THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING. The Filbert.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1422, 13 August 1881, Page 4

THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING. The Filbert.

A woll managed filbert should have a clean stem about 2ff in height, and be free from suckers. The branches should radiate from this central stem, and assume a bfiMii like form. Its maximum of height bhould not exceed 6ft. Filberts are geueially planted as rooted suckers, which arc left to grow uncontrolled for two or three years and then cut down; a vigorous sboofc results, which must be headed to the desired height, denuded of its lower bud*, and only three or four shoots encouraged to grow to form the foundation of the future head. These must be shortened again at subsequent prunings till the required number of branches is obtained, introducing a hoop into the head, and regulating the distance of the main branches by means of it. The fruit of the filbert is produced upon the upper part of the young shoots, and noon small branches which spring front tho parts at which the shoots of the preceding year were shortened. The male blossoms (catkins) are reduced separately from the female ones. In pruning care must be exercised to leave a sufficient supply of these male blossoms for the fecundation of the female ones, and therefore the trees should not be pruned till early in spring, when their development is obvious. A crop of the fruit is often lost for want of attention to this, and it has been found.' by experiment that when a tree has itself been defioieht in the supply of these, the cutting them from other tree's^ ' and suspending them over the females, has resulted in' producing a good orop. The piuner must therefore ensure an annual supply of these small productive twigs. In the third year, the last year's shoots left to form the head of the tree will make {lateral shoots which must be suffered to grow during the season, and out back to short spurs, from which the future beating wood is destined to spring. The leading shoob must also he shortened two -thirds of its length to enaure ' its breaking l regularly and keep it full of spurs. The subsequent management consists in shortening the young leading shoots and 'cutting out old and' barren wood, 6o as always to have a succession of young, healthy, and fruitful > twigs. When 'the trees) become to 1 letrjre' every, other one may be out back to within 6in of the' stem from' which they spring'; young' shoots will again put forth, which must tie treated in tho iai«e ' 'mwittet ais the y©ut»g trefc. 1 ' ''' •"/>" /> "', u V