510 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 8, ISIS'. 
in their case than in that of the Nut, which was most probably- 
regarded as a luxury. Dismissing that subject, however, I may 
remark that the same soil and situation in which the wild Hazel is 
found appears to be the best for the cultivated varieties—namely, 
hilly stony districts, neither too dry nor too wet, and of which the 
subsoil is penetrable by the roots of this and other trees. On such 
a soil is found the wild Hazel, and on such, too, the cultivated Cob 
and Filbert thrive the best. The aspect does not seem to be of so 
much consequence, as Filbert grounds are found in declivities facing 
all directions, not the least productive being those with a western 
aspect, while plenty having a northern one are equally successful ; 
but all aspects are under this crop, and now and than a plot nearly 
level is met with. Generally hilly places are put under this crop 
after having been t.-enched and part of the stones taken out. The 
heavy loam of low lands which produce the best Wheats does not 
appear to answer so well for the Filbert, and a drier position should 
therefore be selected. 
The Filbert and Cob are propagated plentifully enough from 
suckers at the root, which are generally bedded in some nursery 
ground for a year or so before finally planting out, and they are 
headed down to within a foot of the ground, to obtain a series of 
branches radiating at that height, which are so cut and arranged as 
to form the skeleton of the future tree. This, when full grown, in 
some respects resembles a basin in shape, the centre being hollow, 
and the outer edges about 5 feet from the ground, the diameter 
being 12 feet or so. Where there is a laige number of trees 
together, and they are carefully planted in lines at 12 feet apart 
each way, and trimmed as they usually are, the upper surface of 
the rim of each tree is an exact counterpart of its neighbour, and 
the eye of the observer passes over the whole in a line parallel 
with the ground. Each tree is cut as exactly at a certain height 
from the ground as corn usually is, and the only difference is that 
the Filberts are 5 feet from the surface, and the stubble only a few 
inches. 
The mode in which the Filbert is trained might, perhaps, be 
very well copied in the case of other trees. The young tree, as 
already stated, is cut down so as to obtain a quantity of shoots at 
less than a foot from the ground, which are so cut as to secure 
others continuing to spread in all directions from the centre with so 
little rise that at the radius of 5 oi 6 feet their tops may not be 
higher than at most 5 feet from the ground. This pruning and 
training, however, is the work of years, and while it is progressing 
lateral branches pointing in the same direction are left on and 
encouraged, taking care that whatever young wood is allowed to 
remain for such a purpose should be neither too strong nor too 
weak, the former only producing its like, and the latter being too 
insignificant to expect much from ; but of the two extremes the 
latter is by far the preferable. Some other peculiarities in pruning 
are also well worthy of notice, and might, perhaps, be copied with 
advantage elsewhere. It is well known that the Filbert and Cob 
(both being alike in that respect), push shoots 6 feet long and 
upwards. These rampant shoots are sometimes situated where a 
branch is wanted, or where it would be imprudent to remove them 
entirely ; and to cut them back with the knife in the usual way 
would only be to encourage another of a like kind from the one so 
operated upon. In cases of this kind the knife is laid aside, and a 
rough-toothed saw is used to cut through the shoot, leaving it in as 
haggled a condition as it well can be, and this coarse operation 
assists in checking the tendency of the same branch to produce 
other vigorous shoots ; while all small shoots are shortened in by 
the knife in the same way as those of other fruit trees, the portion 
left rarely being more than 3 inches at any place, and often less in 
the full-grown tree. Neither are the main and subsidiary branches 
at all close, the practice being to get a few (what might appear), 
gnarled, ugly, stumpy branches with a few spurs on equally un¬ 
inviting to look at ; but the practised pruner can tell tolerably well 
by the appearance of the tree which are fruit-bearing spurs and 
which are not, although it is difficult to explain how on paper. In 
general such shoots are small and short-jointed, and about the end 
of January, if the winter has not been unusually severe, small pink 
spots will appear, showing through the bud ; these are the female 
blossoms, and form the embryo of the fruit; the male blossoms 
are expanded, and hang in catkins months before these appear. 
It is, therefore, better for these unacquainted with this tree 
not to begin to prune until these tokens of fruitfulness can be 
seen ; at the same time it is not prudent to delay it too long, 
as they are easily rubbed off, and all prospect of fruit is then 
gme. 
The female blossoms though expanded long before settled fine 
weather, are, nevertheless, tender, and easily injured by frost, and, 
therefore, a declivity facing the west is often thought to be the 
best, as tbe frosts of spring are often gone ere the sun can shine, 
and thus they escape injury. Overhanging Apple trees are likewise 
not altogether without their use, as they afford a little shade and 
shelter, so that large breadths of these trees and Filberts are planted 
together, while in not a few instances there is a crop of Hops over¬ 
topping the Filberts for some years ; but this latter plan is not 
considered of any benefit to the Nuts, but is merely adopted to 
obtain the most from the ground. Gooseberry and Currant trees 
are by far the most common accompaniments, they being invariably 
planted to occupy the spaces between the Filberts while these are 
progressing. Assuming the latter to be planted at 12 feet apart 
each way, the small fruits might be 6 feet, or if the Nuts are 
10 feet apart, the latter would be 5 ; so that for every Cob or 
Filbert there would be three Gooseberry or Currant trees, unless, 
the latter or the Nuts were intermixed with standard Apple or 
other trees, which are often 20 feet or more apart. Generally, 
however, the ground is heavily cropped from the beginning, and it 
is by no means unusual to see Currants, Filberts, and Apple trees 
all growing together, the last overtopping the former two, and 
scarcely a speck of ground to be seen. It is very rare that a 
Filbert is seen on grass land, the opinion being that the tree derives 
advantage from tillage ; and, on the other hand, as the Cherry is, 
said to be injured by this, a Cherry orchard is generally laid down, 
in grass. Such is the Kentish custom, and a long course of culture 
based, no doubt, on practical observations has determined this 
course to be the best in both cases. 
Of the varieties most esteemed by the grower it is difficult to, 
say much, the demand pointing out the kind most proper to grow ; 
but there is little question that the quantity of Cobs now grown 
far exceeds that of Filberts, and that the culture of the former 
has been on the increase for many years, whilst that of the latter 
has been decreasing, few young plantations of these being made. 
The varieties of both are very limited in number as compared with 
those of other fruits. Sometimes when a grower has a reputation 
for fine fruit a local name attaches itself to the variety he culti¬ 
vates, although in all probability no real distinction exists. How¬ 
ever, there are some inferior kinds, and these it would be proper to 
weed out. Subjoined I give the names of a few, to which, doubtless,, 
others might be added. 
Common Cob.— I believe a much harder-shelled one than this is 
found in other counties, as the kind now called the common one is 
the same as Lambert’s or Kentish Cob elsewhere. A good Nut,, 
'producing excellent clusters, with a large full kernel. I may 
mention that, for experiment, I once weighed a quantity of average 
quality, including the husks, as they were, and had them cracked, 
and then weighed the kernels alone, and these were found to be a 
trifle more than half the weight of the whole, and therefore the 
reader may form an idea that they were pretty full. The shell, 
however, is harder than that of the Filbert and improved Cosford 
Cob, but the kernel keeps better than the latter, and is equal to it 
in flavour. 
Cosford Cob.— This only differs from the last in being thinner- 
shelled ; as regards bearing it is much the same, and except that the 
common Cob keeps fresh longer, there is not much difference 
between the two. 
Spanish Cob.— The distinction here is so questionable that it is 
doubtful if the Kentish and Spanish may not be synonymous. 
There are also other names, having reference to localities where 
large quantities are grown, but it is impossible to describe them as 
being applied to distinct varieties. 
Red-skinned Filbert.— This is by many esteemed the finest 
Nut grown, and for a month or more after gathering is unquestion¬ 
ably so, and most people admire it during that time. It does not, 
however, keep so well as the Cob, and, as a plant, is less prolific, or, 
rather, is more tender. A few plants, however, ought to be in every 
collection. 
White or Common Filbert.— This is more hardy than the 
last, and bears better ; it is also a very good nut. 
Frizzled Filbert.— -The husk which encloses the nut being 
fringed at the point has given this plant its name. As a curiosity 
it has its admirers, and the nut is also good, though not better 
than those above mentioned ; but the peculiarity of the husk gives 
it a claim to notice. 
Besides the above there are many others perhaps with which I 
am but imperfectly acquainted. One variety is grown for the tint 
of its foliage resembling that of the Copper Beech, and is called 
the Purple-leaved. I believe, however, that its fruits are little, if 
at all, better than common Hedge Nuts, its merit resting solely on 
its foliage. Thera is also said to be a Dwarf Prolific of high repu¬ 
tation, and which doubtless deserves notice, but not being acquainted 
with it I cannot speak of its merits. Possibly, however, other 
growers from localities equally favourable to the growth of Nuts 
will give us the benefit of their experience. There is no fruit that 
I am acquainted with of which the cultivation seems to be confined 
to so few districts as this. Assuredly the soils and situation suit¬ 
able for it are more generally to be found than is commonly 
