical properties of its twigs as 

 water-finders are maintained. 



It is not possible to glean much of its past history from its 

 different names in various countries. The Germanic nations have the 

 word Hazel ; Old English, Haesel ; Dutch, Hazel ; German, Hasel. The 

 Latin nations have Aveline, from Abellana. A modern German 

 name, <f Lambertsnuss," has been variously explained as Langbart, 

 long beard — referring supposedly to the long husk of the Filbert. 

 According to Koch, the name is derived from the Longobards or 

 Lombards. It is quite possible that they may have introduced 

 a fine variety from Eastern Europe in their westward migration. 

 The Lambertsnuss is still a recognized class in Germany, and it is 

 a curious coincidence that our best-known British Nut, the Kent 

 Cob, should have been raised by a Mr. A. Lambert, and is still known 

 as ' Lambert's Filbert.' 



The origin of the word " Cob," as applied to the short, round nuts 

 which are not covered by the husk, is not dealt with by any of the 

 usual authorities ; but it may perhaps be compared with its use for 

 a stout and smaller horse. 



