FILBERTS AND NUTS AS STANDARDS. 



95 



To conclude, I may mention that the small 'Alberge 

 apricot, raised from the stone, and producing small 

 high-flavored fruit, and also the Breda apricot, make 

 very beautiful pyramids if lifted or planted biennially. 

 ' In the southern counties of England, in a favorable 

 season, they will ripen their fruit, and produce good 

 crops. The large Portugal quince is also very prolific 

 as a pyramidal tree. Some trees only two years old 

 have borne fine fruit here. This is the finest of all 

 the quinces, and in the south of Europe it grows to 

 an enormous size. The Medlar will also form a hand- 

 some and productive pyramid, and, " last, but not 

 least " in the estimation of the lover of soft fruits, the 

 currant. A near neighbor — an ingenious gardener 

 — attaches much value, and with reason, to his pyra- 

 midal currant trees ; for his table is supplied abun- 

 dantly with their fruit till late in autumn. The lead- 

 ing shoots of his trees are fastened to iron rods ; they 

 form nice pyramids of about five feet in height ; and 

 by the clever contrivance of slipping a bag made of 

 coarse muslin over every tree as soon as the fruit is 

 ripe, fastening it securely to the bottom, wasps, and 

 birds, and flies, and all the ills that beset ripe currants 

 are excluded. With all these, summer pinching and 

 root-pruning, or biennial removal (except the currant, 

 which does not require the latter operation), as di- 

 rected for pears, are indispensable ; they soon form 

 very handsome pyramids, and make a pleasing variety 

 in the fruit garden. 



FILBERTS AND NUTS AS STANDARDS. 



Filberts, as commonly cultivated, except in the 



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