MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, &c. 1S5 



Chefnut and Walnut-tree ; and at Sion Boufe, the feat of 

 the Duke of Northumberland, the flables are built with 

 them, from the old monaftery at that place, which was 

 taken down when the prefent manfion-houie was built. 



The bell way of propagating Chefnut- trees is from feed, 

 gathered when thoroughly ripe ; which is generally about 

 the latter end of Oclober ; but they fhould not be gathered 

 till the hulks begin to open, and the Nuts appear of a 

 browniih colour ; they will then drop of themfelves, and 

 fhould be carefully picked up in the morning ; and particu- 

 larly after high winds ; thofe which are intended for eating, 

 or for feed, fhould be always fufFered to drop of themfelves ; 

 they will be found much better than thofe that are beaten 

 down. If, however, the fro ft fhould fet in early, you will 

 be under the necefhty of thrafhing them down, which fhould 

 be done in a dry day. All that fall in the hufk fhould be 

 thrown in heaps in a fhed, or other convenient place, and 

 fufFered to remain three weeks, or a month, in that ftate, to 

 ripen. They fhould then be taken out of the hulks, and the 

 belt picked out and laid up by themfelves, after being well- 

 dried, on mats, or cloths, in a funny fituation. They fhould 

 be laid up in the fruit-room, or granary, on fhelves, or on a dry 

 floor. Remember to turn them frequently. The inferior 

 ones will do for fowing, or they may be given to pigs or 

 turkeys, who are very fond of them ; they will be found very 

 good for fattening poultry, efpecially turkeys. If during the 

 Winter they fhould become damp or mouldy, they fhould 

 be turned and carefully wiped ; and if fpread at a moderate 

 diftance from a fire, or dried in an oven after the bread is 

 drawn, and then packed in boxes, or jars, with thorough 

 dry land, they will keep plump and good. Obferve not to 



Bb put 



