2025

CHAP. CV,

coryla'ce/e. CO rylus.

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mont is at all taken into consideration. The purple-leaved hazel is a veryhandsome tree, and, with the common, may be very fitly associated in a groupwith the cut-leaved hazel; and, as an evergreen to contrast with them, may beadded Garrya elliptica, the male catkins of which are often nearly 1 ft. inlength, and appear at the same time, and continue as long, as those of thehazel. In many parts of France , bosquets, or small groves, and also arboursand covered walks, of the hazel are often found near old chateaux ; and thesame practice appears to have been followed in this country, if we may judgefrom the remains of covered nut walks yet existing in some old gardens.In shrubberies, the hazel gives rise to many interesting associations in theminds of those who have been brought up in nut countries. Thewriter of the article on Corylus , in the Nouveau Du Hamel, is eloquentin praise of the hazel on this account; and Sir Thomas Dick Laudersays: “ The hazel, besides making up a prominent part of many a grovein the happiest manner, and tufting and fringing the sides of many a ravine,often presents us with very picturesque stems and ramifications. Then,when we think of the lovely scenes into which the careless steps of our youthhave been led in search of its nuts, when autumn had begun to brown thepoints of their clusters, we are bound to it by threads of the most delightfulassociations, with those beloved ones, who were the companions of suchidle, but happy days.” (For. Seen., i. p. 197.)

Soil and Situation. The hazel, according to Cobbett, “ grows best uponwhat is called a hazel mould ; that is to say, mould of a reddish brown : butit will grow almost any where, from a chalk or gravel, to a cold and wet clay;but the rods are durable in proportion to the dryness of the ground on whichthe hazel grows, and they are particularly good where the bottom is chalk.”(Woodlands, $ 283.) The situation most favourable is on the sides of hills,for it will not thrive in a soil where water is stagnant; though, like all treesand shrubs that grow in dense masses, it requires a great deal of moisture;and, indeed, it will always keep the ground moist under it by the densenessof its shade.

Propagation and Culture. The species is propagated by nuts, which, fromthe common wild filbert, are, in plentiful years, from 20s. to 30s. a sack ofthree bushels. These may be dried in the sun, and preserved in a dry loft,covered with straw, or in sand, till the following February; when they may besown, and treated in the same manner as mast or chestnuts. After remainingin the seed-bed two years, they may be transplanted into nursery lines; and inone or two years more they will be fit for removal to their final situation.Where a hazel copse is to be formed, the nuts may be sown in drills, onploughed ground, early in spring, and a crop of oats taken the first year; butthis method cannot be recommended, as the nut, when young, is, as Cobbettobserves, as tender as a radish, and easily injured by weeds. Plantations,therefore, are best made by planting; and the plants may be setin rows at 5ft.