221
sown and harrowed in very accurately; but incase the mould be clay, ch. xvn.
plough it earlier, and let it be sufficiently mellowed with the frosts 5 andthen the third year cut your trees near to the ground with a sharp bill,
the moon decreasing.
shillings and sixpence a bundle of sixty hoops. The Byzantine Nut is distinguished fromthe other species chiefly by the stipuhe, which are very narrow and acute, whereas those
of the common nut are ova 1 and obtuse. It differs also in the size of its growth, theByzantine seldom growing higher than four or five feet, hence it got the name of Dwarf
Nut-tree. In other respects it is like our common Nut-tree; it flowers at the same time, andthe fruit is produced in clusters. Mr. Miller suspects this and the Barcelona Nut to bethe same.
The Filbert, or Corylus sativa fructu allonge , is not a distinct species, but only a varietyof the Common Nut. This can only be kept true to its kind by suckers, or layers, whichlast are observed to make the best trees. In order to form stools, some plants of the bestkinds should be procured, and the twigs layered from them should be taken off and plantedin the nursery. When well rooted, they may be removed into the ground where they areto remain. In some parts of Kent, plantations of Filberts are much attended to. Thetrees are never permitted to rise above six feet in height, and are regularly pruned anddished out like Gooseberry-bushes. They should stand at the distance of twelve feet, andwhen full spread the diameter of the cup formed by the branches should be about six feet.The intermediate spaces should be cultivated with beans, turnips, and hoeing crops; forupon the constant stirring of the ground the vigour of the trees principally depends. I amwell informed that a bushel of nuts has been gathered from one tree managed in thismanner. In a scarce year, Filberts in the husk are worth twenty-four shillings perbushel;—a great encouragement for plantations of this species. Hops are sometimesraised between the Filbert-trees, so that the expectations of the planter may be gratifiedwith one and sometimes two crops.
It is au observation of great antiquity, and well confirmed, that “ a good nut year makesa good wheat year.” Virgil fpeaking of the Walnut-tree says,
Si superant foetus, pariter frumenta sequentur.
GEORG. I.
I have a peculiar pleasure in laying before the public the following letter, received from
a gentleman much conversant in the management of Filbert-trees. “ When the Filberts“ raised from layers, are eight inches high, there will fpring from them several small“ branches. Those in the centre must be cut out, in order that the tree may be trained“ in the form of a punch-bowl. The branches must not be permitted to exceed six feet“ in height, and all kept of an equal length. The trees should be planted at the distance“ of four yards from each other, and these, if well trained, will nearly touch in a few years.“ It will be necefsary to dig well about them every year, and every third year to give them“ a good drefsing of manure, as also to top the bearing branches early in the spring.
“ Carefully' remove all suckers and shoots about the roots. A tree thus trained, has been“known'to produce two stone of nuts in the husk, and I am credibly informed, that“ 4001 has been made of the produce of one acre, sold at thirty shillings per“ bushel, in the London market.”