i : %
annual shoots of the walnut and other trees, where those join the year-old wood, many minute buds
which are almost concealed In th e bark, and which rarely or never vegetate, but in the event of the
ffiistruction ol the large prominent buds which occupy the middle or opposite ends of the annual wood.
By inserting in each stock one of these minute buds, and one of th e large and prominent kind, I had the
pleasure to lind that the minute buds took freely, whilst the largo all failed without a single exception
Tins experiment was repeated in th e summer of 1815, upon two-yearling stocks which grew in pots and
had been placed, during the spring and early part of the summer, in a shady situation under a north wall •
whence they were removed late in July to a forcing-house, and instantly budded. Those being suffered
to remam m the bouse during th e following summer, produced from the small buds shoots nearly 3 ft.
long, terminating in large and perfect female blossoms, which necessarily proved abortive, as no male
blossoms wm-e procurable at the early period in whieh the female blossoms appeared: bnt the early
iormation of such blossoms sufficiently proves that the habits of a bearing branch of the walnut tree may
be translcrred to a young tree by budding, as well as by grafting by approach. The most eligible situation
to r t ^ insertion of buds of this species of tree (and probably of others of similar habits) is near the
summit qt the wood of the preceding year, and, of course, very near the base of the annual sh o o t; and if
buds of the small kind above mentioned be skilfully inserted m such parts of branches of rapid growth,
they will be found to succeed with nearly as much certainty as those of other fruit-trees, provided such
buds be in a more mature state than those of the stocks into which they are inserted.”
4C.)4. Carlisle {U o r t. T ra n s ., vol. ii.) mentions th e case of a walnut tree raised from the n u t in the
usual way, on a hght soil on a sandy subsoil, and in a warm sheltered situation, which produced iruit in
SIX years ; but the usual period is eighteen or twenty.
4G^>. Abercrombie says, th e walnut tree is propagated, in general, by sowing well-ripened nuts of the
hnest v arieties; but as seedlings are apt to vary, new plants are occasionally raised by layers and inarch-
sorts. _ The nuts may be sown in autumn or sp rin g ,in drills, 9 in. to 12
apart, and ¿ i i . or 3 in. deep; place the nuts 2 in. asunder, and, having earthed them in, smooth the
surtace. 1 hey will come up m the spring. When of one year’s growth, set out the plants in nursery
rows, 1 ft. asunder by 6 in. in the rows, to remain two years, then to be transplanted (doubling the
dityance) into other nursery lines. Tra in each with a single stem G ft, or 7 ft. high : then to be per-
mitted to branch out above, and form a spreading head. Layers may be made, in autumn or spring of
young shoots produced near the ground from proper stools formed for th at purpose: they will be
rqqted m one season, to plant off m nursery rows for training as above. Inarching may be performed in
February or March upon seedling walnut stocks, having proper stems.
46-56. So il a n d site . The walnut tree will succeed in any common fertile soil, a light or a clayey loam
sq that the subsoil be dry, and the site a little sheltered ; but it thrives best where there is a good depth
of loam mixed with sand or gravel ra the r than clay. As this tree is long before it bears fruit, there is a
particular inducement for procuring plants from th e nursery, either inarched, budded, or in as advanced
a stage as it will be safe to remove them. This may be when they are from eight to twelve years old
accordmg us they rnay have been prepared by repeated transplantations. Walnut trees may be planted
m o rc h p d s or small paddocks, in a row towards the boundaries ; or in parallel double rows iii a quincunx
order, m extensive grounds, but detached from fruit trees of more contracted growth. The line of
walnut trees, when fully grown, will serve as a screen to the fruit trees occupying the interior ground.
The plants should stand a t 25 ft. and the trees at 50 ft. distance.
4G57. Mode o f b earing. On the extremities of the preceding year’s shoots.
4658. P i-u n in g . Walnut trees when finally planted may be permitted to branch out in th e ir natural
order, with the exception of a little occasional pruning, to regulate any casual disorderly growth, to
reduce over-extending branches, and to take off the low stragglers / f e >
4059. .flfnpHg, io induc e bearing, is practised by the Baron de Tschoudi, near Metz, in Lorraine. A
zone of bark 2m . broad is taken out, and the part plastered over with cow-dung and loam; the consequence
IS, that the trees prove more prolific, and the fruit ripens sooner
4CG0. T a k in g th e crop. Walnuts should be taken for pickling while the internal parts remain tender
and fleshy, vvliich may be ascertained by probing them with a pin or needle. T h e nuts are ripe in Sep-
mSiaeVfoi S t e ? / s e " ^ " gathered so as not to injure the tree, and housed in the propbr
Subsect. 2. C hestnut.— Castànea vésca W., Yàgus Castànea L. (E n g . B o t. 886.);
M o n (/c . P olyd n . L. a nd Amentàceoe J . C hâtaigne, Pi*. ; C astanim b a um , Ger. i K a r -
stengeboom, Dutch ; Castagno, Ital. ; aud C astano, Span.
4661. T he chestnut is supposed to have been originally brought from Sardis to Italy hy
iibenus Cæsar. It is so common there, and in Prance, as to be considered a native :
and some consider the tree as naturalised in England, though it is not likely to propao-ate
itseli ill this countiy. Some of the oldest trees in the world are of this species ; as that
mentioned by Brydone on Etna, and tlie great tree at Tortworth in Glouccstcrshfre.
4GG2. Use. The fruit is a desirable nut for autumn and winter, and is eaten roasted with salt anH
sometimes raw. Abroad, it is not only boiled and roasted, but puddings, c.akes and bfead ara made of it
Chestnuts stewed with cream,” according to Phillips {P om a r ium B r i t ., 95.), “ make a much admired
dish and many ffimilies.prefer them to all other stuffings for turkeys.” He sayi “ I h l v l had them sfo ï?d
‘ré admired.” t h e t im S fo rm e rin n
S r X rrénrérérém f “ ®’ appearance of reason,generally called old chestnut as old oak. T he test is, cuttmg th e wood with a wotted c hciosnesl i•d ewrh ewrih iitf iisi-
“ t o t o “’.“ »Wch "¡11 Dot be thó case if it be chestnut ’ '
4663. F a „ r t,e s . _ Id " “7« earlier than
t h / s m i t h ^ am e ro a s varieties in cultivation in the horth of Italy and
ir, ufeVrt u í o “ »»yisuuuuiuuuu UI oavuua. ¿i. numoer ot sorts which have been nianted
s i S f e f e
f/foVi f S « ? London nurseries.
f e l f e a »
m the succeeding year; and I am much inclined to think, from cxperimentVl hav? S a d e in this tree
that by selecting those varieties which ripen their fruit olirly in the autumn, ai d by o?o/a a?t n i wfth
grafts or buds from young and vigorous trees of that kind, wliich have ju s t attained t^ e a /? n /cS fa rT to
advantage^i this c o u n i Z
.iiurérén P*'®'®’'® sandy loam with ad ry bottom ; but it will grow in anv soil on a drv
éub.soil. Distribute the plants towards the northern boundary of orchards ; and in larger g r o l p t o v / f any
vacant tracts in extensive pleasure-grounds or parks, to form spacious avenues, or a row along any out-
boundary. A great number should not be placed close to a residence, as the smell of the flowers is
offensive. P la n t them a t not less than 30 ft., and thence to 50 ft. distance.
4GGG. Subsequent cu ltu re . “ Permit the trees to branch out freely above, and to form large regular
heads. Give occasional priming only to very irregular and cross branches, and low stragglers. After they
have attained some tolerably branchy growth,. thiecyy 'wil1l cc ome i• nt. o b• ea r•i ng; and. w.he.n t.he.y have expanded
into large full heads, they may be expected to yield considerable quantities of n u ts .”
4GG7. T a k in g the crop. “ The nuts ripen from the end of September to the end of October. When
the outer capsule containing the nuts begins to divide, and the nuts appear of a brown colour, thcir full
maturity is indicated. They may be gathered by hand, or beaten down by long poles. Selecting the
finest and best-ripened, clear them from the husks; let them be well dried, and deposited in the fruit
room, upon shelves, &c.; and somc packed in layers of very dry fine sand for longer keeping.” {A be rcrombie.}
S u b s e c t . 3. F ilb e rt. — C ó rylu s A v e lla n a L. (E n g . B o t. 723.) ; M o n e /c . P olyd n. L. and
Am entácea J. N oisette, Fr.; N ussbaum , Ger.; H azelnoot, Dutch; A vellano, Ital.
iind Span.
4668. T he common hazel-nut, or the filbert in its wild state, is a large-sized shmb, ivith
an ash-coloured bark, and alternate roundish cordate leaves. The male catkins appear
on the preceding year’s shoots in autumn, and wait for the expansion of the female buds
in the spring. It is a native of Britain, very common in most woods, and extensively
cultivated about Maidstone, in Kent.
4G69. Use. As a table nut it is in universal esteem ; and the wood and twigs of the wild plants are used
for sticking peas, staking greenhouse plants and raspberries, forming pegs and numbcr-sticks, and many
other similar purposes in gardening.
4670. Varieties. The best are —
1 . B o n d n u t; ra th e r large, ovate, oblong
¡ shell thin.
2. Cob n u t; middle-sized, short, ovate,
or roundi,sii, with a th ick h a rd shell,
b u t well fllled by th e k e rn e l; trees of
u p rig h t growth.
5. Great cob n u i: large siz e ; shell tliick.
4. Co sfo rd n u t {Pom. Mag., t. 5 5 .): an
excellent variety, oblong, shell re-
ai'kably th in , a n d striated longiinueh
lan
iiglit also be introduced £
n amo n tal s h ru b ; n u ts ra th e r s
b u t early and abundant.
aaU.
6. Red filb ert {Lang. Porn., t. 57. 2.)-.
Red hazel, Langhartsnuss, Blut-
Rothe Lambertsnuss, Avolith
e ke rn e l being o f a crimson-red
colour.
. White filbert {Lang. Pom., t. 57. 1 .):
very lik e tlic preceding in appearance
an d flavour, b u t <liffuring in
th e pellicle of tbe kernel being pale
instead of r e d : both have a long
tu b u la r h usk, contracting so much
beyond tho apex of tho f ru it as to
prevent its falling o u t; consequently,
these sorts ave best adapted fo r preserving
long in th e h u sk : th ey are
middle-sized, ovate, or ovate-obloug,
an d of excellent flavour. Nuts, as
rem a rk ed in the Hort. Soc. Cat. o f
B ru its , 2d cd. p. 85., were formerly
divided in to shorl-bearded, an d long
OT fu lUbearded; from the la tte r filbert
appears to liavc hoen derived. Simila
r terms are used h y th e Germans,
th e two sorts ju s t mentioned being
called b y th em Die langbartsnuss,
a n d Die rothe langbartsnuss.
8. Dou-nion large square n u t ; large,
10. Siiant'sA; a very large oblong n
4G71. E s tim a te o f sorts. The rad and tbe white filberts ought to be in every collection, as also the
Cosford. The cob nut is also desirable, because it fills and keeps well, and perhaps it may also be found
eligible for certain situations, on account of its branches growing more upright than those of the other
varieties. For large-sized fruit, th e great cob-nut, the Downton large square nut, and the Spanish nut,
may be selected.
4G72. Soil a n d site . Abercrombie says, “ a cool, dry, poorish soil is to be chosen for filbert and nut
trees in g e n e ra l; for example, a sandy loam, mixed with minute shattery stones or grit, and with a smal!
proportion of vegetable or animal remains; for the plants fruit best when but moderately strong.”
About Maidstone, according to the Rev. W. Williamson, they prefer a hazel loam of some depth, on
a dry subsoil, which should be dre.ssed every year, as the filbert requires a considerable quantity of
manure. F ilbert trees are generally planted iu the orchard, or in the slips ivhich surround the kitchen-
garden.
4G73. P ro p a g a tio n . “ AU the sorts can be propagated by grafting, by layers, by suckers, and by sowing
the nuts. The most advisable methods, because they are certain to keep the resjiective variety permanent,
ng them in February or March upon seedling
or sucker stocks of the filbert or h a z e l;
young wo'o d in tho spring. Sorwr , . .t.h..e... .n..u...t.s.. .i.n... ..O...c..t.o..b...e..r or N ove mb.e•r..,„ 2o.rJ - -i-n- -t-hfletn sl pring,
a prinare,
either by grafting or by layers of the wood Sow the nuts in
in a bed of light earth, covering them about 2 in. The greater part will germinate
s p r in g , ;
the plants arc one or two years old plant them out in nursery lines in autumn or spring
lg. 1 r a
cipal supply in standards, half-standards, and dwarf standards, each with a single clean stem, from C ft.
’ , ,rt. . . 2 About Maidstone, according to Williamson, filberts are almost
high down to 12 ii {, Abe ,
rc rombie .)
universally propagated ' ■by Y suckers.
{ I lo r t. T ra n s ., vol. iv. p. 152.)
4G74. Mode o f bearing.
.411 the species bear principally upon the sides and ends of the upper young
branches ; and from 1 small sma
shoots, which proceed from the bases of side branches cut oft’ the preceding
year.
4676. F in a l p la n tin g . “ The season for planting all the sorts is autumn or spring, or any interval in
mild weather from October till the beginning of March. Allot detached standards, not less than 10 ft.,,
and thence to 20 ft. distance, to have room to branch out in full heads. In th e filbert grounds about
Maidstone it is usual to plant hops, standard apples, and cherries among the filberts. When the filberts
come into a bearing state the hops arc destroyed, and the fruit trees only suffered to remain. The
ground is then planted with gooseberries, currants, &c., and herbaceous vegetables.” {H o r t. T ra n s .,
vol. iv. p. 152.)
4676. P r u n in g . In the filbert-orchards about Maidstone in Kent, it is a prevailing practice to train
the trees with short stems, like a goosebcrry-bush, but with the heads in the shape of a pimch-bowl, and
exceeding thin of wood, and to prune them with exact attention to the mode of bearing. Williamson
advises to plant the trees ivhere they are to rema in; to sufler them to grow without restraint for three or
four years; and then to cut them down within a few inches of the ground. They will push five or six strong
shoots, which, the second year after cutting down, are to he sliortened one third. Then place a small hoop
within the branches, and fiisten the shoots to it at equal distances. In the third year, a shoot will spring
from each bud ; these m ust be suffered to grow till the following autumn, or spring of the fourth year,
when they are to he cut off nearly close to the original stem, and the leading shoot o:' the last year
shortened two thirds. In the fifth year, several small shoots will arise from the bases of the side
branches which were cut off the preceding year ; from these the fruit is to he expected, and the future
object of the pruner must be directed to produce an annual supply of these by cutting out ail that have
borne fruit. The leading shoot is every year to be shortened two thirds or more, and the whole height
of the branches must not be suffered to exceed 6 ft. Every slioot th at is left to produce fruit should
also be tipped, which prevents the tree from being exhausted in making wood at the end of the branch.
Observe, in pruning early in spring, to have a due supply of male blossoms, and to eradicate all suckers.
Such is the Maidstone practice, which “ has been long celebrated ; ” by wliich 30 cwt. of nuts per aero,
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