7 
FILBERTS. 
No mit tree, we believe, is so little understood in California as this pretty little 
member of the great nut family, the Filbert. We have heard of filbert-gi'owers in this 
State grubbing up their " bushes " because they would not bear; and ihe general com- 
plaint is that filbert bushes do not bear, or bear very little. That there is a misunder- 
standing in regard to filbert culture is obvious, so we will give a short sketch on the 
filbert, its culture and training, and how to make it bear. 
Whether filberts are planted orchard-like, or in cordons around a field or alongside 
a ditch, or in rows through an orchard or vineyard, or in groups, or isolated by them- 
selves, they should in every instance, to bear well, be trained as a tree and not as a bush. 
It is as easy to ti'ain the filbert as a standard or half-standard tree as any other nut or 
fruit tree. It is true that the filbert, especially when young, has a great tendency to 
grow sprouts from the roots all around the body of the tree. They should be 
unmercifully grubbed up whenever showing themselves. 
In the family garden the filbert might be made to branch at three to four feet; 
nothing, indeed, more pretty than a filbert tree made to branch out at that height, par- 
ticularly so the purple-leaved filbert so highly ornamental with its original and brilliant 
foliage. But in the field or orchard, where the filbert is solely planted for its crop of 
nuts, the trees should be made to branch at two to three feet, or rather between 20 and 
30 inches. 
Filbert trees should not be planted closer than 12 feet, say from 12 to 15 feet, in 
the row; but a very important point, to make the trees bear well, is to plant the rows 
of filberts very wide apart. 
Of all classes of nut and fruit trees, none is better benefited by constant moisture 
than the filbert; in fact, in certain soils and localities, irrigating should have to be 
resorted to, so as to insure a crop of nuts every year. We should think that the great 
Northwest, but more especially Oregon, would be admirably adapted to filbert culture, 
as the conditions of soil and climate in that part of the country are so favorable to the 
filbert; and we do not see, if that tree is trained as we suggest in the course of this 
article, why it would not bear as well there as it does in England where so many filbert 
imta are raised. 
As the filbert deteriorates at once from the seed, we raise it altogether from layer- 
ing, or the division of large bushes themselves grown from layering; we are therefore 
able to furnish our patrons with plants absolutely true. We have grown large filbert 
trees from the seed, and of all the varieties herewith describe, and we can assure the 
public that it is of no use for them to try the experiment, for in every case, without 
one exception, the trees so grown, though bearing well, have borne very small nuts, 
much smaller than the mother stock, and it is with filberts as with all other classes of 
nuts, the larger ones only are marketable. As a matter of course, rooted layers sell 
much higher than seedlings. 
We will now give a list of the best varieties to plant either for family use or market. 
Barcelona. — A magnificent variety from 
Spain; nut very large, round, of first qual- 
ity. Very productive. Bears well trained 
both ways, either as a low standard tree or 
bush. 
Dii Chilly Cobnut.— The largest filbert 
ever fruited on the Pacific Coast. The nut 
is of an elongated oval, very broad, over an 
inch in length, and three-fourths of an 
inch in width. The nuts are uniformly 
large, full-fleshed and sweet. Trained as a 
low standard tree, this cobnut is immensely 
prolific, but a shy bearer if raised as a bush. 
Red Aveline. — Fruit medium to large, 
ovate; flavor sweet, pleasant and nutty; 
shell thin; kernel smooth, and from the 
fact that it is invested with a very thin skin 
of a beautiful wine color, hence its name 
of Red Aveline. Very prolific. 
White Aveline. — In every respect the 
same as the above, with the exception of 
the kernel being invested with a thin, white 
skin. Very prolific. 
Kentish Cob.— Large fruited cobnut, 
much grown in the Duchy of Kent, Eng- 
land. To bear well, like all other cobnuts 
in California, must be trained as a low 
standard tree. 
Large White of England. — Large, 
round, white, from the Filbert district of 
England; largely cultivated for market. 
Purple-leaved Aveline.— A very pretty, 
ornamental variety, the leaves being of a 
dark purplish hue; looks beautiful in the 
garden grown as a low standard tree. The 
nut is much like other Avelines, ovate; 
kernel smooth, with pnrplish pellcle, and 
nutty. 
Daviana. — A beautiful white variety of 
filbert; large, white, roundish oval, full- 
fleshed and sweet. Prolific. 
