WHERE TO PLANT 
The filbert tree thrives and produces only in a mild moist climate such as ours of the 
Pacific Northwest. It requires only a fertile, deep, well drained soil with good cultivation 
to grow and flourish. There should be no underlaying strata of rock or hardpan, nor is a 
steep hillside desirable, especially a south exposure. 
The filbert is a hardy tree and is not affected unfavorably by ordinary frosts or cold. 
It is a regular bearer, blooming over a long period—so rain, frost, snow or freezing has little 
effect on the nut production. So far no serious insect or pest has appeared to reduce the 
yield of the two leading commercial varieties, the Barcelona and the DuChilly, therefore 
excessive spraying is unnecessary. 
WHEN AND HOW TO PLANT 
The time to plant is as soon after the tree becomes dormant and the ground can be 
properly prepared. The bulk of the planting is done in December, January and February, 
and even as late as March, but the earlier the better. The filbert is usually not wholly 
dormant until December. 
Prepare the ground by deep plowing and disking. Plant the trees at least twenty feet 
apart each way. possibly twenty-five feet is better on rich soil. Dig a hole 1% to 2 feet in 
diameter and a foot in depth. Dig the hole only as fast as you plant the tree so it cannot 
dry out. If you are planting nursery trees with the sprouting wood cut away and the roots 
evenly trimmed as they should be, fill up the center of the hole, making a mound even with 
the surrounding ground surface. Place the tree thereon with the roots carefully spread out, 
packing the fine earth around them solidly and heaping it well up about the tree until the 
roots have taken a firm hold. 
Trees thus planted will become practically sproutless if the first sprouts are kept cut 
or rubbed off as they appear. This mounding brings crown of tree close to surface, making 
it easier to get at sprouts properly so they won’t reappear. 
A well rooted filbert tree has a considerable mass of fibrous roots and it is very im¬ 
portant that these are not allowed to dry out at any time. Be very careful in this particular 
for many trees are lost by disregarding this point. 
CULTIVATION, CARE AND PRUNING 
Do not neglect your cultivation. This is of prime importance, both to loosen the earth, 
keep down the weeds but especially to conserve the moisture. Both young and old trees 
require cultivation. 
Keep off the sprouts or suckers, rubbing or cutting them off as fast as they appear is 
the best way. They deprive the tree of just that much strength and growth. The tree should 
be crowned from 30 to 36 inches above the ground, hence keep off all branches or shoots 
below this. 
Prune as you would any tree in the beginning to shape it up. Later, as the tree ap¬ 
proaches the bearing stage, unless you are familiar with the habits of the filbert, it is best 
to get the advice of an experienced grower or hire it done by one you are sure knows how 
to prune a filbert tree. It is impossible in this article to instruct one just how a filbert tree 
should be pruned and it is very important that it is done properly. 
The filbert will bear nuts at an early date, in fact you find them on the layer and in 
the nursery, but the tree must have some bearing capacity before you can expect much. 
When the tree is five or six years old you can expect a crop of some consequence, increasing 
each year until it is in full bearing from 12 to 15 years of age. The average mature filbert 
tree, from 12 to 15 years old, bears 10 to 30 pounds yearly; even 50 pounds, depending on 
conditions. 
HARVESTING AND CARE 
The harvesting and care of the filbert nut is a simple matter. The nuts ripen in Sep¬ 
tember and October and fall from the tree. The Barcelona and some other varieties are 
self-husking but the DuChilly, White and Red Aveline and others require husking. This is 
done by hand so far but doubtless whenever the production justifies it, machines will be 
invented to do the work. 
The nuts when gathered should be spread out to dry and season in a warm room, which 
enhances the flavor. The nut is rich in food value, exceptionally healthful and delicious to 
the taste. No harmful effects result from eating as plentifully as one desires. 
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