JULY. 
151 
plays so conspicuous a part. As the Filbert is in general a free and rather 
fast-growing tree, the abundance of wood to choose from enables the cultivator 
to select that which is best adapted to give the shape he wants. This is done 
with so much exactness, that, in a well-managed orchard of this fruit, one tree 
so much resembles another that the cursory observer might suppose that they 
had all been turned out of one mould. A glance at the way this is done in 
Kent, where so many acres are under this crop, will assist the amateur in 
keeping his trees within reasonable bounds, and also in making them more 
fruitful than if allowed to grow rampant amongst other trees less vigorous than 
themselves. 
Although occasional plantations of this fruit may be formed on stiff heavy 
ground, such plots are the exception, for they rarely prosper and are fast dis¬ 
appearing. A dry stony soil, not too shallow, without anything pernicious in 
the subsoil, is the one the Filbert likes best; and many hundreds of acres of 
the best plantations in Kent are on the slopes of hills having limestone at no 
great depth below. Occasionally they are also planted over chalk, but the 
result is less satisfactory. 
Generally speaking the soils which overlie Kentish ragstone, or hassock, a 
soft stone which will not endure frost, are the best; and in tillage quantities of 
such stones, as large as a half-brick, are turned up and mixed with the surface 
soil, presenting anything but an inviting appearance. In such soils both the 
Filbert and Morello Cherry seem to thrive better than in ground of any other 
description, and, what is equally important, they bear well also. Such a soil 
is, of course, a stranger to stagnant water; and though the substratum is hard 
when first broken up, there is nothing in it pernicious to vegetation, as seeds 
will vegetate in it soon after being thrown to the top. Being of a half-sandy 
nature, it may with advantage be used as a fertiliser to soils of a contrary 
description. All the Filbert plantations are not on soil of the above descrip¬ 
tion, but it is generally admitted that on such the best crops of fruit are pro¬ 
duced. The nearer, therefore, that it can be imitated elsewhere, the greater 
the chance of success. 
Situation has also something to do in the matter, and when a choice of this 
exists the western slope of a hill is the best position; but in the valley of the 
Medway plantations are formed on all inclinations, dryness of bottom being 
one of the conditions first of all insisted on, and a soil not by any means 
meagre in regard to depth is also necessary. The other conditions are all sub¬ 
servient to them. Shelter from very high winds may be useful, but this is of 
less consequence than for most other fruits ; but very exposed places, as the 
tops of naked hills, are too cold and ungenial, and, though the tree will thrive 
there, it is seldom fruitful enough to be satisfactory. Though blooming 
amongst the earliest of all our fruits, the tree is far from being the hardiest. 
The beautiful little tufts of crimson which form the female or nut-bearing 
blossom are very sensitive of frost and are often damaged by it. The long green 
catkins, or male blossoms, which hang all the winter, are hardy enough ; but if 
destroyed before the others make their appearance, the crop, of course, is bad. 
Generally speaking, however, the well-being of the crop depends on other 
conditions more than this ; and so many things are necessary to perfect success, 
that the crop of Filberts is, perhaps, more capricious than that of any other 
fruit, although when good nothing yields a better return. Upwards of a ton 
weight per acre has been gathered in favourable seasons ; but as Filberts are 
often planted in conjunction with Apples, Pears, and other fruits, the return is 
limited in consequence of the ground taken up by these. Nevertheless, the 
cultivator generally favours his Filbert trees if they do well, and the others are 
cut away. 
