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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/19050-8.txt b/19050-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..883bac3 --- /dev/null +++ b/19050-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5083 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Northern Nut Growers Association Report of +the Proceedings at the Eighth Annual Meeting, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the +Eighth Annual Meeting + Stamford, Connecticut, September 5 and 6, 1917 + +Author: Various + +Editor: Northern Nut Growers Association + +Release Date: August 15, 2006 [EBook #19050] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHERN NUT GROWERS *** + + + + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, E. Grimo, Janet +Blenkinship and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + ++------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +|DISCLAIMER | +| | +|The articles published in the Annual Reports of the Northern Nut Growers| +|Association are the findings and thoughts solely of the authors and are | +|not to be construed as an endorsement by the Northern Nut Growers | +|Association, its board of directors, or its members. No endorsement is | +|intended for products mentioned, nor is criticism meant for products not| +|mentioned. The laws and recommendations for pesticide application may | +|have changed since the articles were written. It is always the pesticide| +|applicator's responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current | +|label directions for the specific pesticide being used. The discussion | +|of specific nut tree cultivars and of specific techniques to grow nut | +|trees that might have been successful in one area and at a particular | +|time is not a guarantee that similar results will occur elsewhere. | ++------------------------------------------------------------------------+ + + + + + NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION + + + + REPORT + + OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE + + EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING + + + [Illustration] + + + STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT + SEPTEMBER 5 AND 6, 1917 + + + NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION + + + + REPORT + + OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE + + EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING + + STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT + SEPTEMBER 5 AND 6, 1917 + + ANNAPOLIS PUB. CO. PRINT. + + + * * * * * + + + + +OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION. + + + _President_ W. C. REED Vincennes, Indiana + _Vice-President_ W. N. HUTT Raleigh, North Carolina + _Secretary and Treasurer_ W. C. DEMING Georgetown, Connecticut + + +COMMITTEES + + + _Auditing_--C. P. CLOSE, C. A. REED + _Executive_--T. P. LITTLEPAGE, J. RUSSELL SMITH AND THE OFFICERS + _Finance_--T. P. LITTLEPAGE, WILLARD G. BIXBY, W. C. DEMING + _Hybrids_--R. T. MORRIS, C. P. CLOSE, W. C. DEMING, J. G. RUSH + _Membership_--HARRY E. WEBER, R. T. OLCOTT, F. N. FAGAN, W. O. POTTER, + W. C. DEMING, WENDELL P. WILLIAMS, J. RUSSELL SMITH + _Nomenclature_--C. A. REED, R. T. MORRIS, J. F. JONES + _Press and Publication_--RALPH T. OLCOTT, J. RUSSELL SMITH, W. C. DEMING + _Programme_--W. C. DEMING, J. RUSSELL SMITH, C. A. REED, W. N. HUTT, + R. T. MORRIS + _Promising Seedlings_--C. A. REED, J. F. JONES + + +STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS + + California T. C. Tucker 311 California St., San Francisco + + Canada G. H. Corsan 63 Avenue Road, Toronto + + Connecticut Henry Leroy Lewis Stratford + + Delaware E. R. Angst 527 Dupont Building, Wilmington + + Georgia J. B. Wight Cairo + + Illinois E. A. Riehl Alton + + Indiana M. P. Reed Vincennes + + Iowa Wendell P. Williams Danville + + Kentucky Prof. C. W. Matthews State Agricultural Station Lexington + + Maryland C. P. Close College Park + + Massachusetts James H. Bowditch 903 Tremont Building, Boston + + Michigan Dr. J. H. Kellogg Battle Creek + + Minnesota L. L. Powers 1018 Hudson Ave., St. Paul + + Missouri P. C. Stark Louisiana + + New Jersey C. S. Ridgway Lumberton + + New York M. E. Wile 37 Calumet St., Rochester + + North Carolina W. N. Hutt Raleigh + + Ohio Harry R. Weber 601 Gerke Building, Cincinnati + + Pennsylvania J. G. Rush West Willow + + Texas R. S. Trumbull M. S. R. R. Co., El Paso + + Virginia Lawrence R. Lee Leesburg + + Washington A. E. Baldwin Kettle Falls + + West Virginia B. F. Hartzell Shepherdstown + + + + +MEMBERS OF THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION + + + ALABAMA + Baker, Samuel C., Centerville + + ARKANSAS + *Drake, Prof. N. F., University of Arkansas, Fayetteville + + CALIFORNIA + Dawson, L. H., Llano + Kelley, M. C., San Dimas + Tucker, T. C., Manager California Almond Growers Exchange, 311 + California St., San Francisco + + CANADA + Corsan, G. H., University of Toronto, Athletic Association, Toronto + Sager, Dr. D. S., Brantford + + CONNECTICUT + Barnes, John R., Yalesville + Bartlett, Francis A., Stamford + Barrows, Paul M., May Apple Farm, High Ridge, Stamford + Deming, Dr. W. C., Georgetown + Deming, Mrs. W. C., Georgetown + Donning, George W., North Stamford + Filley, W. O., State Forester, Drawer 1, New Haven + Glover, James L., Shelton + Goodwin, James L., Hartford, Box 447 + Hungerford, Newman, Hartford, Box 1082 + Irwin, Mrs. Payson, 575 Main St., Stamford + Ives, Ernest M., Sterling Orchards, Meriden + Lewis, Henry Leroy, Stratford + *McGlashan, Archibald, Kent + Mikkelsen, Mrs. M. A., Georgetown + *Morris, Dr. Robert T., Cos Cob, Route 28, Box 95 + Randel, Noble P., 157 Grove St., Stamford + Sessions, Albert L., Bristol + Southworth, George E., Milford, Box 172 + Staunton, Gray, Stamford, Route 30 + Stocking, Wilber F., Stratford, Route 13 + Walworth, C. W., Belle Haven, Greenwich + White, Gerrard, North Granby + Williams, W. W., Milldale + + DELAWARE + Angst, E. R., 527 DuPont Building, Wilmington + + DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA + Close, Prof. C. P., Pomologist, Department of Agriculture, Washington + *Littlepage, T. P., Union Trust Building, Washington + Reed, C. A., Nut Culturist, Department of Agriculture, Washington + Taylor, Dr. Lewis H., The Cecil, Washington + + ENGLAND + Spence, Howard, Eskdale, Knutsford, Cheshire + + GEORGIA + Bullard, William P., Albany + Van Duzee, C. A., Judson Orchard Farm, Cairo + Wight, J. B., Cairo + + ILLINOIS + Casper, O. H., Anna + Librarian, University of Illinois, Urbana + Poll, Carl J., 1009 Maple St., Danville + Potter, Hon. W. O., Marion + Riehl, E. A., Godfrey + + INDIANA + Burton, Joe A., Mitchel + Phelps, Henry, Remington + Reed, M. P., Vincennes + Reed, W. C, Vincennes + Simpson, H. D., Vincennes + Stadermann, A. L., 120 S. Seventh St., Terre Haute + Woolbright, Clarence, Elnora, R 3, Box 76 + + IOWA + Snyder, D. C., Center Point (Linn Co. Nurseries) + Williams, Wendell P., Danville + + KANSAS + Sharpe, James, Council Grove, (Morris Co. Nurseries) + + KENTUCKY + Matthews, Prof. C. W., Horticulturist, State Agricultural Station, + Lexington + + LOUISIANA + Montgomery, Dr. Mary, Weyanoke + + MARYLAND + Darby, R. U., Suite 804, Continental Building, Baltimore + Fisher, John H. Jr., Bradshaw + Hayden, Charles S., 200 E. Lexington St., Baltimore + Hoopes, Wilmer P., Forest Hill + Keenan, Dr. John, Brentwood + Kyner, James H., Bladensburg + Littlepage, Miss Louise, Bowie + Stabler, Henry, Hancock + + MASSACHUSETTS + *Bowditch, James H., 903 Tremont Building Boston + Cleaver, C. Leroy, Hingham Center + Cole, Mrs. George B., 15 Mystic Ave., Winchester + Hoffman, Bernhard, Overbrook Orchard, Stockbridge (103 Park Ave. + N. Y. City) + Simmons, Alfred L., 72 Edison Park, Quincy + Smith, Fred A., Hathorne + + MICHIGAN + Kellogg, Dr. J. H., Battle Creek, 202 Manchester St. + Linton, W. S., President Board of Trade, Saginaw + Ritchey, Paul H., 12 South Rose Lawn Drive, Pontiac + + MISSOURI + Bauman, X. C., Sainte Genevieve + Darche, J. H., Parkville + Dod, Mrs. Nettie L., Knox City + Stark, P. C., Louisiana. + + NEBRASKA + Kurtz, John W., 5304 Bedford St., Omaha + Warta, Dr. J. J., 1223 First National Bank Building, Omaha + + NEW JERSEY + Hoecker, R. B., Tenafly, Box 703 + Jaques, Lee W., 74 Waverly St., Jersey City Heights + Marston, Edwin S., Florham Park, Box 72 + Ridgeway, C. S., Floralia, Lumberton + Roberts, Horace, Moorestown + Roffe, John C., 720 Boulevard, E. Weehawken + + NEW YORK + Abbott, Frederick B., 419 Ninth St., Brooklyn + Atwater, C. C., The Barrett Co., 17 Battery Place, New York City + Baker, Prof. J. Fred, Director of Forest Investigations, State + College of Forestry, Syracuse + Bixby, Willard G., 46th St. and 2nd Ave., Brooklyn + Brown, Ronald J., 320 Broadway, New York City + Buist, Dr. George J., 3 Hancock St., Brooklyn + Crane, Alfred J., Monroe, Box 342 + Ellwanger, Mrs. W. D., 510 East Ave., Rochester + Haywood, Albert, Flushing + Hicks, Henry, Westbury, Long Island + Hickox, Ralph, 3832 White Plains Ave. New York City + Hodgson, Casper W., World Book Co., Yonkers + Holden, E. B., Hilton + *Huntington, A. M., 15 W. 81st St., New York City + Hupfel, Adolph, 611 W. 107th St., New York City + McGlennon, James S., 406 Cutler Building, Rochester + Manley, Dr. Mark, 261 Monroe St., Brooklyn + Martin, Harold, 140 Continental Ave., Forest Hills Gardens, L. I. N. Y. + Miller, Milton R., Batavia, Box 394 + Nelson, Dr. James Robert, 23 Main St., Kingston-on-Hudson + Olcott, Ralph T., Editor American Nut Journal, Ellwanger and Barry + Building, Rochester + Palmer, A. C., New York Military Academy, Cornwall-on-Hudson. + Pannell, W. B., Pittsford + Pomeroy, A. C., Lockport + Rice, Mrs. Lillian McKee, Adelano, Pawling + Stuart, C. W., Newark + Teele, A. W., 30 Broad St., New York City + Thomson, Adelbert, East Avon + Tuckerman, Bayard, 118 E 37th St., New York City + Ulman, Dr. Ira, 213 W. 147th St., New York City + Wile, M. E., 37 Calumet St., Rochester + Williams, Dr. Charles Mallory, 48 E. 49th St., New York City + *Wissman, Mrs. F. deR., Westchester, New York City + + NORTH CAROLINA + Hadley, Z. T., Graham + Hutchings, Miss Lida G., Pine Bluff + Hutt, Prof. W. N., State Horticulturist, Raleigh + Le Fevre, Revere, Johns + Van Lindley, J., J. Van Lindley Nursery Co., Pomona + + OHIO + Burton, J. Howard, Casstown + Cruickshank, Prof. R. R., State College of Agriculture Extension + Service, Columbus + Dayton, J. H., Storrs & Harrison Co., Painesville + Dysart, J. T., Belmont, Route 3 + Ketchum, C. S., Middlefield + Thorne, Charles E., Agricultural Experiment Station, Wooster + Weber, Harry R., 601 Gerke Building, Cincinnati + Yunck, E. G., 706 Central Ave., Sandusky + + OKLAHOMA + Heffner, Chris, Collinsville, Box 255 + + PENNSYLVANIA + Corcoran, Charles A., Wind Rush Fruit Farm, New Albany + Druckemiller, W. C., Sunbury + Fagan, Prof. F. N., Department of Horticulture, State College + Heffner, H., Highland Chestnut Grove, Leeper + Hile, Anthony, Curwensville National Bank, Curwensville + Hoopes, Wilmer W., Hoopes Brothers & Thomas Co., Westchester + Hutchinson, Mahlon, Ashwood Farm, Devon + Jenkins, Charles Francis, Farm Journal, Philadelphia + *Jones, J. F., Lancaster, Box 527 + Kaufman, M. M., Clarion + Leas, F. C., Merion Station + Murphy, P. J., Vice President L. & W. R. R. Co., Scranton + O'Neill, William C., 328 Walnut St., Philadelphia + Rheam, J. F., 45 North Walnut St., Lewiston + *Rick, John, 438 Pennsylvania Square, Reading + Rife, Jacob A., Camp Hill + Rush, J. G., West Willow + Smedley, Samuel L., 902 Stephen Girard Building, Philadelphia + *Sober, Col. C. K., Lewisburg + Thomas, Joseph W., Jos. W. Thomas & Sons, King of Prussia + Weaver, William S., McCungie + *Wister, John C., Wister St. & Clarkson Ave., Germantown + Wright, R. P., 235 W. 6th St., Erie + + SOUTH CAROLINA + Shanklin, Prof. A. G., Clemson College + + TENNESSEE + Marr, Thomas S., 701 Stahlmam Building, Nashville + + TEXAS + Burkett, J. H., Nut Specialist, State Department of Agriculture, + Clyde + Trumbull, R. S., Agricultural Agent, El Paso & S. W. System, Morenci + Southern R. R. Co., El Paso + + VIRGINIA + Crockett, E. B., Monroe + Lee, Lawrence R., Leesburg + Smith, Dr. J. Russell, Roundhill + + WEST VIRGINIA + Cather, L. A., 215 Murry St., Fairmont + Hartzell, B. F., Shepherdstown + Cannaday, Dr. John Egerton, Charleston, Box 693 + + ~* Life Member.~ + + + + +CONSTITUTION + + +ARTICLE I + +_Name._ This society shall be known as the NORTHERN NUT GROWERS +ASSOCIATION. + + +ARTICLE II + +_Object._ Its object shall be the promotion of interest in nut-bearing +plants, their products and their culture. + + +ARTICLE III + +_Membership._ Membership in the society shall be open to all persons who +desire to further nut culture, without reference to place of residence +or nationality, subject to the rules and regulations of the committee on +membership. + + +ARTICLE IV + +_Officers._ There shall be a president, a vice-president and a +secretary-treasurer, who shall be elected by ballot at the annual +meeting; and an executive committee of five persons, of which the +president, two last retiring presidents, vice-president and +secretary-treasurer shall be members. There shall be a state +vice-president from each state, dependency, or country represented in +the membership of the association, who shall be appointed by the +president. + + +ARTICLE V + +_Election of Officers._ A committee of five members shall be elected at +the annual meeting for the purpose of nominating officers for the +following year. + + +ARTICLE VI + +_Meetings._ The place and time of the annual meeting shall be selected +by the membership in session or, in the event of no selection being made +at this time, the executive committee shall choose the place and time +for the holding of the annual convention. Such other meetings as may +seem desirable may be called by the president and executive committee. + + +ARTICLE VII + +_Quorum._ Ten members of the association shall constitute a quorum, but +must include a majority of the executive committee or two of the three +elected officers. + + +ARTICLE VIII + +_Amendments._ This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of +the members present at any annual meeting, notice of such amendment +having been read at the previous annual meeting, or a copy of the +proposed amendment having been mailed by any member to each member +thirty days before the date of the annual meeting. + + + + +BY-LAWS + + +ARTICLE I + +_Committees._ The association shall appoint standing committees as +follows: On membership, on finance, on programme, on press and +publication, on nomenclature, on promising seedlings, on hybrids, and an +auditing committee. The committee on membership may make recommendations +to the association as to the discipline or expulsion of any member. + + +ARTICLE II + +_Fees._ The fees shall be of two kinds, annual and life. The former +shall be two dollars, the latter twenty dollars. + + +ARTICLE III + +_Membership._ All annual memberships shall begin with the first day of +the calendar quarter following the date of joining the association. + + +ARTICLE IV + +_Amendments._ By-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members +present at any annual meeting. + + + + +Northern Nut Growers' Association + +EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING + +SEPTEMBER 5 AND 6, 1917 + +STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT. + + +The eighth annual meeting of the Northern Nut Growers' Association was +called to order at the Hotel Davenport, Stamford, Connecticut, at 9.30 +A. M., the Vice-President, Prof. W. N. Hutt, presiding in the absence of +the President, Mr. W. C. Reed. + +The meeting opened without formalities with a short business session. + +The report of the Secretary was read and adopted as follows: + + +REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-TREASURER. + + Balance on hand date of last report $ 21.45 + + Receipts: + Dues 255.00 + Advertisements 36.00 + Contributions 15.00 + Sale of reports. 26.65 + Contributions for prizes 46.75 + Miscellaneous .89 + ------- $401.74 + + Expenses: + Printing report $158.60 + Miscellaneous printing 19.00 + Postage and stationery 45.91 + Stenographer 40.30 + Prizes 57.00 + Litchfield Savings Society 65.00 + ------- $385.81 + ------- + Balance on hand $15.93 + +Total receipts were a little greater than the year before, receipts from +dues a little less. There are several new life members, ten in all now, +and the secretary has followed the course adopted some time ago of +depositing receipts from life memberships in a savings bank as a +contingent fund. + +There are 138 paid up members, compared with 154 last year. Fifty +members have not paid their dues and there seems to be no other course +but to drop them, after repeated notice, though some are old friends. + +Four members have resigned and there has been one death, that of Mrs. +Charles Miller, of Waterbury, Connecticut. + +We have added but 28 new members during the year, while we have lost 55. + +There have been 358 members since organization, of whom we still have +138, 220 having dropped out. + +Mr. T. P. Littlepage, as chairman of the Committee on Incorporation, +reported at some length on the advisability and the possibilities. + +On motion of Mr. R. T. Olcott, the question of incorporation was left in +the hands of the committee with power. + +The following Nominating Committee was elected: Col. Van Duzee, Mr. +Weber, Mr. Bixby, Mr. Smith, Mr. Ridgeway. + +The following Committee on Resolutions was appointed by the Chair: Dr. +Morris, Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Olcott. + +Moved by Mr. Littlepage: That the association request the Secretary of +Agriculture to include in his estimates of appropriations for the next +fiscal year a sum sufficient, in his judgment, to enable the department +to carry on a continuous survey of nut culture, including the +investigation and study of nut trees throughout the northern states, +such nut trees including all the native varieties of nuts, hickories, +walnuts, butternuts and any sub-divisions of those varieties, and that a +committee of three be appointed to interview the secretary personally to +have this amount included in the appropriation. + +[Motion carried.] + +Mr. Olcott recalled that last year the National Nut Growers' Association +secured an appropriation, and he suggested that this would make it +easier for the Northern Nut Growers to do so this year. + +MR. BARTLETT: It occurred to me that the boy scouts, with their +great membership and being often out in the woods, would be valuable to +the nut growers' association in hunting native nuts. I took up the +matter with Dr. Bigelow of the Agassiz Association, who is also Scout +Naturalist and I think he can tell us more about getting the boy scouts +interested. + +DR. BIGELOW: I would suggest that you enlist also the interest +of other organizations for outdoor life. If I knew a little more +definitely what is wanted it could be exploited in definite terms in +Boys' Life, the official organ of the Boy Scouts of America, which has a +mailing list of over 100,000, and which reaches ten or twenty boys each +copy. So you have nigh on to 1,000,000 members who would be reached in +this way. My predecessor, Mr. Ernest Thompson Seton, has organized the +Woodcrafters, which consists of both boys and girls. It seems to me that +their service should be enlisted. They have done remarkably good work. +And there are other organizations such as the Camp Fire Girls. I would +suggest that some of you formulate a resolution and let me have a copy +of it to publish in Boys' Life. + +DR. MORRIS: I will say one word in harmony with Dr. Bigelow and +the possibility of enlisting the interest of these organizations. One of +our members, I think Mr. Weber, has found on a tributary of the Ohio +River a thin shelled black walnut that came down with the flood. He has +found two specimens at the mouth of the stream and he knows that this +particular thin shelled black walnut grows somewhere up that stream. He +would give $50 to anybody who would find that black walnut tree. + +I will give five dollars every year to any boy scout who wins any of our +prizes. That is a permanent offer. Or I will enlarge it perhaps, after +we discuss the matter further by including the Camp Fire Girls. I will +add others to that list. I will give five dollars to any member of one +of those organizations affiliated with us who wins any nut prize in any +year, in addition to our regular prizes. Furthermore we will offer to +name any prize nut after the discoverer, so that his or her name will go +down in history, perhaps causing much fame. + +DR. BIGELOW: I have had my attention called to the fact that in +the West the beech trees are heavily laden with nuts. It suddenly dawned +on me that in all of my boyhood experience as a hunter and tramper, I +had never seen one edible beech nut in Connecticut. I know there are +many beech trees around Stamford, but I have not been able to find any +nuts. I have advertised for them but although I have received more than +a hundred packages from over the rest of the country, I have not seen +one single beech nut from Connecticut. Some of the old-timers say they +were once plentiful. I wonder whether beech nuts have disappeared from +Connecticut as have potato balls. + +DR. MORRIS: In the lime stone regions they commonly fill well. +I have a great many beech trees on my place from one year to more than +one hundred years of age, and they came from natural seeding, but the +seeds in this part of Connecticut are very small and shrivelled. They +are not valuable like the ones in western New York, for instance, and I +do not remember even as a boy to have known of eastern beech trees with +well-filled nuts. Many of these inferior nuts will sprout, however. + +MR. LITTLEPAGE: I think Dr. Bigelow has hit upon a point of a +great deal of interest. For example, on my farm in Maryland I think +there are perhaps three or four hundred beech trees of various sizes, +probably none of them under ten years of age and up to fifty, and in the +four years that I have been observing these beech trees, there has never +grown upon them a single full, fertile beech nut. I have observed very +carefully. On my farm in Indiana I have been observing the same thing +for probably ten or twelve years, and I have never seen a single filled +beech nut. There are some beech trees there two feet in diameter. + + + + +PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. + + + W. C. REED, INDIANA. + (Read by the Secretary.) + +FELLOW MEMBERS NORTHERN NUT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, LADIES AND +GENTLEMEN: + +Our association convenes today under changed conditions not only in this +country but throughout the world. Upon the United States rests the +burden of feeding the world, or at least a large portion of it. With +seven-tenths of the globe's population at war, surely this is a mammoth +undertaking. + +The government is urging the farmer to increase his acreage of all +leading grain crops, to give them better cultivation, and is +guaranteeing him a liberal price. + + +CROP VALUES. + +Crop values have increased until today there is land bringing more than +$100.00 per acre for a single wheat crop. Corn has sold above $2.00 per +bushel, beans at 20 cents per pound, and hogs at $20.00 per 100 pounds +on foot. + + +LABOR ADVANCES. + +With these high prices all along the line the price of labor has +advanced to the highest point ever known. Surely it is up to the +American farmer to husband his resources by the use of labor-saving +machinery, by using the tractor and other power machines to conserve +horse feed, by the cultivation of all waste land possible and by +practicing economy and thrift. + + +MORE INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE. + +In the more intensive agriculture that is urged upon us the Northern Nut +Growers' Association can do a splendid work by the interesting of all +land owners in the conservation of the native nut trees and the planting +of grafted nut trees in gardens, orchards and yards, to take the place +of many worthless shade trees. + + +HIGHWAY PLANTING. + +With the government and states working together in the establishment of +market highways and the building of permanent roads, now is the time to +urge the planting of trees that will last for this generation and the +ones that are to follow. In sections of the country the different kind +of nut trees suitable could be selected and, if planted and given proper +care, would be a source of large income in the years that are to come. + +Community effort is needed for such work and if the members of this +association will use their influence it will help to bring this about. +There is one county in England where all the roadsides have been planted +to Damson plums, which has not only made the landscape more beautiful +and furnished the people with much fruit, but the past season has +furnished many tons of plums that were picked half ripe for the +manufacture of dyes that had become scarce owing to the war. + +If such a movement as this had been taken in this country in the +planting of nut trees in former years our roadsides today would be more +beautiful, the country more healthy, the farmer more independent, having +these side crops that require little labor and that could be marketed at +leisure. Our soldier boys might today have sealed cartons of nut meats +included in their rations on the European battle fronts that would be +very acceptable as food and add little to their burden. + + +NUT MEATS IN PLACE OF PORK. + +If every land owner had enough nut trees to furnish his family with all +the nut meats they cared to use, and all the nut bread they would eat, +it would go a long way in solving the high cost of pork and beef. The +better grafted varieties of the black walnut are specially well adapted +for use in nut bread and can be grown in many places where pecans and +English walnuts will not succeed so well. + + +WHAT THIS ASSOCIATION HAS ACCOMPLISHED. + +In looking backward over the past eight years since this association was +organized it might be well to review some of the things accomplished. +When this organization first came into existence there was a small +demand for budded and grafted nut trees, but none were to be had in the +hardy northern varieties. Interest was created, best individual trees +have been located and new varieties introduced. Methods of propagation +have been worked out, public opinion has been moulded, government +investigation has been fostered, commercial planting of northern nut +trees made possible, and today pecans, English walnuts and best +varieties of grafted black walnuts may be had in quantity. This +association has caused thousands of nut trees to be planted that would +otherwise not have been. Some may ask the question, has it paid? +Individually I would say it has not, but collectively it has, and will +pay large dividends to future generations by making it possible for a +larger food supply at a minimum cost. + + +CARE OF TRANSPLANTED NUT TREES. + +It might be well to urge greater care in the cultivation of transplanted +nut trees. Trees should be set fall or early spring while perfectly +dormant. If bodies are wrapped the first summer and first winter it will +prevent much trouble from sun scald. If mounds of earth one foot high +are banked around trees before first cold weather it will often prevent +bark bursting which may be caused by freezing of the trees when full of +sap, caused by late growth. This mound can be removed the next spring +and in case of any winter injury you have plenty of fresh healthy wood +to produce a top. + +Cultivation should commence early in the spring and be kept up until +September first. Never allow weeds to grow or ground to become crusted. +Nut trees form new rootlets slowly the first summer and require special +care. After the second summer they will stand more neglect, but extra +cultivation will be rewarded with extra growth at all times. + + +FINANCES. + +In looking over the treasurer's report at Washington I find a balance of +$21.45, reported at last meeting under date August 14th, 1917. Treasurer +reports balance on hand of $14.13 and no obligations. I think he is to +be congratulated on being able to make ends meet and issue the reports. + +After going over the budget for the coming year I think that we may be +able to keep up this record if the membership committee will look after +new members and see that all old members renew their membership +promptly. + + +PLACE OF MEETINGS. + +Owing to present war conditions the president would recommend that +selection of the next place of meeting be left to executive committee +to be fixed later after conditions and crops for next year are better +assured. It would seem that some central location might draw the largest +attendance and be of greatest benefit to the association for the coming +year. + + +NUT EXHIBITS. + +Nut exhibits should be encouraged as much as possible and prizes offered +when finances will permit, or where members offer special premiums. This +effort will bring out varieties that are worthy of propagation and +valuable trees will be saved to posterity. These exhibits can often be +held in connection with local horticultural meetings. It is well for our +members to keep a watch for such chances. + + + + + +REASONS FOR OUR LIMITED KNOWLEDGE AS TO WHAT VARIETIES OF NUT TREES TO +PLANT. + +PROF. W. N. HUTT, NORTH CAROLINA. + + +Agriculturally this continent is about three centuries old. +Horticulturally its experience has scarcely reached the century mark. +Practically all the commercial fruit industry of the United States is +the product of the last half century. Relatively speaking we are quite +young and therefore there are a great many things about nut-growing that +we may not be expected to know. In the older lands of Europe and Asia +they have a horticultural experience going back from ten to twenty +centuries. + +In this new country the pioneers had necessarily to confine themselves +to the fundamentals and it is to be expected that their horticultural +operations were confined to a very narrow maintenance ratio. As the +country was cleared up and developed certain sections were found to be +especially suited to fruit culture. About these centers specialized +fruit-growing industries were developed. These planters tried out all +available varieties and developed their own methods of culture. As these +industries developed horticultural societies were formed for the +exchanging of ideas and experiences. In 1847 the American Pomological +Society was formed as a national clearing house of horticultural ideas. + +The first work the society undertook was to determine the varieties of +the different classes of fruits suitable for planting in different +sections of the country. Patrick Barry, of Rochester, one of the +pioneers of American horticulture was for years the chairman of the +committees on varietal adaptation and did an immense amount of work on +that line. At the meetings of the society he went alphabetically over +the variety lists of fruits and called for reports on each one from +growers all over the country. This practice was kept up for years and +the resulting data were collated and compiled in the society's reports. +In this systematic way the varietal adaptations of the different classes +of fruits were accurately worked out for all parts of the country. A +similar systematic roll call of classes and varieties of nuts grown by +the members of this association would be of immense value to intending +planters of nut trees. + +In northern nut-growing, however, it may be questioned if we are yet +arrived at the Patrick Barry stage. What we need is pioneer planters who +have the courage to plant nut trees and take a chance against failure +and not wait for others to blaze the trail. It needs men of vision and +courage to plant the unknown and look with hope and optimism to the +future. So many are deterred from planting by the fact that nut trees +are tardy in coming into bearing and uncertain of results. In these +stirring times we want men of nerve in the orchard as well as in the +trenches. We need tree planters like Prof. Corsan who, at a former +meeting of this association when joked about planting hickories, replied +that he wasn't nervous and could watch a hickory tree grow. It takes +nerve to be an innovator and to plant some radically different crop from +what your conservative neighbors all about you are planting. + +The Georgia cotton planters wagged their heads and tapped their +foreheads when Col. Stuart and Major Bacon turned good cotton land into +pecan groves. But the thousands of acres of commercial pecan orchards +now surrounding these original plantings showed that these pioneer pecan +planters were not lunatics or impractical dreamers, but courageous men +of vision, thirty years ahead of their time. + +Nut tree planting is not all waiting. It will give the busy man some +surprises as I have reason to know from my own limited experience. Ten +years ago when I planted my first experimental orchard I set about +preparing several other lines of quick maturing experimental work, for I +did not expect those trees would have any thing to report for a decade +or so. You can imagine how surprised and delighted I was when on the +third year there was a sprinkling of nuts, enough to be able to identify +the most precocious varieties. The surprise increased to wonder the next +year when there was an increased number of nuts on the trees that had +borne last year and a number of new varieties came into bearing. In the +eighth year when an 800-pound crop of nuts changed that experimental +planting into a commercial pecan orchard, I was, to use a sporting +phrase, "completely knocked out of the box." The man who thinks there +are no thrills in tree planting has something yet to learn. It is the +surest sign of a real true-blue horticulturist that he wants to set some +kind of new tree or plant. + +It is the rarest kind of a plantation that has on it no waste land. +Fence rows, ditch banks and rough or stony places are to be found on +practically every farm. Such spots too often lie waste or galled or at +best are covered with weeds, briars, bushes or useless scrubby trees. +These waste places would make a fine trial ground for testing out nut +trees. A few fine walnuts, pecans or hickories, or rows of chinquapins +and hazels would add profit as well as beauty to these waste and +unsightly places found on most farms. + +Following old conservative methods the average farmer sets about his +house and buildings unproductive oaks, elms and maples, with scarcely a +question of a thought that there are as handsome shade trees that will +produce pleasure and profit as well. On our lawns and about our door +yards we could plant to advantage the Japanese walnut and the hardier +types of pecans and Persian walnuts. It would be of interest to try a +few seedlings of these classes of nuts. If such practices were followed +in the planting of nut trees it would not be long until new and valuable +sorts would be found and a great deal of data made available to +intending nut planters. I believe that a great deal of good would result +from the preparation and dissemination of a circular encouraging farmers +in nut planting. + +This association is doing a valuable work in offering prizes to locate +high class seedling nut trees that will be worthy of propagating. Sooner +or later valuable sorts will be found in this way. In this connection it +will be wise for this association to solicit the active co-operation of +the horticultural workers in the different states. The workers of the +agricultural colleges, experiment stations and extension service do a +great deal of traveling and have special facilities for getting in touch +with promising varieties. The horticulturists of some states have made +nut surveys of their states to ascertain their resources in the way of +valuable varieties and of conditions suitable for nut culture. The +interesting bulletin, "Nut Growing in Maryland," gotten out by Prof. +Close, when he was State Horticulturist in Maryland, is a very valuable +contribution along this line. It would be well for this association to +solicit the co-operation of the trained horticulturists in the northern +states to make nut surveys and ascertain definitely the valuable +varieties already growing within their borders and what are the +possibilities for the production of these types for home purposes for +commercial growing. A few of the state experiment stations have taken up +definite experimental and demonstration nut projects and are doing +valuable work in this line. This association should memorialize the +directors of the other stations to undertake definite nut projects and +surveys and get the work under way as soon as possible. + +While endeavoring to stimulate private, state and national +investigations in nut culture, the author would be very remiss if he +failed to recognize the very valuable work already done by the zealous, +painstaking and unselfish pioneers of northern nut growing. Messrs. Bush +and Pomeroy have given to the country and especially to the north and +east, two valuable hardy Persian walnuts. Our absent president, Mr. W. +C. Reed, of Vincennes, Ind., is doing a great deal in the testing and +dissemination of hardy nut trees. Our first president, though an +exceedingly busy surgeon and investigator in medicine, finds time to +turn his scientific attention to the testing and breeding of nut trees. +Some of our brilliant legal friends, too, find time to pursue the +elusive phantom of ideal nuts for northern planting. + +We cannot go through the growing list of nut investigators nor chronicle +their achievements, but we know that when the history of American +horticulture is written up ample justice will be done to their labors +and attainments. Let each of us do our part in the building up of the +country by the planting of nut trees. Let us plant them on our farms, in +our gardens and about our buildings and lawns. Let us induce and +encourage our neighbors to plant and do all possible to make nut +planting fashionable until it becomes an established custom all over the +land. It will not then be long before valuable varieties of nut trees +will be springing up all over the country. This association will then +soon have a wealth of available data at hand to give to intending +planters in all parts of the country. + + +A MEMBER: In Europe they raise a great many nuts that they ship +to this country, chestnuts, hazels and Persian walnuts. I understand +they grow usually in odd places about the farms, but the aggregate +production amounts to a great deal. We could very well follow the lead +given by Europe in that particular, at least. + +I think we could have for dissemination circulars which would stimulate +people to plant nut trees more widely than at present. + +THE SECRETARY: This question of nut planting in waste places +always comes up at our meetings and is always encouraged by some and +frowned upon by others. I do not think we ought to recommend in an +unqualified way the planting of nut trees in waste places. I have +planted myself, lots of us have tried it, and found that most nut trees +planted in waste places are doomed to failure. I do not recall an +exception in my own experience. I understand that in Europe the road +sides and the fence rows are planted with trees and the farmers get a +part of their income in that way. But with us in Connecticut nut +planting in waste places does not seem to be a success. It is quite +different when you come to plant nut trees about the house and about the +barn. They seem to thrive where they don't get competition with native +growth and where they have the fertility which is usually to be found +about houses and barns. In fact, I have advocated the building of more +barns in order that we might have more places for nut trees. I think we +should plant nut trees around our houses and barns where we can watch +them and keep the native growth from choking them, and where we can give +them fertility and keep them free from worms. The worms this year in +Connecticut have been terribly destructive. My trees that I go to +inspect every two or three weeks, at one inspection would be leafing +out, at the next would be defoliated. If such trees are about your house +where you can see them every day or two you can catch the worm at its +work. So for experimental planting I think places about our houses and +barns can be very successfully utilized. When it comes to commercial +planting, I think we must recommend for nut trees what we do for peach +trees. We must give them the best conditions. I am hoping from year to +year that somebody will come forward to make the experiment of planting +nut trees in orchard form and give them the best conditions, as he would +if he were going to set out an apple or peach orchard. The association +has made efforts by means of circulars to interest the experiment +stations, schools of forestry and other agricultural organizations. A +number of the members of such organizations are members of the +association. The work has been taken up to some slight degree in such +places as the School of Forestry at Syracuse. I do not recall any others +at this moment, although there are some. I will read part of a letter +from Professor Record of the Yale School of Forestry: "The only reasons +I can think of why the consideration of nut trees is not given more +attention in our school are (1) it comes more under the head of +horticulture than forestry (2) lack of time in a crowded curriculum (3) +unfamiliarity with the subject on the part of the faculty." We would +like to interest these faculties in nut growing. We look upon them as +sources of education but evidently we are more advanced than they are in +the subject of nut growing and it is up to us to educate them. + +COL. VAN DUZEE: Right now when you are at the beginning of nut +growing in the North you cannot over estimate the value for the future +of records. My heart goes out to the man who comes to us as a beginner +and wants to know something definite. Our records are the only thing we +can safely give him. The behavior of individual nut trees, the +desirability of certain varieties for certain localities--those things +are of tremendous value. + +No doubt you know that in California they have come to the point in many +sections where they keep records of what each individual tree does. I +began that some years ago with the commercial planting that I have had +charge of for the last twelve years. We now have an individual tree +record of every nut produced since these trees came into bearing--about +2500 trees. I went further than that--I kept a record of the value of +the different nuts for growing nursery stock so that I might grow trees +that would be the very best produced in our section. Now the years have +gone by and I have a ledger account with every tree in that 2500 and I +know exactly what it has given me. I know how many nuts it has produced. +You would be surprised to see the wide discrepancy in those records, the +different behavior of individual trees. I wish I could talk to you +longer on that subject. It is something I am very enthusiastic about. + +By virtue of the records we have kept for years I have found a source of +supply for seed nuts and nursery stock which has proved to be a constant +performer. I bud this nursery stock from trees with individual records +that have proved themselves to be good performers, I have found that +certain varieties have proved themselves not worthy of being planted, +and certain other varieties have proven themselves at least promising. +This last year I took 100 Schley, 100 Stuart, 100 Delmas and 100 +Moneymaker trees and planted them all on the same land. Now these trees, +you understand, are grown from the stock grown from a nut that I know +the record of for years. I know its desirability. The buds are from +selected trees whose records I have. More than that, I alternated the +rows and the trees in the rows. These trees are now where they have got +to stand right up and make a record so that we will know ten years from +today what is the best variety for our section. + +I do not think I can make myself as clear as I wish I could this +morning, but here is the point. If anybody comes to me I can tell him +definitely, and I have records in my office to show, what the different +varieties are doing and what soil they are growing in. Here in the north +where the industry is in its infancy now is the time to start records. +When I saw the subject of Professor Hutt's paper, the "Reasons For Our +Limited Knowledge as to What Varieties of Nut Trees to Plant," it +occurred to me that if you don't now start right in making records, ten +years from today you will still have existing one of the principal +reasons why you don't know. + +MR. KELSEY: I started out four years ago with English walnuts. +I read the account of Pomeroy and so I got a half dozen trees from him. +They all died. I got five or six trees from Mr. Jones. I think this is +the third year and one of those has some nuts on. I have got now about +150 trees planted in regular rows where I am cultivating them. But I was +going to say that four years ago I sent to Pomeroy and asked him if he +wouldn't send me a few nuts as a sample. He sent me 16. I cracked two of +them. Fourteen of them I put in. I didn't know how to put them in so I +took a broom handle, punched a hole in the ground and stuck them in the +bottom. I never thought I would get any results from them. They came up +in July. They did not come up quick. I suppose I had them so deep. I set +them out three years ago. Some of them are as high as this room in three +years on cultivated land set out in rows. They have never borne any. No +one knows how long it takes for a seedling to bear. It may be two years, +or five years, or ten. + +DR. MORRIS: I want to bear witness on the point that Col. Van +Duzee made, the matter of keeping records. The man who keeps good +records is a public benefactor because what he learns becomes public +property upon the basis of available data. Every one of us should pay +attention to that point which Col. Van Duzee has brought out. +Unfortunately my records have been kept by my secretaries in shorthand +notes and I have had four different secretaries in ten years, and each +with different methods of shorthand. They have not had time to write up +all the notes, and so I find it difficult to present good nut records +when busily occupied with professional responsibilities, which must come +first. I had one field filled with young hybrid nut trees. A neighbor's +cow got into that field and the boy who came after the cow found her to +be refractory. The boy began to pull up stakes with tags marking the +different trees and threw them at the cow. Before he got through he had +hybridized about forty records of nut trees. + +THE CHAIRMAN: As a horticulturist along experimental lines I +find the trouble is to get people to plant trees and properly plant +them. I do not think that the average farmer knows how to plant trees. +That is why they get such poor results. They plant them where anybody +with intelligence would not plant them. We find in the South that we can +grow trees if there is protection against fire and stock. If fire is +kept out and stock is kept from grazing, nature will cover the land with +forest trees. I think that will go a long way to getting nut trees. But +a man planting something as valuable as a nut tree wants to take a +little more pains than that. I have seen Mr. Littlepage's place where he +is raising handsome trees, but he has planted crops around each tree and +there is plenty of plant food. You can grow trees almost anywhere if you +make the conditions favorable. In hedge rows and odd places, if the +forest soil is preserved, you can grow almost any kind of a nut tree. +These conditions must prevail or we must make them prevail. + +Just another point on the matter of home planting. I wouldn't be a very +good preacher if I didn't carry out my own practices. Just to show my +faith by my works I want to say that I took out every shade tree at home +and put a nut tree in its place. Down south where shade is very valuable +they said "that man is very foolish to cut down nice elms and maples +like that and put nut trees in their place." It did look so then for a +while. Now I have some handsome pecans and Persian walnuts and Japanese +walnuts, and this year I get my first dividends from a tree five years +old. Of course we have taken care to preserve their symmetry, but I +think our nut trees come pretty close to being our best shade tree. I +will challenge anybody to find a handsomer tree than a well-grown pecan. +It is a very stalwart tree with its branches of waving foliage, which is +the characteristic of an ideal shade tree, and yet, in addition to that, +it produces in the fall magnificent nuts. So the proposition of home +planting is one that pays quick dividends on attention given. I think I +have convinced my neighbors that it is a good deal better to raise +handsome nut trees than poplars. My neighbor planted Carolina poplars at +the same time. He was out there the other morning raking up the leaves +and that is all he will have to do until Christmas time. + + + + +THE DISEASES OF NUT TREES. + +S. M. MCMURREN, WASHINGTON, D. C. + + +MR. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS: It is a source of great regret with +me that I cannot report to you some new and horrible disease attacking +nut trees. This makes a more interesting talk. + +Last year in Washington I talked to you briefly about the Persian walnut +blight which we had definitely established as occurring in the East. +Last March the National Nut Growers' Association got very busy and so +amended the agricultural appropriation bill that all the funds for +national nut investigation were spent for pecan investigation, so it +left us up in the air for work in the north. We have, however, been able +to continue our observations with the Persian walnut blight and there is +only one further point to be emphasized and brought out at this time. +Those of you who have informed yourselves on this matter know that the +serious period of infection on the Pacific Coast is in the spring. It is +a blossom blight. During the past two years the period of infection in +the East has been in the late summer and it has not been serious on that +account. It is well known that in certain dry springs on the Pacific +Coast this blight does not occur and those years the growers are assured +of good crops. I think that this investigation, and the bulletin which +will soon be forthcoming, will not act as a discouragement for those who +want to plant Persian walnuts. I think it should not but should rather +encourage planting of these nuts. In spite of the presence of this +disease on the Pacific Coast the walnut industry has grown to be very +profitable, and if it proves that late infection is the rule in the East +there is every reason to believe that the disease will not be so +serious. That is practically the only walnut disease worthy of attention +at present. + +The filbert disease is a fungus disease and Dr. Morris and others are +authority for the statement that it can be readily controlled by cutting +out. + +DR. MORRIS: I will show this afternoon that it can be +controlled in a way. + +DR. MCMURREN: We in the department have not been in a position +to do any work on the hazel blight so far. The hazel blight is +interesting in that it illustrates a principle in plant diseases which +it is well to know, that most of our serious plant diseases fall in one +of two classes; either a native disease on imported plants or an +imported disease on native plants. This filbert blight is very slight +on native hazels but very serious on imported European hazels. I do not +think there is anything more on the filbert disease, but Dr. Morris will +have some interesting things to show you this afternoon. + +I want to interject a remark here about the business of planting trees +for commercial crops along the road sides. There is more to be +considered than the mere matter of planting a tree. Insect pests and +diseases have to be taken into consideration. There is nothing that an +apple orchard planter more hates to see than a tree out of the orchard. +It doesn't receive proper attention and is apt to be a source of +disease. I believe that wherever the nut industry has been established +on an orchard scale it is a matter that should receive careful thought +before trees are planted on the road side. When you have an adequate +fertilizing department and can give it careful attention the same as +trees in the orchard, all right. But they do not as a rule receive it. +Roadside planting perhaps sounds very attractive on the surface and is +probably a very good plan in some cases, but I think it is open to grave +objections where an orchard industry is in the same section. + +THE SECRETARY: I am sorry that Mr. C. A. Reed is not here to +take up the discussion of the walnut blight, because I think he takes a +little more serious view of it than Mr. McMurren. + +MR. MCMURREN: I know he does. + +THE SECRETARY: That is right that Mr. Reed does, and I am glad +he is here (Mr. Reed having just entered) to talk it over. Mr. Jones is +also here. Mr. Jones is a close observer and has followed it in the +field from the beginning. This matter of walnut bacteriosis is a very +important one. Here is the walnut industry just in its infancy. We want +to know whether this walnut bacteriosis is threatening such proposed +industry seriously or not. We know it is a very serious thing in +California. Can we safely begin planting English walnut trees or is the +question of the seriousness of bacteriosis so serious that we should not +plant extensively until we know more about it. Mr. McMurren has been +saying a few words about bacteriosis in which he has not given us an +impression of seriousness. I think Mr. Reed will give us some remarks on +that matter. + +MR. REED: I do not like to go up against Mr. McMurren. He is +the disease man. He is the last word in the government. I am only a +second fiddle when it comes to diseases but I must say that I have not a +very optimistic feeling over the blight situation. I have been depending +very largely on him to give us information. + +THE SECRETARY: Where did you find it, Mr. Reed? + +MR. REED: Speaking for the East only, for the part of the +country that we are directly interested in, I have visited a number of +the walnut sections. I think I have tried to reach all of them and in +nearly every place that I have been to in the last year or two there has +been blight. Several of the orchards that have been most widely +advertised have blight, according to Mr. McMurren's identification. I +went all the way from Georgia to Northwestern Pennsylvania and Northern +New York State last year to be present when the crops were gathered from +orchards of those sections, and in one of those orchards, one at North +East, Pennsylvania, the crop was what I would call about 65 per cent +failure due to blight. The other orchard, one near Rochester, was not +badly blighted, but there was a very light crop, not over 10 per cent of +a crop, but still there was some blight there. Now, I do not know just +what Mr. McMurren has said. I do know that he does not feel very badly +alarmed over the blight situation in the East and I would rather hear +him talk and Mr. Rush, and Mr. Jones. + +MR. BARTLETT: I would like to know what the chief +characteristics of the blight are. + +MR. MCMURREN: The ordinary late infection in the East begins +with a little spot on the husk around the 1st of July, and that merely +spreads until just about the time they fall off the tree. When the +blight infection strikes it it stains the nut badly. The point I want to +make is that you get the nuts anyhow. Mr. Littlepage, do you recall the +trees in Georgetown? The blight there is a very late infection. It is +not a thing that I can say should be discouraging. Blights are all over, +the pear blight, the apple blight, the lettuce blight. If we can make +the crop in spite of it I don't see why we should be unduly alarmed. I +think there are a good many other factors to be taken into consideration +in planting on a large scale and to make the question hinge on the +blight is not right. Spraying is of no avail. I don't think the walnut +growers should be discouraged because even in California where it is +most serious the industry is still profitable. + +MR. JONES: Some times the husk worm may spoil the husk and that +may be confused with the blight. So far Mr. Rush has had the blight ever +since I have known his trees. Last year the blight was more prevalent +than this year. This year I estimated the loss in the nuts about 10 per +cent. Last year I think it ran one-quarter. + +THE SECRETARY: Would those nuts be ruined? + +MR. JONES: Some of them would be and some of them not. + +THE SECRETARY: One-quarter would be affected by blight and some +of those would be good but not all? + +MR. JONES: I don't know what proportion. If the nut when taken +out of the husk is black, it would not be worth much. You can eat them +but they are not marketable. + + + + +NOTES ON THE NUT BEARING PINES AND ALLIED CONIFERS. + +DR. ROBERT T. MORRIS, NEW YORK + + +Among the food trees of the world of the nut bearing group the palms +with their many species of cocoanuts probably stand first, the pines +next, and the chestnuts third in order, so far as food supply for +various peoples is concerned. Then come the almonds, walnuts, hazels, +hickories and other nut bearing trees, the nuts of which have been +somewhat carelessly looked upon as luxuries rather than as an important +pantry full of good substantial calories to be turned into human +kinetics. + +The pines and allied conifers like _Araucaria_ and _Podocarpus_ will +take their respective places in furnishing food supply for us all when +the need comes. Such need is already close upon our new vista of war +supplies. The squirrels and mice this year will eat thousands of tons of +good food that our soldiers would be glad to have. The particular +advantage in planting nut bearing pines rests in the fondness of these +trees for waste places where little else will grow, and they need less +attention perhaps than any other trees of the nut bearing group. For +purposes of convenience in description I shall group all of the conifers +together under the head of pines in this paper, although in botany the +word "Pinus" is confined to generic nomenclature. + +Up to the present time we have not even developed our resources to the +point of utilizing good grounds very largely for any sort of nut tree +plantations. In accordance with the canons of human nature men work +hardest, and by preference, with crops which give them small returns for +their labor. Riches from easily raised crops go chiefly to the lazy +folks who don't like work. On the way to this meeting some of you +perhaps noticed near Rye on the west side of the railroad track, a +chicken farm on a side hill and a rich bottom land which had been +ditched and set out to about three hundred willow trees along the ditch +banks. Now if the owner of this property had set out English walnuts in +the place of the willows, each tree at the present time, at a low +estimate, might be bearing five dollars worth of nuts per year per tree, +and I am, sure that would be a much larger income than the owner gets +from his chickens--an income obtained certainly with much less trouble, +because neighbors cannot break in at night and carry off walnut trees of +such size. Two or three weeks from the present time you will observe +people everywhere in this section of the country raking up leaves from +various willows, poplars and maples, when they might quite as well be +raking up bushels of nuts of various kinds instead of just leaves. + +I presume that the extensive planting of pine trees for food purposes +will have to wait until we have advanced to the point of putting other +kinds of nut trees upon good ground first. Pines will be employed for +the more barren hillsides when the folks of three hundred years from now +begin to complain of the high cost of living. + +Among some thirty or more species of pine trees which furnish important +food supply for various peoples I exhibit nuts from only sixteen species +today, because much of the crop comes from Europe and from Asia. I could +not obtain a larger variety of specimens on account of the present +interest of people in the game which military specialists play wherever +industrious nations have saved up enough money to be turned over to +their murder experts. In the pine trees we have opportunity for +combining beauty and utility. As a group they are mountain lovers +preferring localities where the air drainage is particularly good, but +many of them will grow thriftily and will fruit well on low grounds. +Fine nuts range in character from the rich, sugary, oily and highly +nitrogenous nut of the Mexican piñon to the more starchy _bunya bunya_ +of Australia, as large as a small potato and not much better than a +potato, unless it is roasted or boiled. Yet this latter pine is valuable +for food purposes and the British Government has reserved one forest of +the species thirty miles long and twelve miles wide in which no one is +allowed to cut trees. + +The nut of the _Araucaria imbricata_ has constituted a basis for +contention among Indian tribes in Chile for centuries, and perhaps more +blood has been shed over the forests of this pine than over any other +single source of food supply in the world. We do not know if the _Pinus +imbricata_ will fruit in the climate and at the latitude of New York, +but I know that at least one tree of the species has lived for twenty +years on the Palmer estate here in Stamford. + +Some of the smaller pine nuts like those of the single-leaved pine, or +of the sugar pine, are delicious when cracked and eaten out of hand, but +the smaller pine nuts are pounded up by the Indians with a little water +and the thick, rich, creamy emulsion like hickory milk when pressed out, +is evaporated down to a point where the milk can be kept for a long time +without decomposition. In addition to the nuts of the sugar pine, the +Indians collect the sugar of dried juice which exudes at points where +cuts have been made in the tree for the purpose. Incidentally, the sugar +pine is one of our finest American trees anyway. Botanists tell us that +it grows to a height of two hundred and seventy-five feet, and +travellers say that it reaches three hundred feet. The latter people +having actually seen the trees we may know which estimate to accept. + +Aside from the beauty of most pines and the majesty of some of them, +their utility is not confined to nuts alone. Timber and sap products are +very valuable. The sugar pine in the latitude of New York is hardy, but +does not grow as rapidly as it does in the West. The same may be said of +the Jeffrey bull pine, but I shall show you some thriftier trees of this +latter species tomorrow on my property. A very pretty striped nut is +that of the _Pinus pinea_. This is the Italian pignolia, and you may buy +them in the confectionery stores in this country. They are used as a +dessert nut chiefly, but form an important food supply in some parts of +Europe. The Swiss stone pine, _Pinus cembra_, is one of the hardy nut +pines, fruitful in this vicinity, and the _Pinus Armandi_, the Korean +pine and the Lace-bark pine from central China, are hardy and fruitful +in this vicinity, to our knowledge. + +Two very handsome pine nuts are those of the Digger pine, _Pinus +Sabiniana_ and the Big-cone pine, _Pinus Coulteri_. Both trees are hardy +in this latitude, but I have not been able to locate any which are of +bearing age as yet. The nuts have a rich dark brown or nearly black and +tan shading. The nut of the Digger pine is very highly prized by the +Indians and is larger and better in quality than the nut of the Big-cone +pine which looks so much like it. + +Nuts of the Torrey pine have been somewhat difficult to secure for +planting, because they are esteemed so highly for food purposes that +they have been collected rather closely by local people in the small +area in which this species is found, on our Pacific Coast. It is +improbable that the Torrey pine will be hardy much above our most +southern states. + +We do not advertise dealers in our association as a rule, but Mr. Thomas +J. Lane, of Dresher, Pennsylvania, is not likely to make any great +fortune from his sale of pine nuts to us. Consequently, I am stating at +this point that Mr. Lane has offered to go to the trouble of securing +pine nuts from different parts of the world for our members who wish to +plant different species experimentally. I have given him a list of +species to be kept permanently on file, and the list is marked in such a +way that ones which are known to be hardy, semi-hardy, or fruitful in +the latitude of New York may be selected for experimental planting. I +hope that some of our southern planters will plant South American, +Asiatic, African and Australian species of nut pines for purposes of +observation. Mr. Lane will get the seed for them. + +I have included among the specimens here today nuts of the ginkgo +because that tree belongs among the conifers in natural order. It is an +ancient tree which should not fit into this time and generation, but it +has gone on down past the day when it belonged on earth. Its prehistoric +enemies have died out, so the ginkgo tree has come rolling along down +the centuries without enemies and at the same time with many +peculiarities. Comparatively few of the trees are females, but the tree +grows heartily in this latitude and one may graft male ginkgos in any +quantity from some one female. The nut of this tree is rather too +resinous to suit the American palate, but the Chinese and Japanese +visitors to the Capitol grounds at Washington greedily collect the nuts +from a bearing female tree growing there. + +Most of the pine nuts have a resinous flavor, but as a class they are so +rich and sweet that this is not disagreeable. The nuts of the +single-leaf pine and our common piñon, _Pinus edulis_, are delicious +when eaten out of hand and both of these trees are hardy in this +latitude, but they do not grow as rapidly here as they do upon the arid +mountains and under the conditions of their native habitat. + +In Europe and Asia pine nuts for the market are cracked by machinery or +by cheap hand labor, and I presume that we may eventually hull some of +the smaller ones as buckwheat is hulled. If the contents of the smaller +nuts are extracted by the Indian method of grinding them up with a +little water and then subjecting them to pressure, the waste residue +will probably be valuable for stock food of the future, very much as we +now use oil cake. + +When planting nuts of pine trees I would call the attention of +horticulturists to one very important point. The nuts must be planted in +ground that does not "heave" in the spring time when the frost goes +out. Many of the pine nuts send down a rather slender root at first +without many side rootlets, and when the frost opens the ground in the +spring the young trees are thrown out and lost. Here is another point of +practical importance. Do not plant pine seed where stock can get at the +young shoots in March. The little gems look so bright and green, so +fresh and attractive when the snow goes off that cows and sheep, deer, +squirrels and field mice will all try to collect them. Young pines +should be grown in half shade during their first two years. They will +require weeding and nice attention on the part of a lover who wishes to +be polite to them. + +QUESTION: Is there any difficulty in harvesting the crops, do +the cones shed? + +ANSWER: With some species the cones are shed before they are +fully opened. They are collected and stored until the nuts can be beaten +out. Other species retain the cones until the nuts have been shed. The +branches are shaken and the nuts collected from tree to tree by the +beaters and spread out upon the ground. + +Sometimes coarse sheeting or matting is carried from tree to tree by the +beaters and spread out upon the ground. + +QUESTION: At what age will they bear? + +ANSWER: Pines bear rather late as a rule. I doubt if very many +of them will bear in less than 10 years from seed. + +QUESTION: Would it be possible to produce grafted trees? + +ANSWER: Yes, without much difficulty. Undoubtedly you could get +bearing wood from old trees and graft on young trees, or graft on other +species. They may be grafted back and forth like the ornamental firs and +spruces of the nurserymen. + +QUESTION: They don't compass, do they. If you cut them off, do +shoots come out of the stumps? + +ANSWER: Not as a rule. Adventitious buds belong to few pine +trees. They graft conifers when the stocks are young. + +QUESTION: Of those that you suggest, what would be the best +here? + +ANSWER: The Korean, the Bungeana or lace-bark, the Swiss stone +pine, and the Armandi. These can be counted on to bear in the vicinity +of New York. Several other species not yet tried out may bear well here, +but I have not gone over the trees on estates very extensively as yet +with that question in mind. + +QUESTION: Are any of these specially good for the South? + +ANSWER: Yes, most of the pine nuts that I have shown here will +grow south of Maryland and seven of the best pine nuts in the world +belong to our Southwest. + +QUESTION: Is there any more trouble with the cows and squirrels +over nut pines than there is with ordinary pine trees? + +ANSWER: No, excepting that you don't miss the ordinary kinds so +much. It is largely a matter of comparative interest. + + + + +NOTES TAKEN ON AN EXCURSION TO MERRIBROOKE, THE COUNTRY PLACE OF DR. +ROBERT T. MORRIS, AT STAMFORD, CONN., SEPTEMBER 5, 1917. + +DR. MORRIS CONDUCTING THE PARTY. + + +(1) Taylor shagbark hickory tree, overhanging the entrance-gate. A tree +remarkable for annual bearing and for nuts of high quality, thin shell, +large size, and excellent cleavage. Among hundreds of hickories +examined, many of them in response to prize offers, this tree at the +entrance furnishes one of the very best nuts of the lot. + +(2) Buckley hickory (_Hicoria Buckleyi_) from Texas. Supposed not to be +hardy in this latitude. Perfectly hardy, but not growing as rapidly as +it does at home. Very large roundish thick shelled nut with a kernel of +good quality if you can get it. Kernel has a peculiar but agreeable +fragrance. + +(3) Another southern species, the North Carolina hickory (_Hicoria +Carolinae-septentrionalis_). Note the small, pointed, dark colored buds +and beautiful foliage. The tree is perfectly hardy in Connecticut. This +shagbark bears a small thin shelled nut of high-quality and it will be +particularly desirable for table purposes. The tree grows thriftly in +Connecticut. + +(4) Carolina hickory. Grafted on native shagbark. + +(5) A group of Korean nut pines (_Pinus Koraensis_). Raised from seed +and now six years of age. One of the valuable food supply pines of +northern Asia. Like most eastern Asiatic trees the species does well in +eastern North America. + +(6) A central Asian prune (_Prunus Armeniaca_). Without value for the +fleshy part of the drupe, but with a nut like that of the apricot, +highly prized for its kernel. The tree is hardy and thrifty, but rather +vulnerable to a variety of blights belonging to Prunus. + +(7) An ordinary black walnut grafted to the Lutz variety. A very large +nut with good cleavage, good color and good quality. + +(8) Alder-leaved chestnut (_Castanea alnifolia_) from central Georgia. +One of the most beautiful of the American chestnuts, with more or less +of the trailing habit, running over the ground like the juniper, and +apparently not subject to blight. In Georgia it is an evergreen, but in +Connecticut it is deciduous, although sometimes a few green leaves are +found in the early spring if they have been covered by snow or by loose +dead leaves during the winter. The nut is of high quality and fair size. +There are a number of hybrids between this and other chestnuts at +Merribrooke, but not bearing as yet. + +(9) A group of common papaws (_Asimina triloba_), two of them grafted. +The Journal of Heredity offered a prize of fifty dollars for the best +American papaw, and the prize was awarded to the Ketter variety, the +fruits of which weigh about one pound each. Seven little trees of this +species were secured and two larger papaw trees grafted from cuttings +when the seven were set out. Papaws grow well in this part of +Connecticut, and because of the high quality of the fruit should be more +largely planted. + +(10) Mills persimmon. One of a group of several varieties that are being +cultivated in this country. Hardy and thrifty in Connecticut. + +(11) A group of Jeffrey bull pines (_Pinus Jeffreyi_) from Colorado. One +of the nut pines. Supposed to do its best in the arid mountains of the +West. Perfectly hardy and thrifty with beautiful bluish-green foliage in +Connecticut. + +(12) Himalayan white pine (_Pinus excelsa_). One of the nut pines and +with remarkably handsome foliage. + +(13) A group of Chinese pistache nut trees (_Pistacia sinensis_). At +Merribrooke it has the habit of frequently growing twice in one year and +sometimes three times in one year. The shoots will grow a foot or more +and then make resting buts early in July. After about ten days of +resting the buds burst, new shoots grow again and rest for the second +time in the early part of September. If we have a warm moist fall the +buds burst for the third time and make a third growth. This third growth +winter-kills without injury to the tree, however. The significance of +the growth presumably relates to the tree being an inhabitant of an arid +country, where it has adapted itself to the rainfall of that country. I +do not know if the trunk adds a new ring of wood after each resting +period, but it likely enough does so. + +(14) Moneymaker pecan. Perfectly hardy and thrifty. It has not borne as +yet and there may be a question of the season being long enough for +ripening the nut. At the left a Stuart pecan, that comes from the very +borders of the Gulf of Mexico. Sometimes the smaller branches +winter-kill badly and at other times they do not. It is remarkable that +a tree from the shores of the Gulf of Mexico should live here at all in +the winter. + +(15) A field of six-year-old trees. Most of them the result of placing +bitternut hickory pollen on staminate butternut flowers. The trees have +not borne as yet and we can not tell if they are true hybrids or +parthenogens. Parthenogenesis occurs readily with many nut trees. Pollen +of an allied species which does not fuse with the female cell to make a +gamete may, nevertheless, excite a female cell into division and the +development of a tree. Such a tree would be expected to show intensified +characteristics belonging to the parent. This lot of trees notable for +the fact that some are very small for their age and some very large. + +(16) A group of Japanese chestnuts. They blight and die and blight and +live and are not given much attention as they are of little value +anyway. The chestnut blight (_Endothia parasitica_) attacks the Japanese +chestnut about as freely as it does the American chestnut. The trees do +not die from it quite so quickly and may bear for some years before +dying. + +(17) A group of Japanese persimmons in a protected corner of a +west-facing side hill. Most of the Japanese persimmons are not hardy in +Connecticut, but an occasional variety given a moderate degree of +protection will manage to live pretty well. They are uncertain trees, +however, as two of the trees grafted to Bennett Japaneses persimmons +from Newark, N. J., had two-year-old shoots winter-killed this year. +These were on low ground. I shall put my other Bennetts on hill sides. + +(18) American sweet chestnut grafted upon Japanese stock. Ordinarily +Asiatic and American chestnuts do not make very satisfactory exchange +stocks. In this case the American chestnut happens to be doing very +well. The variety is known as the Merribrooke. Among the many thousands +of chestnut trees here when I bought the place this one bore the best +nut of all, very large and of high quality, and beautifully striped with +alternate longitudinal stripes of dark and light chestnut color. The +parent tree was one of the very first to go down with the blight ten +years ago, and the standing dead trunk was removed at the time when I +cut out five thousand dead or dying chestnut trees. Stump sprouts of the +Merribrooke variety survived for grafting purposes, and I have now kept +the variety going by patient grafting ever since, on new stocks, hoping +to carry the variety along until this epidemic of blight runs out of its +protoplasmic energy. + +(19) Ordinary Japanese chestnut. With fairly good crop of large nuts, +but not of good quality, except for cooking purposes. + +(20) A group of hybrids resulting from placing the pollen of the Siebold +Japanese walnut upon the pistillate flowers of our butternut. The young +trees have not borne as yet. + +(21) Hybrids between the common American hazel and the European purple +hazel. There are a number of these hybrids, and none of them with nuts +better than those of either parent, consequently I give them little +attention. Some of the hybrids, not as yet bearing, may prove to be more +valuable. We have to make lots of hybrids in order to get a small +percentage of important ones. In this particular lot the hybrid has +taken on a habit of the mother parent, the common American hazel, +growing long stoloniferous roots, an undesirable feature. + +(22) The Golden Gem persimmon, laden with fruit. Grafted upon the stock +of a staminate common persimmon. + +(23) Early Golden persimmon. Bearing heavily, a variety grafted upon +common persimmon stock. + +(24) A group of Chinese chestnut trees (_Castanea mollissima_). Very +beautiful trees, worthy of a position on almost any lawn, the foliage is +bright and shining, and the thrifty growth very attractive. The species +is practically immune to blight, sometimes at a point of injury bark +blight will appear, but it spreads very slowly, is easily cut out and +does not reappear at that point. It will be a success in Connecticut. +The nut is not quite up to our native chestnut in quality, but it is +larger in size and a first rate nut on the whole. The tree comes from +the original home of the blight, and the two plants having lived +together for ages the law of survival of the fittest has given us this +chestnut tree, which can largely take the place of our lost American +chestnut. The tree does not grow to be quite so large as our chestnut, +but I am making hybrids between this species and three species of +American chestnuts, and may find some remarkable ones eventually. + +(25) Two young nut pines with lost labels. I shall probably not be able +to determine the species until they bear cones. + +(26) A number of black walnut trees grafted with several varieties of +English walnut (_Juglans regia_). There is particular advantage in +grafting English walnut upon black walnut stock for the reason that mice +are extremely destructive to English walnut roots in winter time. +Furthermore black walnuts will grow in soil that is distinctly acid in +reaction, while the English walnut demands a neutral or alkaline soil. +The nearest tree of this group had new shoots of the Rush English walnut +nearly six feet long, which blew off last week in a wind storm because +they had not been braced sufficiently. It is very important when +grafting nut trees to fasten strong bracing sticks alongside of vigorous +shoots and tying them with sisal tarred cord, which holds good for two +years. + +(27) Appomattox pecan, Busseron pecan, and Major pecan. All three trees +growing very thriftily and all set nuts this spring, but did not hold +them. This is the habit of young hickories and walnuts rather largely. +None of my pecan trees are old enough as yet to fruit well. I do not +know what varieties will find our season long enough for ripening +purposes. That particular feature of pecan raising is quite as important +as the mere question of hardiness in Connecticut. + +(28) A little old butternut tree by my garden. This has been the mother +of practically all my hybrids between butternuts and other species of +walnuts. This little old tree bears flowers every year and is very +conveniently situated for hybridizing work. + +(29) An English walnut tree near the garden gate is growing thriftily, +making sometimes four feet in a year, but as a seedling has not borne as +yet. + +(30) Pecan seedling with buds of Busseron recently inserted. They are +fastened in place with waxed muslin and then painted with ordinary white +paint. I use that a great deal in place of grafting wax, but make the +paint thick and heavy so that little free oil runs in between the +cambium layers when grafting or budding. Paint seems to be harder and +better than liquid grafting wax if it has no free oil. + +(31) A rapidly growing Chinese walnut (_Juglans sinensis_). Very much +like _Juglans regia_. The nuts have prominent sutures and the kernel is +rather more oily than that of the English walnut, but of very good +quality, nevertheless. + +(32) A number of hickory trees of different species grafted by my +favorite method, unless we call it "budding." I call it "the slice +graft," and have not known any one else to try it. A slice of bark from +one inch to four inches in length is removed from the stock and this +area is fitted with a slice of about the same length and breadth, +carrying a bud or spur cut from the guest variety. On one of these young +hickories you observe I made three slice grafts and all of them have +taken with a very thrifty growth of the Taylor variety. One point of +importance, I believe, is to have the slice from the guest variety a +trifle smaller than the slice from the host stock. The guest slice is +bound firmly to the host with waxed muslin. + +(33) Paragon chestnut heavily loaded with burs. This particular tree is +said to belong to a variety that is much advertised, but there is some +question if it is a peculiar variety of the Paragon, because Mr. Engel, +of Pennsylvania, is said to have furnished his own Paragon chestnut +scions when the other people were short of stock. If the nursery firm +that has put out this Paragon chestnut on the market with so much vigor +and at such expense had been a little more frank everybody would have +profited. They have made a point of advertising the Paragon chestnut as +blight resistant, which it is not; consequently, the country is full of +disappointed customers. The dealers should have said something more or +less as follows: "This chestnut blights freely, but it bears so well and +so abundantly and with such a good nut that people can afford to plant +it in large acreage and let it blight, carrying it along with about the +degree of attention that one would naturally give to good apple trees." +Had the dealers only said something like that, the members of our +Association who receive very many letters from all over the country +asking about this particular chestnut would have advised its purchase in +large quantities. Prospective customers are shy of nurserymen in +general. They write to members of our Association asking who is +reliable. People have learned what we stand for. + +(34) A hybrid between a pecan and a bitternut hickory. A large handsome +thin shelled nut, but bitter. The great vigor of growth of the seedlings +of this hybrid, which comes from Mr. G. M. Brown, of Van Buren, Ark., +would seem to make this hybrid variety of remarkable value as grafting +stock for other hickories. The nuts are exceptional in carrying the type +form of progeny. + +(35) Two rows of many species of nut trees planted in thick glazed +earthenware pots. The pots are about four feet in depth and with round +perforations. I had these made to order. I sunk them in the ground to +the level of the rim and then planted these trees in the pots under the +impression that they would remain dwarfed on account of the confinement +of the roots, and that I would have a conveniently placed series for +experiments in hybridization. The experiment was not a success. I knew +that growing trees would move rocks, but had no idea that roots +protruding through these holes in heavy glazed earthenware would be able +to break the pots. The roots have done just that, and whenever a tree in +a pot becomes large enough the protruding roots break the pot to +pieces, and the tree marches straight along to its original destiny. + +(36) One of a group of European chestnuts from seed brought me by Major +L. L. Seaman. The parent tree is famous in England for its enormous size +and heavy bearing; it is said to be centuries of age and is growing upon +the estate of Sir George B. Hingley, Droitwich, Worcestershire, England. +My young trees are growing very thriftily. They are showing some blight +spots, but this has been controlled by cutting out and painting. + +(37) A group of vigorous young trees, the result of placing pecan pollen +on the pistillate trees of Siebold walnut. They show the Siebold +parentage so distinctly that I imagine them to be parthenogens, but we +cannot tell to a certainty until they bear fruit. + +(38) A hillside set out with a large number of common bush chinkapins +from the East, tree chinkapins from Missouri and a number of hybrids. +The chinkapins and the alder-leaved chestnuts on this side hill have +been so blight resistant as to require almost no attention, and for that +reason I am making hybrids between the chinkapin and the alder-leaved +chestnut and the Chinese chestnut in the hope of making an excellent +combination of chinkapin quality and Chinese size. Up to the present +time none of my hybrids have been as valuable as either parent, with the +exception of two. Two of the hybrids bear nuts about the size of the +average American sweet chestnut and of first rate quality. These two +hybrid trees have shown no sign of blight as yet. + +(40) A hybrid between an American chestnut and a chinkapin. It blights +freely like its American parent. Some of the hybrids do that while +others show the resistance of the chinkapin parent. This particular tree +grows lustily, and I have taken the trouble to cut out the blight every +year. The leaves and general appearance are very closely like the common +American chestnut. When it first began to bear, the nuts were of the +chinkapin type, a single nut to the bur and hardly to be distinguished +from other chinkapins. A year or two later the nuts changed in +appearance, becoming distinctly lighter in color and with peculiar +longitudinal corrugations of the shell. A year or so later still the +tree made another change, and it now bears two or three nuts to the bur +like the American chestnut, the nuts retain their light color and +peculiar corrugation. + +(41) A group of European hazels (_Corylus avellana_). Several years ago +the Prince of Colloredo-Mannsfeld was visiting Merribrooke. His Highness +was much interested in the experimental work in nut trees and later sent +me a number of hazel nuts from one of his estates in Bohemia. Among the +hazel bushes which grew from these nuts there was one which bore large, +long, thin-shelled nuts of high quality. This bush, as you observe, has +rather small dark leaves and stout, crooked branches. At one of the +meetings of the Association I spoke of the bush as having a bony look, +and Prof. J. Russell Smith referred to it in discussion as the "Bony +Bush" hazel, and that name has been retained. I have grafted a number of +other American and European hazels from this bush and I have sent scions +to friends. + +(42) A Cook shagbark hickory from Moscow, Ky., grafted upon bitternut +stock. This variety bears a very large thin-shelled, irregular nut, with +rather poor cleavage, but the quality of the kernel is of such distinct +value that I prize the variety. + +(43) An example of the spur graft. A common T cut is made in the bark of +the stock and then a slice of guest bark carrying a small branch or spur +is inserted. In this particular case I put in a branch about ten inches +in length and you see that it is growing very well. + +(44) My beautiful Merribrooke chestnut grafted upon an ordinary American +chestnut stock growing by the roadside. Five years ago I noticed this +little chestnut tree growing by the roadside with two stems. One of the +stems was blighted and I cut it off and stopped the blight for the time +being. The following year the other stem blighted and I trimmed out the +blight and sprayed the stem with pyrox. In the following year I grafted +the stock, but blight appeared at another point, the blight was cut out, +and the stem again sprayed. In the following year blight appeared again, +but at another point, and after cutting it out I put on tanglefoot, +simply because I happened to have some with me when passing the tree. +This year the stem has blighted again and I have cut out the blight and +sprayed it, and I shall now whitewash a large part of the stock with +whitewash containing a little carbolineum. The graft now in its third +year is bearing one big bur. The interesting point is that this tree has +blighted every year for five years, and I have kept it going along by +giving it attention. This means if we are willing to take the trouble we +can get the best of the blight, even with such a remarkably vulnerable +tree as this one proves to be. + +(45) A barren hillside covered with very handsome red pines eleven years +of age, some of them grow nearly two feet per year. The soil is sandy +and gravelly glacial till which will raise little else beside feather +grass and sumac. The red pines are not nut pines, and attention is +called to them incidentally because of their value for growing upon this +sort of soil. + +(46) A Korean chestnut filled with burs. The Korean chestnut does not +blight quite so readily as the American chestnut, and certain +individuals are fairly blight resistant. I raised several hundreds of +them, but almost all of them are dead. A fairly large number are growing +well and bearing without much attention. The nut is pretty good, but +coarser than that of the American chestnut. + +(47) A group of Tamba chestnuts from Japan. This is the favorite +chestnut of the Japanese. I secured a number of the nuts, sprouted them +and planted them out here in rows, intending to transplant them to +permanent sites later. Finding that they were going to blight badly, I +have neglected them and have allowed them to stand. One little tree +among them bore a single bur at eighteen months of age and has borne +steadily ever since with a heavy crop this year. This particular tree +has not blighted, but its nut is coarse and of little value. + +(48) When collecting walnuts I obtained a lot of nuts from a +correspondent from the Mogollon Mountains in Arizona. The nut resembles +that of _Juglans rupestris_, but is larger and thicker shelled. No one +knows whether it is an undescribed species or only a distinct variety of +_Juglans rupestris_. Several of the nuts sprouted, but various accidents +happened to them and this tree now, seven years old, is the only one of +the lot living. It looks very different from any American walnut I have +ever seen. In fact, it looks so much like a stunted heart nut that I +suspected that one of these nuts might have gotten into the lot by +accident. In digging down about the stem, however, I found only the +shells of a Mogollon walnut. We can not tell what the tree will bring +forth, as it is not bearing as yet. + +(49) Two groups of chestnut trees of the McFarland variety, about +eighteen years of age. They grow and blight and bear, but have not +blighted to the point of killing altogether. They have been neglected +because the nut has not much value. + +(50) A group of Merribrooke hazels. Some years ago I devoted several +weeks to examining hundreds of hazel bushes in this part of the country, +where they are a pest, and I also visited other hazel localities at a +distance. Among all the bushes examined the best nut was found on my own +property and I learned later that this particular bush had been known +among the boys of the locality for a century. The nut is of large size +for an American hazel, thin shelled, of high quality. This group +consists of transplants of root progeny from the parent bush. + +(51) A Horn hazel (_Corylus cornuta_, commonly wrongly designated as +_Corylus rostrata_). A species fairly abundant in Connecticut, and I +transplanted these bushes because they happened to have a tremendously +long involucre. The nut of the horn hazel is not of such good quality as +that of the common American hazel, and I have not succeeded in making +hybrids between this and other hazels as yet. The hazels are very +ancient in descent and each species likes to retain particular identity. + +(52) A number of stocks of red birch, white birch and scrub oak grafted +with European hazels and chinkapins, but the grafts all died. The +grafting was done as an experiment in the hope that we might possibly +utilize our waste lands which are covered with birch and scrub oak by +grafting these trees with hazels and chinkapins. Some of the grafts +lived for such a long time and put out such long shoots that the +experiment will be tried again next year. It would not seem worth while, +excepting for the fact that it was a bad spring for grafting anyway, and +hazels did not even catch on hazels, though they caught freely last +year. The Japanese do grafting on stocks widely different from the +scions, but we have not developed that particular feature in this +country as yet. + +(53) Asiatic tree hazels (_Corylus colurna_). This species makes a tree +as large as the common oaks and bears heavily. The nut is about the size +of that of the common American hazel. The tree is very beautiful, and I +am using it for grafting stock and for hybridizing. + +(54) Sprouting cages. A double row of galvanized wire cages sunk four +inches into the ground and about four inches free above ground, filled +with sandy loam and used for sprouting any nuts which are to be employed +in experimental work. Each cage is fitted with a cover of galvanized +wire, the purpose of which is to keep out rodents which are so +destructive to planted nuts. In these cages there are now a large number +of hybrid nut trees growing, and they will be transplanted to permanent +sites or to the garden for culture next spring. + +(55) Japanese heart nut (_Juglans cordiformis_). The tree is supposed by +some botanists to be a form of the Siebold walnut, but it has quite a +different appearance. It has an open habit with large leaves and nuts +which are suggestive of the conventional heart. The quality of the nut +is very good, much like that of the Siebold, but the nut is larger and +compressed. The tree is very hardy and is almost tropical in appearance. +It has not been planted very largely in this county, but it undoubtedly +will be eventually. + +(56) Siberian walnut. The tree looks much like the Siebold walnut in +general appearance, but with smaller leaflets, and the nut is very much +like our butternut, but smaller and with much rougher shell. + +(57) Two pecan trees that I bought from a nursery about twelve years +ago. They have not borne as yet and being seedlings we cannot know if +they will be of value. I shall probably graft them next year and not +wait for them to bear their own nuts. + +(58) Two large Siebold walnuts only twelve years of age, but growing in +rich ground and sometimes making five feet of growth in a single year. +They were well filled with nuts two weeks ago, but the red squirrels +have cut down all of the nuts including numbers which I hybridized with +English walnut pollen this spring. On one of the lower branches of one +of the Siebold walnuts is a long thrifty graft of the Lutz black walnut +that I put in this spring, simply because I happened to cut off the +lower branches of the Siebold that were shading the garden, and I +happened to have some of the black walnut scions with me at the time. It +will not be allowed to remain on this tree. + +(59) A cross between our Siebold walnut and our butternut, now about +eight years old, but growing thriftily. It has not borne nuts as yet. I +have a number of these trees and they appear to be good hybrids. + +(60) A group of Kaghazi Persian walnuts. A valuable variety and one of +the so-called English walnuts, a term that we use for convenience +because the name has become established in this country by the market +men, not by the botanists. + +(61) A thrifty young Chinese seedling persimmon (_Diospyros lotus_). + +(62) Little trees of one of the nut pines (_Pinus edulis_). They are at +their best in the arid mountains of Arizona, and the species is very +important as furnishing a food supply for the Indians. The little trees +are hardy here in dry soil among the rocks, but do not grow rapidly. +Mine have been in more than six years and are not more than six inches +in height, but are very pretty. + +(63) The Chinese Tamopan persimmon. The tree is very handsome, with +large glossy leaves, but somewhat tender in Connecticut and requiring +protected exposure. The fruit of the Tamopan is as large as a very large +apple. + +(64) Several trees five years of age, the result of English walnut +pollen on Siebold walnut pistillate flowers. The trees are growing very +thriftily, but they show the Siebold characteristic without much +evidence of the English walnut parentage. + +(65) A field of Pomeroy English walnuts, notable for their beautiful +white bark. The trees have been in over eight years and set nuts for the +first time this year. As seedling trees we cannot tell what they will do +when in full bearing. + +(66) Two species of nut bearing pines from which the marking labels have +become lost, and I shall not be able to determine the species until they +bear cones. One of them is very beautiful, with long leaves and pleasing +bluish green foliage. + + + + +A VISIT TO THE ESTATE OF THE LATE LOWELL M. PALMER, NOTABLE FOR ITS +COLLECTION OF TREES AND SHRUBS, DR. MORRIS CONDUCTING. + + +Here we see the Ginkgo trees, two of them bearing. The Ginkgo belongs by +descent to the coniferous tree group. A very fine tree with nuts that +are highly prized by the Asiatics, but somewhat too resinous for the +American palate. Most of the Ginkgo trees are males, but one may graft +any number of males with bearing female scions. + +An _Araucaria imbricata_ grew for twenty years on this place, and we +have only just learned that it died last year. This pine is one of the +most important of the nut pines and furnishes a large food supply in +South America. The fact that one tree lived for twenty years in this +latitude means a great deal. + +A number of European hazel bushes are growing on the property and +bearing heavily. A large heart nut tree, but bearing small nuts, is +growing well. Several of the Himalayan nut pines (_Pinus excelsa_) +beautify the property, and one of the trees, heavily laden with cones, +is at least fifty years of age. Another one of the nut-bearing pines +(_Pinus paviflora_, from Japan) is represented by several specimens on +the Palmer property, and one little tree apparently less than ten years +of age, is heavily loaded with cones. Incidentally we may examine here a +trifoliate orange filled with fruit. It is growing in a well protected +corner of the grounds. Mr. Webber sent some valuable trifoliate hybrids +to Merribrooke. One variety lived through the winter, but made a +crippled start in the spring. Some day we may have good trifoliate +orange hybrids in Connecticut if the Buckley hickory, Stuart pecan, +Arizona walnut and imbricated pine grow here. + + * * * * * + +A dinner was held at the Hotel Davenport on the evening of the 5th, at +which about thirty-five members and guests were present. After dinner +the public was admitted and the following papers were read, Mr. +Collingwood being a guest of the Association: + +DR. KELLOGG: I feel a great interest in the work of this +Association and a great sympathy with it. I feel that you are all +working for me and I am doing what I can to promote your interests also. +That is, I am trying to create a market for your products. + + + + +ADVENT OF NUTS INTO THE NATION'S LIST OF STAPLE FOODS. + +DR. J. H. KELLOGG, MICHIGAN. + + +In these days when a condition of food shortage exists in the greater +part of the civilized world, any question which concerns a nation's food +supply is of public interest. + +Food conservation is the great question of the hour. Visions of +vanishing steaks and chops alarm the overfed and rising prices of all +foodstuffs pinch the bills of fare of the poor. + +It may easily be shown that most of all the hardships which the +civilized world is suffering as regards food supply is due to lack of +understanding and of foresight. + +The fundamental error is the popular faith in the high protein ration. +The physiologists are at least partly at fault. Liebig's dictum, which +made protein the essential food factor in supporting work, has misled +the whole civilized world for more than half a century. The dietaries of +institutions, armies, whole nations have been based upon a conception +which modern science has shown to be utterly false, and the result has +been an economic loss which staggers belief, and a destruction of human +life and efficiency which overshadows every other malign influence. + +To properly appreciate the place of nuts in the national dietary we must +have in mind a clear conception of the nature of food as revealed to us +in the light of modern laboratory studies of human nutrition and +metabolism. + +Food is to an animal what soil is to a plant. It is the soil out of +which we grew. What we eat today is walking around and talking tomorrow. +The most marvelous of miracles is the transmutation of common foodstuffs +into men and women, the transfiguration of bread, potatoes and beefsteak +into human intelligence, grace, beauty and noble action. We read in holy +writ how the wandering Israelites were abundantly fed in the Assyrian +desert with manna from the skies and marvel at the Providence which +saved a million souls from death, forgetting that every harvest is a +repetition of the same miracle, that each morsel of food we eat is a +gift of Heaven conveyed to us by a sunbeam. Food is simply sunshine +captured by the chlorophyll of plants and served up to us in tiny +bundles called molecules, which, when torn apart in our bodies by the +processes of digestion and assimilation release the captured energy +which warms us with heat brought from the sun and shines out in human +thought and action. + +It is less than a century since Liebig and Lehmann and their pupils +began to unravel the mystery of food. In recent years no subject has +received more assiduous attention from scientific men, and none has been +made the object of more constant or more profound research than the +questions of food and food supply. The feeding of animals and men is +without question the most pressing and vital of all economic problems. + +The labors of Voit and Pettenkofer, Rubner, Zuntz, Atwater, Benedict, +Chittenden, Mendel, Lusk and Hindhede have demonstrated that there is +the closest relation between food supply or food selection and human +efficiency. In fact, it has been clearly shown that the quality of the +food intake is just as directly and as closely related to the question +of human efficiency as is the quality and quantity of gasoline to the +efficiency of an automobile. + +In fact it has been established as a fundamental principle in human +physiology that food is fuel. Life is a combustion process. + +The human body is a machine which may be likened to a locomotive--it is +a self-controlling, self-supporting, self-repairing mechanism. As the +locomotive rushes along the iron road, pulling after it a thousand-ton +cargo of produce or manufactured wares or human freight sufficient to +start a town or stock a political convention its enormous expenditure of +energy is maintained by the burning of coal from the tender which is +replenished at every stopping place. The snorting-monster at the head of +the rushing procession gets hungry and has to have a lunch every few +miles along the way. After a run of a hundred miles or so the engine +leaves the train and goes into a roundhouse for repairs; an iron belt +has dropped out or a brass nut has been shaken off. Every lost or +damaged part of the metal leviathan is replaced, and then it is ready +for another century run. + +The human body is wonderfully like the locomotive. It pulls or carries +loads, it expends energy, it consumes fuel and has to stop at meal +stations to coal up; it has to go off duty periodically for repairs. The +body needs just what the locomotive needs--fuel to furnish energy and +material for repair of the machinery. + +Food differs from fuel chiefly in the one particular, that in each +little packet of food done up by Mother Nature there is placed along +with the fuel for burning a tiny bit of material to be used for repair +of the machine. In other words, food represents in its composition both +the coal and the metal repair materials of the locomotive. The starch, +sugar and fat of foods are the coal and the protein or albumin is the +metal repair stuff. Here we see at once the reason why starch and sugar +and fat are so abundant in our foodstuffs, while protein or albumin is +in quantity a minor element. + +But there are other differences between food and common fuel which are +worthy of mention. The water and the salts are essential to meet the +body's needs, especially the various mineral elements, lime, soda, +potash and iron. All these we must have--lime for the bones and nerves, +soda and potash to neutralize the harmful acid products of combustion +processes, and iron for the blood. + +All these are found in normal foodstuffs, but in greatly varying +proportions, so that a pretty large variety of foods must be eaten to +make sure that each of the different food principles required for +perfect nutrition are supplied in ample quantity. + +In recent years science has discovered another and most surprising +property of food in which it transcends all other fuel substances as a +diamond from the Transvaal outshines a lump of coal. Natural food +contains vitamines. It has long been known that an exclusive rice diet +sometimes causes beri-beri, a form of general neuritis, and that a diet +of dry cereals and preserved food in time gives rise to scurvy, but the +reason was a profound mystery. In very recent years it has been learned +that the real cause of beri-beri and scurvy is the lack of vitamines +which are associated with the bran of cereals and so are removed in the +process of polishing rice and in the bolting of wheat and other grains. + +Vitamines do not enter into the composition of the body as do other food +principles, but they are somehow necessary to activate or render active +the various subtle elements which are essential to good nutrition. + +There are several kinds of vitamines. Some are associated with the bran +of cereals, other with the juices of fruits. Some are easily destroyed +by heat, while others survive a boiling temperature. The discovery of +vitamines must stand as one of the most masterly achievements of modern +science, even outshining in brilliancy the discovery of radium. It was +only by the most persevering efforts and the application of all the +refinements of modern chemical technic that the chemist, Funk, was able +to capture and identify this most subtle but marvelously potent element +of the food. This discovery has cleared up a long category of medical +mysteries. We now know not only the cause of beri-beri and scurvy and +the simple method of cure by supplying vitamine-containing foods, but +within a very short time it has been shown that rickets and pellagra are +likewise deficiency diseases, probably due to lack of vitamines, and in +a recent discussion before the New York Academy of Medicine by Funk, +Holt, Jacobi and others, it was maintained that vast multitudes of +people are suffering from disorders of nutrition due to the same cause. + +Osborne a few years ago conducted experiments which demonstrated that +something more than pure food elements and salts is essential for growth +and development. They found that rats fed on starch and fat lived only +four to eight weeks. When protein was added they sometimes lived and +grew and sometimes remained stunted or died. It was thus evident that +proteins differ. Their observations proved very clearly that there are +perfect and imperfect proteins. The protein of corn, zein, for example, +was shown to be incapable of supporting life. With the addition of a +chemical fraction, tryptophan, obtained from another protein, the rats +lived, but did not grow. By adding another fractional protein, lysin, +the rats were made to thrive. + +A minute study of the subject by Osborne, Mendel and numerous other +physiologic chemists have shown that a perfect protein is composed of +more than a dozen different bodies called amino-acids, each of which +must be present in the right proportion to enable the body to use the +protein in body building. Each plant produces its one peculiar kind of +protein. The protein of milk, caseine, is a perfect protein. Eggs and +meat, of course, supply complete proteins, but among plants there are +many imperfect proteins. + +McCollum has demonstrated that grains, either singly or in combination +will not maintain life and growth. The same is true of a mixture of +grains with peas or navy beans. Another element is lacking which must be +supplied to support life and growth. + +With these facts before us we are prepared to inquire what place in the +dietary are nuts prepared to fill? With few exceptions nuts contain +little carbohydrate (starch or sugar). They are, however, rich in fat +and protein. On account of their high fat content they are the most +highly concentrated of all natural foods. A pound of nuts contains on an +average more than 3,000 calories or food units, double the amount +supplied by grains, four times as much as average meats and ten times as +much as average fruits or vegetables. + +For example, according to Jaffi's table, ten of our common nuts contain +on an average 20.7 per cent. of protein, 53 per cent. of fat and 18 per +cent. of carbohydrate, as shown in the following table: + + Protein Fat Carbohydrate + Almonds 21.4 54.4 13.8 + Peanuts 29.8 46.5 17.1 + Filberts 16.5 64.0 11.7 + Hickory 15.4 67.4 11.4 + Pine nut 33.9 48.2 6.5 + Walnut 18.2 60.7 13.7 + Pecan 12.0 70.7 18.5 + Butternut 27.9 61.2 5.7 + Beechnut 21.8 49.9 13.8 + Chestnut 10.7 7.8 70.1 + ------ ------ ------ + Average 20.76 53.08 18.23 + +Meat (round steaks) gives 19.8 per cent. of protein and 15.6 per cent. +of fat, with no carbohydrate. A pound of average nuts contains the +equivalent of a pound of beefsteak, and in addition, nearly half a pound +of butter and a third of a loaf of bread. A nut is, in fact, a sort of +vegetable meat. Its composition is much the same as that of fat meat, +only it is in much more concentrated form. + +There can be no doubt that the nut is a highly concentrated food. The +next question naturally is, can the body utilize the energy stored in +nuts as readily as that supplied by meat products, for example. + +The notion that nuts are difficult of digestion has really no foundation +in fact. The idea is probably the natural outgrowth of the custom of +eating nuts at the close of a meal when an abundance, more likely a +super-abundance, of highly nutritious foods has already been eaten, and +the equally injurious custom of eating nuts between meals. Neglect of +thorough mastication must also be mentioned as a possible cause of +indigestion following the use of nuts. Nuts are generally eaten dry and +have a firm hard flesh which requires thorough use of the organs of +mastication to prepare them for the action of the several digestive +juices. Experiments made in Germany showed that nuts are not digested at +all, but pass through the alimentary canal like foreign bodies unless +reduced to a smooth paste before swallowing. Particles of nuts the size +of small seeds wholly escaped digestion. + +Having been for more than fifty years actively interested in promoting +the use of nuts as a staple food, I have given considerable thought and +study to their dietetic value and have made many experiments. About +twenty-five years ago it occurred to me that one of the above objections +to the extensive dietetic use of nuts might be overcome by mechanical +preparation of the nut before serving so as to reduce it to a smooth +paste and thus insure the preparation for digestion which the average +eater is prone to neglect. My first experiments were with the peanut. +The result was a product which I called peanut butter. I was much +surprised at the readiness with which the product sprang into public +favor. Several years ago I was informed by a wholesale grocer of Chicago +that the firm's sales of peanut butter amounted on an average to a +carload a week. I think it is safe to estimate that not less than one +thousand carloads of this product are annually consumed in this country. +The increased demand for peanuts for making peanut butter led to the +development of "corners" in the peanut market, and more than doubled the +price of the shelled nuts and to a marked degree influenced the annual +production. The nut butter idea also caught on in England. + +I am citing my experience with the peanut not for the purpose of +recommending this product, for I am obliged to confess that I was soon +compelled to abandon the use of peanut butter prepared from roasted nuts +for the reason that the process of roasting renders the nut indigestible +to such a degree that it was not adapted to the use of invalids. I only +mention the circumstance as an illustration of the readiness with which +the public accepts a new dietetic idea when it happens to strike the +popular fancy. + +Ways may be found to render the use of nuts practical by adapting them +to our culinary and dietetic customs and to overcome the popular +objections to their use by a widespread and efficient campaign of +education. Other nuts, when crushed, made most delicious "butters," as +easily digestible as cream, since they did not require roasting. I later +found ways for preparing the peanut without roasting. + +The fats of nuts, their chief food principle, are the most digestible of +all forms of fat. Having a low melting point they are far more +digestible than most animal fats. Hippocrates noted that the stearin of +eels was difficult of digestion. The indigestibility of beef and mutton +fat has long been recognized. The fat of nuts much more closely +resembles human fat than do fats of the sort mentioned. The importance +of this will be appreciated when attention is called to the fact that +fats entering the body do not undergo the transformation changes which +take place in other foodstuffs; for example, protein in the process of +digestion is broken into its ultimate molecular units. Starch is +transformed into sugar which serves as fuel to the body, but fats are so +slightly modified in the process of digestion and absorption that after +reaching the blood and the tissues they are reconstructed into the +original form in which they are eaten, that is, beef fat is deposited in +the tissues as beef fat without undergoing any chemical change whatever; +mutton fat is deposited as mutton fat; lard as pig fat, etc. When the +body makes its own fat from starch or sugar, the natural source of this +tissue element, the product formed is _sui generis_ and must be better +adapted to the body uses than the animal fat which was _sui generis_ to +a pig, a sheep or a goat. It is certainly a pleasant thought that one +who rounds out his figure with the luscious fatness of nuts may +felicitate himself upon the fact that his tissues are participating in +the sweetness of the nut rather than the relic of the sty and the +shambles. + +It is also worthy of note that the fat of nuts exists in a finely +divided state, and that in the chewing of nuts a fine emulsion is +produced so that nut fats enter the stomach in a form best adapted for +prompt digestion. + +Another question which will naturally arise is this: if nuts are to be +granted the place of a staple in our list of food supplies will it be +safe to accept them as a substitute for flesh foods? + +Beef steak has become almost a fetish with many people, but the +experiments of Chittenden and others have demonstrated that the amount +of protein needed by the body daily is so small that it is scarcely +possible to arrange a bill of fare to include flesh foods without making +the protein intake excessive. This is because the ordinary foodstuffs +other than meat contain a sufficient amount of protein to meet the needs +of the body. Nuts present their protein in combination with so large a +proportion of easily digestible fat that there is comparatively little +danger of getting an excess. + +It is also worthy of note that the protein of nuts is superior in +quality to that of grains and vegetables. The critically careful +analyses made in recent years have shown that the proteins of nuts, at +least of a number of them, contain all the elements needed for building +up complete body proteins, in other words, nuts furnish perfect +proteins, which are not supplied so abundantly by any other vegetable +product. + +This fact places the nut in an exceedingly important position as a +foodstuff. In face of vanishing meat supplies it is most comforting to +know that meats of all sorts may be safely replaced by nuts not only +without loss, but with a decided gain. Nuts have several advantages over +flesh foods which are well worth considering. + +1. Nuts are free from waste products, uric acid, urea, carmine and other +tissue wastes. + +2. Nuts are aseptic, free from putrefactive bacteria and do not readily +undergo decay either in the body or outside of it. Meats, on the other +hand, are practically always in an advanced stage of putrefaction, as +found in the meat markets. Ordinarily meats contain from three million +to ten times that number of bacteria per ounce, and such meats as +hamburger steak often contain more than a billion putrefactive organisms +to the ounce. Nuts are clean and sweet. + +3. Nuts are free from trichinae, tapeworm and other parasites, as well +as the infections due to specific disease. Nuts are in good health when +gathered and remain so until eaten. The contrast between the delectable +product of the beautiful walnut, chestnut or pecan tree and the abattoir +recalls the story of the Tennessee school teacher who was told when she +made inquiry about a certain shoulder of pork which had been promised in +part payment of services, but had not arrived: "Dad didn't kill the +pig." "And why not," said the teacher. "Because," replied the observing +youngster, "he got well." Nearly all the cows slaughtered are +tuberculous. They are killed to be eaten because too sick to longer +serve as community wet nurses. + +That nuts are competent to serve as staple foods might be inferred from +a fact to which Professor Matthews, of the New York Museum of Natural +History, calls attention to, to wit, that our remote ancestors, the +first mammals, were all nut and fruit eaters. They may have gobbled an +insect now and then, but their staple food was fruits and nuts, with +tender shoots and succulent roots, which is still true of those old +fashioned forest folks, the primates of which the orang outang, the +chimpanzee and the gorilla are consistent representatives, while their +near relative, also a primate, civilized man, has departed from his +original bill of fare and has exploited the bills of fare of the whole +animal kingdom. + +The keeper of the famous big apes of the London Zoo informed me that +they were never given meat. Even the small monkeys generally regarded as +insectivorous, were confined to a rigid vegetarian fare and were +thriving. + +Whole races of men, comprising many millions, live their entire lives +without meats of any sort, and when fed a sufficient amount are +wonderfully vigorous, prolific, enduring and intelligent. Witness the +Brahmins of India, the Buddists of China and Japan and the teeming +millions of Central Africa. + +Carl Mann, the winner of the great walking match between Berlin and +Dresden, performed his great feat on a diet of nuts with lettuce and +fruits. The Finn Kilmamen, the world's greatest runner, eats no meat. +Weston, the long-distance champion, never eats meat when taking a long +walk. The Faramahara Indians, the fleetest and most enduring runners in +the world are strict vegetarians. The gorilla, the king of the Congo +forests, is a nut feeder. Milo, the mighty Greek, was a flesh +abstainer, as was also Pythagoras, the first of the Greek philosophers, +Seneca, the noble Roman Senator, and Plutarch, the famous biographer. +The writer has excluded meat from his diet for more than fifty years, +and has within the last forty years, supervised the treatment of more +than a hundred thousand sick people at the Battle Creek Sanitarium on a +meatless diet. + +Even carnivorous animals nourish on a diet of nuts with other vegetable +foods and cooked cereals. The Turks mix nuts with their pilaff of rice +and the Armenians add nuts to their baalghoor, a dish prepared from +wheat which has been cooked and dried. + +That nuts are not only competent to serve as a staple food, but that +they may fill a very important place as accessory foods in supplementing +the imperfect proteins of the grains and vegetables is shown in a very +conclusive way by an extended research by Dr. Hoobler, of Detroit. + +Before describing Dr. Hoobler's experiment I may be allowed to explain +that some years ago, in 1899, I was asked by the then United States +Secretary of Agriculture to undertake experiments for the purpose of +providing a vegetable substitute for meat. Dr. Dabney said there was no +doubt that the time would come when such substitutes would be needed on +account of the scarcity of meat. I succeeded in developing several +products which have come to be quite widely known and used more or less +extensively in this country and Europe. Among these were Protose +(resembling potted meat) and malted nuts, a soluble product somewhat +resembling malted milk. It was noted that the malted nuts when used by +nursing mothers greatly increased the flow of milk and promoted the +health of the infant. Recently Dr. Hoobler undertook an extensive +feeding experiment with nursing mothers and wet nurses as subjects. He +made use of these nut preparations as well as of ordinary nuts and +compared the results with various combinations into which meat and milk +entered in various proportions. He found that a diet of fruits, grains +and vegetables alone gave a very poor quality of milk, but when nuts +were added the result was a milk supply superior in quantity and quality +to any other combination of foodstuffs, not excepting those which +included liberal quantities of milk, meat and eggs. From this it appears +that nuts possess such superior qualities as supplementary or accessory +foods that they are able to replace not only meats, but even eggs and +milk in the dietary. The full account of Dr. Hoobler's interesting +observations will be found in the Journal of the American Medical +Association for August 11, 1917. + +Extensive feeding experiments are now being conducted at the research +laboratory of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, which it is hoped will +develop still other points of interest respecting the superior nutritive +properties of the choicest and most remarkable of all the food products +which are handed to us from the fertile laboratory of the vegetable +world. + +Another and most interesting phase of my subject is the relation of nut +feeding to anaphylaxis. This newly coined word perhaps needs explanation +for the benefit of my lay hearers. For many years it has been known that +some persons were astonishingly sensitive to certain foods which indeed +appeared to act as violent poisons. Oysters, shellfish, mutton, fish and +other animal products, as well as a few vegetable products, especially +honey, strawberries and buckwheat, were most likely to be the cause of +these violent disturbances. More recently it has been found that cow's +milk very often shows the same peculiarity. It is now known that this +remarkable phenomenon is due to the fact that the body sometimes becomes +sensitized to certain proteins which thereafter act as most violent +poisons and may cause death. Sensitization to animal proteins is much +the more frequent. In such cases nut products become a very precious +resource. This is especially true with reference to cow's milk. + +Liquid nut preparations have saved the lives of hundreds of infants +within the last twenty years. I have had the pleasure of meeting several +fine looking young people who owed their lives to nut-feeding when other +resources had failed. One case was particularly interesting. A telegram +from a well-known Senator at Washington announced the fact that his +infant daughter and only child was dying from mal-nutrition, as cow's +milk and all the known infant foods had been found to disagree. I +advised nut-feeding, and fortunately the prescription suited the case +and the little one began to improve at once. When the physician in +attendance learned that the child was eating nuts he vigorously +protested, declaring that such a diet was preposterous and would +certainly kill the infant, but the child flourished wonderfully on the +liquid nut diet, eating almost nothing else for the first three years of +her life, and today is a splendidly developed young woman, a brilliant +witness to the food value of nuts. + +I have by no means exhausted the physiologic phases of my subject, but +will now turn a moment in concluding my paper, to its economic aspects. + +The high price of nuts is constantly urged as an objection to their use +as a staple. It is probable that a largely increased demand would lead +to so great an increase in the supply that the cost of production, and +hence the cost to the consumer, would be decreased. But even at the +present prices the choicest varieties of nuts are cheaper than meats if +equivalent food values are compared. This is clearly shown by the +following table which indicates the amounts of various flesh foods which +are equivalent to one pound of walnut meats. + + Beef loin, lean 4.00 pounds + Beef ribs, lean 6.50 " + Beef neck, lean 9.50 " + Veal 5.50 " + Mutton leg, lean 4.20 " + Ham, lean 3.00 " + Fowls 4.00 " + Chicken, broilers 10.00 " + Red bass 25.00 " + Trout 4.80 " + Frogs' legs 15.00 " + Oysters 13.50 " + Lobsters 22.00 " + Eggs 5.00 " + Milk 9.50 " + Evaporated cream 4.00 " + +But the great economic importance of the encouragement of nut culture in +every civilized land is best shown by comparing the amount of food which +may be annually produced by an acre of land planted to nut trees and the +same area devoted to the production of beef. I am credibly informed that +two acres of land and two years are required to produce a steer weighing +600 pounds. The product of one acre for one year would be one-fourth as +much, or 150 pounds of steer. The same land planted to walnut trees +would produce, if I am correctly informed, an average of at least 100 +pounds per tree per annum for the first twenty years. Forty trees to the +acre would aggregate 4,000 pounds of nuts, or 1,000 pounds of walnut +meats. The highest food value which could be ascribed to the 150 pounds +of beef would be 150,000 calories or food units. The food value of the +nut meats would be 3,000,000 calories, or twenty times as much food from +the nut trees as from the fattened steer, and food of the same general +character, protein and fat, but of superior quality. + +One acre of walnut trees will produce every year food equal to: + + 14,000 lbs. red bass (a ship load). + 3,000 " beef (five steers). + 7,500 " chicken broilers. + 15,000 " lobsters. + 10,000 " oysters. + 60,000 eggs (5,000 dozen). + 4,000 qts. milk. + A ton of mutton (13 sheep). + 250,000 frogs. + + And when one acre will do so much, think of the product + of a million acres. + Ten times the product of all the fisheries of the country. + Half as much as all the poultry of the country. + One seventh as much as all the beef produced. + More than twice the value of all the sheep. + Half as much as all the pork. + And many millions of acres may be thus utilized in nut culture. + And the walnut is not the only promising food tree. The hickory, + the pecan, the butternut, the filbert and the piñon are all + capable of producing equal or greater results. + +A single acre of nut trees will produce protein enough to feed four +persons a year and fat enough for twice that number of average persons. +So 25,000,000 acres of nut trees would more than supply the whole people +of the United States with their two most expensive food stuffs. Cereals +and fresh vegetables, our cheapest foods, would be needed for the +carbohydrate portion of the dietary. Just think of it. A little nut +orchard 200 miles square supplying one-third enough food to feed one +hundred million of citizens. The trouble is the frogs and cattle are +eating up our food supplies. We feed a steer 100 pounds of food and get +back only 2.8 pounds. If we plant 10 pounds of corn we get back 500 +pounds. If we plant one walnut we get back in twenty harvests a ton of +choicest food. In nut culture there is a treasury of wealth and health +and national prosperity and safety that is at present little +appreciated. + + * * * * * + +Here is a veritable treasury of wealth, a potential food supply which +may save the world from any suggestion of hunger for centuries to come +if properly utilized. Every man who cuts down a timber tree should be +required to plant a nut tree. A nut tree has a double value. It produces +valuable timber and yields every year a rich harvest of food while it is +growing. + +Every highway should be lined with nut trees. Nut trees will grow on +land on which no other crop will grow and which is even worthless for +grazing. The piñon flourishes in the bleak and barren peaks of the +rockies. + +The nut should no longer be considered a table luxury. It should become +a staple article of food and may most profitably replace the pork and +meats of various sorts which are inferior foods and are recognized as +prolific sources of disease. + + * * * * * + +Ten nut trees planted for each inhabitant will insure the country +against any possibility of food shortage. A row of nut trees on each +side of our 5,000,000 miles of country roads will provide for a +population of 160,000,000. With a vanishing animal industry, nut culture +offers the only practical solution of the question of food supply. As +the late Prof. Virchow said, "The future is with the vegetarians." + + + + +THE IMPORTANCE OF NUT GROWING. + +H. W. COLLINGWOOD, NEW JERSEY. + + +In these days the importance of most things is valued in figures. I +never was good at figures. It seems to me that you can do anything you +like with figures, except make them clear, yet it was the failure to +figure that gave me my first idea of the importance of nut culture. Some +50 years ago a small boy on a New England farm could not, or would not, +do his sums in the old Coburn Arithmetic. It made no difference that the +teacher called it Mathematics, and pointed it with the end of a hickory +stick. By any other name it was not sweet. + +This boy got stuck on a question about a hare and a hound. It appeared +that the hare jumped a rod at a time, and made 33 jumps a minute. The +hound started 200 feet behind the hare. This hound made 18 ft. at a +jump, and made 321/2 jumps a minute. Now, would the hound catch the +hare before they got to a hickory tree half a mile away? + +I am glad they introduced that hickory tree because the question was a +hard nut at best and needed brain food. I couldn't tell where the hare +would be, and I can't now; nor do I believe that some of you wise heads, +grown hairless with constant thinking, could really tell how the hare +came out. If I saw one of my children headed for me with such a problem +in hand, I confess that I should make a prompt engagement outside. The +old folks who brought me up, had sterner ways of enforcing education. +They decided that the boy should live on brown bread and water until he +did that example. In order to assist hunger in bringing the boy to it, +after the first day showed that the boy was still going, the old +gentleman hunted up all the axes and hatchets, scythes and knives on the +place, and made the boy turn grindstone while he held the implements on. +Greek met Greek. The boy wouldn't give in, and the old man couldn't and +preserve his dignity, but try as he might the old man could not tire out +the boy; the old hands gave out first, and the old man straightened his +back and gazed at that wonderful boy. Now it wasn't in brown bread and +water to sustain strength and will in that way. Not when there are baked +beans for supper and you can smell them! The old man had to acknowledge +a higher power which beat him. He wouldn't do it openly, that was not +the New England way, but he did it on the second night by helping the +boy to baked beans and fried potatoes without a word. The old man went +to his death thinking that he had a most wonderful boy, and the little +fellow did not give his secret away. Now we may have it as a slight +contribution to the importance of nut culture. The sustaining power +which carried the boy through his trial was the hickory nut. There was a +pile of them in the attic, and the boy on the quiet, cracked and ate a +quart of them every day. That boy could not spell protein to save his +life, and carbo-hydrates would have scared him off the floor, but the +nuts and the brown bread gave him a balanced ration which did everything +except find out about the hound and the hare. I think it would have +required a balanced ration fed to an unbalanced brain to settle that +problem. + +Now I think the importance of the nut industry must come to the general +public in that way, through the stomach rather than through the mind. +The human mind is a marvelous piece of mental machinery, so is the +machine which sets type or weaves fine cloth, yet both are powerless +unless the fire pot under the engine, or the stomach of the man, are +kept filled with fuel or food. I have heard very old men tell of the +prejudice which existed against coal, years ago, in New England, when +attempts were made to introduce the new fuel. Cord wood was the local +fuel, people knew what it was, and its preparation provided a local +industry. The introduction of coal meant destruction for this local +business of wood cutting, and wiped out the value of many a farm. Coal +had to win its way against prejudice and local interest, and it only won +out by showing power. I am sure that 75 years ago, if some visionary +Yankee had said that coal would be so freely used in New England that +cord wood would be almost unsaleable, the public would surely have given +him that honorary title which goes with prospective and persistent +knowledge, "nut." + +In like manner the importance of nut growing will not be truly +recognized until we can show a man in the most practical way that nuts +provide the energy to be found in beef steak. It is said that knowledge +creates an atmosphere in which prejudice cannot live. I know an old man +who is absolutely settled in his conviction that New England has +degenerated because her people have given up eating baked beans and cod +fish balls, and introduced the sale of these delicacies in the West. +That man says, with convincing logic, that in the old days when New +England lived on brown bread and baked beans, we produced statesmen on +every rocky hillside, and we dominated the thought of the nation. Now, +he says, we have not developed one single statesman since the canned +baked bean industry took our specialty away from us. The only way to +convince him is to produce a dozen statesmen out of men who are willing +to subscribe to a diet of nuts. I have a friend who says he feels like +throwing a brick every time he passes a modern laundry. He says the +invention of the linen collar kept him a poor man. His grandfather +invested the family fortune in the stock of a paper collar factory. Many +of our older men remember the time when we all wore paper collars, and +bought them by the dozen in boxes. It seemed like a sure thing when the +old man put all his money into it. He figured that by 1915 there would +be 40,000 people in this country, each one wearing at least 200 paper +collars a year, something like the hound and the hare, perhaps, but he +didn't know that the hare in this case would drop dead, and the hound +double his jump, as happened to paper and linen collars. Some one +invented the modern linen collar. The laundry service started up, and +paper collars disappeared with the family fortune. Now, my friend must +work for a living, and throw mental bricks at the laundry. In a way +every new habit, or every new interference with the thought and method +of the plain people must run the gauntlet and submit to just such +violent changes. + +Now the future of the nut business, which contains the importance of the +industry, depends upon our ability to make the plain, common people +understand that in the future we must cut our beef steak and our chops +off a nut tree. We have made some of the brainy people understand this +already, but the hound is still chasing the hare, and he is several +jumps behind. You may say what you will, or think as highly as you like +of your own place in society, but the world is not run or pushed on by +the brainy people. They may steer it for a while and master it, but +only at the permission of what I may call the stomach people, who always +sooner or later rise up and dominate things. A gild-edged, red line +edition of nut knowledge will get the few or select class, but in order +to make the industry truly important we must make a homely appeal to the +plain people. It seems to me that one of the most effective nut +documents yet issued is that bulletin by George Carver, a colored man at +the Tuskegee Institute. Carver simply makes his appeal to the Southern +farmer, and he gives him 45 ways of cooking and eating peanuts. I rather +think that Carver's work in trying to get the Southern negroes to eat +more peanuts and more cow-peas has done about as much for the race as +the academic instruction given in the college. + +On the principle that "Like begets like," I feel sure that the continued +practice of cracking the shell to get at the sweet meat inside will tend +to put more phosphorus and less lime into the skull of the race. I once +explained the nut proposition to an energetic man and he said: +"Fine--the theory is perfect--now hire a man who lives on rare beef to +get out and fight for your proposition and you will put it over!" + +Last year I went up into New York State with a prominent public man, who +was to make a speech. This man was delayed, and in order to get there he +had to jump on the last platform of the last car. He had eaten no lunch, +and only a light breakfast. He said he should surely fail in his speech +because he was faint from lack of food. I asked him what he would eat if +he had the chance. He said soup, half a chicken, potatoes and asparagus, +and apple pie. I told the train boy to bring samples of everything he +had, and we finally selected an apple from Oregon, a banana from Mexico, +a box of figs from California, some pop corn from Massachusetts, +chocolate from Venezuela, and salted nuts from Louisiana. The air and +the sunshine and the water seemed to be produced in New York, but +nothing else. A great dinner for a New York man, but to his surprise it +satisfied him, took the place of the chicken, and carried him through +his speech with a strong punch. It seems to me that one trouble with our +nut propaganda is that we go at it in such a way that the pupils regard +us somewhat as "nuts," and why should the man who becomes a specialist +on any subject, and airs it on all occasions, be called a nut? We shall +have to admit that men are called such names. I think it is because we +let our brains work somewhat like the oyster or clam, and secrete a hard +shell of formal knowledge around the sweet meat of condensed human +nature, for that is what all useful knowledge is. We must crack our +shell of formal knowledge and grind it up finer before we can put it +into the think works of the plain people. + +While I was working up the Apple Consumers' League some years ago, I ran +upon the fact that Corbett, the prize-fighter, consumed 3 dishes of +apple sauce every day while training. Now, I had used the statement that +J. P. Morgan always had a baked apple for his lunch, but I got small +results from that story. Few people ever expected to make millions, and +Morgan was out of their class. Every man carried a punch, which he +wanted to enlarge and make effective. If Corbett used apple sauce to oil +his arm for a knock-out blow, every man with red blood wanted apples. +Now we must work our nut campaign in some such popular way, if we expect +to put a nut on the wheel of progress. The fact that Prof. Johnson, or +Dr. Jackson, or the Rev. Thompson, or Judge Dixon, or Senator Harrison, +find strength and comfort from eating nuts, is very important and very +pleasant, but 99 per cent of our people never expect to enter the +learned profession, and they must not get the idea that these +professions stand around the full use of nuts like a barbed wire fence. +Most men must live and work in the rough and tumble of life, and at +present they think red meat is the sustaining power for that sort of +stuff. We must change their point of view. Let us find athletes, +baseball men, wrestlers, fighters, runners, men who stand well in +popular sports and who will publicly state that they substitute nuts for +meat in part at least. We must put this thing into the popular +imagination of the plain people if it is to be of full importance. When +some fellow with a new brand of cigarettes wants to develop a trade +among young men, he gets some noted ball player to write a letter +stating his love for that brand. I think we should follow that plan +somewhat in putting our nut campaign before the people. Two years ago +the Oregon Agricultural College sent a football team East. The college +was almost unknown here, but I asked one or two football men about it. +They laughed at these Pacific Coast athletes. Here was a college they +said which had issued a bulletin advising the people to send their +children to school with nut sandwiches instead of meat. This man said +that such training could only result in puny, half grown men, and he +doubted if this team would last half way across the country. Those +Oregon boys lined up a team of giants. They simply wiped the earth with +most teams of their class, and left behind the cracked shells of a long +line of reputation, with the sweet meat well picked out. + +Personally I believe that within 25 years, 50 at the latest, our people +will be absolutely forced to accept a diet of nuts in place of our +present proportion of meat. As I see it, the time is coming when +increased population and shortage of available land will make prime, +beef nearly as scarce as turkey and venison are today. Not only so, but +I think knowledge will slowly but surely lead men to change their diet +from choice. My children will live to see the time when the acre nut +orchard on the average farm will be considered just as useful and as +much of a necessity, and far more profitable, than the present chicken +yard. In that day I think the nut industry will rank in food importance +second only to that of corn, and I believe that the greatest change will +be found here in New England, for I believe that nut culture is to +change history, and readjust population and industry to some extent. +Frankly, I expect my children to live to see the time when the hickory +nut in New England will rank far above the walnut industry in California +or in France. I think this nut culture will, in time, bring a greater +income to the New England States than all its fruits and grain combined +today. Out in the wild woods on some New England hillside there are +growing today strains or varieties of nuts which will do far more for +this section than the Baldwin apple, or the Bartlett pear have ever +done. They will be found, tamed and propagated. + +You may, if you like, call me a dreamer, or what is the same thing, a +"nut." I can stand that, for have I not in my short span of life seen +dreams come true. Suppose the wandering hunter, or the farmer's boy, who +discovered the Baldwin apple in the woods of Massachusetts, had gone +back to his home and stated that the time would come when this beautiful +red fruit would grow wherever it found a suitable climate, that it would +revolutionize horticulture, bring millions of dollars to New England, +and find its way throughout the world wherever the sails of commerce are +blown. They might have hung him as a witch or dreamer, and yet, his +dream would be no more improbable than what I say of nut culture in New +England. I have seen the telephone, the flying machine, the gasoline +engine, all grow from the vain dream of a crazy inventor to public +necessities, and as surely as fate the nut industry is to bring back to +the old hillsides of New England much of the profit and the glory of old +days. + + + + +THE PROPER PLACE OF NUT TREES IN THE PLANTING PROGRAM. + +BY C. A. REED, NUT CULTURIST, + +U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. + + +In the planting of trees for most purposes, it is now possible to +exercise practically the same degree of choice with regard to special +fitness as is employed in the selection of men for positions or tools +for a piece of work. The fruit grower in every part of the country has +his special species and pomological varieties from which to choose. The +foresters and landscape gardeners have their species and botanical +varieties or improved strains to pick from. + +Among the important purposes for which trees are planted the production +of native nuts is singularly behind. The leading species of native +nut-bearing trees include the hickories, the walnuts, the chestnuts, the +pines, and the beech. Of these, one of the hickories, the pecan, is the +only species which has so far been developed by cultivation as to become +of importance for the production of an orchard product. + +The timber of the pecan is less valuable than is that of most other +hickories, and is in commercial use only as second-class material. +However, it is the most important species of nut-bearing tree in the +United States. Its native and introduced range includes the fertile +lands of the plains of practically the entire southeastern quarter of +the country. It is neither an upland nor a wet land tree. In the United +States it is not found in the mountainous sections, nor, to any +important extent, south of Middle Florida. In Mexico, it is occasionally +found on mountain sides at considerable elevations and by some is +supposed to be there indigenous. However, according to "Pomological +Possibilities of Texas," written by Gilbert Onderdonk, of Nursery, +Texas, and published by the State Department of Agriculture in 1911, its +success at those altitudes is vitally dependent upon the water supply. +In each case investigated by Mr. Onderdonk, while upon official trips +made for the United States Department of Agriculture, he found the pecan +trees to be adjacent to some stream, either natural or artificial. "At +Bustamente," says Mr. Onderdonk, "one hundred and seven miles beyond +Laredo, are pecan trees two hundred years old that have been watered all +their lives and have continued productive. From these trees, grown from +Texas pecans, pecan culture has been extended until there are now +thousands of thrifty pecan trees under irrigation. One owner of a small +lot sold his water right when his trees were about seventy-five years +old, and when the writer visited his grounds fourteen years later, every +one of his trees was either dead or dying." + +We may yet find the pecan to be suitable for plateau or mountain land +growth, but as Mr. Onderdonk reports was the case in Mexico, it is also +the case here. The species must have ample water. With the proper amount +of moisture, neither too much nor yet too little, there is no way of +predicting to what altitudes or even latitudes it may be taken. Its +northernmost points of native range are near Davenport, Iowa, and Terre +Haute, Indiana. Iowa seed planted in 1887, at South Haven, Michigan, on +the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, at a latitude of about 421/2 +degrees, have never been seriously affected by winter temperatures. +However, they have fruited but little. So far as the writer can +ascertain the crops of nuts have been insignificant both as regards +quantity and character. Dr. Deming reports a large tree at Hartford, +Conn., at a latitude of nearly 42 degrees which, judging from a +photograph which he took several years ago, was then 3 feet in diameter +and quite at home, so far as growth was concerned. + +Other planted trees are fairly numerous along the Atlantic Coast between +Washington and New York. There is one in the southern part of Lancaster +County, Pa., near Colemanville, but so far as is known to the U. S. +Department of Agriculture, important crops of nuts have never been +realized from any of these northern trees. Crops from the native trees +in the bottoms north of latitude 39 degrees or approximately that of +Washington, D. C., and Vincennes, Indiana, are fairly uncertain. +Northern nurserymen are now disseminating promising varieties of pecans +from what has come to be known as the "Indiana district," which includes +the southwestern part of that state, northwestern Kentucky and +southwestern Illinois. In many respects these varieties compare very +favorably with the so-called "papershells" of the southern states. They +are believed to be of very great promise for northern planting in +sections to which they may be adapted. However, before any northern +varieties are planted for commercial (orchard) purposes, they should be +fully tested as to their adaptability in the particular section where +the planting is to take place. The commercial propagation of northern +varieties of pecans began less than ten years ago; the first attempts +were not generally successful, and as a result there are no budded or +grafted trees of northern varieties yet of bearing age. + +Aside from the pecan there are no named Pomological varieties of any +native nut now being propagated, with very few exceptions. So far as +these exceptions are concerned, it is probable that fewer than one +hundred budded or grafted trees of such varieties are yet of bearing +age, and of such as have attained the age at which fruit might be +expected, exceedingly few have borne in paying quantities for any number +of consecutive years. Therefore, with reference to the planting of +native nut species for profit, the truth of the situation is simply +this: In the ordinary course of events, with the exception of the pecan, +years of experimentation in the testing of varieties and in a study of +their cultural requirements must be gone through before any native +species of nut-bearing trees can be planted in any of the northern +states with a certainty of commercial return from nuts alone which would +be comparable with that of many other crops which already are upon a +well established commercial basis in this part of the country. + +With reference to two of the foreign species of nuts which have been +introduced, the situation is quite different. In order of commercial +importance of the nuts now grown in this country, two foreign species, +the Persian (English) walnut and the almond, stand second and third, +respectively, the pecan, which is an American species only, being first. +With these exceptions, the foreign introductions are all in the +experimental or test stage, and while possibly the European hazel +(filbert) may now be making a strong bid for commercial recognition in +the northwest, and the pistache in parts of California, neither species +can yet be recommended for commercial planting. + +With the exception of a few hardshell varieties of almonds, which are +practically as hardy as the peach and which are suitable only for home +planting, as they are in no way to be compared with the almond of +commerce, there is now no indication that this species is destined ever +to be come of commercial importance east of the Rocky Mountains. + +The Persian or so-called English walnut is of commercial importance in +this county only in the far Western States. In the South, it has thus +far failed altogether. In the North and East it has held out gleams of +hope, first bright, then dull, for more than a century. There is no way +of telling the number of trees of this species which have been planted +in the northeastern section of the country, but let us imagine it to +have been sixty thousand. Of these fully fifty per cent have succumbed +to climatic conditions; twenty-five per cent have been but semi-hardy, +and possibly twenty-five per cent have attained the bearing age. A part +of each of the last two classes have borne crops of commercial size for +a number of years. Some have produced nuts of good size and quality. A +great many of all those surviving are now proving susceptible to a +walnut blight upon which Mr. McMurran is to report tomorrow. A liberal +estimate of the present number of bearing Persian walnut trees in this +part of the country would be ten per cent of the original supposed sixty +thousand or six thousand trees. Of these, the writer has positive +knowledge of none which are now bearing crops of nuts in such quantity, +and of such size, and quality and with such regularity and which have so +borne for such length of time as to encourage commercial planting. Few +of the eastern grown nuts are so free from tannin as to be really +pleasing to the taste, or favorably comparable with the best nuts of the +market. The writer is now closely watching the best known varieties +which the nurserymen are putting out, but at the present time there is +no variety which, in his judgment, should be commercially planted +without further testing. + +The proper place for such partially improved species, as are most of the +nut producers hardy in this section at the present time, is that in +which they may be used for more than the single purpose of nut +production. Most of the species of the botanical family _Juglandaceae_, +to which the walnuts and hickories belong, are slow growers, and as +such, are objectionable to the average planter. In answer to this, it +may be said that among trees, slowness of growth is invariably +associated with longevity of tree and its value when cut as timber. +Also, when due pains are taken, it is possible to select species which +are exceedingly satisfactory in the landscape. Several of the slides, +which are to follow, illustrate the individual beauty of selected nut +trees, and some show their effective use in the landscape. + +Foresters are now advocating the planting of trees in waste places in +the country, especially about farm buildings. There are, perhaps, no +conspicuous waste places with a greater aggregate area than the strips +along the public highway. In certain foreign countries, these strips are +planted to fruit trees and the right of harvest awarded to the highest +bidder. The revenue so obtained goes a long way toward keeping the +highways in good condition. It is possible that this practice may +sometime be introduced into the United States, but until public opinion +is radically changed, the planting of fruit trees along the highways can +not be expected to yield any satisfactory returns to the public. The +experience of Dr. Morris who planted cherry trees along the public road +past his farm here in Connecticut, where we have just been, is typical +of what, under present conditions, might be expected in any part of the +country. When the cherries were ripe, automobile parties came for many +miles to pick the fruit, and when that in the highway was gone, the +cherries from the nearby orchard were taken. In both cases, the branches +were broken down and the trees left in badly mangled condition. Dr. +Morris then tried nursery-grown and expensive evergreens, but on +Sundays, automobile parties came again with spades and shovels and dug +up the trees. + +The ratio of population to tillable land in this country is not such +that, for a long time to come, the American people as a whole will be +pressed into the using of highway land for the production of crops or +into respecting the right of the public to harvest such crops as might +be grown in its highways. Therefore, for the present, except in densely +populated, or in more than ordinarily well regulated communities, it +would be useless to advocate the planting of ordinary fruit trees along +the public roadways. + +Irrespective of the possible value of their crops, fruit trees of most +species are both too small and too short-lived to be suitable for +highway planting. With nut trees, the situation is entirely different. +The native walnuts, most species of hickories and the American beech are +large-growing and long-lived trees. In addition, they are capable of +withstanding severe temperatures; they are tough and strong and not +liable to injury by storm or while being climbed by ordinary persons; +and they readily adapt themselves to a wide range of soil, moisture, and +climatic conditions. + +Ordinary species of nut trees can not be recommended for the dual +purpose of timber and nut production, as, for the former purpose, the +trees should be planted close together in order to induce length and +straightness of trunk with a minimum of top or bearing surface, while +for the latter, they should be planted in the open and given space for +the maximum development to bearing surface and a minimum length of +trunk. The great demand for hickory in the making of axles, wheels, and +other vehicle parts and handles for tools, and for walnut in the +manufacture of furniture and gun stocks, makes it not only possible but +common practice to use these woods in short lengths. Therefore, both +species planted along the highways and in other waste places might +profitably be converted into their timber upon reaching maturity, if +their crops of nuts should prove to be of small commercial value. + +The butternut, _J. cinerea_, is a less symmetrical grower than are the +black walnuts. The timber is less valuable and the nuts are cracked with +greater difficulty. Nevertheless, it is the most hardy of any native +species of _Juglans_. Its kernels are rich in quality and of a flavor +more pleasing to some persons than that of any other nut. Cracking the +native butternut and marketing the kernels affords the rural people in +many sections a fairly profitable means of employment during the winter +months. Its native range extends farther north than does that of either +the eastern black walnut, or that of the shagbark hickory, _Hicoria +ovata_, and considerably beyond that of the shellbark hickory, _H. +laciniosa_. Therefore, in view of its hardiness, and the merit of its +kernels, it is well worthy of consideration for planting in the most +northern parts of the country. + +Were it not for the blight which is now making practically a clean sweep +of destruction over the eastern states, wherever the native chestnut is +found, the American chestnut, _Castanea dentata_, would certainly be +entitled to leading consideration as a highway, an ornamental or a nut +producing tree. Unaffected by blight or other diseases, it is one of the +largest-growing and most graceful species in the eastern United States. +The European chestnut is nearly as susceptible to this blight as is the +American species. The chestnuts from eastern Asia now appear to be +sufficiently immune to offer a practical solution to the situation by +their introduction into this country. However, they commonly lack the +sweet agreeable flavor of the American species and need hybridizing in +order to improve their quality. This, the Federal Department of +Agriculture is now doing, and in due time, there may be something to +offer in ample quantity which will make a satisfactory substitute for +the native species. Exclusive of the Asiatic species and the government +hybrids, there are now no available species which can be recommended for +planting in the blight affected area, and these should be planted only +for test purposes. + +The pines referred to at the outset of this article as being important +nut producers are all western species found only on the mountains and +nowhere under cultivation. There are at least fourteen American species. +Representatives are found in most of the Rocky Mountain states. The most +important species is _Pinus edulis_. It is found at altitudes of from +five to seven thousand feet in the mountains of New Mexico, Arizona and +northern Mexico. In favorable years, the seeds are gathered in enormous +quantities under the name of "piñons," or according to the Mexicans, +"pinyonies." The nuts are rich in flavor but small and difficult to +extract from the shells. They are not well known in the eastern market, +but in the southwest they form a highly important article of food for +the Indians and Mexicans. These pines are exceedingly slow growers and +not of graceful form. They could scarcely be considered for ornamental +planting, except at the altitudes to which they are common, and then; +probably, only where some more satisfactory shade trees would not +succeed. + +Among all American species of trees, it is probable that in a +combination of beauty, longevity, strength and hardiness, the American +beech, _Fagus grandifolia_, is unexcelled. Although commonly looked upon +as being a northern species, its range extends south to northern Florida +and west to the Trinity River in Texas. It is most familiar as a +clean-barked, spreading tree, with low head, and a height of from fifty +to sixty feet. However, its form depends largely upon environment. The +writer has seen it in the bottoms of southwestern Georgia, in common +with the magnolia, growing to a height of from seventy-five to one +hundred feet and with trunks of two feet in diameter extending upward in +a manner which, with regard to height and uniformity of size, compared +favorably with the long-leafed Georgia pine. The nuts of the beech are +rich in quality and of excellent flavor, but owing to their small size +and the great difficulty attending the extraction of the kernels, they +are not ranked as being of direct importance for human food. Their +principal use in this country is as a mast crop for turkeys and swine, +for which they serve a most useful purpose. Crops which can be used in +this manner to good advantage, thus practically obviating the problems +of harvesting, storing and marketing, are certainly well worth thinking +about in these days of labor scarcity. + +There are few large sections of the United States adapted to the growing +of trees to which some nut-bearing species is not suited. Most species +of nut trees are as capable of producing shade and ornamental effect, +and are as hardy and lasting as any others which might be mentioned. In +addition, they produce an edible product which is entering into the list +of staple food products with great rapidity. The present scarcity of +meats and the consequent high prices are compelling the substitution of +other products. The superiority of nuts over practically all other +products which are available, as substitutes, scarcely needs argument. +Already, nuts are being pressed into service as rapidly as production +permits, and perhaps more so than prices and comparative food values +justify. Singularly enough, this section of the United States, which is +the oldest and most thickly populated portion of the country, and that +within which the greatest number of edible species of nuts are +indigenous, is today practically without pomological varieties for +planting. Within this area, individuals have made tests of species and +varieties for many generations, yet little progress has resulted. The +obvious need is for further test on a large scale. A better opportunity +for the making of such a test could scarcely be imagined than that of +highway planting. + +Pomologists are firmly recommending the exclusive use of budded or +grafted trees. But this advice applies only to orchard planting for the +purpose of commercial production. Until more and better varieties are +known and their merits established, that portion of the country lying +north of the pecan belt and east of the Rocky Mountains, must await the +development and trial of new varieties. Seedlings must be planted in +large numbers from which to select varieties. The process is too slow +and the percentage of varieties which may be expected to be worth while +too small for it to be possible for the individual to make much headway +during an ordinary lifetime. Our present system of national highways by +which all parts of the country are being connected is perfecting the +opportunity. The general planting along these great national highways of +elm, oak, poplar, tulip, cedar, hemlock, magnolia, pine or any other +species which, unless cut, are capable of producing no crop other than +that of shade, would hardly be in keeping with the present need for +utility. It would be giving a questionable degree of thought to the +welfare of future generations. + +To the list of nut trees as utility trees there might be added the sugar +maple, and certain species of prolific-bearing oaks. The former could be +drawn upon for the making of syrup and sugar, and the acorns from the +latter could be put to good use as hog and turkey food. In wet sections, +willows might prove useful from which to cut material for baskets, +furniture, or tying bundles. + +A way of overcoming the objection of slow growth of some of the nut +species might be the alternate planting of quick-growing species which +would furnish shade in a minimum length of time, and which could be cut +for pulp or other purposes by the time the nut trees reach maturity. + +A practical objection to highway planting of nut trees is that unless +cared for, such trees are in danger of becoming breeding places for +diseases and insect pests which would quickly spread to nearby orchards. +However, such planting in numbers too small to be worth caring for is +not to be considered. Already the country is agreed that the maintaining +of the middle of the road in such condition that it can render maximum +service is a paying investment. The suggestion here made is only as the +next step in highway investment. It is a proposition to make more +comfortable and attractive the present system of roadways, and at the +same time to help develop new varieties of nut trees for orchard +planting. Unless such new varieties are soon to become available, a +large part of the country will presently find itself dependent upon +outside sources for its principal substitute for meat and its main +supply of vegetable fats. + +A little thought should be able to work out a sound program for the +planting of utility trees on practically every highway in this country. + +Since this manuscript was completed, attention has been called to a +reference to a war use of the horse chestnut, which appears on page 18 +of the July number of "My Garden," a monthly publication, with +headquarters at 6 Bouverie Street, Fleet Street, London. As the heading +"NEW USE FOR HORSE CHESTNUTS," and its sub-head "Cereal Saving," both +indicate it may be of interest to the American people, although the +production of horse chestnuts in this country is not large. The article +which is credited to The Times, is as follows: "An important war time +use has been found for horse chestnuts by the systematic collection and +transport of all the nuts that can be obtained to the centre where they +can be utilized. Up to the present time cereals have been necessary for +the production of an article of great importance in the prosecution of +the war. Under the direction of the Food (War) Committee of the Royal +Society, which acts for and in consultation with the Royal Commission on +Wheat Supplies, the Minister of Food, and the Minister of Munitions, +experiments have been carried out during the winter to find a substitute +for these cereals, and thus to set them free for food supplies. +Brilliant work has ended in the difficulties being overcome, and the +proof that the seeds of the horse chestnuts answer the purpose +admirably. Except as food for deer and goats the seeds have, in the +past, been practically a waste crop, and they can be used instead of +cereals, essential for human consumption, without interfering with any +existing industry or interest. + +"The organization for the collection and transport of all that can be +obtained is being rapidly perfected. When the time comes it will be the +privilege and duty of every owner of a tree or trees to help and to give +facilities for the collection of the nuts. Every ton of chestnuts +collected will set free an equivalent amount of grain. The tree being +chiefly grown for ornamental purposes occurs most freely in towns and +private gardens. In some towns it is the practice to remove the young +nuts from the trees in July so as to prevent them from being stoned and +broken by boys later on when the "conker" demand begins. Urban +authorities and park-keepers must discontinue the practice this year. +Chestnut Day, early in next autumn, will have a far wider observance and +significance this year than any Chestnut Sunday at Bushey, or than Arbor +Day over here, or even in America. For once the small boy will collect +the nuts with the full approval of the owner. + +"To prevent any misapprehension it should perhaps be made clear that the +horse chestnuts will not themselves be used as food. They are required +for another purpose altogether, and the only way in which they will help +the food supplies of the country is by setting free cereals which have +now to be consumed in the production of a necessary article." + + * * * * * + +THURSDAY, SEPT. 6, 1917. + +Meeting called to order at 9.30 A. M. + +The Nominating Committee reported the renomination of all the officers. +The Secretary was instructed to cast one vote for these candidates. + +[Carried.] + +Moved and carried that the selection of the time and place for next +meeting to be left to the Executive Committee with especial +consideration of a joint meeting with the National Association at +Albany, Georgia. + + + + +SOME INSECTS INJURING-NUT TREES. + +BY W. E. BRITTON, STATE ENTOMOLOGIST, CONNECTICUT. + + +Nut-bearing trees, like other kinds of trees, are attacked by insect +pests. Some kinds are seriously injured by them; others scarcely at all. +Some of these insects are borers in the trunk and branches; some devour +the leaves; some feed inside the nuts and ruin them; some suck the sap +from the stems and leaves. + +I shall make no attempt in this paper to enumerate these pests. Time +forbids. I shall only mention a few of the most obvious and most +serious, and where possible, point out control measures. + + +THE WALNUT CATERPILLAR. + +_Datana integerrima_ G. & R. + +During the month of August clusters of blackish caterpillars bearing +white hairs, may be seen stripping the terminal branches of black +walnut, butternut and hickory trees. This is called the walnut +caterpillar, and it has been very abundant in Connecticut this season. +Many small trees have been entirely stripped and large ones almost +defoliated. There is only one brood each year in Connecticut, though two +occur in the southern states, and the pupae winter in the ground. The +adult is a reddish brown moth, having a wing-spread of about one and +one-half inches. Clipping off the twigs and crushing the mass of +caterpillars is perhaps the simplest control method on small trees. +Spraying with lead arsenate will prevent defoliation. + + +THE FALL WEB-WORM. + +_Hyphantria cunea_ Drury. + +Though a general feeder attacking all kinds of fruit, shade and forest +trees, the fall web-worm commonly feeds upon the foliage of nut trees, +especially hickories, causing considerable damage in the South. The +adult is a white moth, having a wing-spread of an inch or more, +appearing in midsummer and laying its egg-cluster on the under side of a +leaf. The young caterpillars make a nest at the end of a lateral branch +by drawing the leaves together with their webs. These nests usually +appear in July and August, though in Connecticut there is a partial +second brood and usually a few nests of the early brood may be found in +June. In the South there are two complete generations. When the larvae +have exhausted their food supply, they extend their nest by taking in +fresh leaves, but always feed inside the nest, differing in this respect +from the tent caterpillar which makes its nests here in May. When fully +grown the caterpillars are about one and one-fourth inches long, with +brown bodies covered with light brown hairs, and may be seen crawling +about seeking a place to pupate. They soon go into the ground where they +transform, the adults emerging the following year. + +The best remedies are (1) clipping off and burning the nests when small, +and (2) spraying the foliage with arsenical poison. + + +THE WALNUT BUD MOTH. + +_Acrobasis caryae_ Grote? + +Inconspicuous nests containing small caterpillars are often found at the +ends of the new shoots of _Juglans regia_, seriously injuring them, and +sometimes killing the trees. One small tree two feet high was killed, +and thirty-five pupae were found in the nests at Dr. Morris' farm in +1912. The adult is a small gray moth with a wing expanse of about +three-fourths of an inch. There are three broods each season in +Connecticut, the larvae appearing about June 1, July 10 and August 18. + +By spraying the foliage with lead arsenate (3 lbs. in 50 gals. water) +this insect can be controlled. One application should be made about June +1, followed by a second about July 10. + +Though this insect is thought to be _Acrobasis caryae_ Grote, it is +often difficult to distinguish some of these species in this genus +without a knowledge of their food habits and seasonal life histories. We +possess such knowledge regarding this species which we have studied and +reared in Connecticut, but it is lacking in connection with adult +specimens in the United States National Museum labeled _caryae,_ which +superficially seemed identical with ours. Further study, therefore, may +prove this to be an undescribed species. There are other bud-worms +attacking nut trees, especially in the southern states, where they cause +considerable damage to pecans. + + +THE WALNUT WEEVIL OR CURCULIO. + +_Conotrachelus juglandis_ LeC. + +Probably the most serious enemy of _Juglans_, in Connecticut at least, +is the walnut weevil or curculio, _Conotrachelus juglandis_ LeC. The +larvae tunnel in the tender shoots, often ruining the new growth, and +they also infest the nuts. The adults feed upon the shoots and leaf +petioles. Observations on the different hosts indicate that _Juglans +cordiformis_ and _J. sieboldiana_ are preferred, and the most severely +injured, followed in order by _cinerea_, _regia_, _nigra_ and +_mandshurica_. + +Though described as early as 1876, little was known about the life +history of this insect until the studies were made at the Station in +1912 by Mr. Kirk and the writer. Formerly it was supposed that this +insect attacked and injured only the nuts or fruit, and Dr. Morris in +1909 seems to be the first on record to observe the injury to the shoots +of _Juglans regia_. It was on the trees of Dr. Morris here in Stamford +and those of Mr. H. L. Champlain at Lyme that the life history studies +were made. There is but one brood each year, and the winter is passed in +the adult stage. The beetles appear the latter part of May and feed upon +the stems and leaf veins during the egg-laying period, which extends +from the last week in May up to August 1st. The eggs are laid in +irregular crescent-shaped punctures, similar to those of the plum +curculio, and hatch in from six to twelve days, depending upon the +weather. + +From four to six weeks are necessary for the development of the larvae, +and when mature they go into the ground where they remain for about ten +days an inch or so beneath the surface. They then pupate, and from +sixteen to twenty days later the adult beetles emerge. They fly to the +trees and eat small holes chiefly at the base of the leaf petioles, but +must early go into winter quarters as they are seldom seen after the +first week in September. + +This insect occurs throughout the Eastern United States, but seems to +cause more injury in Connecticut than has been noted elsewhere. The +remedy is to spray the new shoots and under side of the leaves about +June 1, with lead arsenate (6 lbs. of the paste in 50 gallons of water), +to kill the beetles when feeding on the leaf petioles. + + +THE NUT WEEVILS. + +_Balaninus_ sp. + +Several kinds of nuts are attacked and injured by long-beaked snout +beetles or weevils belonging to the genus _Balaninus_, the chestnut +probably being the most seriously damaged. All of them feed inside the +nuts or fruit during the larval stage, and the larvae are without legs. +As both the methods of attack and the life history are similar for all +species, they will be considered here in a group. For the sake of +distinguishing them, however, their names are mentioned. + + Larger Chestnut weevil, _Balaninus proboscideus_ Fabr. + Lesser Chestnut weevil, _B. rectus_ Say. + Hickory nut or Pecan weevil, _B. caryae_ Horn. + Hazelnut weevil, _B. obtusus_ Blanch. + Common acorn weevil, _B. quercus_ Horn. + Mottled acorn weevil, _B. nasicus_ Say. + Straight-snouted acorn weevil, _B. orthorhynchus_ Chittn. + Sooty acorn weevil, _B. baculi_ Chittn. + Confused acorn weevil, _B. confusor_ Ham. + Spotted acorn weevil, _B. pardalus_ Chittn. + +All of these weevils pass the winter in the ground in the larval stage, +transforming to pupae about three weeks before the adult beetles emerge, +which varies from June, when they are usually few and scattering, to +September, when they have become abundant. Thus there is a single brood +each year, and the larval period lasts from three to five weeks in the +nuts and some ten months in the ground, from two to eight inches below +the surface. + +The control of these weevils is difficult, and ordinary methods such as +spraying are not effective. In fact little can be done other than +destroying the weeviled nuts, which may be fed to hogs. When first +gathered the nuts may be fumigated with carbon disulphide. About two +fluid ounces of the liquid should be used for each bushel of nuts and +placed in a shallow dish on top of the nuts, which should be enclosed in +a tight box or barrel. The period of fumigation should be from 12 to 24 +hours. Where nuts are not to be used for seed they may be thrown into +boiling water for about five minutes--just long enough to kill the +weevils. The nuts are then dried and sold. Most of the weeviled nuts +will rise to the surface and may be discarded, but this test is not +absolute and cannot be depended on to distinguish the sound from the +weeviled nuts. + + +HICKORY BARK BEETLE OR BARK BORER. + +_Scolytus quadrispinosus_ Say. + +Outbreaks of the hickory bark borer occur periodically throughout the +northeastern United States, and during the past five years many hickory +trees in this vicinity have died. + +The adult is a small black beetle appearing in May and June, which eats +holes in the axils of the leaf stems causing them to fall early--usually +in July and August. Brood galleries are then made longitudinally just +under the bark of the trunk by the female, and a row of eggs is placed +along either side of this brood chamber. On hatching the grubs, which +are at first very small, tunnel at right angles to the central chamber, +each making its own separate gallery. These galleries never meet or +cross each other, but must necessarily diverge toward their extremities +as they become larger. The effect of this is to girdle the tree which +soon dies. The larvae pass the winter under the bark, finish their +development in the spring, pupate, and the adults emerge in May and June +from small round holes about the size of bird shot. + +For control measures, Dr. Hopkins advises examining the trees during the +fall and marking all dead and dying trees within an area of several +square miles. Then between October 1 and May 1, cut all such trees and +dispose of the infested portion to destroy the insects before the adults +emerge. + +Many forms of treatment have been devised and recommended by tree +doctors for the control of this insect. Some of them may be worth +trying; most are of doubtful value, and some are absolutely injurious to +the trees. On July 3, 1914, some affected hickory trees on the Station +grounds were sprayed heavily with powdered lead arsenate, 4 lbs. in 50 +gallons of water, to which one pint of "Black Leaf No. 40" was added. +Two days later many dead beetles were found on the tar walks under the +trees, and a few were observed each day up until about the middle of +August. Most of the trees treated, however, had been so badly injured by +the insect that they were removed. Since then this insect has caused +little damage on the grounds, though a few hickory trees still remain. +In 1901 an outbreak of the hickory bark beetle caused the death of 110 +trees on the Hillhouse place in New Haven; then the destructive work of +the insect ceased and the few remaining hickory trees are still standing +and in fairly good condition. I mention these instances to show that +nature's control methods through parasites and natural enemies is far +more effective with certain pests than any which man has yet devised. Of +course, we hope that in the future man will make better progress along +this line. + + +THE PAINTED HICKORY BORER. + +_Cyllene pictus_ Drury. + +There are several borers attacking the wood of the trunk of the hickory, +but one of the commonest is the painted hickory borer. It also +occasionally attacks black walnut, butternut, mulberry and osage orange. +In hickory especially the larval tunnels are often found in the wood +when trees are felled. There is probably one brood annually and the +winter passed in the pupa stage, though it may possibly hibernate as a +larva. Its life history is not fully understood. It is a common +occurrence in Connecticut, and specimens are sent me every year, for the +adult beetles to emerge in March from firewood in the house or cellar +and crawl about seeking a chance to escape. The housewife fears that a +terrible household pest has descended upon her, and with fear and +trembling invokes the aid of the Agricultural Station. + +The beetles appear outside in April and May, and probably oviposit soon +afterward. They are about three-fourths of an inch in length and are +black, prettily marked with golden yellow. + +The insect can be controlled only by the old arduous methods of digging +out, and injecting carbon disulphide into the burrows. + +Several other long-horned beetles are borers in the hickory and other +nut trees. Then, too, the leopard moth, _zeuzera pyrina_ Linn., and the +carpenter worm, _Prionoxystus robiniae_ Peck, may be found occasionally +in most any kind of tree. + +The chestnut tree (if it has thus far escaped the blight or bark +disease) may show small, deep tunnels into the wood of trunk and +branch, made by the chestnut timber worm, _Lymexylon sericeum_ Harr. +Slow-growing woodland trees are more apt to show these galleries than +trees of rapid growth standing in the open. + +There are a number of tussock moths, sawflies, beetles, etc., which feed +on the leaves of nut trees. Spraying with lead arsenate will prevent +damage. There are also many sucking insects attacking them, such as the +hickory gall aphis, and several species found on the leaves. Some of +these may be controlled by spraying with a contact insecticide such as +nicotine solution or kerosene emulsion. + +In the Southern States, pecan trees are attached by some of these +insects which I have mentioned; there are also many more which cannot +even be mentioned in the time allotted to this paper. Information may be +obtained regarding them, by any one interested, and for this purpose I +have appended a short list of publications. + + +LITERATURE. + +Britton, W. E., and Kirk, H. B. The Life History of the Walnut Weevil or +Curculio. Report Conn. Agr. Expt. Station for 1912, page 240. + +Brooks, Fred E. Snout Beetles That Injure Nuts. Bull. 128, West Virginia +Agr. Expt. Sta., Morgantown, W. Va., 1910. + +Chittenden, F. H. The Nut Weevils, Circular 99, Bureau of Entomology, U. +S. Dept. of Agr., Washington, D. C., 1908. + +Felt, E. P. Insects Affecting Park and Woodland Trees. Memoir No. 8, N. +Y. State Museum, Albany, N. Y. 2 vols., 1905, 1906. + +Gossard, H. A. Insects of the Pecan, Bull. 79, Fla. Agr. Expt. Station, +Gainesville, Fla., 1905. + +Herrick, G. W. Insects Injurious to Pecans, Bull. 86, Miss. Agr. Expt. +Station, Agricultural College, Miss., 1904. + +Hopkins, A. D. The Dying Hickory Trees. Circular 144, Bureau of +Entomology, U. S. Dept. of Agr., Washington, D. C., 1912. + +Kirk, H. B. The Walnut Bud Moth. Report Conn. Agr. Expt. Station for +1912, page 253. + + * * * * * + +A MEMBER: Early in the spring I noticed something on the +hickory trees swollen and bright red in color, so that the trees were +conspicuous from a distance. Later insects emerged which appeared to be +these little gnats that fly in swarms. + +DR. BRITTON: From the description I am not able to say what it +was, but it was probably one of those gall flies, a great many species +of which exist and which attack all kinds of plants. They do not, as a +rule, cause very serious damage, and I can not suggest any particular +remedy. Did it interfere with the growth of the tree? + +A MEMBER: I noticed what seemed to be the same insect on the +grape vines. + +DR. MORRIS: I would call attention to one pest that is very +destructive to hazels; unless watched closely it will produce serious +injury. That is the larvae of two of the sawflies. Dr. Britton was +unable to determine off-hand the species of the specimens I sent him, +but you may know the sawfly larvae by their habit of collecting in a row +like soldiers around the edge of the leaf and when the branch is +disturbed, their heads and tails stand up. These sawfly larvae need +looking after and can be killed by spraying. They usually collect on two +or three leaves at a time. + +I would like to ask about a bud worm that attacks the leaf of the +hickory near the axil, sometimes very extensively, but not very +injuriously. At the same time it makes deformities. Colonies of this +insect select certain trees, for instance, the Taylor tree that you saw +yesterday is infected with this particular bud larva. The base of a +petiole becomes enlarged two or three times, and you will find one white +worm at the bottom. This colony is confined to this one tree, and the +very next tree adjoining the Taylor has its branches interwining, but is +not bothered at all, so far as I can determine. + +This colony habit is also true of the hickory nut weevil--the hickory +weevil makes the Taylor tree a colony house, whereas I haven't found a +single weevil in nuts of the adjoining hickory tree that has its +branches interwining. + +That colony habit is, perhaps, a weak point with the weevil, and it may +enable us to eradicate them by concentrating our attention upon their +colony trees. + +One point in regard to the chestnut weevil. When our chestnuts began to +die here, I supposed that the chestnut weevils would immediately turn to +my chinquapins for comfort. Weevils attack the chinquapins so +extensively in the South that Mr. Littlepage said chinquapins would not +be acceptable to Dr. Kellogg because they furnished so much animal diet. +(Laughter). Curiously enough, the chestnut weevils did not go to my +chinquapins. These chinquapins bear full crops, heavy crops, and one +will almost never find a chestnut weevil in the nuts. I have found now +and then a little weevil, about half a dozen altogether, that attacks +the involucre at its point of attachment to the chinquapin. This looks +like the chestnut weevil, but perhaps, only according to my eye, very +much as all Chinamen look alike to one who has never seen them before. + +The matter of carbon disulphide for the painted hickory borer. I have +used that apparently successfully, but I didn't tunnel through six feet +of hickory tree afterward to see whether the borers were dead or not. It +is a successful treatment for apple borers. I have no trouble with the +apple borers now. I simply clean off the entrance of the hole, the +"sawdust," and then with a little putty spread out with my hand make a +sort of putty shelf below the hole, then I squirt in a few drops of +carbon disulphide with a syringe, turn up the putty and leave it +adhering to the bark, closing the hole. You can do that very quickly, +and it spares a good deal of perspiring and backache. + +The black walnut. On one of my black walnut trees there is a serious +pest, a very little worm which infests the involucre. The black walnuts +of this tree fall early. I found that same worm last year also extending +to the Asiatic walnuts, so that a great many Japanese walnuts fell early +as the black walnuts fall, as a result of this little worm's working in +large numbers within the involucre. I sent some specimens to New Haven +for the species to be observed. This will be a very serious matter if it +is going to involve the English walnuts as it does on Long Island. I +have found the same thing, apparently, on Long Island in the black +walnut, in the English walnut, and in the pecan. It causes a serious +drop of these nuts at Dana's Island, near Glen Cove, Long Island. + + + + +THE EXTENT OF THE HARDY NUT TREE NURSERY BUSINESS. + +R. T. OLCOTT, NEW YORK. + + +For obvious reasons this subject may well be considered as constituting +a gauge of commercial nut culture in the North; it is therefore of much +more importance than the mere title would suggest. If there is merit in +all that has been preached regarding the planting of budded and grafted +trees instead of seedlings; and if it is still true, as we have long +observed, that the propagation of named varieties of nut trees, and +especially of hardy nut trees, is successful almost solely in the hands +of experts, the progress of commercial nut culture in the northern +states rests largely in the hands of the nurserymen. We may even go +further and assert that it rests for the present mainly in the hands of +a few nurserymen who have persistently studied the problems pertaining +to the taming of a denizen of the forest, and have persevered with +experiments in the face of repeated failure; for, as editor of the +_American Nurseryman_, I am in a position to state that with a few +exceptions nurserymen generally have not attempted to prepare to supply +a demand for hardy, northern-grown, improved nursery nut trees. Seedling +walnuts and hickories have been procurable for years from nurseries all +over the country, as is shown by nursery catalogue listings; and at +least two concerns--one at Lockport, N. Y., and another at Rochester, N. +Y.,--have advertised nut tree seedlings extensively, despite the +universal nursery practice of budding or grafting or layering +practically all other kinds of trees and plants offered for sale as +nursery stock--simply because it is not easy to propagate nut trees, and +these nurserymen would take advantage of the growing demand for nut +orchards. + +Within established nut circles all this is commonly known. It was my +purpose in referring to these conditions to direct the attention of +those not posted to what has been done by a half dozen or more +conscientious nursery concerns in an endeavor to supply material of +quality for the starting of nut orchards or the planting of isolated +trees in response to the arguments set forth in behalf of nut culture. +My subject lies at the very base of the formation of this association; +for was it not with the idea of directing into safe channels interest +which might be aroused in nut culture that the pioneers of the industry +in the North organized and convened repeatedly to select and propagate +and recommend certain varieties? As the result of years of concentrated +effort selections have been made and varieties have been named--and to +some extent recommended--throughout the northern states. Now and for +some time past the public has had opportunity to purchase and plant +carefully grown budded and grafted true-to-name nursery nut trees of +varieties having in the parent trees exceptional characteristics deemed +sufficient to warrant propagation and dissemination. I need not go into +the matter of years of patient effort on the part of a few nurserymen +and of a few investigators who entered the lists solely for the love of +Nature's developments. + +This, in brief, is the rise of the hardy nut tree nursery business. Now, +what of its extent? There are upwards of two thousand propagating +nurserymen in the country, but those who have made a specialty of +hardy, northern-grown nut trees are few. They include the Vincennes +Nurseries, W. C. Reed & Son, Vincennes, Ind.; the Indiana Nurseries, J. +Ford Wilkinson, Rockport, Ind.; the McCoy Nut Nurseries, R. L. McCoy, +president, Evansville and Lake, Ind.; the Maryland Nurseries, T. P. +Littlepage, Bowie, Md.; J. F. Jones, Lancaster, Pa,; J. G. Rush, West +Willow, Pa.; C. K. Sober, Lewisburg, Pa., and some in the northwest. + +As showing the extent of the business, Mr. Reed, of Vincennes, reports +demand for nut trees increasing. He had to return orders unfilled last +spring. His nurseries have 3,000 to 4,000 Persian walnut trees and about +the same number of pecan trees for fall sales; also about 1,000 grafted +black walnut trees. There are growing in the Vincennes nurseries ready +for budding and grafting 50,000 black walnut seedlings and 50,000 pecan +seedlings. Mr. Reed said recently: "Owing to the extreme difficulty of +propagating nut trees in the North, I think the demand will keep up with +the supply." + +Mr. Jones sold last year about 8,000 nut trees which went to points all +over the country; not many to California, or to the far South; a good +many to New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, +Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, etc. The largest order +was for 600 trees. A number of orders were for 100 to 300 trees. New +Jersey leads in planting, he finds, with Virginia a close second, in +large orders. In small orders, Pennsylvania leads with him. + +Mr. McCoy has done a great deal of experimenting with grafts and he is +still at it. He has 40 acres mostly under nut tree cultivation, and has +a considerable number of trees for sale. + +Anyone who has seen the handsome nut tree catalogue issued by Mr. +Littlepage, of the Maryland Nurseries, must have been impressed with the +great care taken to produce the attractive trees and nuts there +depicted. These nurseries have been recently established and not a great +number of trees have yet been offered for sale, but Mr. Littlepage has +150,000 seedling nut trees in his nurseries for propagating purposes. + +Mr. Sober's nurseries are devoted almost entirely to the cultivation of +chestnut trees. Mr. Rush's specialty is the Persian walnut. Mr. +Wilkinson naturally specializes in Indiana pecan trees. At Rochester, N. +Y., James S. McGlennon and Conrad Vollertsen have produced interesting +results with filberts imported some years ago from Germany. They have +five-year-old bushes bearing; these have proved hardy in every way and +they have no blight. The nuts compare favorably with the best of the +imported kinds. Nursery stock will soon be ready in quantity, and they +now have 500 plants suitable for transplanting. + +Filbert and walnut are the only nut trees grown commercially to any +extent in the nurseries of the northwest. A few almond and chestnut +trees are grown there, but the demand for them is very light. J. B. +Pilkington, Portland, Ore., a well-known grower of a general line of +nursery stock, advertises French, Japanese and Italian chestnut trees +and the American Sweet. Filberts are being produced to a considerable +extent. At present the nurseries cannot supply the demand for filbert +plants, owing to the limited number of mother plants in the northwest. +Practically all the nurseries have Barcelona and Du Chilly for sale, and +a number have the Avelines. From one nursery or another De Alger, +Kentish Cob and a few other varieties can be had. Persian walnuts are +grown on a larger scale. Groner & McClure, Hillsboro, Ore., are the +largest exclusive walnut nurserymen in the northwest. They produce close +to 6,000 grafted trees annually. These sell at 90c. to $1.00 per tree in +lots of 100. The Oregon Nursery Company, Orenco, Ore., produce a large +number of both grafted and seedling walnut trees, asking up to $2.00 per +tree for grafted and 35 to 50c. for seedlings. Many of the smaller +nurseries procure their nut trees from California nurseries. Each year +the proportion of seedlings planted is less. Franquette is the popular +variety that is propagated. + +The Northern Nut Growers' Association and one or two other similar +organizations have labored for years to extend interest in nut culture. +The files of the secretary of this association will show in heaps of +letters and piles of newspaper clippings the marked success in view of +the means that were at hand. And it has all been upon a high plane. The +campaigns have been marked by the utmost degree of conscientious effort +to arrive at the truth regarding, adaptability of varieties and cultural +methods. This work is still in progress--indeed, the need for it will +never end. But in the opinion of the writer there should from this day +go hand in hand with investigation and experiment a very practical +application to orchard purposes of what has been learned. The sooner +northern nut trees come into bearing in grove form the sooner will +general interest in nut culture increase. I would urge constant effort +in that direction; even, if need be, to the exclusion of some of the +further study on varieties. + +There are now grown in northern nut tree nurseries approved by this +association named varieties of pecans, Persian walnuts, black walnuts, +hickories and some other nuts amply sufficient to start orchards. The +pecan growers of the southern states selected and experimented and +discussed for a time--and then they planted. Mistakes were made, but +these were discovered quicker by grove planting. Now they are shipping +improved varieties of pecans by the carload, at $12,000 per car. +Naturally interest in pecan culture in the South is widespread. With +bearing orchards of nut trees in the northern states, similar interest +will be manifested; and then we shall all see the real progress which +comes of producing commercial results. Has not the time arrived to put +into practical operation what has been learned in the last eight years? +I believe this association could wisely consider the policy of confining +discussion in the open session of its annual meetings to topics relating +to behavior of varieties in orchard form and commercial cultural +methods--at least to the handling of the planted tree by the public, +whether isolated or in orchard rows--and reserve for executive sessions +the discussion of varieties and methods not yet at a stage for formal +endorsement by the association. It seems to me that any other policy +obscures the issue which, I take it, is to foster the extension of nut +culture. How can nut culture be practically extended if the public is +constantly confronted with features of the experimental stage? Persons +mildly interested in nut culture, as the result, perhaps, of association +propaganda, drift into our meetings or make ad interim inquiry and +receive for membership enrollment, or otherwise, printed matter relating +almost wholly to experimentation in nut work. No wonder their interest +wanes a short time afterward and many of them are not heard from again. +What most of them expected was information as to varieties of improved +nut trees available, where to get them and how to treat them when +planted. Discussion by the experts is not for them; they will reap the +result of that in due time. + +Now, the extent of the hardy nut tree nursery industry is directly +dependent upon all this. If that extent is not yet great, it is due +undoubtedly to the newness of the industry. But it is also due in part +to conditions which have been referred to. I wish especially for the +purposes of this address that this association were an incorporated body +so that I could speak of it as such and not seem to be criticising +individuals. What has been done by our officers and members has been +very necessary. It is of the future that I speak. + +Nut brokers, wholesale grocers and manufacturers of confectionery are +calling for crop and market reports of nuts. A letter from a large +commission house in San Francisco, importers and exporters, says that +what is wanted is information as to growing crops of nuts and market +conditions. Other brokers and dealers ask the same thing. The _American +Nut Journal_ has given crop and market conditions of southern pecans and +California walnuts and almonds; and, in peace times, of foreign nut +crops. What else is there to give? The native nut crop? But that +concerns this association about as much as the blueberry and huckleberry +crops of the Michigan and Minnesota barrens concerns the horticultural +societies and the National Apple Growers. What the brokers, wholesale +grocers and commission merchants want is crop and market reports on +cultivated nuts. But where are they? The public and the middlemen are +calling for nuts. And these people write that they are not interested in +cultural methods. + +The hardy nut tree nursery business is what it is and will be what it +will be just in proportion to the character of the crop and the market +report. Interest in nut culture generally will lag or increase in just +the same ratio. This is the eighth annual convention of this +association. Will the sixteenth annual meeting see a greatly augmented +membership without a practical incentive? + +I have said that this association has recommended to some extent the +planting of nut trees--the named varieties. I believe that what is +needed is a publicity campaign bearing upon the planting of the +varieties now on the market. When other varieties come on they may +receive proper attention. Native nuts are in great demand. The varieties +considered by this association are the best of the natives. Is that not +sufficient basis to proceed on? Has not this association officially +endorsed the varieties grown by the nut tree nurserymen we have referred +to, by officially endorsing those nurserymen? Having endorsed the named +varieties grown for sale by the nurserymen on its approved list can this +association consistently do otherwise then to urge without hesitation +the planting of those varieties by the public? + +DR. MORRIS: Mr. Olcott spoke on the almonds of the Pacific +Coast. Here in the east it was said yesterday that only hard shelled +almonds would thrive. That has been my experience with one exception. I +got from a missionary some soft shelled almonds of very high quality and +thin shelled. There were about twenty of those almonds, I ate two and +planted the rest. The ants enjoyed the sprouting cotyledons of all but +one. That one lived and thrived and grew in two years to a height of +about four feet. In its third winter it was absolutely killed. Now that +means that somewhere in Syria there is a soft shelled almond of very +high quality that will live three years in Connecticut according to +accurate record. It may live fifty years here if well started and +protected when young. + +THE CHAIRMAN: You showed us some hard shelled almonds I believe +from your place. + +DR. MORRIS: The hard shelled almonds do pretty well on my place +if looked after. I have had trees that bore nearly a bushel each, but +the chief difficulty is due to the leaf blights. Almond trees are quite +subject to leaf blights. As long as I sprayed the almond trees +frequently they did well but I had several other things to do and +couldn't keep it up. + +A MEMBER: The Association has a list of nurserymen who are +reliable and who will furnish reliable trees. It occurred to me in line +with the spirit of Mr. Olcott's paper, if it would be practicable, for +the Association to get up a little paper on approved varieties of trees +for planting. That may seem foolish to suggest but a good many members +who come in here are very green on the subject of nut growing. It may +have been done but if it has I am not familiar with it. + +THE SECRETARY: A good many requests are received by the +secretary for information as to what nut trees to plant. My advice +usually is that they get the catalogues of all the different nurserymen +on our approved list and select from those catalogues as many nut trees +of each variety recommended by the nurserymen as they wish and give them +the best cultural conditions they can. I don't see that we can recommend +any particular varieties. There are few enough grafted varieties of nut +trees obtainable, and I do not see that we can, as an association, +recommend any particular varieties. I would like to have suggestions. + +MR. OLCOTT: I Don't Think It Is Advisable for the Association +To go into that detail. I think that as the association has endorsed a +list of nurserymen, so long as those nurserymen keep within boundary and +retain that endorsement that is sufficient guarantee to the public. + +MR. REED: We cannot recommend the different varieties because +they have not been tested out and fruited. In the National Nut Growers' +Association data are obtainable because they have been worked out by +experiment stations and by individuals. But in this association where +varieties are just being discovered and have not been disseminated and +tried we have got to test them. We haven't got developed beyond the +infant class in this Northern Nut Growers' Association. + +A MEMBER: I realize that the thing is in an experimental stage, +but since I have been at this meeting I have been asked by two +different people here if I could give them any information as to what +varieties to plant. That is a very live question for a person here for +the first time and he wants a primer. + +THE SECRETARY: We had a circular, now exhausted, giving the +best information known at that time. It gave the method of procedure +from the cultivation of the land until the nut trees were advanced +several years in their growth, covering it in detail in so far as it lay +in the secretary's ability to give it at that time. The same advice +perhaps would not be given now but it would be practically the same +thing. It may be desirable that we reprint something of the kind for the +person who wants to begin the cultivation of nuts and has no knowledge +on the subject. + +MR. JONES: I think the association might do something of the +kind. We could have a map of the states for instance, and have that +outlined in belts and varieties specified that would be somewhat likely +to succeed in those belts. + +MR. CHAIRMAN: I think it is only a question of time when that +will be done. In the National Association that has been worked out, what +they plant in Florida what they plant in west Georgia, what they plant +in Mississippi, and what they plant in all the different sections. I +think it is only a question of time when it will be worked out by this +association. Every year will bring in new data. You will find in the +National Nut Growers' Association that good reports on new varieties of +nuts from year to year keep accumulating. From that we get data very +definite for certain varieties. I expect the members of this association +will know lots of them. They have become past history in nut growing in +the south. We have got past those poor things and in to something that +is definite and satisfactory. + +MR. BARTLETT: Would it be possible and advisable for the +association to have such a thing as an experimental orchard, provided +they could get somebody to take care of such a place? There is a man in +this room who has plenty of room and facilities for taking care of an +orchard. + +THE CHAIRMAN: That is worthy of attention but I do not know +whether the association is in a position to take care of it. In my paper +yesterday I spoke about putting it up to the experiment stations. + +COL. VAN DUZEE: The experiment stations are at the service of +the people and if you will call upon your stations repeatedly they will +respond eventually. It is going to take some little time but it seems to +me that they are the logical people to carry it out. We have found in +the south that the behaviour of varieties in different localities was +so different that we have been obliged to wait until each locality had +something of history to guide us. I suppose it would be a very good plan +if all who are interested in nut culture in the North would convey the +information to their experiment stations that they are desirous of +having these orchards established. Eventually the country could be +covered with little experimental plots where the information obtained +would be reliable, where the work could be under the supervision and +inspection of people who are paid by the state for that purpose. + +Now in regard to the publicity. We have followed a plan for a number of +years in the South of publishing frequently what we call Nut Notes. They +were gathered together by the editor of the Nut Grower. Whenever an item +of interest to the public came to him in his exchange and from any other +source, he made a paragraph of it and then at the end of the month, or +perhaps two months, he would publish a little circular "Nut Notes," and +that would be run off in some large number, and distributed to the +nurserymen, or other interested people, and they would simply enclose it +in their correspondence. They would send them to the local papers all +through the South so that the things that were found worthy of +dissemination in the way of new records and new ideas were constantly +being sent to the local papers and to the interested people in that way. +I have a vast sympathy for Dr. Deming. He is not drawing a princely +salary and he has a lot of things to do. I know his heart is in this +work and he would be glad to do these things but he must have help. +These two ways I suggest to you are ways we have found in the South to +accomplish a considerable work. Make a demand upon your experiment +stations that this work be taken up and get Mr. Olcott to print the +slips and then get the nurserymen who are interested and the local +newspaper people to publish the nut notes that become available from +time to time. + +MR. OLCOTT: I have knowledge of these circulars of Nut Notes +sent out by Dr. Wilson in the South and have thought of doing something +like it but have not gotten at it yet. I have exchanges and notices +coming in that could be summarized just that way and even more +extensively but I haven't had time to do this work. + +THE SECRETARY: I think this proposal of Mr. Bartlett's is very +important and I promise Mr. Bartlett and Mr. Barrows that all the +members of this association will help. I am sure Dr. Morris will be glad +to give advice about planting this orchard. I haven't the slightest +doubt that Mr. Reed will go there in his position as Nut Culturist of +the Department of Agriculture. I think we ought to go ahead and do that +without waiting for the Connecticut authorities, but at the earliest +opportunity begin to try to interest them. They are not interested +enough to go into it now. Some of the members of this association have +got to start this thing and then we have got to interest the men at the +agricultural experiment station. Two of them were here yesterday and +have expressed their interest in the subject. We hope eventually that +they will take full charge of such work which really ought to be in the +hands of self perpetuating institutions and not in the hands of +individuals. I can assure Mr. Bartlett of the hearty co-operation of +this association in any planting of that kind and I wish that the steps +might be taken at once to begin such a planting. + +DR. MORRIS: I would be only too glad to give him some trees to +start with. + +MR. JONES: The nurseries growing these trees would be glad to +cooperate and supply these trees at reduced prices for this experimental +orchard. + +THE CHAIRMAN: There seems to be lots of interest in this matter +but it ought not to be on a voluntary basis. It might be interesting to +you to have an idea of how we have done that further south. In North +Carolina we have definite nut projects on our experiment station's list. +The work is outlined and funds appropriated for carrying it out, and +workers and funds are assigned to that particular project. They have a +regular definite program and when a project is once begun that project +has to be reported on. It cannot be discontinued. It has to be continued +until it is worked out. In that way we are getting something definite +and we have some machinery to work with. At first we had no commercial +nut growing. We instituted a nut survey of the state. We issued +instructions for our extension men to look out for nut trees on the +farms. Then we made a list of the growers and orchards. There we made +experimental planting and we made them in every section of the state so +as to find out what varieties were best for the different sections. We +had difficulty in finding varieties for all of our conditions. We had +experiment orchards in all of the various sections of the State which +have been conducted now for ten years and we have very definite data. +The man who writes in to me for information can be answered shortly. +Every year we are getting new data. I think every tree that we can get +from any nursery catalogue that I can find is in those experimental +orchards. Every year eliminates a few. If the stocks are good we work +them over. There is no uncertainty about it. It is either a positive or +a negative result. These results are published just as soon as they can +be. It is part of our experiment work just as we experiment with cotton +or apples or corn. I made a suggestion in my paper for work of this kind +here and I thought it would be picked up by the Committee on +Resolutions, but it was not acted on. To get this matter crystallized +and get it to the attention of the experimental station I think that the +secretary ought to be empowered to write officially to the directors of +the experiment station in the various states asking that a nut survey be +made of those states and that nut projects be entered upon and +especially the testing of the varieties that have been found in the +various states. + +DR. BRITTON: Representing the Connecticut station I can say +that the men there will be glad to help you, but they are in the same +position as Dr. Deming, doing all they can at present, more than they +ought to do, and most of the funds for that reason are arranged for in +definite projects. That being the case, it will be necessary to provide +for a future appropriation. During his war we are all short handed. I +have four young men working in my department who have not had a day's +vacation this summer--more work than they can do. At present we have no +one connected with the station who is a specialist on nuts, and it would +mean getting in a man to work up this subject. But I think that can be +brought about in time. Of course if the legislature is asked for any +appropriation, this association or those interested in growing nuts +would have to help get the appropriation for the state. + +THE SECRETARY: Prof. Hutt is State Horticulturist of his state +and he is also a specialist on nuts. He lives in a state where nut +culture is much further advanced than it is here, consequently it has +been, it seems to me, a good deal simpler for him to accomplish results +there than it is for us here. I approve of grasping this opportunity and +going ahead with it and at the same time following up the suggestions of +Dr. Britton of trying to get the appropriation in order to enable the +agricultural experiment station to take action. + +MR. OLCOTT: I move that the secretary be asked to communicate +with the experiment stations in the various states along just the lines +you suggested for the purpose of getting started. + +The motion, duly seconded, was passed. + +MR. OLCOTT: I would like to make another motion that the +association do whatever it can to take advantage of this opportunity +that Mr. Bartlett has just spoken about, and I would move that the +matter be put in the hands of the secretary with power to act. + +Mr. Webber seconded the motion and it was carried. + + + + +NUT TREES FOR SHADE. + +FRANCIS A. BARTLETT, CONNECTICUT. + + +Were we to limit our shade trees to those trees which alone produce +edible nuts we would then have a greater assortment of trees than one +could hardly suppose, and not only would be varieties be numerous but +they would embrace many of our most noble and most beautiful trees. + +Let us consider the varieties from which we may draw. In so doing let me +ask why, with all these trees, we really need other trees which in +themselves are no more ornamental and are non-producing. + +Of the oaks there are many, while the nuts or acorns are seldom eaten by +man, yet they have often composed his diet when other foods have failed. +In many parts of the South this nut has been the principal food used in +the fattening, or possibly the sustaining food, of the native razor-back +hog. + +Our native beech produces the small triangular nuts which have been +sought by the boys and girls of centuries and are as popular today as of +hundreds of years ago. The beech will grow to immense size and may live +sometimes for centuries. A beautiful bright smooth foliage makes it very +desirable as a park tree and it does not lose its charm in winter. On an +extensive lawn it makes a very desirable tree but in close proximity to +the house the one objection there may be is that the dead foliage seems +to cling to the twigs sometimes the entire winter. This objection is +more pronounced, however, in the younger trees than in the older ones. + +Our native black walnut is a magnificent tree which can compare +favorably with the finest oak in size, in shape, in picturesqueness and +above all, in its huge nuts, which are both wholesome and delicious. +Were it not for the great value of its wood for making gun stocks and +for cabinet work we would today have hundreds of these trees growing, +where now but few can be found; yet there are individual specimens with +spread of over 150 feet and as magnificent and majestic as the finest +oak. + +Our native chestnut; let us not think of it in memory only, though the +pride of our forests seems to have left us after the scourge of the +chestnut blight. Unless the history of all scourges has been upset we +will find some tree somewhere sometime that is blight resistant and then +from this tree we will produce and propagate the chestnut back to its +own. At least, as far as an ornamental and useful nut-producing tree is +concerned. Should we find no tree in all this huge area which is +disease-resistant we have at least one hope in the chestnut brought from +China, where for probable centuries this disease has been present, but +unable to destroy its host, the chestnut. Already in this country there +are thousands of these seedlings growing which are apparently +disease-resistant. The tree itself compares very favorably with our +native tree. We will yet grow our favorite chestnuts and our children +will yet enjoy them as we have done in the days of our youth. + +We must not forget the chinkapin, the little brother of the chestnut, +but a better fighter of its enemies, for this latter tree is almost +resistant to the blight and will bloom and bear nuts while only a little +tree, and the nuts are sweet and good. Then, too, it is not necessary to +climb the tree to gather the nuts for the tree being small the nuts can +almost be gathered from the ground. For planting over rocky banks and +hillsides nothing is more handsome. The dark green foliage dotted here +and there with the bright green burrs always attracts favorable +attention and comment. + +Our butternut, too, cannot be omitted, for there are few better flavored +nuts than the butternut. Though hard to crack, this fault, if it may be +a fault, will soon be overcome, for we will find a tree with +thin-shelled nuts somewhere. They are no doubt present and when we do +find such a tree we may all propagate from it. Though the tree is a +rather irregular grower and is susceptible to certain bark diseases yet +it has its place in the home planting for its compound leaves and light +bark always shows prominently in the landscape. This tree sometimes +grows to an immense size. At my early home in Massachusetts one huge +butternut stood in the yard. Though the tree died long before I became +especially interested in old trees I remember that we counted the +annular rings and as near as I can recall the figures for its +measurements and rings were 13 ft. in circumference and 80 annular +rings. The trunk was perfectly solid and showed no signs of decay. Many +bushels of nuts were gathered from this one tree yearly and I can +remember the long winter evenings when we sat in the kitchen cracking +the nuts from this old tree. Some have said the butternut is +unsatisfactory as an ornamental tree but let me add--do not neglect it +in the planting plan for it will give you much pleasure, and, too, the +meats are well worth the trouble in cracking the nuts even though a +bruised finger may result. + +To the family of the walnut we are indebted to Japan for the beautiful +and tropical foliage of the Japanese walnut, _Sieboldiana_. Although the +tree has many characteristics of the butternut the foliage is much more +luxuriant and it is an admirable tree for planting in the open lawn. +The individual fruit of the _Sieboldiana_ walnut is similar in +appearance to that of the butternut and is borne in clusters or racemes, +sometimes as many as twenty or more in a cluster, and is equal in every +way to that of the butternut but the nuts being smaller contain a much +less quantity of meat. + +The king of the walnuts, _Juglans regia_, sometimes called Madeira +walnut, Persian walnut, Spanish walnut and English walnut, is the finest +of the nuts as far as the fruit is concerned, and is a handsome tree +growing to immense size with large spreading branches and almost +tropical foliage. For over 150 years this tree has been growing and +thriving in our immediate neighborhood, producing bushels of nuts +annually, yet few people whom we have met will hardly believe that the +English walnut will thrive in this northern latitude. There is one +specimen of this tree today with which I am familiar in Tarry town, N. +Y., which is over 2 feet in diameter, with a spread of 75 feet or more +and nearly 100 feet in height. While the tree has not produced regularly +yet it bears a few nuts each year and sometimes numbers of bushels. + +The English walnut always attracts attention on account of its +symmetrical growth and its luxuriant foliage. As a shade tree there are +few better. + +Of the nut family the one truly American tree of which we should be duly +proud is the hickory, this tree being found in no other part of the +world, with the exception of China, but North America. As a park or +roadside tree there are few trees that can compare with it,--upright in +growth with a beautifully rounded head, sometimes growing to immense +size and producing nuts almost annually. Of this group of trees we have +the shellbark, shagbark and pignut. The pignut being of little value as +far as the nuts are concerned, yet having smaller and possibly more +luxuriant foliage than the shagbark or shellbark. The shagbark is the +nut most sought for by the younger generations and bids fair to become a +nut of considerable importance. + +It seems strange that in the long history of the hickory or shagbark +more has not been done in the improvement of the nuts in the growing of +large thin-shelled and sweeter nuts. Trees bearing such nuts do exist +and I think most of us can recall certain trees in our boyhood days that +produced nuts of far superior quality than are ordinarily found from the +common tree. At least, I can recall one tree from which twenty-five +years ago there was produced a very large fine sweet nut which was +sought by all the children in the neighborhood. This tree, however, has +passed away with hundreds of others, either by the hickory bark beetle +or the axe. + +It is well to mention the filbert and hazel. While not really trees the +filbert sometimes reaches a height of 5 ft. or more with very luxuriant +foliage in the summer and in the early spring the catkins are very +prominent and attractive. There is no reason why the filbert should not +be grown more extensively even though it is affected by blight or +canker. We are assured that this can be readily cut away with less +trouble than the ordinary treatment of trees. + +Of the hazel there are two kinds, the common hazel and beaked hazel, +both native here. While the nuts of these shrubs are really too small to +be of any commercial value yet I believe we will find nuts growing +somewhere that are as large as our imported filberts. + +Of the pines and evergreens there are a number which produce nuts of +which Dr. Morris has told us. Some of them are rapid growing trees and +there seems to be good reason why we should not plant out evergreens +which produce fruit and are just as attractive and fine as those +evergreens which produce shade only. + +I have not mentioned one tree which I believe to be the most promising +for this locality--that is the pecan. It has been demonstrated that we +can grow the pecan on our native hickories and from what I have seen of +the wonderful growth of the first year of the bud I am sure we will be +able to produce as fine pecans as can be produced in any section of the +country, and further than that, we have an unlimited number of native +hickories on which we can graft this finest of nuts. The pecan is hardy +in this locality and farther north. I have seen it grown to a fair sized +tree in Connecticut. I have seen it on the south side of Long Island and +have seen one tree planted possibly over 100 years near Oyster Bay, L. +I. which today is more than 3 ft. in diameter and reaches possibly 75 +ft. in height. The pecan, too, is fruiting on Long Island and I believe +we will have it fruiting in this locality within the next two or three +years. During the last few years I have talked with numbers of people, +many of them owners of large estates who could hardly believe it is +possible to grow the English walnut and pecan in this latitude. + +I have said that were we to limit our shade trees to those trees alone +which produce edible nuts we would then have a greater assortment than +one could hardly suppose. Each and every one of the trees I have +mentioned were they not to produce a single nut would in themselves +equal or surpass almost any tree in beauty and majesty. + +Were we to develop a park and limit the plantings to nut trees alone how +attractive such a park might be--the taller trees in the background to +be of the black walnut and beech. These trees to be banked with the +smaller trees of the butternut and English walnut. Over the rocky places +we could plant the chinkapin and hazel. We could then put in specimen +trees of the hickory and pecans with groups of filberts, dotted here and +there with plantings of nut bearing pines. I believe such a planting +would be as attractive as a planting of an added number of our ordinary +shade trees. Let us imagine what the return from such a planting might +mean to the public or the owners. In fifty years from this time, and in +speaking of nut trees looking forward to fifty years is but a +comparatively short time, our roadside trees could be replaced by nut +bearing trees which are as attractive as any shade tree. I have no doubt +that in this city alone were the roadsides planted with nut trees and +these received reasonable care the returns from these trees would pay +the entire city and town tax. + + * * * * * + +DR. MORRIS: Mr. Bartlett said that the hickory belonged only to +North America. That was supposed to be the case until very recently Mr. +Meyer, an agricultural explorer, found an open bud hickory in China. + +MR. OLCOTT: Mr. Bartlett said he hoped the day would come when +the filbert and hazels would be produced in this country. I saw last +week the report of a crop in Rochester, New York, on five-year old +filbert bushes that had been pronounced as good as imported nuts in +quality and certainly were in size, and finer in coloring. I have some +photographs of the trees on which they grew. These were the trees which +were described in detail in a paper read at the National Nut Growers' +Association at Nashville last year by Mr. McGlennon, of Rochester. He +told me that all he said at that time stands, with the addition that +since then he has had proof regarding the absence of blight and the +extreme hardiness of the trees and their continued bearing. The trees +are grown for propagating purposes and not for fruit, and therefore they +are not in their best condition for bearing. Mr. McGlennon is a business +man of Rochester, with no special experience except that he became +interested in some southern pecan plantings. Afterwards the filbert +planting came up and he worked with Mr. Vollertson, who was experienced +in this work in Germany. He and Mr. McGlennon imported 22 kinds of +filberts from Europe. They are so far blight-proof and extremely hardy +and are bearing. + +MRS. IRWIN: I would like to say that I do not think there is +enough publicity given this organization. There are a number of people, +to whom I casually mentioned yesterday, that I had become interested in +this thing, but they had not seen the Advocate and knew nothing about +the meeting. They are interested, I think, and it seems to me that an +organization for growth must have publicity and a lot of it. + +A MEMBER: We were discussing this morning why we did not have a +larger number of people here from Stamford and Greenwich. It is the +merest chance I saw the notice. I have been interested for some time. I +think there should be greater publicity because only by large membership +can we get the growth and the standing that we want. + +DR. MORRIS: Even a good many people in the vicinity who knew +about this conference and said they would be interested to come, have +not appeared. Our meeting came to Stamford this year because there are +so many wealthy people interested in horticulture in Stamford and +Greenwich. Very large funds are required for development of this +subject, experimental orchards, publication and publicity. We believed +here we would strike the sort of men to further public interest in the +subject. This is by all means the smallest local attendance, however, +that we have ever had since the beginning of the Association in any part +of the country. + +THE SECRETARY: We have never had the advertising more +thoroughly done. Mr. Bartlett and Mr. Staunton and Dr. Morris and I have +all worked at it; notices have been in at least three of the New York +papers, clippings of which have been sent me, and articles in Ansonia +and Hartford papers; articles and programs have been sent repeatedly to +Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, Port Chester, Danbury, Ridgefield and New +Canaan papers. Dr. Morris has written personal letters. And then, too, +there are the signs around here. I don't know what other measures could +have been taken. + +DR. MORRIS: My chauffeur, who is in the Naval Reserve, and +doesn't know about nuts at all, dropped in casually yesterday, but +stayed through the whole session. That shows what interest might be +aroused if only you can catch people. No trouble to hold them when +captured. + +Every person who has come into this association has done so because of +something from the heart within. + +MR. BIXBY: On this subject of publicity, I have done something +in a very humble way that I thought might help, and this year I am +planning to do it to a little larger extent. I have been very much +interested in the butternut. The concern with which I am associated has +a connection with general stores throughout the country, so I sent +circulars calling attention to the butternut prizes to the general +stores in the smaller towns throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. That +circular invited the people who had specimens of butternuts that they +thought superior to send them to Dr. Deming, and in the same circular I +called attention to the fact that there were prizes for other nuts, and +invited them to communicate with Dr. Deming. It was all done in the name +of the Association. + +PROF. HUTT: When we started our meeting we announced a question +box. + +THE SECRETARY: We expected to have a revised proof of our +question box to be distributed among the audience, but it has not come. +I would like to ask any one who now desires to ask questions relative to +nut culture to do so and I think he will be able to get answers from +members present. I had better begin by propounding a question myself +that has been asked often--what variety of nut trees to plant--and I am +going to make a short answer myself, just to bring about discussion. For +early bearing, and encouragement to the nut grower, plant chinkapins, +hazels, or filberts, many varieties, so that they will pollenize one +another, and plant Japanese walnuts, early bearing and beautiful trees. +For later results plant Persian walnuts, the Franquette and Mayette +varieties, which are old standard ones. If you want to go a little bit +more experimentally, plant pecans, say the Indiana and Busseron +varieties, both from the Indiana district, and both hardy, though +neither of them have fruited here. Plant some black walnuts, say of the +Stabler and the Thomes varieties, which are the best known, and plant a +few shagbark hickories. There are very few varieties to be had in the +shagbark. We don't know much about the Kirtland, although that is one of +the best nuts. We know little of the bearing records of these trees. I +leave this answer for emendation, addition or correction. + +DR. MORRIS: Has anybody any Kirtland hickories in stock grafted +for sale? + +MR. JONES: 100 to 150. + +DR. MORRIS: Have you any Weicker? + +MR. JONES: Yes, some are in stock for sale. + +DR. MORRIS: Hales's hickories? + +MR. JONES: No, not grown. + +DR. MORRIS: The Hales' nut is big, too coarse and not very +good. + +MR. JONES: The kernel is yellowish. + +DR. BRITTON: I would like to ask Dr. Morris what time of the +year he would advise pruning the Persian walnuts here in Stamford. + +DR. MORRIS: The editor of a horticultural journal at one time +set out to get opinions about the best time for pruning peaches. There +were opinions from all points as to whether peach trees should be +trimmed in winter, spring, summer or autumn, and summing up all of the +replies, the editor said, "We have come to the conclusion that the right +time to prune peach trees is when your knife is sharp." I presume that +that in a way will apply to almost all trees. Pruning the walnut trees +in the spring when sap is flowing freely would not be desirable, I +should think. Walnut trees need very little pruning. Very few of the nut +trees need pruning, excepting the hazels. These need to be pruned in +order to put them in good head. And possibly some of the hickories, but +for the most part I doubt if pruning is desirable, save for broken +branches. I leave that to Mr. Jones. + +DR. BRITTON: The reason why I asked the question is that when +we were carrying on this investigation with the walnut weevil, we found +that when branches were cut early in the spring there was nearly always +a bad wound that did not heal over. It died back around the place. But +when we cut branches later, from the first to the middle of June, when +the growth was taking place, it healed over very smoothly without +leaving any bad scars, and I was wondering whether that happened over +the region where the Persian walnut was grown. + +DR. MORRIS: I am glad to have that observation that the wounds +did not granulate and heal well. I have noticed that the shag bark +hickory cannot be cut well for scions in the spring without injuring the +rest of the limb on the tree. I have cut back the Taylor tree's lower +branches, in order to cut off scions, and almost every branch from which +I have cut scions is dead or dying. That is perhaps in line with the +observation of Dr. Britton. Some of the juglandaciae cannot be cut in +the spring. + +MR. JONES: I have found that in cutting scions of walnut trees +when the sap is running the tree bleeds and makes a bad wound and +doesn't heal over. It dies back. But if you cut those any time in the +winter when you have say two or three days without freezing, they will +not bleed then nor in the spring when the sap comes up. Also, if cut +after the growth is well started, they won't bleed very much. + +MR. WEBER: Are back numbers of the Journal available? + +THE SECRETARY: All of our reports. + +MR. WEBER: I would suggest for the benefit of uninitiated +persons that they get the back numbers, also send to each of the +accredited nurserymen and get a copy of each, catalogue and then study +the back numbers and the catalogues. They will be pretty well posted, as +all the nut catalogues are well illustrated and contain a great deal of +information, and it will take them out of the realm of hazy knowledge +they now have on the subject. + +MR. JONES: The Government has some excellent bulletins in line +with this work. + +MR. SMITH: I would like to get some information about spring +and fall planting in Massachusetts. + +A MEMBER: I advise planting in the spring. Where the ground +freezes heavily in the winter, plant in the spring. In the South you +don't have any injury from cold. + +MR. WEBER: I have planted trees in the fall and the tops +winter-kill down to the grafts. I had them wrapped and still they were +winter-killed, or else the wrapping killed them. Persian walnuts and +Indiana pecans. They threw a good shoot in the spring, however, and made +a very good growth. + +I move that a vote of thanks be extended to the local committee for +making this convention a success, and a rising vote of thanks to show +Dr. Morris the appreciation of the convention. + +The convention thereupon adjourned. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +I report on soft shell almonds as follows: + +In February, 1914, I ordered from Armstrong Nurseries, Ontario, +California, the following trees: + + 10 four to six ft. Jordon Almond trees + 10 four to six ft. I. X. L. Almond trees + 10 four to six ft. Ne Plus Ultra Almond trees + +The trees were shipped in March of the same year and healed in until +May. The farm on which these trees were planted is situated on the south +shore of Lake Ontario, in Wayne County, New York. This district is a +large producer of peaches and apples. The trees were planted twenty feet +apart in a sandy loam soil in line with a young apple orchard. This soil +is especially adapted to peach growing. The entire orchard was given +clean cultivation with intercrops until the Spring of 1917. For two +years potatoes were grown among the trees, and for one year cabbage. The +land was limed and fertilized with both natural and chemical +fertilizers. Cultivation of the tree rows stopped about the 1st of +August, the intercrops about the 15th of September. For the year 1917 +the trees were grown in sod. The trees were pruned similar to the peach +trees, and have made somewhat less growth than a peach tree would make +under the same conditions. + +The lake on the boundary of the farm tempers the climate conditions of +this location so that the opening of the season is about two weeks later +than the average, and the date of the first frost is two to three weeks +later. On this account the trees have had a better opportunity to ripen +the wood for the winter period after cultivation ceases. During these +winters the thermometer has gone as low as four degrees below zero +without winter killing those trees which survived. Six trees of the +thirty originally planted are now living. All others died the first +winter after being set out. Unfortunately, the trees were not labeled at +the time of getting out so I am unable to indicate what varieties lived +through. Of the six trees living, three blossomed scantily this year, +but all the blossoms proved false. I think there is no particular cause +for discouragement on this account, as we have the same experience with +peach trees. That is, they often bear a number of blossoms the first +year, and none of them come to maturity. All the trees appear to have +buds for next year. Some of these should develop into blossoms, and +unless there is a frost after the blossoms come out in the spring of +1918, there may be some nuts produced. The final test as to whether or +not these trees can be brought into bearing, will come next spring. The +site upon which the trees are planted, as mentioned before, on account +of the proximity of the lake, is more favorable than most locations for +peach growing, and if the experience of the peach growers in New York +State is any index, there would be little opportunity for success with +almond trees, except under similar conditions. + M. E. WILE. + +I am pleased to advise that the hardy soft shell pecan trees I have +planted in Virginia, and the hardy English walnut trees are all growing +finely. I find it just as easy to get a budded pecan tree to grow as it +is to get an apple tree to grow. I am telling my friends about this all +over Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee as well as Virginia. They +have planted a good many trees and all report favorably. + +My advice is to plant pecan and English walnut trees as they are just as +beautiful and useful for shade as any other kind, and in addition to +this they will produce a large amount of the healthiest and most +nutritious of food for the human family. + +I am very much indebted to the Northern Nut Growers Association for the +knowledge obtained along this line. You can rest assured that I will try +and pass it along as I go. + JOHN S. PARRISH. + + + + +ATTENDANCE + + + R. T. Olcott, Rochester N. Y. + Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Reed, Washington, D. C. + Irwin R. Waite, Stamford, Ct. + Prof. W. O. Filley, State Forester, Connecticut. + Prof. Record, State College of Forestry. + A. C. Pomeroy, Lockport, N. Y. + S. M. McMurran, Washington, D. C. + Harry E. Weber, Cincinnati, Ohio. + Fitch A. Hoyt, Stamford, Conn. + Wm. H. Bump, Stamford, Ct. + Wilber F. Stocking, Stratford, Ct. + J. A. Seitz, Greenwich, Ct. + L. C. Root, Stamford, Ct. + John Rick, Redding, Pa. + F. A. Bartlett, Stamford, Ct. + J. F. Jones, Lancaster, Pa. + R. H. G. Cunningham, Stamford, Ct. + Col. C. A. Van Duzee, Cairo, Ga. + John H. Hohener, Rochester, N. Y. + C. L. Cleaver, Hingham, Mass. + Fred A. Smith, Hathorne, Mass. + Dr. Lewis H. Taylor, Washington, D. C. + W. H. Druckemiller, Sunbury, Pa. + W. G. Bixby, Brooklyn, N. Y. + Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Ridgway, Lumberton, N. J. + Miss Marie Brial, Stamford, Ct. + J. E. Brown, Elmer, N. J. + A. M. Heritage, Elmer, N. J. + Dr. R. T. Morris, N. Y. City. + T. P. Littlepage, Washington, D. C. + Gray Staunton, Stamford, Ct. + J. L. Glover, Shelton, Ct. + Dr. E. F. Bigelow, Stamford, Ct. + Prof. W. N. Hutt, Raleigh, N. C. + Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Lewis, Stratford, Ct. + H. W. Collingwood, New York City. + Dr. J. H. Kellogg, Battle Creek, Mich. + Dr. and Mrs. W. C. Deming, Georgetown, Ct. + Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Mikkelsen, Georgetown, Ct. + Paul M. Barrows, Stamford, Ct. + G. W. Donning, North Stamford. + Mrs. Payson Irwin, Stamford, Ct. + Noble P. Randel, Stamford, Ct. + + + * * * * * + + +~Vincennes Nurseries~ + +W. C. REED, Proprietor. + +VINCENNES, INDIANA, U. S. A. + +PROPAGATORS AND INTRODUCERS + + _Budded and Grafted Pecans, Hardy Northern Varieties_ + _English (Persian) Walnut Grafted on Black Walnut_ + _Best Northern and French Varieties_ + _Grafted Thomas Black Walnut_ + + _Grafted Persimmons, best sorts_ + _Hardy Almonds_ + _Filberts and Hazelnuts_ + + _Also General Line Nursery Stock_ + +SPECIAL NUT CATALOGUE ON REQUEST + + + * * * * * + + +~STABLER~ + +~BLACK WALNUT TREES~ + +If you would provide for the future beauty of your lawn or roadside, +plant at least a few trees of the new Stabler Black Walnut. Its +luxuriant fern-like foliage and its weeping twigs make it unique among +shade trees--its thin-shelled nuts and heavy bearing habit put it at the +top of the list as a nut producer. The only black walnut that yields a +whole kernel when cracked. + +ORDER NOW FOR SPRING DELIVERY. + +My trees, if you plant them in a fertile spot, will surprise you by +their growth. + +Fine Grafted Trees $1.50 to $2.00. + +~HENRY STABLER~ + +HANCOCK, MD. + + + * * * * * + + +~CHESTER VALLEY NURSERIES~ + +ESTABLISHED 1853 + +Choice Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Cherry Trees on Mazzard Roots, Hardy +Evergreens, Flowering Shrubs, Hedge Plants, etc. Originators of the +~THOMAS BLACK WALNUT~ + +~JOS. W. THOMAS & SONS King of Prussia P. O., MONTGOMERY CO., PENNA.~ + + + * * * * * + + +~CHESTNUT TREES~ + +Best Varieties Grown. Grown in section free from blight. Descriptive +Pricelist. + +E. A. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the +Eighth Annual Meeting + Stamford, Connecticut, September 5 and 6, 1917 + +Author: Various + +Editor: Northern Nut Growers Association + +Release Date: August 15, 2006 [EBook #19050] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHERN NUT GROWERS *** + + + + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, E. Grimo, Janet +Blenkinship and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p class='center'>DISCLAIMER</p> + +<p>The articles published in the Annual Reports of the Northern Nut Growers +Association are the findings and thoughts solely of the authors and are +not to be construed as an endorsement by the Northern Nut Growers +Association, its board of directors, or its members. No endorsement is +intended for products mentioned, nor is criticism meant for products not +mentioned. The laws and recommendations for pesticide application may +have changed since the articles were written. It is always the pesticide +applicator's responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current +label directions for the specific pesticide being used. The discussion +of specific nut tree cultivars and of specific techniques to grow nut +trees that might have been successful in one area and at a particular +time is not a guarantee that similar results will occur elsewhere.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + + + +<h1> NORTHERN</h1> + <h1>NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION</h1> + + + <h2>REPORT</h2> + <h2>OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE</h2> + <h2>EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING</h2> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/img001.jpg" alt="Fig. 103" title="Fig. 103" /></div> + + + <h3>STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT</h3> + <h3>SEPTEMBER 5 AND 6,</h3> + <h3>1917</h3> + +<p class='center'>CONCORD, N.H.<br /> +THE RUMFORD PRESS<br /> +1916</p> + +<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Annapolis Pub. Co. Print.</span></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" width="75%" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'>PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Officers and Committees of the Association</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_4'><b>4</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Members of the Association</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_5'><b>5</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Constitution of the Association</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_9'><b>9</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>By-laws of the Association</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_11'><b>11</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Proceedings of the Meeting held at Stamford, Connecticut,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>September 5 and 6, 1917</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_12'><b>12</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Report of the Secretary-Treasurer</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_12'><b>12</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Presidents Address</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_15'><b>15</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Reasons for our Limited Knowledge as to<br />What Varieties of Nut Trees to Plant</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_18'><b>18</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Diseases of Nut Trees</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_26'><b>26</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Notes on Nut Bearing Pines and Allied Conifers</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_29'><b>29</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Notes taken on an Excursion to Merribrooke</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_34'><b>34</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A Visit to the Estate of the Late Lowell M. Palmer</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_45'><b>45</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Advent of Nuts into the Nations List<br />of Staple Foods</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_46'><b>46</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Importance of Nut Growing</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_58'><b>58</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Proper Place of Nut Trees in the Planting Program</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_64'><b>64</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Some Insects Injuring Nut Trees</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_73'><b>73</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Extent of the Hardy Nut Tree Nursery Business</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_81'><b>81</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Nut Trees for Shade</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_92'><b>92</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Appendix</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_101'><b>101</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Attendance</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_103'><b>103</b></a></td></tr> +</table> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><br /><br /></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION.</h3> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" width="75%" cellspacing="2" summary="Officers of the Association"> +<tr><td align='left'><i>President</i></td><td align='left'>W. C. Reed</td><td align='right'>University of Pennsylvania</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>Vice-President</i></td><td align='left'>W. N. Hutt</td><td align='right'>Indiana</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>Secretary and Treasurer</i></td><td align='left'>W. C. Deming</td><td align='right'>Georgetown, Connecticut</td></tr> +</table> + + +<h3>COMMITTEES</h3> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" width="75%" cellspacing="0" summary="COMMITTEES"> +<tr><td align='left'><i>Auditing</i>—<span class="smcap">C. P. Close, C. A. Reed</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>Executive</i>—<span class="smcap">T. P. Littlepage, J. Russell Smith and the Officers</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>Finance</i>—<span class="smcap">T. P. Littlepage, Willard G. Bixby, W. C. Deming</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>Hybrids</i>—<span class="smcap">R. T. Morris, C. P. Close, W. C. Deming, J. G. Rush</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>Membership</i>—<span class="smcap">Harry E. Weber, R. T. Olcott, F. N. Fagan, W. O. Potter,</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>W. C. Deming, Wendell P. Williams, J. Russell Smith</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>Nomenclature</i>—<span class="smcap">C. A. Reed, R. T. Morris, J. F. Jones</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>Press and Publication</i>—<span class="smcap">Ralph T. Olcott, J. Russell Smith, W. C. Deming</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>Programme</i>—<span class="smcap">W. C. Deming, J. Russell Smith, C. A. Reed, W. N. Hutt,</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>R. T. Morris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>Promising Seedlings</i>—<span class="smcap">C. A. Reed, J. F. Jones</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<h3>STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS</h3> + + + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" width="75%" cellspacing="0" summary="STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS"> +<tr><td align='left'>California</td><td align='left'>T. C. Tucker</td><td align='left'>311 California St., San Francisco</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Canada</td><td align='left'>G. H. Corsan</td><td align='left'>63 Avenue Road, Toronto</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Connecticut</td><td align='left'>Henry Leroy Lewis</td><td align='left'>Stratford</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Delaware</td><td align='left'>E. R. Angst</td><td align='left'>527 Dupont Building, Wilmington</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Georgia</td><td align='left'>J. B. Wight</td><td align='left'>Cairo</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Illinois</td><td align='left'>E. A. Riehl</td><td align='left'>Alton</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Indiana</td><td align='left'>M. P. Reed</td><td align='left'>Vincennes</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Iowa</td><td align='left'>Wendell P. Williams</td><td align='left'>Danville</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Kentucky</td><td align='left'>Prof. C. W. Matthews</td><td align='left'>State Agricultural Station Lexington</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Maryland</td><td align='left'>C. P. Close</td><td align='left'>College Park</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Massachusetts</td><td align='left'>James H. Bowditch</td><td align='left'>903 Tremont Building, Boston</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Michigan</td><td align='left'>Dr. J. H. Kellogg</td><td align='left'>Battle Creek</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Minnesota</td><td align='left'>L. L. Powers</td><td align='left'>1018 Hudson Ave., St. Paul</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Missouri</td><td align='left'>P. C. Stark</td><td align='left'>Louisiana</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>New Jersey</td><td align='left'>C. S. Ridgway</td><td align='left'>Lumberton</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>New York</td><td align='left'>M. E. Wile</td><td align='left'>37 Calumet St., Rochester</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>North Carolina</td><td align='left'>W. N. Hutt</td><td align='left'>Raleigh</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ohio</td><td align='left'>Harry R. Weber</td><td align='left'>601 Gerke Building, Cincinnati</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pennsylvania</td><td align='left'>J. G. Rush</td><td align='left'>West Willow</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Texas</td><td align='left'>R. S. Trumbull</td><td align='left'>M. S. R. R. Co., El Paso</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Virginia</td><td align='left'>Lawrence R. Lee</td><td align='left'>Leesburg</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Washington</td><td align='left'>A. E. Baldwin</td><td align='left'>Kettle Falls</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>West Virginia</td><td align='left'>B. F. Hartzell</td><td align='left'>Shepherdstown</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>MEMBERS OF THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION</h3> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" width="85%" cellspacing="0" summary="MEMBERS"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Alabama</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Baker, Samuel C., Centerville</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Arkansas</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">*Drake, Prof. N. F., University of Arkansas, Fayetteville</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">California</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Dawson, L. H., Llano</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Kelley, M. C., San Dimas</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Tucker, T. C., Manager California Almond Growers Exchange, 311</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 3em;">California St., San Francisco</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Canada</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Corsan, G. H., University of Toronto, Athletic Association, Toronto</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Sager, Dr. D. S., Brantford</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Connecticut</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Barnes, John R., Yalesville</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Bartlett, Francis A., Stamford</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Barrows, Paul M., May Apple Farm, High Ridge, Stamford</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Deming, Dr. W. C., Georgetown</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Deming, Mrs. W. C., Georgetown</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Donning, George W., North Stamford</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Filley, W. O., State Forester, Drawer 1, New Haven</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Glover, James L., Shelton</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Goodwin, James L., Hartford, Box 447</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hungerford, Newman, Hartford, Box 1082</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Irwin, Mrs. Payson, 575 Main St., Stamford</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Ives, Ernest M., Sterling Orchards, Meriden</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Lewis, Henry Leroy, Stratford</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">*McGlashan, Archibald, Kent</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Mikkelsen, Mrs. M. A., Georgetown</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">*Morris, Dr. Robert T., Cos Cob, Route 28, Box 95</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Randel, Noble P., 157 Grove St., Stamford</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Sessions, Albert L., Bristol</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Southworth, George E., Milford, Box 172</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Staunton, Gray, Stamford, Route 30</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Stocking, Wilber F., Stratford, Route 13</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Walworth, C. W., Belle Haven, Greenwich</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">White, Gerrard, North Granby</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Williams, W. W., Milldale</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Delaware</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Angst, E. R., 527 DuPont Building, Wilmington</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">District of Columbia</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Close, Prof. C. P., Pomologist, Department of Agriculture, Washington</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">*Littlepage, T. P., Union Trust Building, Washington</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Reed, C. A., Nut Culturist, Department of Agriculture, Washington</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Taylor, Dr. Lewis H., The Cecil, Washington</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">England</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Spence, Howard, Eskdale, Knutsford, Cheshire</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Georgia</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Bullard, William P., Albany</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Van Duzee, C. A., Judson Orchard Farm, Cairo</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Wight, J. B., Cairo</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Illinois</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Casper, O. H., Anna</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Librarian, University of Illinois, Urbana</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Poll, Carl J., 1009 Maple St., Danville</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Potter, Hon. W. O., Marion</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Riehl, E. A., Godfrey</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Indiana</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Burton, Joe A., Mitchel</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Phelps, Henry, Remington</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Reed, M. P., Vincennes</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Reed, W. C, Vincennes</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Simpson, H. D., Vincennes</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Stadermann, A. L., 120 S. Seventh St., Terre Haute</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Woolbright, Clarence, Elnora, R 3, Box 76</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Iowa</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Snyder, D. C., Center Point (Linn Co. Nurseries)</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Williams, Wendell P., Danville</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Kansas</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Sharpe, James, Council Grove, (Morris Co. Nurseries)</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Kentucky</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Matthews, Prof. C. W., Horticulturist, State Agricultural Station,</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 3em;">Lexington</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Louisiana</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Montgomery, Dr. Mary, Weyanoke</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Maryland</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Darby, R. U., Suite 804, Continental Building, Baltimore</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Fisher, John H. Jr., Bradshaw</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hayden, Charles S., 200 E. Lexington St., Baltimore</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hoopes, Wilmer P., Forest Hill</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Keenan, Dr. John, Brentwood</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Kyner, James H., Bladensburg</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Littlepage, Miss Louise, Bowie</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Stabler, Henry, Hancock</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Massachusetts</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">*Bowditch, James H., 903 Tremont Building Boston</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Cleaver, C. Leroy, Hingham Center</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Cole, Mrs. George B., 15 Mystic Ave., Winchester</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hoffman, Bernhard, Overbrook Orchard, Stockbridge (103 Park Ave.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 3em;">N. Y. City)</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Simmons, Alfred L., 72 Edison Park, Quincy</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Smith, Fred A., Hathorne</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Michigan</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Kellogg, Dr. J. H., Battle Creek, 202 Manchester St.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Linton, W. S., President Board of Trade, Saginaw</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Ritchey, Paul H., 12 South Rose Lawn Drive, Pontiac</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Missouri</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Bauman, X. C., Sainte Genevieve</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Darche, J. H., Parkville</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Dod, Mrs. Nettie L., Knox City</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Stark, P. C., Louisiana.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Nebraska</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Kurtz, John W., 5304 Bedford St., Omaha</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Warta, Dr. J. J., 1223 First National Bank Building, Omaha</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">New Jersey</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hoecker, R. B., Tenafly, Box 703</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Jaques, Lee W., 74 Waverly St., Jersey City Heights</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Marston, Edwin S., Florham Park, Box 72</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Ridgeway, C. S., Floralia, Lumberton</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Roberts, Horace, Moorestown</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Roffe, John C., 720 Boulevard, E. Weehawken</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">New York</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Abbott, Frederick B., 419 Ninth St., Brooklyn</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Atwater, C. C., The Barrett Co., 17 Battery Place, New York City</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Baker, Prof. J. Fred, Director of Forest Investigations, State</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 3em;">College of Forestry, Syracuse</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Bixby, Willard G., 46th St. and 2nd Ave., Brooklyn</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Brown, Ronald J., 320 Broadway, New York City</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Buist, Dr. George J., 3 Hancock St., Brooklyn</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Crane, Alfred J., Monroe, Box 342</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Ellwanger, Mrs. W. D., 510 East Ave., Rochester</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Haywood, Albert, Flushing</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hicks, Henry, Westbury, Long Island</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hickox, Ralph, 3832 White Plains Ave. New York City</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hodgson, Casper W., World Book Co., Yonkers</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Holden, E. B., Hilton</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">*Huntington, A. M., 15 W. 81st St., New York City</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hupfel, Adolph, 611 W. 107th St., New York City</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">McGlennon, James S., 406 Cutler Building, Rochester</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Manley, Dr. Mark, 261 Monroe St., Brooklyn</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Martin, Harold, 140 Continental Ave., Forest Hills Gardens, L. I. N. Y.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Miller, Milton R., Batavia, Box 394</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Nelson, Dr. James Robert, 23 Main St., Kingston-on-Hudson</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Olcott, Ralph T., Editor American Nut Journal, Ellwanger and Barry</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 3em;">Building, Rochester</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Palmer, A. C., New York Military Academy, Cornwall-on-Hudson.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Pannell, W. B., Pittsford</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Pomeroy, A. C., Lockport</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Rice, Mrs. Lillian McKee, Adelano, Pawling</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Stuart, C. W., Newark</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Teele, A. W., 30 Broad St., New York City</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Thomson, Adelbert, East Avon</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Tuckerman, Bayard, 118 E 37th St., New York City</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Ulman, Dr. Ira, 213 W. 147th St., New York City</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Wile, M. E., 37 Calumet St., Rochester</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Williams, Dr. Charles Mallory, 48 E. 49th St., New York City</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">*Wissman, Mrs. F. deR., Westchester, New York City</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">North Carolina</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hadley, Z. T., Graham</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hutchings, Miss Lida G., Pine Bluff</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hutt, Prof. W. N., State Horticulturist, Raleigh</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Le Fevre, Revere, Johns</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Van Lindley, J., J. Van Lindley Nursery Co., Pomona</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ohio</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Burton, J. Howard, Casstown</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Cruickshank, Prof. R. R., State College of Agriculture Extension</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 3em;">Service, Columbus</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Dayton, J. H., Storrs & Harrison Co., Painesville</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Dysart, J. T., Belmont, Route 3</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Ketchum, C. S., Middlefield</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Thorne, Charles E., Agricultural Experiment Station, Wooster</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Weber, Harry R., 601 Gerke Building, Cincinnati</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Yunck, E. G., 706 Central Ave., Sandusky</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Oklahoma</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Heffner, Chris, Collinsville, Box 255</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Pennsylvania</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Corcoran, Charles A., Wind Rush Fruit Farm, New Albany</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Druckemiller, W. C., Sunbury</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Fagan, Prof. F. N., Department of Horticulture, State College</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Heffner, H., Highland Chestnut Grove, Leeper</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hile, Anthony, Curwensville National Bank, Curwensville</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hoopes, Wilmer W., Hoopes Brothers & Thomas Co., Westchester</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hutchinson, Mahlon, Ashwood Farm, Devon</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Jenkins, Charles Francis, Farm Journal, Philadelphia</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">*Jones, J. F., Lancaster, Box 527</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Kaufman, M. M., Clarion</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Leas, F. C., Merion Station</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Murphy, P. J., Vice President L. & W. R. R. Co., Scranton</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">O'Neill, William C., 328 Walnut St., Philadelphia</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Rheam, J. F., 45 North Walnut St., Lewiston</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">*Rick, John, 438 Pennsylvania Square, Reading</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Rife, Jacob A., Camp Hill</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Rush, J. G., West Willow</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Smedley, Samuel L., 902 Stephen Girard Building, Philadelphia</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">*Sober, Col. C. K., Lewisburg</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Thomas, Joseph W., Jos. W. Thomas & Sons, King of Prussia</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Weaver, William S., McCungie</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1.4em;">*Wister, John C., Wister St. & Clarkson Ave., Germantown</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Wright, R. P., 235 W. 6th St., Erie</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">South Carolina</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Shanklin, Prof. A. G., Clemson College</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Tennessee</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Marr, Thomas S., 701 Stahlmam Building, Nashville</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Texas</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Burkett, J. H., Nut Specialist, State Department of Agriculture,</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 3em;">Clyde</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Trumbull, R. S., Agricultural Agent, El Paso & S. W. System, Morenci</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Southern R. R. Co., El Paso</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Virginia</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Crockett, E. B., Monroe</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Lee, Lawrence R., Leesburg</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Smith, Dr. J. Russell, Roundhill</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">West Virginia</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Cather, L. A., 215 Murry St., Fairmont</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hartzell, B. F., Shepherdstown</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Cannaday, Dr. John Egerton, Charleston, Box 693</span></td></tr> +</table> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><b>* Life Member</b></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONSTITUTION</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><h4><span class="smcap">Article I</span></h4> + +<p><i>Name</i>. This society shall be known as the <span class="smcap">Northern Nut Growers +Association</span>.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Article II</span></h4> + +<p><i>Object</i>. Its object shall be the promotion of interest in +nut-bearing plants, their products and their culture.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Article III</span></h4> + +<p><i>Membership</i>. Membership in the society shall be open to all +persons who desire to further nut culture, without reference to +place of residence or nationality, subject to the rules and +regulations of the committee on membership.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Article IV</span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></h4> + +<p><i>Officers</i>. There shall be a president, a vice-president and a +secretary-treasurer, who shall be elected by ballot at the annual +meeting; and an executive committee of five persons, of which the +president, two last retiring presidents, vice-president and +secretary-treasurer shall be members. There shall be a state +vice-president from each state, dependency or country represented +in the membership of the association, who shall be appointed by the +president.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Article V</span></h4> + +<p><i>Election of Officers</i>. A committee of five members shall be +elected at the annual meeting for the purpose of nominating +officers for the following year.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Article VI</span></h4> + +<p><i>Meetings</i>. The place and time of the annual meeting shall be +selected by the membership in session or, in the event of no +selection being made at this time, the executive committee shall +choose the place and time for the holding of the annual convention. +Such other meetings as may seem desirable may be called by the +president and executive committee.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Article VII</span></h4> + +<p><i>Quorum</i>. Ten members of the association shall constitute a quorum, +but must include a majority of the executive committee or two of +the three elected officers.</p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Article VIII</span></h4> + +<p><i>Amendments</i>. This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote +of the members present at any annual meeting, notice of such +amendment having been read at the previous annual meeting, or a +copy of the proposed amendment having been mailed by any member to +each member thirty days before the date of the annual meeting. </p></div> + + + +<h3>BY-LAWS<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><h4><span class="smcap">Article I</span></h4> + +<p><i>Committees</i>. The association shall appoint standing committees as +follows: On membership, on finance, on programme, on press and +publication, on nomenclature, on promising seedlings, on hybrids, +and an auditing committee. The committee on membership may make +recommendations to the association as to the discipline or +expulsion of any member.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Article II</span></h4> + +<p><i>Fees</i>. The fees shall be of two kinds, annual and life. The former +shall be two dollars, the latter twenty dollars.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Article III</span></h4> + +<p><i>Membership</i>. All annual memberships shall begin with the first day +of the calendar quarter following the date of joining the +association.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Article IV</span></h4> + +<p><i>Amendments</i>. By-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of +members present at any annual meeting. </p></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>Northern Nut Growers' Association</h1> + +<h3>EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING</h3> + +<h4><span class="smcap">September 5 and 6, 1917</span></h4> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Stamford, Connecticut</span>.</h4> + + +<p>The eighth annual meeting of the Northern Nut Growers' Association was +called to order at the Hotel Davenport, Stamford, Connecticut, at 9.30 +A. M., the Vice-President, Prof. W. N. Hutt, presiding in the absence of +the President, Mr. W. C. Reed.</p> + +<p>The meeting opened without formalities with a short business session.</p> + +<p>The report of the Secretary was read and adopted as follows:</p> + + +<h3>REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-TREASURER.</h3> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" width="65%" cellspacing="0" summary="REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-TREASURER"> +<tr><td align='left'>Balance on hand date of last report</td><td align='right'>$ 21.45</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Receipts:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dues</span></td><td align='right'>255.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Advertisements</span></td><td align='right'>36.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Contributions</span></td><td align='right'>15.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sale of reports.</span></td><td align='right'>26.65</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Contributions for prizes</span></td><td align='right'>46.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Miscellaneous</span></td><td align='right'>.89</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'>———</td><td align='right'>$401.74</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Expenses:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Printing report</span></td><td align='right'>$158.60</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Miscellaneous printing</span></td><td align='right'>19.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Postage and stationery</span></td><td align='right'>45.91</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stenographer</span></td><td align='right'>40.30</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Prizes</span></td><td align='right'>57.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Litchfield Savings Society</span></td><td align='right'>65.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'>———</td><td align='right'>$385.81</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'>———</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Balance on hand</span></td><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'>$15.93</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p>Total receipts were a little greater than the year before, receipts from +dues a little less. There are several new life members, ten in all now, +and the secretary has followed the course adopted some time ago of +depositing receipts from life memberships in a savings bank as a +contingent fund.</p> + +<p>There are 138 paid up members, compared with 154 last year. Fifty +members have not paid their dues and there seems to be no other course +but to drop them, after repeated notice, though some are old friends.</p> + +<p>Four members have resigned and there has been one death, that of Mrs. +Charles Miller, of Waterbury, Connecticut.</p> + +<p>We have added but 28 new members during the year, while we have lost 55.</p> + +<p>There have been 358 members since organization, of whom we still have +138, 220 having dropped out.</p> + +<p>Mr. T. P. Littlepage, as chairman of the Committee on Incorporation, +reported at some length on the advisability and the possibilities.</p> + +<p>On motion of Mr. R. T. Olcott, the question of incorporation was left in +the hands of the committee with power.</p> + +<p>The following Nominating Committee was elected: Col. Van Duzee, Mr. +Weber, Mr. Bixby, Mr. Smith, Mr. Ridgeway.</p> + +<p>The following Committee on Resolutions was appointed by the Chair: Dr. +Morris, Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Olcott.</p> + +<p>Moved by Mr. Littlepage: That the association request the Secretary of +Agriculture to include in his estimates of appropriations for the next +fiscal year a sum sufficient, in his judgment, to enable the department +to carry on a continuous survey of nut culture, including the +investigation and study of nut trees throughout the northern states, +such nut trees including all the native varieties of nuts, hickories, +walnuts, butternuts and any sub-divisions of those varieties, and that a +committee of three be appointed to interview the secretary personally to +have this amount included in the appropriation.</p> + +<p>[Motion carried.]</p> + +<p>Mr. Olcott recalled that last year the National Nut Growers' Association +secured an appropriation, and he suggested that this would make it +easier for the Northern Nut Growers to do so this year.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Bartlett</span>: It occurred to me that the boy scouts, with their +great membership and being often out in the woods, would be valuable to +the nut growers' association in hunting native nuts. I took up the +matter with Dr. Bigelow of the Agassiz Association, who is also Scout +Naturalist and I think he can tell us more about getting the boy scouts +interested.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Bigelow</span>: I would suggest that you enlist also the interest +of other organizations for outdoor life. If I knew a little more +definitely what is wanted it could be exploited in definite terms in +Boys' Life, the official organ of the Boy Scouts of America, which has a +mailing list of over 100,000, and which reaches ten or twenty boys each +copy. So you have nigh on to 1,000,000 members who would be reached in +this way. My predecessor, Mr. Ernest Thompson Seton, has organized the +Woodcrafters, which consists of both boys and girls. It seems to me that +their service should be enlisted. They have done remarkably good work. +And there are other organizations such as the Camp Fire Girls. I would +suggest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> that some of you formulate a resolution and let me have a copy +of it to publish in Boys' Life.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris</span>: I will say one word in harmony with Dr. Bigelow and +the possibility of enlisting the interest of these organizations. One of +our members, I think Mr. Weber, has found on a tributary of the Ohio +River a thin shelled black walnut that came down with the flood. He has +found two specimens at the mouth of the stream and he knows that this +particular thin shelled black walnut grows somewhere up that stream. He +would give $50 to anybody who would find that black walnut tree.</p> + +<p>I will give five dollars every year to any boy scout who wins any of our +prizes. That is a permanent offer. Or I will enlarge it perhaps, after +we discuss the matter further by including the Camp Fire Girls. I will +add others to that list. I will give five dollars to any member of one +of those organizations affiliated with us who wins any nut prize in any +year, in addition to our regular prizes. Furthermore we will offer to +name any prize nut after the discoverer, so that his or her name will go +down in history, perhaps causing much fame.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Bigelow</span>: I have had my attention called to the fact that in +the West the beech trees are heavily laden with nuts. It suddenly dawned +on me that in all of my boyhood experience as a hunter and tramper, I +had never seen one edible beech nut in Connecticut. I know there are +many beech trees around Stamford, but I have not been able to find any +nuts. I have advertised for them but although I have received more than +a hundred packages from over the rest of the country, I have not seen +one single beech nut from Connecticut. Some of the old-timers say they +were once plentiful. I wonder whether beech nuts have disappeared from +Connecticut as have potato balls.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris</span>: In the lime stone regions they commonly fill well. +I have a great many beech trees on my place from one year to more than +one hundred years of age, and they came from natural seeding, but the +seeds in this part of Connecticut are very small and shrivelled. They +are not valuable like the ones in western New York, for instance, and I +do not remember even as a boy to have known of eastern beech trees with +well-filled nuts. Many of these inferior nuts will sprout, however.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Littlepage</span>: I think Dr. Bigelow has hit upon a point of a +great deal of interest. For example, on my farm in Maryland I think +there are perhaps three or four hundred beech trees of various<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> sizes, +probably none of them under ten years of age and up to fifty, and in the +four years that I have been observing these beech trees, there has never +grown upon them a single full, fertile beech nut. I have observed very +carefully. On my farm in Indiana I have been observing the same thing +for probably ten or twelve years, and I have never seen a single filled +beech nut. There are some beech trees there two feet in diameter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.</h2> + + + +<h4><span class="smcap">W. C. Reed, Indiana.</span></h4> +<h4>(Read by the Secretary.)</h4> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Fellow Members Northern Nut Growers' Association, Ladies and +Gentlemen</span>:</h4> + +<p>Our association convenes today under changed conditions not only in this +country but throughout the world. Upon the United States rests the +burden of feeding the world, or at least a large portion of it. With +seven-tenths of the globe's population at war, surely this is a mammoth +undertaking.</p> + +<p>The government is urging the farmer to increase his acreage of all +leading grain crops, to give them better cultivation, and is +guaranteeing him a liberal price.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Crop Values.</span></h4> + +<p>Crop values have increased until today there is land bringing more than +$100.00 per acre for a single wheat crop. Corn has sold above $2.00 per +bushel, beans at 20 cents per pound, and hogs at $20.00 per 100 pounds +on foot.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Labor Advances</span>.</h4> + +<p>With these high prices all along the line the price of labor has +advanced to the highest point ever known. Surely it is up to the +American farmer to husband his resources by the use of labor-saving +machinery, by using the tractor and other power machines to conserve +horse feed, by the cultivation of all waste land possible and by +practicing economy and thrift.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">More Intensive Agriculture</span>.</h4> + +<p>In the more intensive agriculture that is urged upon us the Northern Nut +Growers' Association can do a splendid work by the interesting of all +land owners in the conservation of the native nut trees and the planting +of grafted nut trees in gardens, orchards and yards, to take the place +of many worthless shade trees.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Highway Planting</span>.</h4> + +<p>With the government and states working together in the establishment of +market highways and the building of permanent roads, now is the time to +urge the planting of trees that will last for this generation and the +ones that are to follow. In sections of the country the different kind +of nut trees suitable could be selected and, if planted and given proper +care, would be a source of large income in the years that are to come.</p> + +<p>Community effort is needed for such work and if the members of this +association will use their influence it will help to bring this about. +There is one county in England where all the roadsides have been planted +to Damson plums, which has not only made the landscape more beautiful +and furnished the people with much fruit, but the past season has +furnished many tons of plums that were picked half ripe for the +manufacture of dyes that had become scarce owing to the war.</p> + +<p>If such a movement as this had been taken in this country in the +planting of nut trees in former years our roadsides today would be more +beautiful, the country more healthy, the farmer more independent, having +these side crops that require little labor and that could be marketed at +leisure. Our soldier boys might today have sealed cartons of nut meats +included in their rations on the European battle fronts that would be +very acceptable as food and add little to their burden.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Nut Meats in Place of Pork</span>.</h4> + +<p>If every land owner had enough nut trees to furnish his family with all +the nut meats they cared to use, and all the nut bread they would eat, +it would go a long way in solving the high cost of pork and beef. The +better grafted varieties of the black walnut are specially well adapted +for use in nut bread and can be grown in many places where pecans and +English walnuts will not succeed so well.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">What This Association Has Accomplished</span>.</h4> + +<p>In looking backward over the past eight years since this association was +organized it might be well to review some of the things accomplished. +When this organization first came into existence there was a small +demand for budded and grafted nut trees, but none were to be had in the +hardy northern varieties. Interest was created, best individual trees +have been located and new varieties<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> introduced. Methods of propagation +have been worked out, public opinion has been moulded, government +investigation has been fostered, commercial planting of northern nut +trees made possible, and today pecans, English walnuts and best +varieties of grafted black walnuts may be had in quantity. This +association has caused thousands of nut trees to be planted that would +otherwise not have been. Some may ask the question, has it paid? +Individually I would say it has not, but collectively it has, and will +pay large dividends to future generations by making it possible for a +larger food supply at a minimum cost.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Care of Transplanted Nut Trees</span>.</h4> + +<p>It might be well to urge greater care in the cultivation of transplanted +nut trees. Trees should be set fall or early spring while perfectly +dormant. If bodies are wrapped the first summer and first winter it will +prevent much trouble from sun scald. If mounds of earth one foot high +are banked around trees before first cold weather it will often prevent +bark bursting which may be caused by freezing of the trees when full of +sap, caused by late growth. This mound can be removed the next spring +and in case of any winter injury you have plenty of fresh healthy wood +to produce a top.</p> + +<p>Cultivation should commence early in the spring and be kept up until +September first. Never allow weeds to grow or ground to become crusted. +Nut trees form new rootlets slowly the first summer and require special +care. After the second summer they will stand more neglect, but extra +cultivation will be rewarded with extra growth at all times.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Finances</span>.</h4> + +<p>In looking over the treasurer's report at Washington I find a balance of +$21.45, reported at last meeting under date August 14th, 1917. Treasurer +reports balance on hand of $14.13 and no obligations. I think he is to +be congratulated on being able to make ends meet and issue the reports.</p> + +<p>After going over the budget for the coming year I think that we may be +able to keep up this record if the membership committee will look after +new members and see that all old members renew their membership +promptly.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Place of Meetings</span>.</h4> + +<p>Owing to present war conditions the president would recommend that +selection of the next place of meeting be left to executive com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>mittee +to be fixed later after conditions and crops for next year are better +assured. It would seem that some central location might draw the largest +attendance and be of greatest benefit to the association for the coming +year.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Nut Exhibits</span>.</h4> + +<p>Nut exhibits should be encouraged as much as possible and prizes offered +when finances will permit, or where members offer special premiums. This +effort will bring out varieties that are worthy of propagation and +valuable trees will be saved to posterity. These exhibits can often be +held in connection with local horticultural meetings. It is well for our +members to keep a watch for such chances.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>REASONS FOR OUR LIMITED KNOWLEDGE AS TO WHAT VARIETIES OF NUT TREES TO PLANT.</h2> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Prof. W. N. Hutt, North Carolina</span>.</h4> + + +<p>Agriculturally this continent is about three centuries old. +Horticulturally its experience has scarcely reached the century mark. +Practically all the commercial fruit industry of the United States is +the product of the last half century. Relatively speaking we are quite +young and therefore there are a great many things about nut-growing that +we may not be expected to know. In the older lands of Europe and Asia +they have a horticultural experience going back from ten to twenty +centuries.</p> + +<p>In this new country the pioneers had necessarily to confine themselves +to the fundamentals and it is to be expected that their horticultural +operations were confined to a very narrow maintenance ratio. As the +country was cleared up and developed certain sections were found to be +especially suited to fruit culture. About these centers specialized +fruit-growing industries were developed. These planters tried out all +available varieties and developed their own methods of culture. As these +industries developed horticultural societies were formed for the +exchanging of ideas and experiences. In 1847 the American Pomological +Society was formed as a national clearing house of horticultural ideas.</p> + +<p>The first work the society undertook was to determine the varieties of +the different classes of fruits suitable for planting in different +sections of the country. Patrick Barry, of Rochester, one of the +pioneers of American horticulture was for years the chairman<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> of the +committees on varietal adaptation and did an immense amount of work on +that line. At the meetings of the society he went alphabetically over +the variety lists of fruits and called for reports on each one from +growers all over the country. This practice was kept up for years and +the resulting data were collated and compiled in the society's reports. +In this systematic way the varietal adaptations of the different classes +of fruits were accurately worked out for all parts of the country. A +similar systematic roll call of classes and varieties of nuts grown by +the members of this association would be of immense value to intending +planters of nut trees.</p> + +<p>In northern nut-growing, however, it may be questioned if we are yet +arrived at the Patrick Barry stage. What we need is pioneer planters who +have the courage to plant nut trees and take a chance against failure +and not wait for others to blaze the trail. It needs men of vision and +courage to plant the unknown and look with hope and optimism to the +future. So many are deterred from planting by the fact that nut trees +are tardy in coming into bearing and uncertain of results. In these +stirring times we want men of nerve in the orchard as well as in the +trenches. We need tree planters like Prof. Corsan who, at a former +meeting of this association when joked about planting hickories, replied +that he wasn't nervous and could watch a hickory tree grow. It takes +nerve to be an innovator and to plant some radically different crop from +what your conservative neighbors all about you are planting.</p> + +<p>The Georgia cotton planters wagged their heads and tapped their +foreheads when Col. Stuart and Major Bacon turned good cotton land into +pecan groves. But the thousands of acres of commercial pecan orchards +now surrounding these original plantings showed that these pioneer pecan +planters were not lunatics or impractical dreamers, but courageous men +of vision, thirty years ahead of their time.</p> + +<p>Nut tree planting is not all waiting. It will give the busy man some +surprises as I have reason to know from my own limited experience. Ten +years ago when I planted my first experimental orchard I set about +preparing several other lines of quick maturing experimental work, for I +did not expect those trees would have any thing to report for a decade +or so. You can imagine how surprised and delighted I was when on the +third year there was a sprinkling of nuts, enough to be able to identify +the most precocious varieties. The surprise increased to wonder the next +year when there was an increased number of nuts on the trees that had +borne last year and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> a number of new varieties came into bearing. In the +eighth year when an 800-pound crop of nuts changed that experimental +planting into a commercial pecan orchard, I was, to use a sporting +phrase, "completely knocked out of the box." The man who thinks there +are no thrills in tree planting has something yet to learn. It is the +surest sign of a real true-blue horticulturist that he wants to set some +kind of new tree or plant.</p> + +<p>It is the rarest kind of a plantation that has on it no waste land. +Fence rows, ditch banks and rough or stony places are to be found on +practically every farm. Such spots too often lie waste or galled or at +best are covered with weeds, briars, bushes or useless scrubby trees. +These waste places would make a fine trial ground for testing out nut +trees. A few fine walnuts, pecans or hickories, or rows of chinquapins +and hazels would add profit as well as beauty to these waste and +unsightly places found on most farms.</p> + +<p>Following old conservative methods the average farmer sets about his +house and buildings unproductive oaks, elms and maples, with scarcely a +question of a thought that there are as handsome shade trees that will +produce pleasure and profit as well. On our lawns and about our door +yards we could plant to advantage the Japanese walnut and the hardier +types of pecans and Persian walnuts. It would be of interest to try a +few seedlings of these classes of nuts. If such practices were followed +in the planting of nut trees it would not be long until new and valuable +sorts would be found and a great deal of data made available to +intending nut planters. I believe that a great deal of good would result +from the preparation and dissemination of a circular encouraging farmers +in nut planting.</p> + +<p>This association is doing a valuable work in offering prizes to locate +high class seedling nut trees that will be worthy of propagating. Sooner +or later valuable sorts will be found in this way. In this connection it +will be wise for this association to solicit the active co-operation of +the horticultural workers in the different states. The workers of the +agricultural colleges, experiment stations and extension service do a +great deal of traveling and have special facilities for getting in touch +with promising varieties. The horticulturists of some states have made +nut surveys of their states to ascertain their resources in the way of +valuable varieties and of conditions suitable for nut culture. The +interesting bulletin, "Nut Growing in Maryland," gotten out by Prof. +Close, when he was State Horticulturist in Maryland, is a very valuable +contribution along this line. It would be well for this association to +solicit the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> co-operation of the trained horticulturists in the northern +states to make nut surveys and ascertain definitely the valuable +varieties already growing within their borders and what are the +possibilities for the production of these types for home purposes for +commercial growing. A few of the state experiment stations have taken up +definite experimental and demonstration nut projects and are doing +valuable work in this line. This association should memorialize the +directors of the other stations to undertake definite nut projects and +surveys and get the work under way as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>While endeavoring to stimulate private, state and national +investigations in nut culture, the author would be very remiss if he +failed to recognize the very valuable work already done by the zealous, +painstaking and unselfish pioneers of northern nut growing. Messrs. Bush +and Pomeroy have given to the country and especially to the north and +east, two valuable hardy Persian walnuts. Our absent president, Mr. W. +C. Reed, of Vincennes, Ind., is doing a great deal in the testing and +dissemination of hardy nut trees. Our first president, though an +exceedingly busy surgeon and investigator in medicine, finds time to +turn his scientific attention to the testing and breeding of nut trees. +Some of our brilliant legal friends, too, find time to pursue the +elusive phantom of ideal nuts for northern planting.</p> + +<p>We cannot go through the growing list of nut investigators nor chronicle +their achievements, but we know that when the history of American +horticulture is written up ample justice will be done to their labors +and attainments. Let each of us do our part in the building up of the +country by the planting of nut trees. Let us plant them on our farms, in +our gardens and about our buildings and lawns. Let us induce and +encourage our neighbors to plant and do all possible to make nut +planting fashionable until it becomes an established custom all over the +land. It will not then be long before valuable varieties of nut trees +will be springing up all over the country. This association will then +soon have a wealth of available data at hand to give to intending +planters in all parts of the country.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Member</span>: In Europe they raise a great many nuts that they ship +to this country, chestnuts, hazels and Persian walnuts. I understand +they grow usually in odd places about the farms, but the aggregate +production amounts to a great deal. We could very well follow the lead +given by Europe in that particular, at least.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> + +<p>I think we could have for dissemination circulars which would stimulate +people to plant nut trees more widely than at present.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Secretary</span>: This question of nut planting in waste places +always comes up at our meetings and is always encouraged by some and +frowned upon by others. I do not think we ought to recommend in an +unqualified way the planting of nut trees in waste places. I have +planted myself, lots of us have tried it, and found that most nut trees +planted in waste places are doomed to failure. I do not recall an +exception in my own experience. I understand that in Europe the road +sides and the fence rows are planted with trees and the farmers get a +part of their income in that way. But with us in Connecticut nut +planting in waste places does not seem to be a success. It is quite +different when you come to plant nut trees about the house and about the +barn. They seem to thrive where they don't get competition with native +growth and where they have the fertility which is usually to be found +about houses and barns. In fact, I have advocated the building of more +barns in order that we might have more places for nut trees. I think we +should plant nut trees around our houses and barns where we can watch +them and keep the native growth from choking them, and where we can give +them fertility and keep them free from worms. The worms this year in +Connecticut have been terribly destructive. My trees that I go to +inspect every two or three weeks, at one inspection would be leafing +out, at the next would be defoliated. If such trees are about your house +where you can see them every day or two you can catch the worm at its +work. So for experimental planting I think places about our houses and +barns can be very successfully utilized. When it comes to commercial +planting, I think we must recommend for nut trees what we do for peach +trees. We must give them the best conditions. I am hoping from year to +year that somebody will come forward to make the experiment of planting +nut trees in orchard form and give them the best conditions, as he would +if he were going to set out an apple or peach orchard. The association +has made efforts by means of circulars to interest the experiment +stations, schools of forestry and other agricultural organizations. A +number of the members of such organizations are members of the +association. The work has been taken up to some slight degree in such +places as the School of Forestry at Syracuse. I do not recall any others +at this moment, although there are some. I will read part of a letter +from Professor Record of the Yale School of Forestry: "The only reasons +I can think of why the consideration of nut trees is not given more +attention in our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> school are (1) it comes more under the head of +horticulture than forestry (2) lack of time in a crowded curriculum (3) +unfamiliarity with the subject on the part of the faculty." We would +like to interest these faculties in nut growing. We look upon them as +sources of education but evidently we are more advanced than they are in +the subject of nut growing and it is up to us to educate them.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Col. Van Duzee</span>: Right now when you are at the beginning of nut +growing in the North you cannot over estimate the value for the future +of records. My heart goes out to the man who comes to us as a beginner +and wants to know something definite. Our records are the only thing we +can safely give him. The behavior of individual nut trees, the +desirability of certain varieties for certain localities—those things +are of tremendous value.</p> + +<p>No doubt you know that in California they have come to the point in many +sections where they keep records of what each individual tree does. I +began that some years ago with the commercial planting that I have had +charge of for the last twelve years. We now have an individual tree +record of every nut produced since these trees came into bearing—about +2500 trees. I went further than that—I kept a record of the value of +the different nuts for growing nursery stock so that I might grow trees +that would be the very best produced in our section. Now the years have +gone by and I have a ledger account with every tree in that 2500 and I +know exactly what it has given me. I know how many nuts it has produced. +You would be surprised to see the wide discrepancy in those records, the +different behavior of individual trees. I wish I could talk to you +longer on that subject. It is something I am very enthusiastic about.</p> + +<p>By virtue of the records we have kept for years I have found a source of +supply for seed nuts and nursery stock which has proved to be a constant +performer. I bud this nursery stock from trees with individual records +that have proved themselves to be good performers, I have found that +certain varieties have proved themselves not worthy of being planted, +and certain other varieties have proven themselves at least promising. +This last year I took 100 Schley, 100 Stuart, 100 Delmas and 100 +Moneymaker trees and planted them all on the same land. Now these trees, +you understand, are grown from the stock grown from a nut that I know +the record of for years. I know its desirability. The buds are from +selected trees whose records I have. More than that, I alternated the +rows and the trees in the rows. These trees are now where they have got +to stand right up and make a record so that we will know ten years from +today what is the best variety for our section.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> + +<p>I do not think I can make myself as clear as I wish I could this +morning, but here is the point. If anybody comes to me I can tell him +definitely, and I have records in my office to show, what the different +varieties are doing and what soil they are growing in. Here in the north +where the industry is in its infancy now is the time to start records. +When I saw the subject of Professor Hutt's paper, the "Reasons For Our +Limited Knowledge as to What Varieties of Nut Trees to Plant," it +occurred to me that if you don't now start right in making records, ten +years from today you will still have existing one of the principal +reasons why you don't know.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Kelsey</span>: I started out four years ago with English walnuts. +I read the account of Pomeroy and so I got a half dozen trees from him. +They all died. I got five or six trees from Mr. Jones. I think this is +the third year and one of those has some nuts on. I have got now about +150 trees planted in regular rows where I am cultivating them. But I was +going to say that four years ago I sent to Pomeroy and asked him if he +wouldn't send me a few nuts as a sample. He sent me 16. I cracked two of +them. Fourteen of them I put in. I didn't know how to put them in so I +took a broom handle, punched a hole in the ground and stuck them in the +bottom. I never thought I would get any results from them. They came up +in July. They did not come up quick. I suppose I had them so deep. I set +them out three years ago. Some of them are as high as this room in three +years on cultivated land set out in rows. They have never borne any. No +one knows how long it takes for a seedling to bear. It may be two years, +or five years, or ten.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris</span>: I want to bear witness on the point that Col. Van +Duzee made, the matter of keeping records. The man who keeps good +records is a public benefactor because what he learns becomes public +property upon the basis of available data. Every one of us should pay +attention to that point which Col. Van Duzee has brought out. +Unfortunately my records have been kept by my secretaries in shorthand +notes and I have had four different secretaries in ten years, and each +with different methods of shorthand. They have not had time to write up +all the notes, and so I find it difficult to present good nut records +when busily occupied with professional responsibilities, which must come +first. I had one field filled with young hybrid nut trees. A neighbor's +cow got into that field and the boy who came after the cow found her to +be refractory. The boy began to pull up stakes with tags marking the +different trees and threw them at the cow. Before he got through he had +hybridized about forty records of nut trees.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Chairman</span>: As a horticulturist along experimental lines I +find the trouble is to get people to plant trees and properly plant +them. I do not think that the average farmer knows how to plant trees. +That is why they get such poor results. They plant them where anybody +with intelligence would not plant them. We find in the South that we can +grow trees if there is protection against fire and stock. If fire is +kept out and stock is kept from grazing, nature will cover the land with +forest trees. I think that will go a long way to getting nut trees. But +a man planting something as valuable as a nut tree wants to take a +little more pains than that. I have seen Mr. Littlepage's place where he +is raising handsome trees, but he has planted crops around each tree and +there is plenty of plant food. You can grow trees almost anywhere if you +make the conditions favorable. In hedge rows and odd places, if the +forest soil is preserved, you can grow almost any kind of a nut tree. +These conditions must prevail or we must make them prevail.</p> + +<p>Just another point on the matter of home planting. I wouldn't be a very +good preacher if I didn't carry out my own practices. Just to show my +faith by my works I want to say that I took out every shade tree at home +and put a nut tree in its place. Down south where shade is very valuable +they said "that man is very foolish to cut down nice elms and maples +like that and put nut trees in their place." It did look so then for a +while. Now I have some handsome pecans and Persian walnuts and Japanese +walnuts, and this year I get my first dividends from a tree five years +old. Of course we have taken care to preserve their symmetry, but I +think our nut trees come pretty close to being our best shade tree. I +will challenge anybody to find a handsomer tree than a well-grown pecan. +It is a very stalwart tree with its branches of waving foliage, which is +the characteristic of an ideal shade tree, and yet, in addition to that, +it produces in the fall magnificent nuts. So the proposition of home +planting is one that pays quick dividends on attention given. I think I +have convinced my neighbors that it is a good deal better to raise +handsome nut trees than poplars. My neighbor planted Carolina poplars at +the same time. He was out there the other morning raking up the leaves +and that is all he will have to do until Christmas time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE DISEASES OF NUT TREES.</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">S. M. McMurren, Washington, D. C.</span></h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. President and Members</span>: It is a source of great regret with +me that I cannot report to you some new and horrible disease attacking +nut trees. This makes a more interesting talk.</p> + +<p>Last year in Washington I talked to you briefly about the Persian walnut +blight which we had definitely established as occurring in the East. +Last March the National Nut Growers' Association got very busy and so +amended the agricultural appropriation bill that all the funds for +national nut investigation were spent for pecan investigation, so it +left us up in the air for work in the north. We have, however, been able +to continue our observations with the Persian walnut blight and there is +only one further point to be emphasized and brought out at this time. +Those of you who have informed yourselves on this matter know that the +serious period of infection on the Pacific Coast is in the spring. It is +a blossom blight. During the past two years the period of infection in +the East has been in the late summer and it has not been serious on that +account. It is well known that in certain dry springs on the Pacific +Coast this blight does not occur and those years the growers are assured +of good crops. I think that this investigation, and the bulletin which +will soon be forthcoming, will not act as a discouragement for those who +want to plant Persian walnuts. I think it should not but should rather +encourage planting of these nuts. In spite of the presence of this +disease on the Pacific Coast the walnut industry has grown to be very +profitable, and if it proves that late infection is the rule in the East +there is every reason to believe that the disease will not be so +serious. That is practically the only walnut disease worthy of attention +at present.</p> + +<p>The filbert disease is a fungus disease and Dr. Morris and others are +authority for the statement that it can be readily controlled by cutting +out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris</span>: I will show this afternoon that it can be +controlled in a way.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. McMurren</span>: We in the department have not been in a position +to do any work on the hazel blight so far. The hazel blight is +interesting in that it illustrates a principle in plant diseases which +it is well to know, that most of our serious plant diseases fall in one +of two classes; either a native disease on imported plants or an +im<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>ported disease on native plants. This filbert blight is very slight +on native hazels but very serious on imported European hazels. I do not +think there is anything more on the filbert disease, but Dr. Morris will +have some interesting things to show you this afternoon.</p> + +<p>I want to interject a remark here about the business of planting trees +for commercial crops along the road sides. There is more to be +considered than the mere matter of planting a tree. Insect pests and +diseases have to be taken into consideration. There is nothing that an +apple orchard planter more hates to see than a tree out of the orchard. +It doesn't receive proper attention and is apt to be a source of +disease. I believe that wherever the nut industry has been established +on an orchard scale it is a matter that should receive careful thought +before trees are planted on the road side. When you have an adequate +fertilizing department and can give it careful attention the same as +trees in the orchard, all right. But they do not as a rule receive it. +Roadside planting perhaps sounds very attractive on the surface and is +probably a very good plan in some cases, but I think it is open to grave +objections where an orchard industry is in the same section.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Secretary</span>: I am sorry that Mr. C. A. Reed is not here to +take up the discussion of the walnut blight, because I think he takes a +little more serious view of it than Mr. McMurren.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. McMurren</span>: I know he does.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Secretary</span>: That is right that Mr. Reed does, and I am glad +he is here (Mr. Reed having just entered) to talk it over. Mr. Jones is +also here. Mr. Jones is a close observer and has followed it in the +field from the beginning. This matter of walnut bacteriosis is a very +important one. Here is the walnut industry just in its infancy. We want +to know whether this walnut bacteriosis is threatening such proposed +industry seriously or not. We know it is a very serious thing in +California. Can we safely begin planting English walnut trees or is the +question of the seriousness of bacteriosis so serious that we should not +plant extensively until we know more about it. Mr. McMurren has been +saying a few words about bacteriosis in which he has not given us an +impression of seriousness. I think Mr. Reed will give us some remarks on +that matter.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Reed</span>: I do not like to go up against Mr. McMurren. He is +the disease man. He is the last word in the government. I am only a +second fiddle when it comes to diseases but I must say that I have not a +very optimistic feeling over the blight situation. I have been depending +very largely on him to give us information.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Secretary</span>: Where did you find it, Mr. Reed?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Reed</span>: Speaking for the East only, for the part of the +country that we are directly interested in, I have visited a number of +the walnut sections. I think I have tried to reach all of them and in +nearly every place that I have been to in the last year or two there has +been blight. Several of the orchards that have been most widely +advertised have blight, according to Mr. McMurren's identification. I +went all the way from Georgia to Northwestern Pennsylvania and Northern +New York State last year to be present when the crops were gathered from +orchards of those sections, and in one of those orchards, one at North +East, Pennsylvania, the crop was what I would call about 65 per cent +failure due to blight. The other orchard, one near Rochester, was not +badly blighted, but there was a very light crop, not over 10 per cent of +a crop, but still there was some blight there. Now, I do not know just +what Mr. McMurren has said. I do know that he does not feel very badly +alarmed over the blight situation in the East and I would rather hear +him talk and Mr. Rush, and Mr. Jones.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Bartlett</span>: I would like to know what the chief +characteristics of the blight are.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. McMurren</span>: The ordinary late infection in the East begins +with a little spot on the husk around the 1st of July, and that merely +spreads until just about the time they fall off the tree. When the +blight infection strikes it it stains the nut badly. The point I want to +make is that you get the nuts anyhow. Mr. Littlepage, do you recall the +trees in Georgetown? The blight there is a very late infection. It is +not a thing that I can say should be discouraging. Blights are all over, +the pear blight, the apple blight, the lettuce blight. If we can make +the crop in spite of it I don't see why we should be unduly alarmed. I +think there are a good many other factors to be taken into consideration +in planting on a large scale and to make the question hinge on the +blight is not right. Spraying is of no avail. I don't think the walnut +growers should be discouraged because even in California where it is +most serious the industry is still profitable.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Jones</span>: Some times the husk worm may spoil the husk and that +may be confused with the blight. So far Mr. Rush has had the blight ever +since I have known his trees. Last year the blight was more prevalent +than this year. This year I estimated the loss in the nuts about 10 per +cent. Last year I think it ran one-quarter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Secretary</span>: Would those nuts be ruined?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Jones</span>: Some of them would be and some of them not.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Secretary</span>: One-quarter would be affected by blight and some +of those would be good but not all?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Jones</span>: I don't know what proportion. If the nut when taken +out of the husk is black, it would not be worth much. You can eat them +but they are not marketable.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>NOTES ON THE NUT BEARING PINES AND ALLIED CONIFERS.</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Dr. Robert T. Morris, New York</span></h4> + + +<p>Among the food trees of the world of the nut bearing group the palms +with their many species of cocoanuts probably stand first, the pines +next, and the chestnuts third in order, so far as food supply for +various peoples is concerned. Then come the almonds, walnuts, hazels, +hickories and other nut bearing trees, the nuts of which have been +somewhat carelessly looked upon as luxuries rather than as an important +pantry full of good substantial calories to be turned into human +kinetics.</p> + +<p>The pines and allied conifers like <i>Araucaria</i> and <i>Podocarpus</i> will +take their respective places in furnishing food supply for us all when +the need comes. Such need is already close upon our new vista of war +supplies. The squirrels and mice this year will eat thousands of tons of +good food that our soldiers would be glad to have. The particular +advantage in planting nut bearing pines rests in the fondness of these +trees for waste places where little else will grow, and they need less +attention perhaps than any other trees of the nut bearing group. For +purposes of convenience in description I shall group all of the conifers +together under the head of pines in this paper, although in botany the +word "Pinus" is confined to generic nomenclature.</p> + +<p>Up to the present time we have not even developed our resources to the +point of utilizing good grounds very largely for any sort of nut tree +plantations. In accordance with the canons of human nature men work +hardest, and by preference, with crops which give them small returns for +their labor. Riches from easily raised crops go chiefly to the lazy +folks who don't like work. On the way to this meeting some of you +perhaps noticed near Rye on the west side of the railroad track, a +chicken farm on a side hill and a rich bottom<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> land which had been +ditched and set out to about three hundred willow trees along the ditch +banks. Now if the owner of this property had set out English walnuts in +the place of the willows, each tree at the present time, at a low +estimate, might be bearing five dollars worth of nuts per year per tree, +and I am, sure that would be a much larger income than the owner gets +from his chickens—an income obtained certainly with much less trouble, +because neighbors cannot break in at night and carry off walnut trees of +such size. Two or three weeks from the present time you will observe +people everywhere in this section of the country raking up leaves from +various willows, poplars and maples, when they might quite as well be +raking up bushels of nuts of various kinds instead of just leaves.</p> + +<p>I presume that the extensive planting of pine trees for food purposes +will have to wait until we have advanced to the point of putting other +kinds of nut trees upon good ground first. Pines will be employed for +the more barren hillsides when the folks of three hundred years from now +begin to complain of the high cost of living.</p> + +<p>Among some thirty or more species of pine trees which furnish important +food supply for various peoples I exhibit nuts from only sixteen species +today, because much of the crop comes from Europe and from Asia. I could +not obtain a larger variety of specimens on account of the present +interest of people in the game which military specialists play wherever +industrious nations have saved up enough money to be turned over to +their murder experts. In the pine trees we have opportunity for +combining beauty and utility. As a group they are mountain lovers +preferring localities where the air drainage is particularly good, but +many of them will grow thriftily and will fruit well on low grounds. +Fine nuts range in character from the rich, sugary, oily and highly +nitrogenous nut of the Mexican piñon to the more starchy <i>bunya bunya</i> +of Australia, as large as a small potato and not much better than a +potato, unless it is roasted or boiled. Yet this latter pine is valuable +for food purposes and the British Government has reserved one forest of +the species thirty miles long and twelve miles wide in which no one is +allowed to cut trees.</p> + +<p>The nut of the <i>Araucaria imbricata</i> has constituted a basis for +contention among Indian tribes in Chile for centuries, and perhaps more +blood has been shed over the forests of this pine than over any other +single source of food supply in the world. We do not know if the <i>Pinus +imbricata</i> will fruit in the climate and at the latitude<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> of New York, +but I know that at least one tree of the species has lived for twenty +years on the Palmer estate here in Stamford.</p> + +<p>Some of the smaller pine nuts like those of the single-leaved pine, or +of the sugar pine, are delicious when cracked and eaten out of hand, but +the smaller pine nuts are pounded up by the Indians with a little water +and the thick, rich, creamy emulsion like hickory milk when pressed out, +is evaporated down to a point where the milk can be kept for a long time +without decomposition. In addition to the nuts of the sugar pine, the +Indians collect the sugar of dried juice which exudes at points where +cuts have been made in the tree for the purpose. Incidentally, the sugar +pine is one of our finest American trees anyway. Botanists tell us that +it grows to a height of two hundred and seventy-five feet, and +travellers say that it reaches three hundred feet. The latter people +having actually seen the trees we may know which estimate to accept.</p> + +<p>Aside from the beauty of most pines and the majesty of some of them, +their utility is not confined to nuts alone. Timber and sap products are +very valuable. The sugar pine in the latitude of New York is hardy, but +does not grow as rapidly as it does in the West. The same may be said of +the Jeffrey bull pine, but I shall show you some thriftier trees of this +latter species tomorrow on my property. A very pretty striped nut is +that of the <i>Pinus pinea</i>. This is the Italian pignolia, and you may buy +them in the confectionery stores in this country. They are used as a +dessert nut chiefly, but form an important food supply in some parts of +Europe. The Swiss stone pine, <i>Pinus cembra</i>, is one of the hardy nut +pines, fruitful in this vicinity, and the <i>Pinus Armandi</i>, the Korean +pine and the Lace-bark pine from central China, are hardy and fruitful +in this vicinity, to our knowledge.</p> + +<p>Two very handsome pine nuts are those of the Digger pine, <i>Pinus +Sabiniana</i> and the Big-cone pine, <i>Pinus Coulteri</i>. Both trees are hardy +in this latitude, but I have not been able to locate any which are of +bearing age as yet. The nuts have a rich dark brown or nearly black and +tan shading. The nut of the Digger pine is very highly prized by the +Indians and is larger and better in quality than the nut of the Big-cone +pine which looks so much like it.</p> + +<p>Nuts of the Torrey pine have been somewhat difficult to secure for +planting, because they are esteemed so highly for food purposes that +they have been collected rather closely by local people in the small +area in which this species is found, on our Pacific Coast. It is +improbable that the Torrey pine will be hardy much above our most +southern states.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> + +<p>We do not advertise dealers in our association as a rule, but Mr. Thomas +J. Lane, of Dresher, Pennsylvania, is not likely to make any great +fortune from his sale of pine nuts to us. Consequently, I am stating at +this point that Mr. Lane has offered to go to the trouble of securing +pine nuts from different parts of the world for our members who wish to +plant different species experimentally. I have given him a list of +species to be kept permanently on file, and the list is marked in such a +way that ones which are known to be hardy, semi-hardy, or fruitful in +the latitude of New York may be selected for experimental planting. I +hope that some of our southern planters will plant South American, +Asiatic, African and Australian species of nut pines for purposes of +observation. Mr. Lane will get the seed for them.</p> + +<p>I have included among the specimens here today nuts of the ginkgo +because that tree belongs among the conifers in natural order. It is an +ancient tree which should not fit into this time and generation, but it +has gone on down past the day when it belonged on earth. Its prehistoric +enemies have died out, so the ginkgo tree has come rolling along down +the centuries without enemies and at the same time with many +peculiarities. Comparatively few of the trees are females, but the tree +grows heartily in this latitude and one may graft male ginkgos in any +quantity from some one female. The nut of this tree is rather too +resinous to suit the American palate, but the Chinese and Japanese +visitors to the Capitol grounds at Washington greedily collect the nuts +from a bearing female tree growing there.</p> + +<p>Most of the pine nuts have a resinous flavor, but as a class they are so +rich and sweet that this is not disagreeable. The nuts of the +single-leaf pine and our common piñon, <i>Pinus edulis</i>, are delicious +when eaten out of hand and both of these trees are hardy in this +latitude, but they do not grow as rapidly here as they do upon the arid +mountains and under the conditions of their native habitat.</p> + +<p>In Europe and Asia pine nuts for the market are cracked by machinery or +by cheap hand labor, and I presume that we may eventually hull some of +the smaller ones as buckwheat is hulled. If the contents of the smaller +nuts are extracted by the Indian method of grinding them up with a +little water and then subjecting them to pressure, the waste residue +will probably be valuable for stock food of the future, very much as we +now use oil cake.</p> + +<p>When planting nuts of pine trees I would call the attention of +horticulturists to one very important point. The nuts must be planted in +ground that does not "heave" in the spring time when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> the frost goes +out. Many of the pine nuts send down a rather slender root at first +without many side rootlets, and when the frost opens the ground in the +spring the young trees are thrown out and lost. Here is another point of +practical importance. Do not plant pine seed where stock can get at the +young shoots in March. The little gems look so bright and green, so +fresh and attractive when the snow goes off that cows and sheep, deer, +squirrels and field mice will all try to collect them. Young pines +should be grown in half shade during their first two years. They will +require weeding and nice attention on the part of a lover who wishes to +be polite to them.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Question</span>: Is there any difficulty in harvesting the crops, do +the cones shed?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Answer</span>: With some species the cones are shed before they are +fully opened. They are collected and stored until the nuts can be beaten +out. Other species retain the cones until the nuts have been shed. The +branches are shaken and the nuts collected from tree to tree by the +beaters and spread out upon the ground.</p> + +<p>Sometimes coarse sheeting or matting is carried from tree to tree by the +beaters and spread out upon the ground.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Question</span>: At what age will they bear?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Answer</span>: Pines bear rather late as a rule. I doubt if very many +of them will bear in less than 10 years from seed.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Question</span>: Would it be possible to produce grafted trees?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Answer</span>: Yes, without much difficulty. Undoubtedly you could get +bearing wood from old trees and graft on young trees, or graft on other +species. They may be grafted back and forth like the ornamental firs and +spruces of the nurserymen.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Question</span>: They don't compass, do they. If you cut them off, do +shoots come out of the stumps?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Answer</span>: Not as a rule. Adventitious buds belong to few pine +trees. They graft conifers when the stocks are young.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Question</span>: Of those that you suggest, what would be the best +here?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Answer</span>: The Korean, the Bungeana or lace-bark, the Swiss stone +pine, and the Armandi. These can be counted on to bear in the vicinity +of New York. Several other species not yet tried out may bear well here, +but I have not gone over the trees on estates very extensively as yet +with that question in mind.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Question</span>: Are any of these specially good for the South?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Answer</span>: Yes, most of the pine nuts that I have shown here will +grow south of Maryland and seven of the best pine nuts in the world +belong to our Southwest.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Question</span>: Is there any more trouble with the cows and squirrels +over nut pines than there is with ordinary pine trees?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Answer</span>: No, excepting that you don't miss the ordinary kinds so +much. It is largely a matter of comparative interest.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>NOTES TAKEN ON AN EXCURSION TO MERRIBROOKE, THE COUNTRY PLACE OF DR. ROBERT T. MORRIS, AT STAMFORD, CONN., SEPTEMBER 5, 1917.</h2> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris Conducting the Party</span>.</h4> + + +<p>(1) Taylor shagbark hickory tree, overhanging the entrance-gate. A tree +remarkable for annual bearing and for nuts of high quality, thin shell, +large size, and excellent cleavage. Among hundreds of hickories +examined, many of them in response to prize offers, this tree at the +entrance furnishes one of the very best nuts of the lot.</p> + +<p>(2) Buckley hickory (<i>Hicoria Buckleyi</i>) from Texas. Supposed not to be +hardy in this latitude. Perfectly hardy, but not growing as rapidly as +it does at home. Very large roundish thick shelled nut with a kernel of +good quality if you can get it. Kernel has a peculiar but agreeable +fragrance.</p> + +<p>(3) Another southern species, the North Carolina hickory (<i>Hicoria +Carolinae-septentrionalis</i>). Note the small, pointed, dark colored buds +and beautiful foliage. The tree is perfectly hardy in Connecticut. This +shagbark bears a small thin shelled nut of high-quality and it will be +particularly desirable for table purposes. The tree grows thriftly in +Connecticut.</p> + +<p>(4) Carolina hickory. Grafted on native shagbark.</p> + +<p>(5) A group of Korean nut pines (<i>Pinus Koraensis</i>). Raised from seed +and now six years of age. One of the valuable food supply pines of +northern Asia. Like most eastern Asiatic trees the species does well in +eastern North America.</p> + +<p>(6) A central Asian prune (<i>Prunus Armeniaca</i>). Without value for the +fleshy part of the drupe, but with a nut like that of the apricot, +highly prized for its kernel. The tree is hardy and thrifty, but rather +vulnerable to a variety of blights belonging to Prunus.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + +<p>(7) An ordinary black walnut grafted to the Lutz variety. A very large +nut with good cleavage, good color and good quality.</p> + +<p>(8) Alder-leaved chestnut (<i>Castanea alnifolia</i>) from central Georgia. +One of the most beautiful of the American chestnuts, with more or less +of the trailing habit, running over the ground like the juniper, and +apparently not subject to blight. In Georgia it is an evergreen, but in +Connecticut it is deciduous, although sometimes a few green leaves are +found in the early spring if they have been covered by snow or by loose +dead leaves during the winter. The nut is of high quality and fair size. +There are a number of hybrids between this and other chestnuts at +Merribrooke, but not bearing as yet.</p> + +<p>(9) A group of common papaws (<i>Asimina triloba</i>), two of them grafted. +The Journal of Heredity offered a prize of fifty dollars for the best +American papaw, and the prize was awarded to the Ketter variety, the +fruits of which weigh about one pound each. Seven little trees of this +species were secured and two larger papaw trees grafted from cuttings +when the seven were set out. Papaws grow well in this part of +Connecticut, and because of the high quality of the fruit should be more +largely planted.</p> + +<p>(10) Mills persimmon. One of a group of several varieties that are being +cultivated in this country. Hardy and thrifty in Connecticut.</p> + +<p>(11) A group of Jeffrey bull pines (<i>Pinus Jeffreyi</i>) from Colorado. One +of the nut pines. Supposed to do its best in the arid mountains of the +West. Perfectly hardy and thrifty with beautiful bluish-green foliage in +Connecticut.</p> + +<p>(12) Himalayan white pine (<i>Pinus excelsa</i>). One of the nut pines and +with remarkably handsome foliage.</p> + +<p>(13) A group of Chinese pistache nut trees (<i>Pistacia sinensis</i>). At +Merribrooke it has the habit of frequently growing twice in one year and +sometimes three times in one year. The shoots will grow a foot or more +and then make resting buts early in July. After about ten days of +resting the buds burst, new shoots grow again and rest for the second +time in the early part of September. If we have a warm moist fall the +buds burst for the third time and make a third growth. This third growth +winter-kills without injury to the tree, however. The significance of +the growth presumably relates to the tree being an inhabitant of an arid +country, where it has adapted itself to the rainfall of that country. I +do not know if the trunk adds a new ring of wood after each resting +period, but it likely enough does so.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + +<p>(14) Moneymaker pecan. Perfectly hardy and thrifty. It has not borne as +yet and there may be a question of the season being long enough for +ripening the nut. At the left a Stuart pecan, that comes from the very +borders of the Gulf of Mexico. Sometimes the smaller branches +winter-kill badly and at other times they do not. It is remarkable that +a tree from the shores of the Gulf of Mexico should live here at all in +the winter.</p> + +<p>(15) A field of six-year-old trees. Most of them the result of placing +bitternut hickory pollen on staminate butternut flowers. The trees have +not borne as yet and we can not tell if they are true hybrids or +parthenogens. Parthenogenesis occurs readily with many nut trees. Pollen +of an allied species which does not fuse with the female cell to make a +gamete may, nevertheless, excite a female cell into division and the +development of a tree. Such a tree would be expected to show intensified +characteristics belonging to the parent. This lot of trees notable for +the fact that some are very small for their age and some very large.</p> + +<p>(16) A group of Japanese chestnuts. They blight and die and blight and +live and are not given much attention as they are of little value +anyway. The chestnut blight (<i>Endothia parasitica</i>) attacks the Japanese +chestnut about as freely as it does the American chestnut. The trees do +not die from it quite so quickly and may bear for some years before +dying.</p> + +<p>(17) A group of Japanese persimmons in a protected corner of a +west-facing side hill. Most of the Japanese persimmons are not hardy in +Connecticut, but an occasional variety given a moderate degree of +protection will manage to live pretty well. They are uncertain trees, +however, as two of the trees grafted to Bennett Japaneses persimmons +from Newark, N. J., had two-year-old shoots winter-killed this year. +These were on low ground. I shall put my other Bennetts on hill sides.</p> + +<p>(18) American sweet chestnut grafted upon Japanese stock. Ordinarily +Asiatic and American chestnuts do not make very satisfactory exchange +stocks. In this case the American chestnut happens to be doing very +well. The variety is known as the Merribrooke. Among the many thousands +of chestnut trees here when I bought the place this one bore the best +nut of all, very large and of high quality, and beautifully striped with +alternate longitudinal stripes of dark and light chestnut color. The +parent tree was one of the very first to go down with the blight ten +years ago, and the standing dead trunk was removed at the time when I +cut out five thousand dead or dying chestnut trees. Stump sprouts of the +Merribrooke variety survived for grafting purposes, and I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> now kept +the variety going by patient grafting ever since, on new stocks, hoping +to carry the variety along until this epidemic of blight runs out of its +protoplasmic energy.</p> + +<p>(19) Ordinary Japanese chestnut. With fairly good crop of large nuts, +but not of good quality, except for cooking purposes.</p> + +<p>(20) A group of hybrids resulting from placing the pollen of the Siebold +Japanese walnut upon the pistillate flowers of our butternut. The young +trees have not borne as yet.</p> + +<p>(21) Hybrids between the common American hazel and the European purple +hazel. There are a number of these hybrids, and none of them with nuts +better than those of either parent, consequently I give them little +attention. Some of the hybrids, not as yet bearing, may prove to be more +valuable. We have to make lots of hybrids in order to get a small +percentage of important ones. In this particular lot the hybrid has +taken on a habit of the mother parent, the common American hazel, +growing long stoloniferous roots, an undesirable feature.</p> + +<p>(22) The Golden Gem persimmon, laden with fruit. Grafted upon the stock +of a staminate common persimmon.</p> + +<p>(23) Early Golden persimmon. Bearing heavily, a variety grafted upon +common persimmon stock.</p> + +<p>(24) A group of Chinese chestnut trees (<i>Castanea mollissima</i>). Very +beautiful trees, worthy of a position on almost any lawn, the foliage is +bright and shining, and the thrifty growth very attractive. The species +is practically immune to blight, sometimes at a point of injury bark +blight will appear, but it spreads very slowly, is easily cut out and +does not reappear at that point. It will be a success in Connecticut. +The nut is not quite up to our native chestnut in quality, but it is +larger in size and a first rate nut on the whole. The tree comes from +the original home of the blight, and the two plants having lived +together for ages the law of survival of the fittest has given us this +chestnut tree, which can largely take the place of our lost American +chestnut. The tree does not grow to be quite so large as our chestnut, +but I am making hybrids between this species and three species of +American chestnuts, and may find some remarkable ones eventually.</p> + +<p>(25) Two young nut pines with lost labels. I shall probably not be able +to determine the species until they bear cones.</p> + +<p>(26) A number of black walnut trees grafted with several varieties of +English walnut (<i>Juglans regia</i>). There is particular advantage in +grafting English walnut upon black walnut stock for the reason that mice +are extremely destructive to English<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> walnut roots in winter time. +Furthermore black walnuts will grow in soil that is distinctly acid in +reaction, while the English walnut demands a neutral or alkaline soil. +The nearest tree of this group had new shoots of the Rush English walnut +nearly six feet long, which blew off last week in a wind storm because +they had not been braced sufficiently. It is very important when +grafting nut trees to fasten strong bracing sticks alongside of vigorous +shoots and tying them with sisal tarred cord, which holds good for two +years.</p> + +<p>(27) Appomattox pecan, Busseron pecan, and Major pecan. All three trees +growing very thriftily and all set nuts this spring, but did not hold +them. This is the habit of young hickories and walnuts rather largely. +None of my pecan trees are old enough as yet to fruit well. I do not +know what varieties will find our season long enough for ripening +purposes. That particular feature of pecan raising is quite as important +as the mere question of hardiness in Connecticut.</p> + +<p>(28) A little old butternut tree by my garden. This has been the mother +of practically all my hybrids between butternuts and other species of +walnuts. This little old tree bears flowers every year and is very +conveniently situated for hybridizing work.</p> + +<p>(29) An English walnut tree near the garden gate is growing thriftily, +making sometimes four feet in a year, but as a seedling has not borne as +yet.</p> + +<p>(30) Pecan seedling with buds of Busseron recently inserted. They are +fastened in place with waxed muslin and then painted with ordinary white +paint. I use that a great deal in place of grafting wax, but make the +paint thick and heavy so that little free oil runs in between the +cambium layers when grafting or budding. Paint seems to be harder and +better than liquid grafting wax if it has no free oil.</p> + +<p>(31) A rapidly growing Chinese walnut (<i>Juglans sinensis</i>). Very much +like <i>Juglans regia</i>. The nuts have prominent sutures and the kernel is +rather more oily than that of the English walnut, but of very good +quality, nevertheless.</p> + +<p>(32) A number of hickory trees of different species grafted by my +favorite method, unless we call it "budding." I call it "the slice +graft," and have not known any one else to try it. A slice of bark from +one inch to four inches in length is removed from the stock and this +area is fitted with a slice of about the same length and breadth, +carrying a bud or spur cut from the guest variety. On one of these young +hickories you observe I made three slice grafts and all of them have +taken with a very thrifty growth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> of the Taylor variety. One point of +importance, I believe, is to have the slice from the guest variety a +trifle smaller than the slice from the host stock. The guest slice is +bound firmly to the host with waxed muslin.</p> + +<p>(33) Paragon chestnut heavily loaded with burs. This particular tree is +said to belong to a variety that is much advertised, but there is some +question if it is a peculiar variety of the Paragon, because Mr. Engel, +of Pennsylvania, is said to have furnished his own Paragon chestnut +scions when the other people were short of stock. If the nursery firm +that has put out this Paragon chestnut on the market with so much vigor +and at such expense had been a little more frank everybody would have +profited. They have made a point of advertising the Paragon chestnut as +blight resistant, which it is not; consequently, the country is full of +disappointed customers. The dealers should have said something more or +less as follows: "This chestnut blights freely, but it bears so well and +so abundantly and with such a good nut that people can afford to plant +it in large acreage and let it blight, carrying it along with about the +degree of attention that one would naturally give to good apple trees." +Had the dealers only said something like that, the members of our +Association who receive very many letters from all over the country +asking about this particular chestnut would have advised its purchase in +large quantities. Prospective customers are shy of nurserymen in +general. They write to members of our Association asking who is +reliable. People have learned what we stand for.</p> + +<p>(34) A hybrid between a pecan and a bitternut hickory. A large handsome +thin shelled nut, but bitter. The great vigor of growth of the seedlings +of this hybrid, which comes from Mr. G. M. Brown, of Van Buren, Ark., +would seem to make this hybrid variety of remarkable value as grafting +stock for other hickories. The nuts are exceptional in carrying the type +form of progeny.</p> + +<p>(35) Two rows of many species of nut trees planted in thick glazed +earthenware pots. The pots are about four feet in depth and with round +perforations. I had these made to order. I sunk them in the ground to +the level of the rim and then planted these trees in the pots under the +impression that they would remain dwarfed on account of the confinement +of the roots, and that I would have a conveniently placed series for +experiments in hybridization. The experiment was not a success. I knew +that growing trees would move rocks, but had no idea that roots +protruding through these holes in heavy glazed earthenware would be able +to break the pots. The roots have done just that, and whenever a tree in +a pot be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>comes large enough the protruding roots break the pot to +pieces, and the tree marches straight along to its original destiny.</p> + +<p>(36) One of a group of European chestnuts from seed brought me by Major +L. L. Seaman. The parent tree is famous in England for its enormous size +and heavy bearing; it is said to be centuries of age and is growing upon +the estate of Sir George B. Hingley, Droitwich, Worcestershire, England. +My young trees are growing very thriftily. They are showing some blight +spots, but this has been controlled by cutting out and painting.</p> + +<p>(37) A group of vigorous young trees, the result of placing pecan pollen +on the pistillate trees of Siebold walnut. They show the Siebold +parentage so distinctly that I imagine them to be parthenogens, but we +cannot tell to a certainty until they bear fruit.</p> + +<p>(38) A hillside set out with a large number of common bush chinkapins +from the East, tree chinkapins from Missouri and a number of hybrids. +The chinkapins and the alder-leaved chestnuts on this side hill have +been so blight resistant as to require almost no attention, and for that +reason I am making hybrids between the chinkapin and the alder-leaved +chestnut and the Chinese chestnut in the hope of making an excellent +combination of chinkapin quality and Chinese size. Up to the present +time none of my hybrids have been as valuable as either parent, with the +exception of two. Two of the hybrids bear nuts about the size of the +average American sweet chestnut and of first rate quality. These two +hybrid trees have shown no sign of blight as yet.</p> + +<p>(40) A hybrid between an American chestnut and a chinkapin. It blights +freely like its American parent. Some of the hybrids do that while +others show the resistance of the chinkapin parent. This particular tree +grows lustily, and I have taken the trouble to cut out the blight every +year. The leaves and general appearance are very closely like the common +American chestnut. When it first began to bear, the nuts were of the +chinkapin type, a single nut to the bur and hardly to be distinguished +from other chinkapins. A year or two later the nuts changed in +appearance, becoming distinctly lighter in color and with peculiar +longitudinal corrugations of the shell. A year or so later still the +tree made another change, and it now bears two or three nuts to the bur +like the American chestnut, the nuts retain their light color and +peculiar corrugation.</p> + +<p>(41) A group of European hazels (<i>Corylus avellana</i>). Several years ago +the Prince of Colloredo-Mannsfeld was visiting Merribrooke. His Highness +was much interested in the experimental work in nut trees and later sent +me a number of hazel nuts from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> one of his estates in Bohemia. Among the +hazel bushes which grew from these nuts there was one which bore large, +long, thin-shelled nuts of high quality. This bush, as you observe, has +rather small dark leaves and stout, crooked branches. At one of the +meetings of the Association I spoke of the bush as having a bony look, +and Prof. J. Russell Smith referred to it in discussion as the "Bony +Bush" hazel, and that name has been retained. I have grafted a number of +other American and European hazels from this bush and I have sent scions +to friends.</p> + +<p>(42) A Cook shagbark hickory from Moscow, Ky., grafted upon bitternut +stock. This variety bears a very large thin-shelled, irregular nut, with +rather poor cleavage, but the quality of the kernel is of such distinct +value that I prize the variety.</p> + +<p>(43) An example of the spur graft. A common T cut is made in the bark of +the stock and then a slice of guest bark carrying a small branch or spur +is inserted. In this particular case I put in a branch about ten inches +in length and you see that it is growing very well.</p> + +<p>(44) My beautiful Merribrooke chestnut grafted upon an ordinary American +chestnut stock growing by the roadside. Five years ago I noticed this +little chestnut tree growing by the roadside with two stems. One of the +stems was blighted and I cut it off and stopped the blight for the time +being. The following year the other stem blighted and I trimmed out the +blight and sprayed the stem with pyrox. In the following year I grafted +the stock, but blight appeared at another point, the blight was cut out, +and the stem again sprayed. In the following year blight appeared again, +but at another point, and after cutting it out I put on tanglefoot, +simply because I happened to have some with me when passing the tree. +This year the stem has blighted again and I have cut out the blight and +sprayed it, and I shall now whitewash a large part of the stock with +whitewash containing a little carbolineum. The graft now in its third +year is bearing one big bur. The interesting point is that this tree has +blighted every year for five years, and I have kept it going along by +giving it attention. This means if we are willing to take the trouble we +can get the best of the blight, even with such a remarkably vulnerable +tree as this one proves to be.</p> + +<p>(45) A barren hillside covered with very handsome red pines eleven years +of age, some of them grow nearly two feet per year. The soil is sandy +and gravelly glacial till which will raise little else beside feather +grass and sumac. The red pines are not nut pines, and attention is +called to them incidentally because of their value for growing upon this +sort of soil.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> + +<p>(46) A Korean chestnut filled with burs. The Korean chestnut does not +blight quite so readily as the American chestnut, and certain +individuals are fairly blight resistant. I raised several hundreds of +them, but almost all of them are dead. A fairly large number are growing +well and bearing without much attention. The nut is pretty good, but +coarser than that of the American chestnut.</p> + +<p>(47) A group of Tamba chestnuts from Japan. This is the favorite +chestnut of the Japanese. I secured a number of the nuts, sprouted them +and planted them out here in rows, intending to transplant them to +permanent sites later. Finding that they were going to blight badly, I +have neglected them and have allowed them to stand. One little tree +among them bore a single bur at eighteen months of age and has borne +steadily ever since with a heavy crop this year. This particular tree +has not blighted, but its nut is coarse and of little value.</p> + +<p>(48) When collecting walnuts I obtained a lot of nuts from a +correspondent from the Mogollon Mountains in Arizona. The nut resembles +that of <i>Juglans rupestris</i>, but is larger and thicker shelled. No one +knows whether it is an undescribed species or only a distinct variety of +<i>Juglans rupestris</i>. Several of the nuts sprouted, but various accidents +happened to them and this tree now, seven years old, is the only one of +the lot living. It looks very different from any American walnut I have +ever seen. In fact, it looks so much like a stunted heart nut that I +suspected that one of these nuts might have gotten into the lot by +accident. In digging down about the stem, however, I found only the +shells of a Mogollon walnut. We can not tell what the tree will bring +forth, as it is not bearing as yet.</p> + +<p>(49) Two groups of chestnut trees of the McFarland variety, about +eighteen years of age. They grow and blight and bear, but have not +blighted to the point of killing altogether. They have been neglected +because the nut has not much value.</p> + +<p>(50) A group of Merribrooke hazels. Some years ago I devoted several +weeks to examining hundreds of hazel bushes in this part of the country, +where they are a pest, and I also visited other hazel localities at a +distance. Among all the bushes examined the best nut was found on my own +property and I learned later that this particular bush had been known +among the boys of the locality for a century. The nut is of large size +for an American hazel, thin shelled, of high quality. This group +consists of transplants of root progeny from the parent bush.</p> + +<p>(51) A Horn hazel (<i>Corylus cornuta</i>, commonly wrongly designated as +<i>Corylus rostrata</i>). A species fairly abundant in Connec<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>ticut, and I +transplanted these bushes because they happened to have a tremendously +long involucre. The nut of the horn hazel is not of such good quality as +that of the common American hazel, and I have not succeeded in making +hybrids between this and other hazels as yet. The hazels are very +ancient in descent and each species likes to retain particular identity.</p> + +<p>(52) A number of stocks of red birch, white birch and scrub oak grafted +with European hazels and chinkapins, but the grafts all died. The +grafting was done as an experiment in the hope that we might possibly +utilize our waste lands which are covered with birch and scrub oak by +grafting these trees with hazels and chinkapins. Some of the grafts +lived for such a long time and put out such long shoots that the +experiment will be tried again next year. It would not seem worth while, +excepting for the fact that it was a bad spring for grafting anyway, and +hazels did not even catch on hazels, though they caught freely last +year. The Japanese do grafting on stocks widely different from the +scions, but we have not developed that particular feature in this +country as yet.</p> + +<p>(53) Asiatic tree hazels (<i>Corylus colurna</i>). This species makes a tree +as large as the common oaks and bears heavily. The nut is about the size +of that of the common American hazel. The tree is very beautiful, and I +am using it for grafting stock and for hybridizing.</p> + +<p>(54) Sprouting cages. A double row of galvanized wire cages sunk four +inches into the ground and about four inches free above ground, filled +with sandy loam and used for sprouting any nuts which are to be employed +in experimental work. Each cage is fitted with a cover of galvanized +wire, the purpose of which is to keep out rodents which are so +destructive to planted nuts. In these cages there are now a large number +of hybrid nut trees growing, and they will be transplanted to permanent +sites or to the garden for culture next spring.</p> + +<p>(55) Japanese heart nut (<i>Juglans cordiformis</i>). The tree is supposed by +some botanists to be a form of the Siebold walnut, but it has quite a +different appearance. It has an open habit with large leaves and nuts +which are suggestive of the conventional heart. The quality of the nut +is very good, much like that of the Siebold, but the nut is larger and +compressed. The tree is very hardy and is almost tropical in appearance. +It has not been planted very largely in this county, but it undoubtedly +will be eventually.</p> + +<p>(56) Siberian walnut. The tree looks much like the Siebold walnut in +general appearance, but with smaller leaflets, and the nut is very much +like our butternut, but smaller and with much rougher shell.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> + +<p>(57) Two pecan trees that I bought from a nursery about twelve years +ago. They have not borne as yet and being seedlings we cannot know if +they will be of value. I shall probably graft them next year and not +wait for them to bear their own nuts.</p> + +<p>(58) Two large Siebold walnuts only twelve years of age, but growing in +rich ground and sometimes making five feet of growth in a single year. +They were well filled with nuts two weeks ago, but the red squirrels +have cut down all of the nuts including numbers which I hybridized with +English walnut pollen this spring. On one of the lower branches of one +of the Siebold walnuts is a long thrifty graft of the Lutz black walnut +that I put in this spring, simply because I happened to cut off the +lower branches of the Siebold that were shading the garden, and I +happened to have some of the black walnut scions with me at the time. It +will not be allowed to remain on this tree.</p> + +<p>(59) A cross between our Siebold walnut and our butternut, now about +eight years old, but growing thriftily. It has not borne nuts as yet. I +have a number of these trees and they appear to be good hybrids.</p> + +<p>(60) A group of Kaghazi Persian walnuts. A valuable variety and one of +the so-called English walnuts, a term that we use for convenience +because the name has become established in this country by the market +men, not by the botanists.</p> + +<p>(61) A thrifty young Chinese seedling persimmon (<i>Diospyros lotus</i>).</p> + +<p>(62) Little trees of one of the nut pines (<i>Pinus edulis</i>). They are at +their best in the arid mountains of Arizona, and the species is very +important as furnishing a food supply for the Indians. The little trees +are hardy here in dry soil among the rocks, but do not grow rapidly. +Mine have been in more than six years and are not more than six inches +in height, but are very pretty.</p> + +<p>(63) The Chinese Tamopan persimmon. The tree is very handsome, with +large glossy leaves, but somewhat tender in Connecticut and requiring +protected exposure. The fruit of the Tamopan is as large as a very large +apple.</p> + +<p>(64) Several trees five years of age, the result of English walnut +pollen on Siebold walnut pistillate flowers. The trees are growing very +thriftily, but they show the Siebold characteristic without much +evidence of the English walnut parentage.</p> + +<p>(65) A field of Pomeroy English walnuts, notable for their beautiful +white bark. The trees have been in over eight years and set nuts for the +first time this year. As seedling trees we cannot tell what they will do +when in full bearing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + +<p>(66) Two species of nut bearing pines from which the marking labels have +become lost, and I shall not be able to determine the species until they +bear cones. One of them is very beautiful, with long leaves and pleasing +bluish green foliage.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2>A VISIT TO THE ESTATE OF THE LATE LOWELL M. + PALMER, NOTABLE FOR ITS COLLECTION OF + TREES AND SHRUBS, DR. MORRIS + CONDUCTING.</h2> + + +<p>Here we see the Ginkgo trees, two of them bearing. The Ginkgo belongs by +descent to the coniferous tree group. A very fine tree with nuts that +are highly prized by the Asiatics, but somewhat too resinous for the +American palate. Most of the Ginkgo trees are males, but one may graft +any number of males with bearing female scions.</p> + +<p>An <i>Araucaria imbricata</i> grew for twenty years on this place, and we +have only just learned that it died last year. This pine is one of the +most important of the nut pines and furnishes a large food supply in +South America. The fact that one tree lived for twenty years in this +latitude means a great deal.</p> + +<p>A number of European hazel bushes are growing on the property and +bearing heavily. A large heart nut tree, but bearing small nuts, is +growing well. Several of the Himalayan nut pines (<i>Pinus excelsa</i>) +beautify the property, and one of the trees, heavily laden with cones, +is at least fifty years of age. Another one of the nut-bearing pines +(<i>Pinus paviflora</i>, from Japan) is represented by several specimens on +the Palmer property, and one little tree apparently less than ten years +of age, is heavily loaded with cones. Incidentally we may examine here a +trifoliate orange filled with fruit. It is growing in a well protected +corner of the grounds. Mr. Webber sent some valuable trifoliate hybrids +to Merribrooke. One variety lived through the winter, but made a +crippled start in the spring. Some day we may have good trifoliate +orange hybrids in Connecticut if the Buckley hickory, Stuart pecan, +Arizona walnut and imbricated pine grow here.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>A dinner was held at the Hotel Davenport on the evening of the 5th, at +which about thirty-five members and guests were present. After dinner +the public was admitted and the following papers were read, Mr. +Collingwood being a guest of the Association:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Kellogg</span>: I feel a great interest in the work of this +Association and a great sympathy with it. I feel that you are all +working for me and I am doing what I can to promote your interests also. +That is, I am trying to create a market for your products.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ADVENT OF NUTS INTO THE NATION'S LIST OF STAPLE FOODS.</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Dr. J. H. Kellogg, Michigan</span>.</h4> + + +<p>In these days when a condition of food shortage exists in the greater +part of the civilized world, any question which concerns a nation's food +supply is of public interest.</p> + +<p>Food conservation is the great question of the hour. Visions of +vanishing steaks and chops alarm the overfed and rising prices of all +foodstuffs pinch the bills of fare of the poor.</p> + +<p>It may easily be shown that most of all the hardships which the +civilized world is suffering as regards food supply is due to lack of +understanding and of foresight.</p> + +<p>The fundamental error is the popular faith in the high protein ration. +The physiologists are at least partly at fault. Liebig's dictum, which +made protein the essential food factor in supporting work, has misled +the whole civilized world for more than half a century. The dietaries of +institutions, armies, whole nations have been based upon a conception +which modern science has shown to be utterly false, and the result has +been an economic loss which staggers belief, and a destruction of human +life and efficiency which overshadows every other malign influence.</p> + +<p>To properly appreciate the place of nuts in the national dietary we must +have in mind a clear conception of the nature of food as revealed to us +in the light of modern laboratory studies of human nutrition and +metabolism.</p> + +<p>Food is to an animal what soil is to a plant. It is the soil out of +which we grew. What we eat today is walking around and talking tomorrow. +The most marvelous of miracles is the transmutation of common foodstuffs +into men and women, the transfiguration of bread, potatoes and beefsteak +into human intelligence, grace, beauty and noble action. We read in holy +writ how the wandering Israelites were abundantly fed in the Assyrian +desert with manna from the skies and marvel at the Providence which +saved a million souls from death, forgetting that every harvest is a +repetition of the same miracle, that each morsel of food we eat is a +gift of Heaven conveyed to us by a sunbeam. Food is simply sunshine +captured by the chlorophyll of plants and served up to us in tiny +bundles called molecules, which, when torn apart in our bodies by the +processes of digestion and assimilation release the captured energy +which warms us with heat brought from the sun and shines out in human +thought and action.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is less than a century since Liebig and Lehmann and their pupils +began to unravel the mystery of food. In recent years no subject has +received more assiduous attention from scientific men, and none has been +made the object of more constant or more profound research than the +questions of food and food supply. The feeding of animals and men is +without question the most pressing and vital of all economic problems.</p> + +<p>The labors of Voit and Pettenkofer, Rubner, Zuntz, Atwater, Benedict, +Chittenden, Mendel, Lusk and Hindhede have demonstrated that there is +the closest relation between food supply or food selection and human +efficiency. In fact, it has been clearly shown that the quality of the +food intake is just as directly and as closely related to the question +of human efficiency as is the quality and quantity of gasoline to the +efficiency of an automobile.</p> + +<p>In fact it has been established as a fundamental principle in human +physiology that food is fuel. Life is a combustion process.</p> + +<p>The human body is a machine which may be likened to a locomotive—it is +a self-controlling, self-supporting, self-repairing mechanism. As the +locomotive rushes along the iron road, pulling after it a thousand-ton +cargo of produce or manufactured wares or human freight sufficient to +start a town or stock a political convention its enormous expenditure of +energy is maintained by the burning of coal from the tender which is +replenished at every stopping place. The snorting-monster at the head of +the rushing procession gets hungry and has to have a lunch every few +miles along the way. After a run of a hundred miles or so the engine +leaves the train and goes into a roundhouse for repairs; an iron belt +has dropped out or a brass nut has been shaken off. Every lost or +damaged part of the metal leviathan is replaced, and then it is ready +for another century run.</p> + +<p>The human body is wonderfully like the locomotive. It pulls or carries +loads, it expends energy, it consumes fuel and has to stop at meal +stations to coal up; it has to go off duty periodically for repairs. The +body needs just what the locomotive needs—fuel to furnish energy and +material for repair of the machinery.</p> + +<p>Food differs from fuel chiefly in the one particular, that in each +little packet of food done up by Mother Nature there is placed along +with the fuel for burning a tiny bit of material to be used for repair +of the machine. In other words, food represents in its composition both +the coal and the metal repair materials of the locomotive. The starch, +sugar and fat of foods are the coal and the protein or albumin is the +metal repair stuff. Here we see at once the reason why starch and sugar +and fat are so abundant in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> our foodstuffs, while protein or albumin is +in quantity a minor element.</p> + +<p>But there are other differences between food and common fuel which are +worthy of mention. The water and the salts are essential to meet the +body's needs, especially the various mineral elements, lime, soda, +potash and iron. All these we must have—lime for the bones and nerves, +soda and potash to neutralize the harmful acid products of combustion +processes, and iron for the blood.</p> + +<p>All these are found in normal foodstuffs, but in greatly varying +proportions, so that a pretty large variety of foods must be eaten to +make sure that each of the different food principles required for +perfect nutrition are supplied in ample quantity.</p> + +<p>In recent years science has discovered another and most surprising +property of food in which it transcends all other fuel substances as a +diamond from the Transvaal outshines a lump of coal. Natural food +contains vitamines. It has long been known that an exclusive rice diet +sometimes causes beri-beri, a form of general neuritis, and that a diet +of dry cereals and preserved food in time gives rise to scurvy, but the +reason was a profound mystery. In very recent years it has been learned +that the real cause of beri-beri and scurvy is the lack of vitamines +which are associated with the bran of cereals and so are removed in the +process of polishing rice and in the bolting of wheat and other grains.</p> + +<p>Vitamines do not enter into the composition of the body as do other food +principles, but they are somehow necessary to activate or render active +the various subtle elements which are essential to good nutrition.</p> + +<p>There are several kinds of vitamines. Some are associated with the bran +of cereals, other with the juices of fruits. Some are easily destroyed +by heat, while others survive a boiling temperature. The discovery of +vitamines must stand as one of the most masterly achievements of modern +science, even outshining in brilliancy the discovery of radium. It was +only by the most persevering efforts and the application of all the +refinements of modern chemical technic that the chemist, Funk, was able +to capture and identify this most subtle but marvelously potent element +of the food. This discovery has cleared up a long category of medical +mysteries. We now know not only the cause of beri-beri and scurvy and +the simple method of cure by supplying vitamine-containing foods, but +within a very short time it has been shown that rickets and pellagra are +likewise deficiency diseases, probably due to lack of vitamines, and in +a recent discussion before the New York Academy of Medicine by Funk, +Holt, Jacobi and others, it was maintained that vast<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> multitudes of +people are suffering from disorders of nutrition due to the same cause.</p> + +<p>Osborne a few years ago conducted experiments which demonstrated that +something more than pure food elements and salts is essential for growth +and development. They found that rats fed on starch and fat lived only +four to eight weeks. When protein was added they sometimes lived and +grew and sometimes remained stunted or died. It was thus evident that +proteins differ. Their observations proved very clearly that there are +perfect and imperfect proteins. The protein of corn, zein, for example, +was shown to be incapable of supporting life. With the addition of a +chemical fraction, tryptophan, obtained from another protein, the rats +lived, but did not grow. By adding another fractional protein, lysin, +the rats were made to thrive.</p> + +<p>A minute study of the subject by Osborne, Mendel and numerous other +physiologic chemists have shown that a perfect protein is composed of +more than a dozen different bodies called amino-acids, each of which +must be present in the right proportion to enable the body to use the +protein in body building. Each plant produces its one peculiar kind of +protein. The protein of milk, caseine, is a perfect protein. Eggs and +meat, of course, supply complete proteins, but among plants there are +many imperfect proteins.</p> + +<p>McCollum has demonstrated that grains, either singly or in combination +will not maintain life and growth. The same is true of a mixture of +grains with peas or navy beans. Another element is lacking which must be +supplied to support life and growth.</p> + +<p>With these facts before us we are prepared to inquire what place in the +dietary are nuts prepared to fill? With few exceptions nuts contain +little carbohydrate (starch or sugar). They are, however, rich in fat +and protein. On account of their high fat content they are the most +highly concentrated of all natural foods. A pound of nuts contains on an +average more than 3,000 calories or food units, double the amount +supplied by grains, four times as much as average meats and ten times as +much as average fruits or vegetables.</p> + +<p>For example, according to Jaffi's table, ten of our common nuts contain +on an average 20.7 per cent. of protein, 53 per cent. of fat and 18 per +cent. of carbohydrate, as shown in the following table:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" width="75%" cellspacing="0" summary="JAFFI'S TABLE"> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'>Protein</td><td align='right'>Fat</td><td align='right'>Carbohydrate</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Almonds</td><td align='right'>21.4</td><td align='right'>54.4</td><td align='right'>13.8</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Peanuts</td><td align='right'>29.8</td><td align='right'>46.5</td><td align='right'>17.1</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Filberts</td><td align='right'>16.5</td><td align='right'>64.0</td><td align='right'>11.7</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Hickory</td><td align='right'>15.4</td><td align='right'>67.4</td><td align='right'>11.4</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pine nut</td><td align='right'>33.9</td><td align='right'>48.2</td><td align='right'>6.5</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Walnut</td><td align='right'>18.2</td><td align='right'>60.7</td><td align='right'>13.7</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pecan</td><td align='right'>12.0</td><td align='right'>70.7</td><td align='right'>18.5</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Butternut</td><td align='right'>27.9</td><td align='right'>61.2</td><td align='right'>5.7</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Beechnut</td><td align='right'>21.8</td><td align='right'>49.9</td><td align='right'>13.8</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Chestnut</td><td align='right'>10.7</td><td align='right'>7.8</td><td align='right'>70.1</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'>——</td><td align='right'>——</td><td align='right'>——</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Average</td><td align='right'>20.76</td><td align='right'>53.08</td><td align='right'>18.23</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p>Meat (round steaks) gives 19.8 per cent. of protein and 15.6 per cent. +of fat, with no carbohydrate. A pound of average nuts contains the +equivalent of a pound of beefsteak, and in addition, nearly half a pound +of butter and a third of a loaf of bread. A nut is, in fact, a sort of +vegetable meat. Its composition is much the same as that of fat meat, +only it is in much more concentrated form.</p> + +<p>There can be no doubt that the nut is a highly concentrated food. The +next question naturally is, can the body utilize the energy stored in +nuts as readily as that supplied by meat products, for example.</p> + +<p>The notion that nuts are difficult of digestion has really no foundation +in fact. The idea is probably the natural outgrowth of the custom of +eating nuts at the close of a meal when an abundance, more likely a +super-abundance, of highly nutritious foods has already been eaten, and +the equally injurious custom of eating nuts between meals. Neglect of +thorough mastication must also be mentioned as a possible cause of +indigestion following the use of nuts. Nuts are generally eaten dry and +have a firm hard flesh which requires thorough use of the organs of +mastication to prepare them for the action of the several digestive +juices. Experiments made in Germany showed that nuts are not digested at +all, but pass through the alimentary canal like foreign bodies unless +reduced to a smooth paste before swallowing. Particles of nuts the size +of small seeds wholly escaped digestion.</p> + +<p>Having been for more than fifty years actively interested in promoting +the use of nuts as a staple food, I have given considerable thought and +study to their dietetic value and have made many experiments. About +twenty-five years ago it occurred to me that one of the above objections +to the extensive dietetic use of nuts might be overcome by mechanical +preparation of the nut before serving so as to reduce it to a smooth +paste and thus insure the preparation for digestion which the average +eater is prone to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> neglect. My first experiments were with the peanut. +The result was a product which I called peanut butter. I was much +surprised at the readiness with which the product sprang into public +favor. Several years ago I was informed by a wholesale grocer of Chicago +that the firm's sales of peanut butter amounted on an average to a +carload a week. I think it is safe to estimate that not less than one +thousand carloads of this product are annually consumed in this country. +The increased demand for peanuts for making peanut butter led to the +development of "corners" in the peanut market, and more than doubled the +price of the shelled nuts and to a marked degree influenced the annual +production. The nut butter idea also caught on in England.</p> + +<p>I am citing my experience with the peanut not for the purpose of +recommending this product, for I am obliged to confess that I was soon +compelled to abandon the use of peanut butter prepared from roasted nuts +for the reason that the process of roasting renders the nut indigestible +to such a degree that it was not adapted to the use of invalids. I only +mention the circumstance as an illustration of the readiness with which +the public accepts a new dietetic idea when it happens to strike the +popular fancy.</p> + +<p>Ways may be found to render the use of nuts practical by adapting them +to our culinary and dietetic customs and to overcome the popular +objections to their use by a widespread and efficient campaign of +education. Other nuts, when crushed, made most delicious "butters," as +easily digestible as cream, since they did not require roasting. I later +found ways for preparing the peanut without roasting.</p> + +<p>The fats of nuts, their chief food principle, are the most digestible of +all forms of fat. Having a low melting point they are far more +digestible than most animal fats. Hippocrates noted that the stearin of +eels was difficult of digestion. The indigestibility of beef and mutton +fat has long been recognized. The fat of nuts much more closely +resembles human fat than do fats of the sort mentioned. The importance +of this will be appreciated when attention is called to the fact that +fats entering the body do not undergo the transformation changes which +take place in other foodstuffs; for example, protein in the process of +digestion is broken into its ultimate molecular units. Starch is +transformed into sugar which serves as fuel to the body, but fats are so +slightly modified in the process of digestion and absorption that after +reaching the blood and the tissues they are reconstructed into the +original form in which they are eaten, that is, beef fat is deposited in +the tissues as beef fat without undergoing any chemical change whatever; +mutton<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> fat is deposited as mutton fat; lard as pig fat, etc. When the +body makes its own fat from starch or sugar, the natural source of this +tissue element, the product formed is <i>sui generis</i> and must be better +adapted to the body uses than the animal fat which was <i>sui generis</i> to +a pig, a sheep or a goat. It is certainly a pleasant thought that one +who rounds out his figure with the luscious fatness of nuts may +felicitate himself upon the fact that his tissues are participating in +the sweetness of the nut rather than the relic of the sty and the +shambles.</p> + +<p>It is also worthy of note that the fat of nuts exists in a finely +divided state, and that in the chewing of nuts a fine emulsion is +produced so that nut fats enter the stomach in a form best adapted for +prompt digestion.</p> + +<p>Another question which will naturally arise is this: if nuts are to be +granted the place of a staple in our list of food supplies will it be +safe to accept them as a substitute for flesh foods?</p> + +<p>Beef steak has become almost a fetish with many people, but the +experiments of Chittenden and others have demonstrated that the amount +of protein needed by the body daily is so small that it is scarcely +possible to arrange a bill of fare to include flesh foods without making +the protein intake excessive. This is because the ordinary foodstuffs +other than meat contain a sufficient amount of protein to meet the needs +of the body. Nuts present their protein in combination with so large a +proportion of easily digestible fat that there is comparatively little +danger of getting an excess.</p> + +<p>It is also worthy of note that the protein of nuts is superior in +quality to that of grains and vegetables. The critically careful +analyses made in recent years have shown that the proteins of nuts, at +least of a number of them, contain all the elements needed for building +up complete body proteins, in other words, nuts furnish perfect +proteins, which are not supplied so abundantly by any other vegetable +product.</p> + +<p>This fact places the nut in an exceedingly important position as a +foodstuff. In face of vanishing meat supplies it is most comforting to +know that meats of all sorts may be safely replaced by nuts not only +without loss, but with a decided gain. Nuts have several advantages over +flesh foods which are well worth considering.</p> + +<p>1. Nuts are free from waste products, uric acid, urea, carmine and other +tissue wastes.</p> + +<p>2. Nuts are aseptic, free from putrefactive bacteria and do not readily +undergo decay either in the body or outside of it. Meats, on the other +hand, are practically always in an advanced stage of putrefaction, as +found in the meat markets. Ordinarily meats con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>tain from three million +to ten times that number of bacteria per ounce, and such meats as +hamburger steak often contain more than a billion putrefactive organisms +to the ounce. Nuts are clean and sweet.</p> + +<p>3. Nuts are free from trichinae, tapeworm and other parasites, as well +as the infections due to specific disease. Nuts are in good health when +gathered and remain so until eaten. The contrast between the delectable +product of the beautiful walnut, chestnut or pecan tree and the abattoir +recalls the story of the Tennessee school teacher who was told when she +made inquiry about a certain shoulder of pork which had been promised in +part payment of services, but had not arrived: "Dad didn't kill the +pig." "And why not," said the teacher. "Because," replied the observing +youngster, "he got well." Nearly all the cows slaughtered are +tuberculous. They are killed to be eaten because too sick to longer +serve as community wet nurses.</p> + +<p>That nuts are competent to serve as staple foods might be inferred from +a fact to which Professor Matthews, of the New York Museum of Natural +History, calls attention to, to wit, that our remote ancestors, the +first mammals, were all nut and fruit eaters. They may have gobbled an +insect now and then, but their staple food was fruits and nuts, with +tender shoots and succulent roots, which is still true of those old +fashioned forest folks, the primates of which the orang outang, the +chimpanzee and the gorilla are consistent representatives, while their +near relative, also a primate, civilized man, has departed from his +original bill of fare and has exploited the bills of fare of the whole +animal kingdom.</p> + +<p>The keeper of the famous big apes of the London Zoo informed me that +they were never given meat. Even the small monkeys generally regarded as +insectivorous, were confined to a rigid vegetarian fare and were +thriving.</p> + +<p>Whole races of men, comprising many millions, live their entire lives +without meats of any sort, and when fed a sufficient amount are +wonderfully vigorous, prolific, enduring and intelligent. Witness the +Brahmins of India, the Buddists of China and Japan and the teeming +millions of Central Africa.</p> + +<p>Carl Mann, the winner of the great walking match between Berlin and +Dresden, performed his great feat on a diet of nuts with lettuce and +fruits. The Finn Kilmamen, the world's greatest runner, eats no meat. +Weston, the long-distance champion, never eats meat when taking a long +walk. The Faramahara Indians, the fleetest and most enduring runners in +the world are strict vegetarians. The gorilla, the king of the Congo +forests, is a nut feeder.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> Milo, the mighty Greek, was a flesh +abstainer, as was also Pythagoras, the first of the Greek philosophers, +Seneca, the noble Roman Senator, and Plutarch, the famous biographer. +The writer has excluded meat from his diet for more than fifty years, +and has within the last forty years, supervised the treatment of more +than a hundred thousand sick people at the Battle Creek Sanitarium on a +meatless diet.</p> + +<p>Even carnivorous animals nourish on a diet of nuts with other vegetable +foods and cooked cereals. The Turks mix nuts with their pilaff of rice +and the Armenians add nuts to their baalghoor, a dish prepared from +wheat which has been cooked and dried.</p> + +<p>That nuts are not only competent to serve as a staple food, but that +they may fill a very important place as accessory foods in supplementing +the imperfect proteins of the grains and vegetables is shown in a very +conclusive way by an extended research by Dr. Hoobler, of Detroit.</p> + +<p>Before describing Dr. Hoobler's experiment I may be allowed to explain +that some years ago, in 1899, I was asked by the then United States +Secretary of Agriculture to undertake experiments for the purpose of +providing a vegetable substitute for meat. Dr. Dabney said there was no +doubt that the time would come when such substitutes would be needed on +account of the scarcity of meat. I succeeded in developing several +products which have come to be quite widely known and used more or less +extensively in this country and Europe. Among these were Protose +(resembling potted meat) and malted nuts, a soluble product somewhat +resembling malted milk. It was noted that the malted nuts when used by +nursing mothers greatly increased the flow of milk and promoted the +health of the infant. Recently Dr. Hoobler undertook an extensive +feeding experiment with nursing mothers and wet nurses as subjects. He +made use of these nut preparations as well as of ordinary nuts and +compared the results with various combinations into which meat and milk +entered in various proportions. He found that a diet of fruits, grains +and vegetables alone gave a very poor quality of milk, but when nuts +were added the result was a milk supply superior in quantity and quality +to any other combination of foodstuffs, not excepting those which +included liberal quantities of milk, meat and eggs. From this it appears +that nuts possess such superior qualities as supplementary or accessory +foods that they are able to replace not only meats, but even eggs and +milk in the dietary. The full account of Dr. Hoobler's interesting +observations will be found in the Journal of the American Medical +Association for August 11, 1917.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> + +<p>Extensive feeding experiments are now being conducted at the research +laboratory of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, which it is hoped will +develop still other points of interest respecting the superior nutritive +properties of the choicest and most remarkable of all the food products +which are handed to us from the fertile laboratory of the vegetable +world.</p> + +<p>Another and most interesting phase of my subject is the relation of nut +feeding to anaphylaxis. This newly coined word perhaps needs explanation +for the benefit of my lay hearers. For many years it has been known that +some persons were astonishingly sensitive to certain foods which indeed +appeared to act as violent poisons. Oysters, shellfish, mutton, fish and +other animal products, as well as a few vegetable products, especially +honey, strawberries and buckwheat, were most likely to be the cause of +these violent disturbances. More recently it has been found that cow's +milk very often shows the same peculiarity. It is now known that this +remarkable phenomenon is due to the fact that the body sometimes becomes +sensitized to certain proteins which thereafter act as most violent +poisons and may cause death. Sensitization to animal proteins is much +the more frequent. In such cases nut products become a very precious +resource. This is especially true with reference to cow's milk.</p> + +<p>Liquid nut preparations have saved the lives of hundreds of infants +within the last twenty years. I have had the pleasure of meeting several +fine looking young people who owed their lives to nut-feeding when other +resources had failed. One case was particularly interesting. A telegram +from a well-known Senator at Washington announced the fact that his +infant daughter and only child was dying from mal-nutrition, as cow's +milk and all the known infant foods had been found to disagree. I +advised nut-feeding, and fortunately the prescription suited the case +and the little one began to improve at once. When the physician in +attendance learned that the child was eating nuts he vigorously +protested, declaring that such a diet was preposterous and would +certainly kill the infant, but the child flourished wonderfully on the +liquid nut diet, eating almost nothing else for the first three years of +her life, and today is a splendidly developed young woman, a brilliant +witness to the food value of nuts.</p> + +<p>I have by no means exhausted the physiologic phases of my subject, but +will now turn a moment in concluding my paper, to its economic aspects.</p> + +<p>The high price of nuts is constantly urged as an objection to their use +as a staple. It is probable that a largely increased demand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> would lead +to so great an increase in the supply that the cost of production, and +hence the cost to the consumer, would be decreased. But even at the +present prices the choicest varieties of nuts are cheaper than meats if +equivalent food values are compared. This is clearly shown by the +following table which indicates the amounts of various flesh foods which +are equivalent to one pound of walnut meats.</p> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" width="75%" cellspacing="0" summary="EQUIVALENT FOOD VALUES"> +<tr><td align='left'>Beef loin, lean</td><td align='right'>4.00</td><td align='center'>pounds</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Beef ribs, lean</td><td align='right'>6.50</td><td align='center'>"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Beef neck, lean</td><td align='right'>9.50</td><td align='center'>"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Veal</td><td align='right'>5.50</td><td align='center'>"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Mutton leg, lean</td><td align='right'>4.20</td><td align='center'>"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ham, lean</td><td align='right'>3.00</td><td align='center'>"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Fowls</td><td align='right'>4.00</td><td align='center'>"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Chicken, broilers</td><td align='right'>10.00</td><td align='center'>"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Red bass</td><td align='right'>25.00</td><td align='center'>"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Trout</td><td align='right'>4.80</td><td align='center'>"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Frogs' legs</td><td align='right'>15.00</td><td align='center'>"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Oysters</td><td align='right'>13.50</td><td align='center'>"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Lobsters</td><td align='right'>22.00</td><td align='center'>"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Eggs</td><td align='right'>5.00</td><td align='center'>"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Milk</td><td align='right'>9.50</td><td align='center'>"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Evaporated cream</td><td align='right'>4.00</td><td align='center'>"</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p>But the great economic importance of the encouragement of nut culture in +every civilized land is best shown by comparing the amount of food which +may be annually produced by an acre of land planted to nut trees and the +same area devoted to the production of beef. I am credibly informed that +two acres of land and two years are required to produce a steer weighing +600 pounds. The product of one acre for one year would be one-fourth as +much, or 150 pounds of steer. The same land planted to walnut trees +would produce, if I am correctly informed, an average of at least 100 +pounds per tree per annum for the first twenty years. Forty trees to the +acre would aggregate 4,000 pounds of nuts, or 1,000 pounds of walnut +meats. The highest food value which could be ascribed to the 150 pounds +of beef would be 150,000 calories or food units. The food value of the +nut meats would be 3,000,000 calories, or twenty times as much food from +the nut trees as from the fattened steer, and food of the same general +character, protein and fat, but of superior quality.</p> + +<p>One acre of walnut trees will produce every year food equal to:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" width="75%" cellspacing="0" summary="FOOD EQUAL TO ONE ACRE NUT TREES"> +<tr><td align='left'>14,000 lbs. red bass (a ship load).</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3,000 lbs. beef (five steers).</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>7,500 lbs. chicken broilers.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>15,000 lbs. lobsters.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>10,000 lbs. oysters.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>60,000 eggs (5,000 dozen).</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4,000 qts. milk.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A ton of mutton (13 sheep).</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>250,000 frogs.</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And when one acre will do so much, think of the product of a million acres.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ten times the product of all the fisheries of the country.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Half as much as all the poultry of the country.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">One seventh as much as all the beef produced.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">More than twice the value of all the sheep.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Half as much as all the pork.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And many millions of acres may be thus utilized in nut culture.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And the walnut is not the only promising food tree. The hickory,</span><br /><span style="margin-left: 1em;">the pecan, the butternut, the filbert and the piñon</span><br /><span style="margin-left: 1em;">are all capable of producing equal or greater results.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>A single acre of nut trees will produce protein enough to feed four +persons a year and fat enough for twice that number of average persons. +So 25,000,000 acres of nut trees would more than supply the whole people +of the United States with their two most expensive food stuffs. Cereals +and fresh vegetables, our cheapest foods, would be needed for the +carbohydrate portion of the dietary. Just think of it. A little nut +orchard 200 miles square supplying one-third enough food to feed one +hundred million of citizens. The trouble is the frogs and cattle are +eating up our food supplies. We feed a steer 100 pounds of food and get +back only 2.8 pounds. If we plant 10 pounds of corn we get back 500 +pounds. If we plant one walnut we get back in twenty harvests a ton of +choicest food. In nut culture there is a treasury of wealth and health +and national prosperity and safety that is at present little +appreciated.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Here is a veritable treasury of wealth, a potential food supply +which may save the world from any suggestion of hunger for +centuries to come if properly utilized. Every man who cuts down a +timber tree should be required to plant a nut tree. A nut tree has +a double value. It produces valuable timber<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> and yields every year +a rich harvest of food while it is growing.</p> + +<p>Every highway should be lined with nut trees. Nut trees will grow +on land on which no other crop will grow and which is even +worthless for grazing. The piñon flourishes in the bleak and barren +peaks of the rockies.</p> + +<p>The nut should no longer be considered a table luxury. It should +become a staple article of food and may most profitably replace the +pork and meats of various sorts which are inferior foods and are +recognized as prolific sources of disease. </p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Ten nut trees planted for each inhabitant will insure the country +against any possibility of food shortage. A row of nut trees on each +side of our 5,000,000 miles of country roads will provide for a +population of 160,000,000. With a vanishing animal industry, nut culture +offers the only practical solution of the question of food supply. As +the late Prof. Virchow said, "The future is with the vegetarians."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE IMPORTANCE OF NUT GROWING.</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">H. W. Collingwood, New Jersey</span>.</h4> + +<p>In these days the importance of most things is valued in figures. I +never was good at figures. It seems to me that you can do anything you +like with figures, except make them clear, yet it was the failure to +figure that gave me my first idea of the importance of nut culture. Some +50 years ago a small boy on a New England farm could not, or would not, +do his sums in the old Coburn Arithmetic. It made no difference that the +teacher called it Mathematics, and pointed it with the end of a hickory +stick. By any other name it was not sweet.</p> + +<p>This boy got stuck on a question about a hare and a hound. It appeared +that the hare jumped a rod at a time, and made 33 jumps a minute. The +hound started 200 feet behind the hare. This hound made 18 ft. at a +jump, and made 32½ jumps a minute. Now, would the hound catch the +hare before they got to a hickory tree half a mile away?</p> + +<p>I am glad they introduced that hickory tree because the question was a +hard nut at best and needed brain food. I couldn't tell where the hare +would be, and I can't now; nor do I believe that some of you wise heads, +grown hairless with constant thinking, could really tell how the hare +came out. If I saw one of my children headed for me with such a problem +in hand, I confess that I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> should make a prompt engagement outside. The +old folks who brought me up, had sterner ways of enforcing education. +They decided that the boy should live on brown bread and water until he +did that example. In order to assist hunger in bringing the boy to it, +after the first day showed that the boy was still going, the old +gentleman hunted up all the axes and hatchets, scythes and knives on the +place, and made the boy turn grindstone while he held the implements on. +Greek met Greek. The boy wouldn't give in, and the old man couldn't and +preserve his dignity, but try as he might the old man could not tire out +the boy; the old hands gave out first, and the old man straightened his +back and gazed at that wonderful boy. Now it wasn't in brown bread and +water to sustain strength and will in that way. Not when there are baked +beans for supper and you can smell them! The old man had to acknowledge +a higher power which beat him. He wouldn't do it openly, that was not +the New England way, but he did it on the second night by helping the +boy to baked beans and fried potatoes without a word. The old man went +to his death thinking that he had a most wonderful boy, and the little +fellow did not give his secret away. Now we may have it as a slight +contribution to the importance of nut culture. The sustaining power +which carried the boy through his trial was the hickory nut. There was a +pile of them in the attic, and the boy on the quiet, cracked and ate a +quart of them every day. That boy could not spell protein to save his +life, and carbo-hydrates would have scared him off the floor, but the +nuts and the brown bread gave him a balanced ration which did everything +except find out about the hound and the hare. I think it would have +required a balanced ration fed to an unbalanced brain to settle that +problem.</p> + +<p>Now I think the importance of the nut industry must come to the general +public in that way, through the stomach rather than through the mind. +The human mind is a marvelous piece of mental machinery, so is the +machine which sets type or weaves fine cloth, yet both are powerless +unless the fire pot under the engine, or the stomach of the man, are +kept filled with fuel or food. I have heard very old men tell of the +prejudice which existed against coal, years ago, in New England, when +attempts were made to introduce the new fuel. Cord wood was the local +fuel, people knew what it was, and its preparation provided a local +industry. The introduction of coal meant destruction for this local +business of wood cutting, and wiped out the value of many a farm. Coal +had to win its way against prejudice and local interest, and it only won +out by showing power. I am sure that 75 years ago, if some visionary +Yankee had said that coal would be so freely used in New England that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +cord wood would be almost unsaleable, the public would surely have given +him that honorary title which goes with prospective and persistent +knowledge, "nut."</p> + +<p>In like manner the importance of nut growing will not be truly +recognized until we can show a man in the most practical way that nuts +provide the energy to be found in beef steak. It is said that knowledge +creates an atmosphere in which prejudice cannot live. I know an old man +who is absolutely settled in his conviction that New England has +degenerated because her people have given up eating baked beans and cod +fish balls, and introduced the sale of these delicacies in the West. +That man says, with convincing logic, that in the old days when New +England lived on brown bread and baked beans, we produced statesmen on +every rocky hillside, and we dominated the thought of the nation. Now, +he says, we have not developed one single statesman since the canned +baked bean industry took our specialty away from us. The only way to +convince him is to produce a dozen statesmen out of men who are willing +to subscribe to a diet of nuts. I have a friend who says he feels like +throwing a brick every time he passes a modern laundry. He says the +invention of the linen collar kept him a poor man. His grandfather +invested the family fortune in the stock of a paper collar factory. Many +of our older men remember the time when we all wore paper collars, and +bought them by the dozen in boxes. It seemed like a sure thing when the +old man put all his money into it. He figured that by 1915 there would +be 40,000 people in this country, each one wearing at least 200 paper +collars a year, something like the hound and the hare, perhaps, but he +didn't know that the hare in this case would drop dead, and the hound +double his jump, as happened to paper and linen collars. Some one +invented the modern linen collar. The laundry service started up, and +paper collars disappeared with the family fortune. Now, my friend must +work for a living, and throw mental bricks at the laundry. In a way +every new habit, or every new interference with the thought and method +of the plain people must run the gauntlet and submit to just such +violent changes.</p> + +<p>Now the future of the nut business, which contains the importance of the +industry, depends upon our ability to make the plain, common people +understand that in the future we must cut our beef steak and our chops +off a nut tree. We have made some of the brainy people understand this +already, but the hound is still chasing the hare, and he is several +jumps behind. You may say what you will, or think as highly as you like +of your own place in society, but the world is not run or pushed on by +the brainy people. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> may steer it for a while and master it, but +only at the permission of what I may call the stomach people, who always +sooner or later rise up and dominate things. A gild-edged, red line +edition of nut knowledge will get the few or select class, but in order +to make the industry truly important we must make a homely appeal to the +plain people. It seems to me that one of the most effective nut +documents yet issued is that bulletin by George Carver, a colored man at +the Tuskegee Institute. Carver simply makes his appeal to the Southern +farmer, and he gives him 45 ways of cooking and eating peanuts. I rather +think that Carver's work in trying to get the Southern negroes to eat +more peanuts and more cow-peas has done about as much for the race as +the academic instruction given in the college.</p> + +<p>On the principle that "Like begets like," I feel sure that the continued +practice of cracking the shell to get at the sweet meat inside will tend +to put more phosphorus and less lime into the skull of the race. I once +explained the nut proposition to an energetic man and he said: +"Fine—the theory is perfect—now hire a man who lives on rare beef to +get out and fight for your proposition and you will put it over!"</p> + +<p>Last year I went up into New York State with a prominent public man, who +was to make a speech. This man was delayed, and in order to get there he +had to jump on the last platform of the last car. He had eaten no lunch, +and only a light breakfast. He said he should surely fail in his speech +because he was faint from lack of food. I asked him what he would eat if +he had the chance. He said soup, half a chicken, potatoes and asparagus, +and apple pie. I told the train boy to bring samples of everything he +had, and we finally selected an apple from Oregon, a banana from Mexico, +a box of figs from California, some pop corn from Massachusetts, +chocolate from Venezuela, and salted nuts from Louisiana. The air and +the sunshine and the water seemed to be produced in New York, but +nothing else. A great dinner for a New York man, but to his surprise it +satisfied him, took the place of the chicken, and carried him through +his speech with a strong punch. It seems to me that one trouble with our +nut propaganda is that we go at it in such a way that the pupils regard +us somewhat as "nuts," and why should the man who becomes a specialist +on any subject, and airs it on all occasions, be called a nut? We shall +have to admit that men are called such names. I think it is because we +let our brains work somewhat like the oyster or clam, and secrete a hard +shell of formal knowledge around the sweet meat of condensed human +nature, for that is what all useful knowledge is. We must crack our +shell of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> formal knowledge and grind it up finer before we can put it +into the think works of the plain people.</p> + +<p>While I was working up the Apple Consumers' League some years ago, I ran +upon the fact that Corbett, the prize-fighter, consumed 3 dishes of +apple sauce every day while training. Now, I had used the statement that +J. P. Morgan always had a baked apple for his lunch, but I got small +results from that story. Few people ever expected to make millions, and +Morgan was out of their class. Every man carried a punch, which he +wanted to enlarge and make effective. If Corbett used apple sauce to oil +his arm for a knock-out blow, every man with red blood wanted apples. +Now we must work our nut campaign in some such popular way, if we expect +to put a nut on the wheel of progress. The fact that Prof. Johnson, or +Dr. Jackson, or the Rev. Thompson, or Judge Dixon, or Senator Harrison, +find strength and comfort from eating nuts, is very important and very +pleasant, but 99 per cent of our people never expect to enter the +learned profession, and they must not get the idea that these +professions stand around the full use of nuts like a barbed wire fence. +Most men must live and work in the rough and tumble of life, and at +present they think red meat is the sustaining power for that sort of +stuff. We must change their point of view. Let us find athletes, +baseball men, wrestlers, fighters, runners, men who stand well in +popular sports and who will publicly state that they substitute nuts for +meat in part at least. We must put this thing into the popular +imagination of the plain people if it is to be of full importance. When +some fellow with a new brand of cigarettes wants to develop a trade +among young men, he gets some noted ball player to write a letter +stating his love for that brand. I think we should follow that plan +somewhat in putting our nut campaign before the people. Two years ago +the Oregon Agricultural College sent a football team East. The college +was almost unknown here, but I asked one or two football men about it. +They laughed at these Pacific Coast athletes. Here was a college they +said which had issued a bulletin advising the people to send their +children to school with nut sandwiches instead of meat. This man said +that such training could only result in puny, half grown men, and he +doubted if this team would last half way across the country. Those +Oregon boys lined up a team of giants. They simply wiped the earth with +most teams of their class, and left behind the cracked shells of a long +line of reputation, with the sweet meat well picked out.</p> + +<p>Personally I believe that within 25 years, 50 at the latest, our people +will be absolutely forced to accept a diet of nuts in place of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> our +present proportion of meat. As I see it, the time is coming when +increased population and shortage of available land will make prime, +beef nearly as scarce as turkey and venison are today. Not only so, but +I think knowledge will slowly but surely lead men to change their diet +from choice. My children will live to see the time when the acre nut +orchard on the average farm will be considered just as useful and as +much of a necessity, and far more profitable, than the present chicken +yard. In that day I think the nut industry will rank in food importance +second only to that of corn, and I believe that the greatest change will +be found here in New England, for I believe that nut culture is to +change history, and readjust population and industry to some extent. +Frankly, I expect my children to live to see the time when the hickory +nut in New England will rank far above the walnut industry in California +or in France. I think this nut culture will, in time, bring a greater +income to the New England States than all its fruits and grain combined +today. Out in the wild woods on some New England hillside there are +growing today strains or varieties of nuts which will do far more for +this section than the Baldwin apple, or the Bartlett pear have ever +done. They will be found, tamed and propagated.</p> + +<p>You may, if you like, call me a dreamer, or what is the same thing, a +"nut." I can stand that, for have I not in my short span of life seen +dreams come true. Suppose the wandering hunter, or the farmer's boy, who +discovered the Baldwin apple in the woods of Massachusetts, had gone +back to his home and stated that the time would come when this beautiful +red fruit would grow wherever it found a suitable climate, that it would +revolutionize horticulture, bring millions of dollars to New England, +and find its way throughout the world wherever the sails of commerce are +blown. They might have hung him as a witch or dreamer, and yet, his +dream would be no more improbable than what I say of nut culture in New +England. I have seen the telephone, the flying machine, the gasoline +engine, all grow from the vain dream of a crazy inventor to public +necessities, and as surely as fate the nut industry is to bring back to +the old hillsides of New England much of the profit and the glory of old +days.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE PROPER PLACE OF NUT TREES IN THE PLANTING PROGRAM.</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">By C. A. Reed, Nut Culturist</span>,</h4> + +<h4><span class="smcap">U. S. Department of Agriculture</span>.</h4> + + +<p>In the planting of trees for most purposes, it is now possible to +exercise practically the same degree of choice with regard to special +fitness as is employed in the selection of men for positions or tools +for a piece of work. The fruit grower in every part of the country has +his special species and pomological varieties from which to choose. The +foresters and landscape gardeners have their species and botanical +varieties or improved strains to pick from.</p> + +<p>Among the important purposes for which trees are planted the production +of native nuts is singularly behind. The leading species of native +nut-bearing trees include the hickories, the walnuts, the chestnuts, the +pines, and the beech. Of these, one of the hickories, the pecan, is the +only species which has so far been developed by cultivation as to become +of importance for the production of an orchard product.</p> + +<p>The timber of the pecan is less valuable than is that of most other +hickories, and is in commercial use only as second-class material. +However, it is the most important species of nut-bearing tree in the +United States. Its native and introduced range includes the fertile +lands of the plains of practically the entire southeastern quarter of +the country. It is neither an upland nor a wet land tree. In the United +States it is not found in the mountainous sections, nor, to any +important extent, south of Middle Florida. In Mexico, it is occasionally +found on mountain sides at considerable elevations and by some is +supposed to be there indigenous. However, according to "Pomological +Possibilities of Texas," written by Gilbert Onderdonk, of Nursery, +Texas, and published by the State Department of Agriculture in 1911, its +success at those altitudes is vitally dependent upon the water supply. +In each case investigated by Mr. Onderdonk, while upon official trips +made for the United States Department of Agriculture, he found the pecan +trees to be adjacent to some stream, either natural or artificial. "At +Bustamente," says Mr. Onderdonk, "one hundred and seven miles beyond +Laredo, are pecan trees two hundred years old that have been watered all +their lives and have continued productive. From these trees, grown from +Texas pecans, pecan culture has been extended until there are now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +thousands of thrifty pecan trees under irrigation. One owner of a small +lot sold his water right when his trees were about seventy-five years +old, and when the writer visited his grounds fourteen years later, every +one of his trees was either dead or dying."</p> + +<p>We may yet find the pecan to be suitable for plateau or mountain land +growth, but as Mr. Onderdonk reports was the case in Mexico, it is also +the case here. The species must have ample water. With the proper amount +of moisture, neither too much nor yet too little, there is no way of +predicting to what altitudes or even latitudes it may be taken. Its +northernmost points of native range are near Davenport, Iowa, and Terre +Haute, Indiana. Iowa seed planted in 1887, at South Haven, Michigan, on +the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, at a latitude of about 42½ +degrees, have never been seriously affected by winter temperatures. +However, they have fruited but little. So far as the writer can +ascertain the crops of nuts have been insignificant both as regards +quantity and character. Dr. Deming reports a large tree at Hartford, +Conn., at a latitude of nearly 42 degrees which, judging from a +photograph which he took several years ago, was then 3 feet in diameter +and quite at home, so far as growth was concerned.</p> + +<p>Other planted trees are fairly numerous along the Atlantic Coast between +Washington and New York. There is one in the southern part of Lancaster +County, Pa., near Colemanville, but so far as is known to the U. S. +Department of Agriculture, important crops of nuts have never been +realized from any of these northern trees. Crops from the native trees +in the bottoms north of latitude 39 degrees or approximately that of +Washington, D. C., and Vincennes, Indiana, are fairly uncertain. +Northern nurserymen are now disseminating promising varieties of pecans +from what has come to be known as the "Indiana district," which includes +the southwestern part of that state, northwestern Kentucky and +southwestern Illinois. In many respects these varieties compare very +favorably with the so-called "papershells" of the southern states. They +are believed to be of very great promise for northern planting in +sections to which they may be adapted. However, before any northern +varieties are planted for commercial (orchard) purposes, they should be +fully tested as to their adaptability in the particular section where +the planting is to take place. The commercial propagation of northern +varieties of pecans began less than ten years ago; the first attempts +were not generally successful, and as a result there are no budded or +grafted trees of northern varieties yet of bearing age.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + +<p>Aside from the pecan there are no named Pomological varieties of any +native nut now being propagated, with very few exceptions. So far as +these exceptions are concerned, it is probable that fewer than one +hundred budded or grafted trees of such varieties are yet of bearing +age, and of such as have attained the age at which fruit might be +expected, exceedingly few have borne in paying quantities for any number +of consecutive years. Therefore, with reference to the planting of +native nut species for profit, the truth of the situation is simply +this: In the ordinary course of events, with the exception of the pecan, +years of experimentation in the testing of varieties and in a study of +their cultural requirements must be gone through before any native +species of nut-bearing trees can be planted in any of the northern +states with a certainty of commercial return from nuts alone which would +be comparable with that of many other crops which already are upon a +well established commercial basis in this part of the country.</p> + +<p>With reference to two of the foreign species of nuts which have been +introduced, the situation is quite different. In order of commercial +importance of the nuts now grown in this country, two foreign species, +the Persian (English) walnut and the almond, stand second and third, +respectively, the pecan, which is an American species only, being first. +With these exceptions, the foreign introductions are all in the +experimental or test stage, and while possibly the European hazel +(filbert) may now be making a strong bid for commercial recognition in +the northwest, and the pistache in parts of California, neither species +can yet be recommended for commercial planting.</p> + +<p>With the exception of a few hardshell varieties of almonds, which are +practically as hardy as the peach and which are suitable only for home +planting, as they are in no way to be compared with the almond of +commerce, there is now no indication that this species is destined ever +to be come of commercial importance east of the Rocky Mountains.</p> + +<p>The Persian or so-called English walnut is of commercial importance in +this county only in the far Western States. In the South, it has thus +far failed altogether. In the North and East it has held out gleams of +hope, first bright, then dull, for more than a century. There is no way +of telling the number of trees of this species which have been planted +in the northeastern section of the country, but let us imagine it to +have been sixty thousand. Of these fully fifty per cent have succumbed +to climatic conditions; twenty-five per cent have been but semi-hardy, +and possibly twenty-five per cent have attained the bearing age. A part +of each of the last two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> classes have borne crops of commercial size for +a number of years. Some have produced nuts of good size and quality. A +great many of all those surviving are now proving susceptible to a +walnut blight upon which Mr. McMurran is to report tomorrow. A liberal +estimate of the present number of bearing Persian walnut trees in this +part of the country would be ten per cent of the original supposed sixty +thousand or six thousand trees. Of these, the writer has positive +knowledge of none which are now bearing crops of nuts in such quantity, +and of such size, and quality and with such regularity and which have so +borne for such length of time as to encourage commercial planting. Few +of the eastern grown nuts are so free from tannin as to be really +pleasing to the taste, or favorably comparable with the best nuts of the +market. The writer is now closely watching the best known varieties +which the nurserymen are putting out, but at the present time there is +no variety which, in his judgment, should be commercially planted +without further testing.</p> + +<p>The proper place for such partially improved species, as are most of the +nut producers hardy in this section at the present time, is that in +which they may be used for more than the single purpose of nut +production. Most of the species of the botanical family <i>Juglandaceae</i>, +to which the walnuts and hickories belong, are slow growers, and as +such, are objectionable to the average planter. In answer to this, it +may be said that among trees, slowness of growth is invariably +associated with longevity of tree and its value when cut as timber. +Also, when due pains are taken, it is possible to select species which +are exceedingly satisfactory in the landscape. Several of the slides, +which are to follow, illustrate the individual beauty of selected nut +trees, and some show their effective use in the landscape.</p> + +<p>Foresters are now advocating the planting of trees in waste places in +the country, especially about farm buildings. There are, perhaps, no +conspicuous waste places with a greater aggregate area than the strips +along the public highway. In certain foreign countries, these strips are +planted to fruit trees and the right of harvest awarded to the highest +bidder. The revenue so obtained goes a long way toward keeping the +highways in good condition. It is possible that this practice may +sometime be introduced into the United States, but until public opinion +is radically changed, the planting of fruit trees along the highways can +not be expected to yield any satisfactory returns to the public. The +experience of Dr. Morris who planted cherry trees along the public road +past his farm here in Connecticut, where we have just been, is typical +of what, under present conditions, might be expected in any part of the +country.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> When the cherries were ripe, automobile parties came for many +miles to pick the fruit, and when that in the highway was gone, the +cherries from the nearby orchard were taken. In both cases, the branches +were broken down and the trees left in badly mangled condition. Dr. +Morris then tried nursery-grown and expensive evergreens, but on +Sundays, automobile parties came again with spades and shovels and dug +up the trees.</p> + +<p>The ratio of population to tillable land in this country is not such +that, for a long time to come, the American people as a whole will be +pressed into the using of highway land for the production of crops or +into respecting the right of the public to harvest such crops as might +be grown in its highways. Therefore, for the present, except in densely +populated, or in more than ordinarily well regulated communities, it +would be useless to advocate the planting of ordinary fruit trees along +the public roadways.</p> + +<p>Irrespective of the possible value of their crops, fruit trees of most +species are both too small and too short-lived to be suitable for +highway planting. With nut trees, the situation is entirely different. +The native walnuts, most species of hickories and the American beech are +large-growing and long-lived trees. In addition, they are capable of +withstanding severe temperatures; they are tough and strong and not +liable to injury by storm or while being climbed by ordinary persons; +and they readily adapt themselves to a wide range of soil, moisture, and +climatic conditions.</p> + +<p>Ordinary species of nut trees can not be recommended for the dual +purpose of timber and nut production, as, for the former purpose, the +trees should be planted close together in order to induce length and +straightness of trunk with a minimum of top or bearing surface, while +for the latter, they should be planted in the open and given space for +the maximum development to bearing surface and a minimum length of +trunk. The great demand for hickory in the making of axles, wheels, and +other vehicle parts and handles for tools, and for walnut in the +manufacture of furniture and gun stocks, makes it not only possible but +common practice to use these woods in short lengths. Therefore, both +species planted along the highways and in other waste places might +profitably be converted into their timber upon reaching maturity, if +their crops of nuts should prove to be of small commercial value.</p> + +<p>The butternut, <i>J. cinerea</i>, is a less symmetrical grower than are the +black walnuts. The timber is less valuable and the nuts are cracked with +greater difficulty. Nevertheless, it is the most hardy of any native +species of <i>Juglans</i>. Its kernels are rich in quality and of a flavor +more pleasing to some persons than that of any other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> nut. Cracking the +native butternut and marketing the kernels affords the rural people in +many sections a fairly profitable means of employment during the winter +months. Its native range extends farther north than does that of either +the eastern black walnut, or that of the shagbark hickory, <i>Hicoria +ovata</i>, and considerably beyond that of the shellbark hickory, <i>H. +laciniosa</i>. Therefore, in view of its hardiness, and the merit of its +kernels, it is well worthy of consideration for planting in the most +northern parts of the country.</p> + +<p>Were it not for the blight which is now making practically a clean sweep +of destruction over the eastern states, wherever the native chestnut is +found, the American chestnut, <i>Castanea dentata</i>, would certainly be +entitled to leading consideration as a highway, an ornamental or a nut +producing tree. Unaffected by blight or other diseases, it is one of the +largest-growing and most graceful species in the eastern United States. +The European chestnut is nearly as susceptible to this blight as is the +American species. The chestnuts from eastern Asia now appear to be +sufficiently immune to offer a practical solution to the situation by +their introduction into this country. However, they commonly lack the +sweet agreeable flavor of the American species and need hybridizing in +order to improve their quality. This, the Federal Department of +Agriculture is now doing, and in due time, there may be something to +offer in ample quantity which will make a satisfactory substitute for +the native species. Exclusive of the Asiatic species and the government +hybrids, there are now no available species which can be recommended for +planting in the blight affected area, and these should be planted only +for test purposes.</p> + +<p>The pines referred to at the outset of this article as being important +nut producers are all western species found only on the mountains and +nowhere under cultivation. There are at least fourteen American species. +Representatives are found in most of the Rocky Mountain states. The most +important species is <i>Pinus edulis</i>. It is found at altitudes of from +five to seven thousand feet in the mountains of New Mexico, Arizona and +northern Mexico. In favorable years, the seeds are gathered in enormous +quantities under the name of "piñons," or according to the Mexicans, +"pinyonies." The nuts are rich in flavor but small and difficult to +extract from the shells. They are not well known in the eastern market, +but in the southwest they form a highly important article of food for +the Indians and Mexicans. These pines are exceedingly slow growers and +not of graceful form. They could scarcely be considered for ornamental +planting, except at the altitudes to which they are com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>mon, and then; +probably, only where some more satisfactory shade trees would not +succeed.</p> + +<p>Among all American species of trees, it is probable that in a +combination of beauty, longevity, strength and hardiness, the American +beech, <i>Fagus grandifolia</i>, is unexcelled. Although commonly looked upon +as being a northern species, its range extends south to northern Florida +and west to the Trinity River in Texas. It is most familiar as a +clean-barked, spreading tree, with low head, and a height of from fifty +to sixty feet. However, its form depends largely upon environment. The +writer has seen it in the bottoms of southwestern Georgia, in common +with the magnolia, growing to a height of from seventy-five to one +hundred feet and with trunks of two feet in diameter extending upward in +a manner which, with regard to height and uniformity of size, compared +favorably with the long-leafed Georgia pine. The nuts of the beech are +rich in quality and of excellent flavor, but owing to their small size +and the great difficulty attending the extraction of the kernels, they +are not ranked as being of direct importance for human food. Their +principal use in this country is as a mast crop for turkeys and swine, +for which they serve a most useful purpose. Crops which can be used in +this manner to good advantage, thus practically obviating the problems +of harvesting, storing and marketing, are certainly well worth thinking +about in these days of labor scarcity.</p> + +<p>There are few large sections of the United States adapted to the growing +of trees to which some nut-bearing species is not suited. Most species +of nut trees are as capable of producing shade and ornamental effect, +and are as hardy and lasting as any others which might be mentioned. In +addition, they produce an edible product which is entering into the list +of staple food products with great rapidity. The present scarcity of +meats and the consequent high prices are compelling the substitution of +other products. The superiority of nuts over practically all other +products which are available, as substitutes, scarcely needs argument. +Already, nuts are being pressed into service as rapidly as production +permits, and perhaps more so than prices and comparative food values +justify. Singularly enough, this section of the United States, which is +the oldest and most thickly populated portion of the country, and that +within which the greatest number of edible species of nuts are +indigenous, is today practically without pomological varieties for +planting. Within this area, individuals have made tests of species and +varieties for many generations, yet little progress has resulted. The +obvious need is for further test on a large scale. A better opportunity +for the making of such a test could scarcely be imagined than that of +highway planting.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> + +<p>Pomologists are firmly recommending the exclusive use of budded or +grafted trees. But this advice applies only to orchard planting for the +purpose of commercial production. Until more and better varieties are +known and their merits established, that portion of the country lying +north of the pecan belt and east of the Rocky Mountains, must await the +development and trial of new varieties. Seedlings must be planted in +large numbers from which to select varieties. The process is too slow +and the percentage of varieties which may be expected to be worth while +too small for it to be possible for the individual to make much headway +during an ordinary lifetime. Our present system of national highways by +which all parts of the country are being connected is perfecting the +opportunity. The general planting along these great national highways of +elm, oak, poplar, tulip, cedar, hemlock, magnolia, pine or any other +species which, unless cut, are capable of producing no crop other than +that of shade, would hardly be in keeping with the present need for +utility. It would be giving a questionable degree of thought to the +welfare of future generations.</p> + +<p>To the list of nut trees as utility trees there might be added the sugar +maple, and certain species of prolific-bearing oaks. The former could be +drawn upon for the making of syrup and sugar, and the acorns from the +latter could be put to good use as hog and turkey food. In wet sections, +willows might prove useful from which to cut material for baskets, +furniture, or tying bundles.</p> + +<p>A way of overcoming the objection of slow growth of some of the nut +species might be the alternate planting of quick-growing species which +would furnish shade in a minimum length of time, and which could be cut +for pulp or other purposes by the time the nut trees reach maturity.</p> + +<p>A practical objection to highway planting of nut trees is that unless +cared for, such trees are in danger of becoming breeding places for +diseases and insect pests which would quickly spread to nearby orchards. +However, such planting in numbers too small to be worth caring for is +not to be considered. Already the country is agreed that the maintaining +of the middle of the road in such condition that it can render maximum +service is a paying investment. The suggestion here made is only as the +next step in highway investment. It is a proposition to make more +comfortable and attractive the present system of roadways, and at the +same time to help develop new varieties of nut trees for orchard +planting. Unless such new varieties are soon to become available, a +large part of the country will presently find itself dependent upon +outside sources for its principal substitute for meat and its main +supply of vegetable fats.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + +<p>A little thought should be able to work out a sound program for the +planting of utility trees on practically every highway in this country.</p> + +<p>Since this manuscript was completed, attention has been called to a +reference to a war use of the horse chestnut, which appears on page 18 +of the July number of "My Garden," a monthly publication, with +headquarters at 6 Bouverie Street, Fleet Street, London. As the heading +"NEW USE FOR HORSE CHESTNUTS," and its sub-head "Cereal Saving," both +indicate it may be of interest to the American people, although the +production of horse chestnuts in this country is not large. The article +which is credited to The Times, is as follows: "An important war time +use has been found for horse chestnuts by the systematic collection and +transport of all the nuts that can be obtained to the centre where they +can be utilized. Up to the present time cereals have been necessary for +the production of an article of great importance in the prosecution of +the war. Under the direction of the Food (War) Committee of the Royal +Society, which acts for and in consultation with the Royal Commission on +Wheat Supplies, the Minister of Food, and the Minister of Munitions, +experiments have been carried out during the winter to find a substitute +for these cereals, and thus to set them free for food supplies. +Brilliant work has ended in the difficulties being overcome, and the +proof that the seeds of the horse chestnuts answer the purpose +admirably. Except as food for deer and goats the seeds have, in the +past, been practically a waste crop, and they can be used instead of +cereals, essential for human consumption, without interfering with any +existing industry or interest.</p> + +<p>"The organization for the collection and transport of all that can be +obtained is being rapidly perfected. When the time comes it will be the +privilege and duty of every owner of a tree or trees to help and to give +facilities for the collection of the nuts. Every ton of chestnuts +collected will set free an equivalent amount of grain. The tree being +chiefly grown for ornamental purposes occurs most freely in towns and +private gardens. In some towns it is the practice to remove the young +nuts from the trees in July so as to prevent them from being stoned and +broken by boys later on when the "conker" demand begins. Urban +authorities and park-keepers must discontinue the practice this year. +Chestnut Day, early in next autumn, will have a far wider observance and +significance this year than any Chestnut Sunday at Bushey, or than Arbor +Day over here, or even in America. For once the small boy will collect +the nuts with the full approval of the owner.</p> + +<p>"To prevent any misapprehension it should perhaps be made clear that the +horse chestnuts will not themselves be used as food. They are required +for another purpose altogether, and the only way in which they will help +the food supplies of the country is by setting free cereals which have +now to be consumed in the production of a necessary article."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Thursday, Sept.</span> 6, 1917.</h4> + +<p>Meeting called to order at 9.30 A. M.</p> + +<p>The Nominating Committee reported the renomination of all the officers. +The Secretary was instructed to cast one vote for these candidates.</p> + +<p>[Carried.]</p> + +<p>Moved and carried that the selection of the time and place for next +meeting to be left to the Executive Committee with especial +consideration of a joint meeting with the National Association at +Albany, Georgia.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>SOME INSECTS INJURING-NUT TREES.</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">By W. E. Britton, State Entomologist, Connecticut</span>.</h4> + + +<p>Nut-bearing trees, like other kinds of trees, are attacked by insect +pests. Some kinds are seriously injured by them; others scarcely at all. +Some of these insects are borers in the trunk and branches; some devour +the leaves; some feed inside the nuts and ruin them; some suck the sap +from the stems and leaves.</p> + +<p>I shall make no attempt in this paper to enumerate these pests. Time +forbids. I shall only mention a few of the most obvious and most +serious, and where possible, point out control measures.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">The Walnut Caterpillar</span>.</h4> + +<p class='center'><i>Datana integerrima</i> G. & R.</p> + +<p>During the month of August clusters of blackish caterpillars bearing +white hairs, may be seen stripping the terminal branches of black +walnut, butternut and hickory trees. This is called the walnut +caterpillar, and it has been very abundant in Connecticut this season. +Many small trees have been entirely stripped and large ones almost +defoliated. There is only one brood each year in Connecticut, though two +occur in the southern states, and the pupae<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> winter in the ground. The +adult is a reddish brown moth, having a wing-spread of about one and +one-half inches. Clipping off the twigs and crushing the mass of +caterpillars is perhaps the simplest control method on small trees. +Spraying with lead arsenate will prevent defoliation.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">The Fall Web-worm</span>.</h4> + +<p class='center'><i>Hyphantria cunea</i> Drury.</p> + +<p>Though a general feeder attacking all kinds of fruit, shade and forest +trees, the fall web-worm commonly feeds upon the foliage of nut trees, +especially hickories, causing considerable damage in the South. The +adult is a white moth, having a wing-spread of an inch or more, +appearing in midsummer and laying its egg-cluster on the under side of a +leaf. The young caterpillars make a nest at the end of a lateral branch +by drawing the leaves together with their webs. These nests usually +appear in July and August, though in Connecticut there is a partial +second brood and usually a few nests of the early brood may be found in +June. In the South there are two complete generations. When the larvae +have exhausted their food supply, they extend their nest by taking in +fresh leaves, but always feed inside the nest, differing in this respect +from the tent caterpillar which makes its nests here in May. When fully +grown the caterpillars are about one and one-fourth inches long, with +brown bodies covered with light brown hairs, and may be seen crawling +about seeking a place to pupate. They soon go into the ground where they +transform, the adults emerging the following year.</p> + +<p>The best remedies are (1) clipping off and burning the nests when small, +and (2) spraying the foliage with arsenical poison.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">The Walnut Bud Moth</span>.</h4> + +<p class='center'><i>Acrobasis caryae</i> Grote?</p> + +<p>Inconspicuous nests containing small caterpillars are often found at the +ends of the new shoots of <i>Juglans regia</i>, seriously injuring them, and +sometimes killing the trees. One small tree two feet high was killed, +and thirty-five pupae were found in the nests at Dr. Morris' farm in +1912. The adult is a small gray moth with a wing expanse of about +three-fourths of an inch. There are three broods each season in +Connecticut, the larvae appearing about June 1, July 10 and August 18.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> + +<p>By spraying the foliage with lead arsenate (3 lbs. in 50 gals. water) +this insect can be controlled. One application should be made about June +1, followed by a second about July 10.</p> + +<p>Though this insect is thought to be <i>Acrobasis caryae</i> Grote, it is +often difficult to distinguish some of these species in this genus +without a knowledge of their food habits and seasonal life histories. We +possess such knowledge regarding this species which we have studied and +reared in Connecticut, but it is lacking in connection with adult +specimens in the United States National Museum labeled <i>caryae,</i> which +superficially seemed identical with ours. Further study, therefore, may +prove this to be an undescribed species. There are other bud-worms +attacking nut trees, especially in the southern states, where they cause +considerable damage to pecans.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">The Walnut Weevil Or Curculio</span>.</h4> + +<p class='center'><i>Conotrachelus juglandis</i> LeC.</p> + +<p>Probably the most serious enemy of <i>Juglans</i>, in Connecticut at least, +is the walnut weevil or curculio, <i>Conotrachelus juglandis</i> LeC. The +larvae tunnel in the tender shoots, often ruining the new growth, and +they also infest the nuts. The adults feed upon the shoots and leaf +petioles. Observations on the different hosts indicate that <i>Juglans +cordiformis</i> and <i>J. sieboldiana</i> are preferred, and the most severely +injured, followed in order by <i>cinerea</i>, <i>regia</i>, <i>nigra</i> and +<i>mandshurica</i>.</p> + +<p>Though described as early as 1876, little was known about the life +history of this insect until the studies were made at the Station in +1912 by Mr. Kirk and the writer. Formerly it was supposed that this +insect attacked and injured only the nuts or fruit, and Dr. Morris in +1909 seems to be the first on record to observe the injury to the shoots +of <i>Juglans regia</i>. It was on the trees of Dr. Morris here in Stamford +and those of Mr. H. L. Champlain at Lyme that the life history studies +were made. There is but one brood each year, and the winter is passed in +the adult stage. The beetles appear the latter part of May and feed upon +the stems and leaf veins during the egg-laying period, which extends +from the last week in May up to August 1st. The eggs are laid in +irregular crescent-shaped punctures, similar to those of the plum +curculio, and hatch in from six to twelve days, depending upon the +weather.</p> + +<p>From four to six weeks are necessary for the development of the larvae, +and when mature they go into the ground where they remain for about ten +days an inch or so beneath the surface. They then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> pupate, and from +sixteen to twenty days later the adult beetles emerge. They fly to the +trees and eat small holes chiefly at the base of the leaf petioles, but +must early go into winter quarters as they are seldom seen after the +first week in September.</p> + +<p>This insect occurs throughout the Eastern United States, but seems to +cause more injury in Connecticut than has been noted elsewhere. The +remedy is to spray the new shoots and under side of the leaves about +June 1, with lead arsenate (6 lbs. of the paste in 50 gallons of water), +to kill the beetles when feeding on the leaf petioles.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">The Nut Weevils</span>.</h4> + +<p class='center'><i>Balaninus</i> sp.</p> + +<p>Several kinds of nuts are attacked and injured by long-beaked snout +beetles or weevils belonging to the genus <i>Balaninus</i>, the chestnut +probably being the most seriously damaged. All of them feed inside the +nuts or fruit during the larval stage, and the larvae are without legs. +As both the methods of attack and the life history are similar for all +species, they will be considered here in a group. For the sake of +distinguishing them, however, their names are mentioned.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Larger Chestnut weevil, <i>Balaninus proboscideus</i> Fabr.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lesser Chestnut weevil, <i>B. rectus</i> Say.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hickory nut or Pecan weevil, <i>B. caryae</i> Horn.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hazelnut weevil, <i>B. obtusus</i> Blanch.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Common acorn weevil, <i>B. quercus</i> Horn.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mottled acorn weevil, <i>B. nasicus</i> Say.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Straight-snouted acorn weevil, <i>B. orthorhynchus</i> Chittn.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sooty acorn weevil, <i>B. baculi</i> Chittn.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Confused acorn weevil, <i>B. confusor</i> Ham.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Spotted acorn weevil, <i>B. pardalus</i> Chittn.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>All of these weevils pass the winter in the ground in the larval stage, +transforming to pupae about three weeks before the adult beetles emerge, +which varies from June, when they are usually few and scattering, to +September, when they have become abundant. Thus there is a single brood +each year, and the larval period lasts from three to five weeks in the +nuts and some ten months in the ground, from two to eight inches below +the surface.</p> + +<p>The control of these weevils is difficult, and ordinary methods such as +spraying are not effective. In fact little can be done other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> than +destroying the weeviled nuts, which may be fed to hogs. When first +gathered the nuts may be fumigated with carbon disulphide. About two +fluid ounces of the liquid should be used for each bushel of nuts and +placed in a shallow dish on top of the nuts, which should be enclosed in +a tight box or barrel. The period of fumigation should be from 12 to 24 +hours. Where nuts are not to be used for seed they may be thrown into +boiling water for about five minutes—just long enough to kill the +weevils. The nuts are then dried and sold. Most of the weeviled nuts +will rise to the surface and may be discarded, but this test is not +absolute and cannot be depended on to distinguish the sound from the +weeviled nuts.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Hickory Bark Beetle or Bark Borer</span>.</h4> + +<p class='center'><i>Scolytus quadrispinosus</i> Say.</p> + +<p>Outbreaks of the hickory bark borer occur periodically throughout the +northeastern United States, and during the past five years many hickory +trees in this vicinity have died.</p> + +<p>The adult is a small black beetle appearing in May and June, which eats +holes in the axils of the leaf stems causing them to fall early—usually +in July and August. Brood galleries are then made longitudinally just +under the bark of the trunk by the female, and a row of eggs is placed +along either side of this brood chamber. On hatching the grubs, which +are at first very small, tunnel at right angles to the central chamber, +each making its own separate gallery. These galleries never meet or +cross each other, but must necessarily diverge toward their extremities +as they become larger. The effect of this is to girdle the tree which +soon dies. The larvae pass the winter under the bark, finish their +development in the spring, pupate, and the adults emerge in May and June +from small round holes about the size of bird shot.</p> + +<p>For control measures, Dr. Hopkins advises examining the trees during the +fall and marking all dead and dying trees within an area of several +square miles. Then between October 1 and May 1, cut all such trees and +dispose of the infested portion to destroy the insects before the adults +emerge.</p> + +<p>Many forms of treatment have been devised and recommended by tree +doctors for the control of this insect. Some of them may be worth +trying; most are of doubtful value, and some are absolutely injurious to +the trees. On July 3, 1914, some affected hickory trees on the Station +grounds were sprayed heavily with powdered lead arsenate, 4 lbs. in 50 +gallons of water, to which one pint of "Black<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> Leaf No. 40" was added. +Two days later many dead beetles were found on the tar walks under the +trees, and a few were observed each day up until about the middle of +August. Most of the trees treated, however, had been so badly injured by +the insect that they were removed. Since then this insect has caused +little damage on the grounds, though a few hickory trees still remain. +In 1901 an outbreak of the hickory bark beetle caused the death of 110 +trees on the Hillhouse place in New Haven; then the destructive work of +the insect ceased and the few remaining hickory trees are still standing +and in fairly good condition. I mention these instances to show that +nature's control methods through parasites and natural enemies is far +more effective with certain pests than any which man has yet devised. Of +course, we hope that in the future man will make better progress along +this line.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">The Painted Hickory Borer</span>.</h4> + +<p class='center'><i>Cyllene pictus</i> Drury.</p> + +<p>There are several borers attacking the wood of the trunk of the hickory, +but one of the commonest is the painted hickory borer. It also +occasionally attacks black walnut, butternut, mulberry and osage orange. +In hickory especially the larval tunnels are often found in the wood +when trees are felled. There is probably one brood annually and the +winter passed in the pupa stage, though it may possibly hibernate as a +larva. Its life history is not fully understood. It is a common +occurrence in Connecticut, and specimens are sent me every year, for the +adult beetles to emerge in March from firewood in the house or cellar +and crawl about seeking a chance to escape. The housewife fears that a +terrible household pest has descended upon her, and with fear and +trembling invokes the aid of the Agricultural Station.</p> + +<p>The beetles appear outside in April and May, and probably oviposit soon +afterward. They are about three-fourths of an inch in length and are +black, prettily marked with golden yellow.</p> + +<p>The insect can be controlled only by the old arduous methods of digging +out, and injecting carbon disulphide into the burrows.</p> + +<p>Several other long-horned beetles are borers in the hickory and other +nut trees. Then, too, the leopard moth, <i>zeuzera pyrina</i> Linn., and the +carpenter worm, <i>Prionoxystus robiniae</i> Peck, may be found occasionally +in most any kind of tree.</p> + +<p>The chestnut tree (if it has thus far escaped the blight or bark +disease) may show small, deep tunnels into the wood of trunk and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +branch, made by the chestnut timber worm, <i>Lymexylon sericeum</i> Harr. +Slow-growing woodland trees are more apt to show these galleries than +trees of rapid growth standing in the open.</p> + +<p>There are a number of tussock moths, sawflies, beetles, etc., which feed +on the leaves of nut trees. Spraying with lead arsenate will prevent +damage. There are also many sucking insects attacking them, such as the +hickory gall aphis, and several species found on the leaves. Some of +these may be controlled by spraying with a contact insecticide such as +nicotine solution or kerosene emulsion.</p> + +<p>In the Southern States, pecan trees are attached by some of these +insects which I have mentioned; there are also many more which cannot +even be mentioned in the time allotted to this paper. Information may be +obtained regarding them, by any one interested, and for this purpose I +have appended a short list of publications.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Literature</span>.</h4> + +<blockquote><p>Britton, W. E., and Kirk, H. B. The Life History of the Walnut Weevil or +Curculio. Report Conn. Agr. Expt. Station for 1912, page 240.</p> + +<p>Brooks, Fred E. Snout Beetles That Injure Nuts. Bull. 128, West Virginia +Agr. Expt. Sta., Morgantown, W. Va., 1910.</p> + +<p>Chittenden, F. H. The Nut Weevils, Circular 99, Bureau of Entomology, U. +S. Dept. of Agr., Washington, D. C., 1908.</p> + +<p>Felt, E. P. Insects Affecting Park and Woodland Trees. Memoir No. 8, N. +Y. State Museum, Albany, N. Y. 2 vols., 1905, 1906.</p> + +<p>Gossard, H. A. Insects of the Pecan, Bull. 79, Fla. Agr. Expt. Station, +Gainesville, Fla., 1905.</p> + +<p>Herrick, G. W. Insects Injurious to Pecans, Bull. 86, Miss. Agr. Expt. +Station, Agricultural College, Miss., 1904.</p> + +<p>Hopkins, A. D. The Dying Hickory Trees. Circular 144, Bureau of +Entomology, U. S. Dept. of Agr., Washington, D. C., 1912.</p> + +<p>Kirk, H. B. The Walnut Bud Moth. Report Conn. Agr. Expt. Station for +1912, page 253.</p></blockquote> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Member</span>: Early in the spring I noticed something on the +hickory trees swollen and bright red in color, so that the trees were +conspicuous from a distance. Later insects emerged which appeared to be +these little gnats that fly in swarms.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Britton</span>: From the description I am not able to say what it +was, but it was probably one of those gall flies, a great many species +of which exist and which attack all kinds of plants. They do not, as a +rule, cause very serious damage, and I can not suggest any particular +remedy. Did it interfere with the growth of the tree?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Member</span>: I noticed what seemed to be the same insect on the +grape vines.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris</span>: I would call attention to one pest that is very +destructive to hazels; unless watched closely it will produce serious +injury. That is the larvae of two of the sawflies. Dr. Britton was +unable to determine off-hand the species of the specimens I sent him, +but you may know the sawfly larvae by their habit of collecting in a row +like soldiers around the edge of the leaf and when the branch is +disturbed, their heads and tails stand up. These sawfly larvae need +looking after and can be killed by spraying. They usually collect on two +or three leaves at a time.</p> + +<p>I would like to ask about a bud worm that attacks the leaf of the +hickory near the axil, sometimes very extensively, but not very +injuriously. At the same time it makes deformities. Colonies of this +insect select certain trees, for instance, the Taylor tree that you saw +yesterday is infected with this particular bud larva. The base of a +petiole becomes enlarged two or three times, and you will find one white +worm at the bottom. This colony is confined to this one tree, and the +very next tree adjoining the Taylor has its branches interwining, but is +not bothered at all, so far as I can determine.</p> + +<p>This colony habit is also true of the hickory nut weevil—the hickory +weevil makes the Taylor tree a colony house, whereas I haven't found a +single weevil in nuts of the adjoining hickory tree that has its +branches interwining.</p> + +<p>That colony habit is, perhaps, a weak point with the weevil, and it may +enable us to eradicate them by concentrating our attention upon their +colony trees.</p> + +<p>One point in regard to the chestnut weevil. When our chestnuts began to +die here, I supposed that the chestnut weevils would immediately turn to +my chinquapins for comfort. Weevils attack the chinquapins so +extensively in the South that Mr. Littlepage said chinquapins would not +be acceptable to Dr. Kellogg because they furnished so much animal diet. +(Laughter). Curiously enough, the chestnut weevils did not go to my +chinquapins. These chinquapins bear full crops, heavy crops, and one +will almost never find a chestnut weevil in the nuts. I have found now +and then a little weevil, about half a dozen altogether, that attacks +the involucre at its point of attachment to the chinquapin. This looks +like the chestnut weevil, but perhaps, only according to my eye, very +much as all Chinamen look alike to one who has never seen them before.</p> + +<p>The matter of carbon disulphide for the painted hickory borer. I have +used that apparently successfully, but I didn't tunnel through six feet +of hickory tree afterward to see whether the borers were dead or not. It +is a successful treatment for apple borers. I have no trouble with the +apple borers now. I simply clean off the entrance of the hole, the +"sawdust," and then with a little putty spread out with my hand make a +sort of putty shelf below the hole, then I squirt in a few drops of +carbon disulphide with a syringe, turn up the putty and leave it +adhering to the bark, closing the hole. You can do that very quickly, +and it spares a good deal of perspiring and backache.</p> + +<p>The black walnut. On one of my black walnut trees there is a serious +pest, a very little worm which infests the involucre. The black walnuts +of this tree fall early. I found that same worm last year also extending +to the Asiatic walnuts, so that a great many Japanese walnuts fell early +as the black walnuts fall, as a result of this little worm's working in +large numbers within the involucre. I sent some specimens to New Haven +for the species to be observed. This will be a very serious matter if it +is going to involve the English walnuts as it does on Long Island. I +have found the same thing, apparently, on Long Island in the black +walnut, in the English walnut, and in the pecan. It causes a serious +drop of these nuts at Dana's Island, near Glen Cove, Long Island.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE EXTENT OF THE HARDY NUT TREE NURSERY BUSINESS.</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">R. T. Olcott, New York</span>.</h4> + + +<p>For obvious reasons this subject may well be considered as constituting +a gauge of commercial nut culture in the North; it is therefore of much +more importance than the mere title would suggest. If there is merit in +all that has been preached regarding the planting of budded and grafted +trees instead of seedlings; and if it is still true, as we have long +observed, that the propagation of named varieties of nut trees, and +especially of hardy nut trees, is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> successful almost solely in the hands +of experts, the progress of commercial nut culture in the northern +states rests largely in the hands of the nurserymen. We may even go +further and assert that it rests for the present mainly in the hands of +a few nurserymen who have persistently studied the problems pertaining +to the taming of a denizen of the forest, and have persevered with +experiments in the face of repeated failure; for, as editor of the +<i>American Nurseryman</i>, I am in a position to state that with a few +exceptions nurserymen generally have not attempted to prepare to supply +a demand for hardy, northern-grown, improved nursery nut trees. Seedling +walnuts and hickories have been procurable for years from nurseries all +over the country, as is shown by nursery catalogue listings; and at +least two concerns—one at Lockport, N. Y., and another at Rochester, N. +Y.,—have advertised nut tree seedlings extensively, despite the +universal nursery practice of budding or grafting or layering +practically all other kinds of trees and plants offered for sale as +nursery stock—simply because it is not easy to propagate nut trees, and +these nurserymen would take advantage of the growing demand for nut +orchards.</p> + +<p>Within established nut circles all this is commonly known. It was my +purpose in referring to these conditions to direct the attention of +those not posted to what has been done by a half dozen or more +conscientious nursery concerns in an endeavor to supply material of +quality for the starting of nut orchards or the planting of isolated +trees in response to the arguments set forth in behalf of nut culture. +My subject lies at the very base of the formation of this association; +for was it not with the idea of directing into safe channels interest +which might be aroused in nut culture that the pioneers of the industry +in the North organized and convened repeatedly to select and propagate +and recommend certain varieties? As the result of years of concentrated +effort selections have been made and varieties have been named—and to +some extent recommended—throughout the northern states. Now and for +some time past the public has had opportunity to purchase and plant +carefully grown budded and grafted true-to-name nursery nut trees of +varieties having in the parent trees exceptional characteristics deemed +sufficient to warrant propagation and dissemination. I need not go into +the matter of years of patient effort on the part of a few nurserymen +and of a few investigators who entered the lists solely for the love of +Nature's developments.</p> + +<p>This, in brief, is the rise of the hardy nut tree nursery business. Now, +what of its extent? There are upwards of two thousand propagating +nurserymen in the country, but those who have made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> a specialty of +hardy, northern-grown nut trees are few. They include the Vincennes +Nurseries, W. C. Reed & Son, Vincennes, Ind.; the Indiana Nurseries, J. +Ford Wilkinson, Rockport, Ind.; the McCoy Nut Nurseries, R. L. McCoy, +president, Evansville and Lake, Ind.; the Maryland Nurseries, T. P. +Littlepage, Bowie, Md.; J. F. Jones, Lancaster, Pa,; J. G. Rush, West +Willow, Pa.; C. K. Sober, Lewisburg, Pa., and some in the northwest.</p> + +<p>As showing the extent of the business, Mr. Reed, of Vincennes, reports +demand for nut trees increasing. He had to return orders unfilled last +spring. His nurseries have 3,000 to 4,000 Persian walnut trees and about +the same number of pecan trees for fall sales; also about 1,000 grafted +black walnut trees. There are growing in the Vincennes nurseries ready +for budding and grafting 50,000 black walnut seedlings and 50,000 pecan +seedlings. Mr. Reed said recently: "Owing to the extreme difficulty of +propagating nut trees in the North, I think the demand will keep up with +the supply."</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones sold last year about 8,000 nut trees which went to points all +over the country; not many to California, or to the far South; a good +many to New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, +Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, etc. The largest order +was for 600 trees. A number of orders were for 100 to 300 trees. New +Jersey leads in planting, he finds, with Virginia a close second, in +large orders. In small orders, Pennsylvania leads with him.</p> + +<p>Mr. McCoy has done a great deal of experimenting with grafts and he is +still at it. He has 40 acres mostly under nut tree cultivation, and has +a considerable number of trees for sale.</p> + +<p>Anyone who has seen the handsome nut tree catalogue issued by Mr. +Littlepage, of the Maryland Nurseries, must have been impressed with the +great care taken to produce the attractive trees and nuts there +depicted. These nurseries have been recently established and not a great +number of trees have yet been offered for sale, but Mr. Littlepage has +150,000 seedling nut trees in his nurseries for propagating purposes.</p> + +<p>Mr. Sober's nurseries are devoted almost entirely to the cultivation of +chestnut trees. Mr. Rush's specialty is the Persian walnut. Mr. +Wilkinson naturally specializes in Indiana pecan trees. At Rochester, N. +Y., James S. McGlennon and Conrad Vollertsen have produced interesting +results with filberts imported some years ago from Germany. They have +five-year-old bushes bearing; these have proved hardy in every way and +they have no blight. The nuts compare favorably with the best of the +imported kinds. Nursery<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> stock will soon be ready in quantity, and they +now have 500 plants suitable for transplanting.</p> + +<p>Filbert and walnut are the only nut trees grown commercially to any +extent in the nurseries of the northwest. A few almond and chestnut +trees are grown there, but the demand for them is very light. J. B. +Pilkington, Portland, Ore., a well-known grower of a general line of +nursery stock, advertises French, Japanese and Italian chestnut trees +and the American Sweet. Filberts are being produced to a considerable +extent. At present the nurseries cannot supply the demand for filbert +plants, owing to the limited number of mother plants in the northwest. +Practically all the nurseries have Barcelona and Du Chilly for sale, and +a number have the Avelines. From one nursery or another De Alger, +Kentish Cob and a few other varieties can be had. Persian walnuts are +grown on a larger scale. Groner & McClure, Hillsboro, Ore., are the +largest exclusive walnut nurserymen in the northwest. They produce close +to 6,000 grafted trees annually. These sell at 90c. to $1.00 per tree in +lots of 100. The Oregon Nursery Company, Orenco, Ore., produce a large +number of both grafted and seedling walnut trees, asking up to $2.00 per +tree for grafted and 35 to 50c. for seedlings. Many of the smaller +nurseries procure their nut trees from California nurseries. Each year +the proportion of seedlings planted is less. Franquette is the popular +variety that is propagated.</p> + +<p>The Northern Nut Growers' Association and one or two other similar +organizations have labored for years to extend interest in nut culture. +The files of the secretary of this association will show in heaps of +letters and piles of newspaper clippings the marked success in view of +the means that were at hand. And it has all been upon a high plane. The +campaigns have been marked by the utmost degree of conscientious effort +to arrive at the truth regarding, adaptability of varieties and cultural +methods. This work is still in progress—indeed, the need for it will +never end. But in the opinion of the writer there should from this day +go hand in hand with investigation and experiment a very practical +application to orchard purposes of what has been learned. The sooner +northern nut trees come into bearing in grove form the sooner will +general interest in nut culture increase. I would urge constant effort +in that direction; even, if need be, to the exclusion of some of the +further study on varieties.</p> + +<p>There are now grown in northern nut tree nurseries approved by this +association named varieties of pecans, Persian walnuts, black walnuts, +hickories and some other nuts amply sufficient to start orchards. The +pecan growers of the southern states selected<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> and experimented and +discussed for a time—and then they planted. Mistakes were made, but +these were discovered quicker by grove planting. Now they are shipping +improved varieties of pecans by the carload, at $12,000 per car. +Naturally interest in pecan culture in the South is widespread. With +bearing orchards of nut trees in the northern states, similar interest +will be manifested; and then we shall all see the real progress which +comes of producing commercial results. Has not the time arrived to put +into practical operation what has been learned in the last eight years? +I believe this association could wisely consider the policy of confining +discussion in the open session of its annual meetings to topics relating +to behavior of varieties in orchard form and commercial cultural +methods—at least to the handling of the planted tree by the public, +whether isolated or in orchard rows—and reserve for executive sessions +the discussion of varieties and methods not yet at a stage for formal +endorsement by the association. It seems to me that any other policy +obscures the issue which, I take it, is to foster the extension of nut +culture. How can nut culture be practically extended if the public is +constantly confronted with features of the experimental stage? Persons +mildly interested in nut culture, as the result, perhaps, of association +propaganda, drift into our meetings or make ad interim inquiry and +receive for membership enrollment, or otherwise, printed matter relating +almost wholly to experimentation in nut work. No wonder their interest +wanes a short time afterward and many of them are not heard from again. +What most of them expected was information as to varieties of improved +nut trees available, where to get them and how to treat them when +planted. Discussion by the experts is not for them; they will reap the +result of that in due time.</p> + +<p>Now, the extent of the hardy nut tree nursery industry is directly +dependent upon all this. If that extent is not yet great, it is due +undoubtedly to the newness of the industry. But it is also due in part +to conditions which have been referred to. I wish especially for the +purposes of this address that this association were an incorporated body +so that I could speak of it as such and not seem to be criticising +individuals. What has been done by our officers and members has been +very necessary. It is of the future that I speak.</p> + +<p>Nut brokers, wholesale grocers and manufacturers of confectionery are +calling for crop and market reports of nuts. A letter from a large +commission house in San Francisco, importers and exporters, says that +what is wanted is information as to growing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> crops of nuts and market +conditions. Other brokers and dealers ask the same thing. The <i>American +Nut Journal</i> has given crop and market conditions of southern pecans and +California walnuts and almonds; and, in peace times, of foreign nut +crops. What else is there to give? The native nut crop? But that +concerns this association about as much as the blueberry and huckleberry +crops of the Michigan and Minnesota barrens concerns the horticultural +societies and the National Apple Growers. What the brokers, wholesale +grocers and commission merchants want is crop and market reports on +cultivated nuts. But where are they? The public and the middlemen are +calling for nuts. And these people write that they are not interested in +cultural methods.</p> + +<p>The hardy nut tree nursery business is what it is and will be what it +will be just in proportion to the character of the crop and the market +report. Interest in nut culture generally will lag or increase in just +the same ratio. This is the eighth annual convention of this +association. Will the sixteenth annual meeting see a greatly augmented +membership without a practical incentive?</p> + +<p>I have said that this association has recommended to some extent the +planting of nut trees—the named varieties. I believe that what is +needed is a publicity campaign bearing upon the planting of the +varieties now on the market. When other varieties come on they may +receive proper attention. Native nuts are in great demand. The varieties +considered by this association are the best of the natives. Is that not +sufficient basis to proceed on? Has not this association officially +endorsed the varieties grown by the nut tree nurserymen we have referred +to, by officially endorsing those nurserymen? Having endorsed the named +varieties grown for sale by the nurserymen on its approved list can this +association consistently do otherwise then to urge without hesitation +the planting of those varieties by the public?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris</span>: Mr. Olcott spoke on the almonds of the Pacific +Coast. Here in the east it was said yesterday that only hard shelled +almonds would thrive. That has been my experience with one exception. I +got from a missionary some soft shelled almonds of very high quality and +thin shelled. There were about twenty of those almonds, I ate two and +planted the rest. The ants enjoyed the sprouting cotyledons of all but +one. That one lived and thrived and grew in two years to a height of +about four feet. In its third winter it was absolutely killed. Now that +means that somewhere in Syria there is a soft shelled almond of very +high quality that will live three years in Connecticut according to +accurate record. It may live fifty years here if well started and +protected when young.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Chairman</span>: You showed us some hard shelled almonds I believe +from your place.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris</span>: The hard shelled almonds do pretty well on my place +if looked after. I have had trees that bore nearly a bushel each, but +the chief difficulty is due to the leaf blights. Almond trees are quite +subject to leaf blights. As long as I sprayed the almond trees +frequently they did well but I had several other things to do and +couldn't keep it up.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Member</span>: The Association has a list of nurserymen who are +reliable and who will furnish reliable trees. It occurred to me in line +with the spirit of Mr. Olcott's paper, if it would be practicable, for +the Association to get up a little paper on approved varieties of trees +for planting. That may seem foolish to suggest but a good many members +who come in here are very green on the subject of nut growing. It may +have been done but if it has I am not familiar with it.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Secretary</span>: A good many requests are received by the +secretary for information as to what nut trees to plant. My advice +usually is that they get the catalogues of all the different nurserymen +on our approved list and select from those catalogues as many nut trees +of each variety recommended by the nurserymen as they wish and give them +the best cultural conditions they can. I don't see that we can recommend +any particular varieties. There are few enough grafted varieties of nut +trees obtainable, and I do not see that we can, as an association, +recommend any particular varieties. I would like to have suggestions.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Olcott</span>: I Don't Think It Is Advisable for the Association +To go into that detail. I think that as the association has endorsed a +list of nurserymen, so long as those nurserymen keep within boundary and +retain that endorsement that is sufficient guarantee to the public.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Reed</span>: We cannot recommend the different varieties because +they have not been tested out and fruited. In the National Nut Growers' +Association data are obtainable because they have been worked out by +experiment stations and by individuals. But in this association where +varieties are just being discovered and have not been disseminated and +tried we have got to test them. We haven't got developed beyond the +infant class in this Northern Nut Growers' Association.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Member</span>: I realize that the thing is in an experimental stage, +but since I have been at this meeting I have been asked by two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +different people here if I could give them any information as to what +varieties to plant. That is a very live question for a person here for +the first time and he wants a primer.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Secretary</span>: We had a circular, now exhausted, giving the +best information known at that time. It gave the method of procedure +from the cultivation of the land until the nut trees were advanced +several years in their growth, covering it in detail in so far as it lay +in the secretary's ability to give it at that time. The same advice +perhaps would not be given now but it would be practically the same +thing. It may be desirable that we reprint something of the kind for the +person who wants to begin the cultivation of nuts and has no knowledge +on the subject.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Jones</span>: I think the association might do something of the +kind. We could have a map of the states for instance, and have that +outlined in belts and varieties specified that would be somewhat likely +to succeed in those belts.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Chairman</span>: I think it is only a question of time when that +will be done. In the National Association that has been worked out, what +they plant in Florida what they plant in west Georgia, what they plant +in Mississippi, and what they plant in all the different sections. I +think it is only a question of time when it will be worked out by this +association. Every year will bring in new data. You will find in the +National Nut Growers' Association that good reports on new varieties of +nuts from year to year keep accumulating. From that we get data very +definite for certain varieties. I expect the members of this association +will know lots of them. They have become past history in nut growing in +the south. We have got past those poor things and in to something that +is definite and satisfactory.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Bartlett</span>: Would it be possible and advisable for the +association to have such a thing as an experimental orchard, provided +they could get somebody to take care of such a place? There is a man in +this room who has plenty of room and facilities for taking care of an +orchard.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Chairman</span>: That is worthy of attention but I do not know +whether the association is in a position to take care of it. In my paper +yesterday I spoke about putting it up to the experiment stations.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Col. Van Duzee</span>: The experiment stations are at the service of +the people and if you will call upon your stations repeatedly they will +respond eventually. It is going to take some little time but it seems to +me that they are the logical people to carry it out. We have found in +the south that the behaviour of varieties in different<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> localities was +so different that we have been obliged to wait until each locality had +something of history to guide us. I suppose it would be a very good plan +if all who are interested in nut culture in the North would convey the +information to their experiment stations that they are desirous of +having these orchards established. Eventually the country could be +covered with little experimental plots where the information obtained +would be reliable, where the work could be under the supervision and +inspection of people who are paid by the state for that purpose.</p> + +<p>Now in regard to the publicity. We have followed a plan for a number of +years in the South of publishing frequently what we call Nut Notes. They +were gathered together by the editor of the Nut Grower. Whenever an item +of interest to the public came to him in his exchange and from any other +source, he made a paragraph of it and then at the end of the month, or +perhaps two months, he would publish a little circular "Nut Notes," and +that would be run off in some large number, and distributed to the +nurserymen, or other interested people, and they would simply enclose it +in their correspondence. They would send them to the local papers all +through the South so that the things that were found worthy of +dissemination in the way of new records and new ideas were constantly +being sent to the local papers and to the interested people in that way. +I have a vast sympathy for Dr. Deming. He is not drawing a princely +salary and he has a lot of things to do. I know his heart is in this +work and he would be glad to do these things but he must have help. +These two ways I suggest to you are ways we have found in the South to +accomplish a considerable work. Make a demand upon your experiment +stations that this work be taken up and get Mr. Olcott to print the +slips and then get the nurserymen who are interested and the local +newspaper people to publish the nut notes that become available from +time to time.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Olcott</span>: I have knowledge of these circulars of Nut Notes +sent out by Dr. Wilson in the South and have thought of doing something +like it but have not gotten at it yet. I have exchanges and notices +coming in that could be summarized just that way and even more +extensively but I haven't had time to do this work.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Secretary</span>: I think this proposal of Mr. Bartlett's is very +important and I promise Mr. Bartlett and Mr. Barrows that all the +members of this association will help. I am sure Dr. Morris will be glad +to give advice about planting this orchard. I haven't the slightest +doubt that Mr. Reed will go there in his position as Nut Culturist of +the Department of Agriculture. I think we ought to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> go ahead and do that +without waiting for the Connecticut authorities, but at the earliest +opportunity begin to try to interest them. They are not interested +enough to go into it now. Some of the members of this association have +got to start this thing and then we have got to interest the men at the +agricultural experiment station. Two of them were here yesterday and +have expressed their interest in the subject. We hope eventually that +they will take full charge of such work which really ought to be in the +hands of self perpetuating institutions and not in the hands of +individuals. I can assure Mr. Bartlett of the hearty co-operation of +this association in any planting of that kind and I wish that the steps +might be taken at once to begin such a planting.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris</span>: I would be only too glad to give him some trees to +start with.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Jones</span>: The nurseries growing these trees would be glad to +cooperate and supply these trees at reduced prices for this experimental +orchard.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Chairman</span>: There seems to be lots of interest in this matter +but it ought not to be on a voluntary basis. It might be interesting to +you to have an idea of how we have done that further south. In North +Carolina we have definite nut projects on our experiment station's list. +The work is outlined and funds appropriated for carrying it out, and +workers and funds are assigned to that particular project. They have a +regular definite program and when a project is once begun that project +has to be reported on. It cannot be discontinued. It has to be continued +until it is worked out. In that way we are getting something definite +and we have some machinery to work with. At first we had no commercial +nut growing. We instituted a nut survey of the state. We issued +instructions for our extension men to look out for nut trees on the +farms. Then we made a list of the growers and orchards. There we made +experimental planting and we made them in every section of the state so +as to find out what varieties were best for the different sections. We +had difficulty in finding varieties for all of our conditions. We had +experiment orchards in all of the various sections of the State which +have been conducted now for ten years and we have very definite data. +The man who writes in to me for information can be answered shortly. +Every year we are getting new data. I think every tree that we can get +from any nursery catalogue that I can find is in those experimental +orchards. Every year eliminates a few. If the stocks are good we work +them over. There is no uncertainty about it. It is either a positive or +a negative result. These results<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> are published just as soon as they can +be. It is part of our experiment work just as we experiment with cotton +or apples or corn. I made a suggestion in my paper for work of this kind +here and I thought it would be picked up by the Committee on +Resolutions, but it was not acted on. To get this matter crystallized +and get it to the attention of the experimental station I think that the +secretary ought to be empowered to write officially to the directors of +the experiment station in the various states asking that a nut survey be +made of those states and that nut projects be entered upon and +especially the testing of the varieties that have been found in the +various states.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Britton</span>: Representing the Connecticut station I can say +that the men there will be glad to help you, but they are in the same +position as Dr. Deming, doing all they can at present, more than they +ought to do, and most of the funds for that reason are arranged for in +definite projects. That being the case, it will be necessary to provide +for a future appropriation. During his war we are all short handed. I +have four young men working in my department who have not had a day's +vacation this summer—more work than they can do. At present we have no +one connected with the station who is a specialist on nuts, and it would +mean getting in a man to work up this subject. But I think that can be +brought about in time. Of course if the legislature is asked for any +appropriation, this association or those interested in growing nuts +would have to help get the appropriation for the state.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Secretary</span>: Prof. Hutt is State Horticulturist of his state +and he is also a specialist on nuts. He lives in a state where nut +culture is much further advanced than it is here, consequently it has +been, it seems to me, a good deal simpler for him to accomplish results +there than it is for us here. I approve of grasping this opportunity and +going ahead with it and at the same time following up the suggestions of +Dr. Britton of trying to get the appropriation in order to enable the +agricultural experiment station to take action.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Olcott</span>: I move that the secretary be asked to communicate +with the experiment stations in the various states along just the lines +you suggested for the purpose of getting started.</p> + +<p>The motion, duly seconded, was passed.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Olcott</span>: I would like to make another motion that the +association do whatever it can to take advantage of this opportunity +that Mr. Bartlett has just spoken about, and I would move that the +matter be put in the hands of the secretary with power to act.</p> + +<p>Mr. Webber seconded the motion and it was carried.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>NUT TREES FOR SHADE.</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Francis A. Bartlett, Connecticut</span>.</h4> + +<p>Were we to limit our shade trees to those trees which alone produce +edible nuts we would then have a greater assortment of trees than one +could hardly suppose, and not only would be varieties be numerous but +they would embrace many of our most noble and most beautiful trees.</p> + +<p>Let us consider the varieties from which we may draw. In so doing let me +ask why, with all these trees, we really need other trees which in +themselves are no more ornamental and are non-producing.</p> + +<p>Of the oaks there are many, while the nuts or acorns are seldom eaten by +man, yet they have often composed his diet when other foods have failed. +In many parts of the South this nut has been the principal food used in +the fattening, or possibly the sustaining food, of the native razor-back +hog.</p> + +<p>Our native beech produces the small triangular nuts which have been +sought by the boys and girls of centuries and are as popular today as of +hundreds of years ago. The beech will grow to immense size and may live +sometimes for centuries. A beautiful bright smooth foliage makes it very +desirable as a park tree and it does not lose its charm in winter. On an +extensive lawn it makes a very desirable tree but in close proximity to +the house the one objection there may be is that the dead foliage seems +to cling to the twigs sometimes the entire winter. This objection is +more pronounced, however, in the younger trees than in the older ones.</p> + +<p>Our native black walnut is a magnificent tree which can compare +favorably with the finest oak in size, in shape, in picturesqueness and +above all, in its huge nuts, which are both wholesome and delicious. +Were it not for the great value of its wood for making gun stocks and +for cabinet work we would today have hundreds of these trees growing, +where now but few can be found; yet there are individual specimens with +spread of over 150 feet and as magnificent and majestic as the finest +oak.</p> + +<p>Our native chestnut; let us not think of it in memory only, though the +pride of our forests seems to have left us after the scourge of the +chestnut blight. Unless the history of all scourges has been upset we +will find some tree somewhere sometime that is blight resistant and then +from this tree we will produce and propagate the chestnut back to its +own. At least, as far as an ornamental and useful nut-producing tree is +concerned. Should we find no tree in all this huge<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> area which is +disease-resistant we have at least one hope in the chestnut brought from +China, where for probable centuries this disease has been present, but +unable to destroy its host, the chestnut. Already in this country there +are thousands of these seedlings growing which are apparently +disease-resistant. The tree itself compares very favorably with our +native tree. We will yet grow our favorite chestnuts and our children +will yet enjoy them as we have done in the days of our youth.</p> + +<p>We must not forget the chinkapin, the little brother of the chestnut, +but a better fighter of its enemies, for this latter tree is almost +resistant to the blight and will bloom and bear nuts while only a little +tree, and the nuts are sweet and good. Then, too, it is not necessary to +climb the tree to gather the nuts for the tree being small the nuts can +almost be gathered from the ground. For planting over rocky banks and +hillsides nothing is more handsome. The dark green foliage dotted here +and there with the bright green burrs always attracts favorable +attention and comment.</p> + +<p>Our butternut, too, cannot be omitted, for there are few better flavored +nuts than the butternut. Though hard to crack, this fault, if it may be +a fault, will soon be overcome, for we will find a tree with +thin-shelled nuts somewhere. They are no doubt present and when we do +find such a tree we may all propagate from it. Though the tree is a +rather irregular grower and is susceptible to certain bark diseases yet +it has its place in the home planting for its compound leaves and light +bark always shows prominently in the landscape. This tree sometimes +grows to an immense size. At my early home in Massachusetts one huge +butternut stood in the yard. Though the tree died long before I became +especially interested in old trees I remember that we counted the +annular rings and as near as I can recall the figures for its +measurements and rings were 13 ft. in circumference and 80 annular +rings. The trunk was perfectly solid and showed no signs of decay. Many +bushels of nuts were gathered from this one tree yearly and I can +remember the long winter evenings when we sat in the kitchen cracking +the nuts from this old tree. Some have said the butternut is +unsatisfactory as an ornamental tree but let me add—do not neglect it +in the planting plan for it will give you much pleasure, and, too, the +meats are well worth the trouble in cracking the nuts even though a +bruised finger may result.</p> + +<p>To the family of the walnut we are indebted to Japan for the beautiful +and tropical foliage of the Japanese walnut, <i>Sieboldiana</i>. Although the +tree has many characteristics of the butternut the foliage is much more +luxuriant and it is an admirable tree for plant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>ing in the open lawn. +The individual fruit of the <i>Sieboldiana</i> walnut is similar in +appearance to that of the butternut and is borne in clusters or racemes, +sometimes as many as twenty or more in a cluster, and is equal in every +way to that of the butternut but the nuts being smaller contain a much +less quantity of meat.</p> + +<p>The king of the walnuts, <i>Juglans regia</i>, sometimes called Madeira +walnut, Persian walnut, Spanish walnut and English walnut, is the finest +of the nuts as far as the fruit is concerned, and is a handsome tree +growing to immense size with large spreading branches and almost +tropical foliage. For over 150 years this tree has been growing and +thriving in our immediate neighborhood, producing bushels of nuts +annually, yet few people whom we have met will hardly believe that the +English walnut will thrive in this northern latitude. There is one +specimen of this tree today with which I am familiar in Tarry town, N. +Y., which is over 2 feet in diameter, with a spread of 75 feet or more +and nearly 100 feet in height. While the tree has not produced regularly +yet it bears a few nuts each year and sometimes numbers of bushels.</p> + +<p>The English walnut always attracts attention on account of its +symmetrical growth and its luxuriant foliage. As a shade tree there are +few better.</p> + +<p>Of the nut family the one truly American tree of which we should be duly +proud is the hickory, this tree being found in no other part of the +world, with the exception of China, but North America. As a park or +roadside tree there are few trees that can compare with it,—upright in +growth with a beautifully rounded head, sometimes growing to immense +size and producing nuts almost annually. Of this group of trees we have +the shellbark, shagbark and pignut. The pignut being of little value as +far as the nuts are concerned, yet having smaller and possibly more +luxuriant foliage than the shagbark or shellbark. The shagbark is the +nut most sought for by the younger generations and bids fair to become a +nut of considerable importance.</p> + +<p>It seems strange that in the long history of the hickory or shagbark +more has not been done in the improvement of the nuts in the growing of +large thin-shelled and sweeter nuts. Trees bearing such nuts do exist +and I think most of us can recall certain trees in our boyhood days that +produced nuts of far superior quality than are ordinarily found from the +common tree. At least, I can recall one tree from which twenty-five +years ago there was produced a very large fine sweet nut which was +sought by all the children in the neighborhood. This tree, however, has +passed away with hundreds of others, either by the hickory bark beetle +or the axe.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is well to mention the filbert and hazel. While not really trees the +filbert sometimes reaches a height of 5 ft. or more with very luxuriant +foliage in the summer and in the early spring the catkins are very +prominent and attractive. There is no reason why the filbert should not +be grown more extensively even though it is affected by blight or +canker. We are assured that this can be readily cut away with less +trouble than the ordinary treatment of trees.</p> + +<p>Of the hazel there are two kinds, the common hazel and beaked hazel, +both native here. While the nuts of these shrubs are really too small to +be of any commercial value yet I believe we will find nuts growing +somewhere that are as large as our imported filberts.</p> + +<p>Of the pines and evergreens there are a number which produce nuts of +which Dr. Morris has told us. Some of them are rapid growing trees and +there seems to be good reason why we should not plant out evergreens +which produce fruit and are just as attractive and fine as those +evergreens which produce shade only.</p> + +<p>I have not mentioned one tree which I believe to be the most promising +for this locality—that is the pecan. It has been demonstrated that we +can grow the pecan on our native hickories and from what I have seen of +the wonderful growth of the first year of the bud I am sure we will be +able to produce as fine pecans as can be produced in any section of the +country, and further than that, we have an unlimited number of native +hickories on which we can graft this finest of nuts. The pecan is hardy +in this locality and farther north. I have seen it grown to a fair sized +tree in Connecticut. I have seen it on the south side of Long Island and +have seen one tree planted possibly over 100 years near Oyster Bay, L. +I. which today is more than 3 ft. in diameter and reaches possibly 75 +ft. in height. The pecan, too, is fruiting on Long Island and I believe +we will have it fruiting in this locality within the next two or three +years. During the last few years I have talked with numbers of people, +many of them owners of large estates who could hardly believe it is +possible to grow the English walnut and pecan in this latitude.</p> + +<p>I have said that were we to limit our shade trees to those trees alone +which produce edible nuts we would then have a greater assortment than +one could hardly suppose. Each and every one of the trees I have +mentioned were they not to produce a single nut would in themselves +equal or surpass almost any tree in beauty and majesty.</p> + +<p>Were we to develop a park and limit the plantings to nut trees alone how +attractive such a park might be—the taller trees in the background to +be of the black walnut and beech. These trees to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> banked with the +smaller trees of the butternut and English walnut. Over the rocky places +we could plant the chinkapin and hazel. We could then put in specimen +trees of the hickory and pecans with groups of filberts, dotted here and +there with plantings of nut bearing pines. I believe such a planting +would be as attractive as a planting of an added number of our ordinary +shade trees. Let us imagine what the return from such a planting might +mean to the public or the owners. In fifty years from this time, and in +speaking of nut trees looking forward to fifty years is but a +comparatively short time, our roadside trees could be replaced by nut +bearing trees which are as attractive as any shade tree. I have no doubt +that in this city alone were the roadsides planted with nut trees and +these received reasonable care the returns from these trees would pay +the entire city and town tax.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris</span>: Mr. Bartlett said that the hickory belonged only to +North America. That was supposed to be the case until very recently Mr. +Meyer, an agricultural explorer, found an open bud hickory in China.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Olcott</span>: Mr. Bartlett said he hoped the day would come when +the filbert and hazels would be produced in this country. I saw last +week the report of a crop in Rochester, New York, on five-year old +filbert bushes that had been pronounced as good as imported nuts in +quality and certainly were in size, and finer in coloring. I have some +photographs of the trees on which they grew. These were the trees which +were described in detail in a paper read at the National Nut Growers' +Association at Nashville last year by Mr. McGlennon, of Rochester. He +told me that all he said at that time stands, with the addition that +since then he has had proof regarding the absence of blight and the +extreme hardiness of the trees and their continued bearing. The trees +are grown for propagating purposes and not for fruit, and therefore they +are not in their best condition for bearing. Mr. McGlennon is a business +man of Rochester, with no special experience except that he became +interested in some southern pecan plantings. Afterwards the filbert +planting came up and he worked with Mr. Vollertson, who was experienced +in this work in Germany. He and Mr. McGlennon imported 22 kinds of +filberts from Europe. They are so far blight-proof and extremely hardy +and are bearing.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Irwin</span>: I would like to say that I do not think there is +enough publicity given this organization. There are a number of people, +to whom I casually mentioned yesterday, that I had become<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> interested in +this thing, but they had not seen the Advocate and knew nothing about +the meeting. They are interested, I think, and it seems to me that an +organization for growth must have publicity and a lot of it.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Member</span>: We were discussing this morning why we did not have a +larger number of people here from Stamford and Greenwich. It is the +merest chance I saw the notice. I have been interested for some time. I +think there should be greater publicity because only by large membership +can we get the growth and the standing that we want.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris</span>: Even a good many people in the vicinity who knew +about this conference and said they would be interested to come, have +not appeared. Our meeting came to Stamford this year because there are +so many wealthy people interested in horticulture in Stamford and +Greenwich. Very large funds are required for development of this +subject, experimental orchards, publication and publicity. We believed +here we would strike the sort of men to further public interest in the +subject. This is by all means the smallest local attendance, however, +that we have ever had since the beginning of the Association in any part +of the country.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Secretary</span>: We have never had the advertising more +thoroughly done. Mr. Bartlett and Mr. Staunton and Dr. Morris and I have +all worked at it; notices have been in at least three of the New York +papers, clippings of which have been sent me, and articles in Ansonia +and Hartford papers; articles and programs have been sent repeatedly to +Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, Port Chester, Danbury, Ridgefield and New +Canaan papers. Dr. Morris has written personal letters. And then, too, +there are the signs around here. I don't know what other measures could +have been taken.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris</span>: My chauffeur, who is in the Naval Reserve, and +doesn't know about nuts at all, dropped in casually yesterday, but +stayed through the whole session. That shows what interest might be +aroused if only you can catch people. No trouble to hold them when +captured.</p> + +<p>Every person who has come into this association has done so because of +something from the heart within.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Bixby</span>: On this subject of publicity, I have done something +in a very humble way that I thought might help, and this year I am +planning to do it to a little larger extent. I have been very much +interested in the butternut. The concern with which I am associated has +a connection with general stores throughout the country,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> so I sent +circulars calling attention to the butternut prizes to the general +stores in the smaller towns throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. That +circular invited the people who had specimens of butternuts that they +thought superior to send them to Dr. Deming, and in the same circular I +called attention to the fact that there were prizes for other nuts, and +invited them to communicate with Dr. Deming. It was all done in the name +of the Association.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Prof. Hutt</span>: When we started our meeting we announced a question +box.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Secretary</span>: We expected to have a revised proof of our +question box to be distributed among the audience, but it has not come. +I would like to ask any one who now desires to ask questions relative to +nut culture to do so and I think he will be able to get answers from +members present. I had better begin by propounding a question myself +that has been asked often—what variety of nut trees to plant—and I am +going to make a short answer myself, just to bring about discussion. For +early bearing, and encouragement to the nut grower, plant chinkapins, +hazels, or filberts, many varieties, so that they will pollenize one +another, and plant Japanese walnuts, early bearing and beautiful trees. +For later results plant Persian walnuts, the Franquette and Mayette +varieties, which are old standard ones. If you want to go a little bit +more experimentally, plant pecans, say the Indiana and Busseron +varieties, both from the Indiana district, and both hardy, though +neither of them have fruited here. Plant some black walnuts, say of the +Stabler and the Thomes varieties, which are the best known, and plant a +few shagbark hickories. There are very few varieties to be had in the +shagbark. We don't know much about the Kirtland, although that is one of +the best nuts. We know little of the bearing records of these trees. I +leave this answer for emendation, addition or correction.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris</span>: Has anybody any Kirtland hickories in stock grafted +for sale?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Jones</span>: 100 to 150.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris</span>: Have you any Weicker?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Jones</span>: Yes, some are in stock for sale.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris</span>: Hales's hickories?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Jones</span>: No, not grown.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris</span>: The Hales' nut is big, too coarse and not very +good.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Jones</span>: The kernel is yellowish.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Britton</span>: I would like to ask Dr. Morris what time of the +year he would advise pruning the Persian walnuts here in Stamford.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris</span>: The editor of a horticultural journal at one time +set out to get opinions about the best time for pruning peaches. There +were opinions from all points as to whether peach trees should be +trimmed in winter, spring, summer or autumn, and summing up all of the +replies, the editor said, "We have come to the conclusion that the right +time to prune peach trees is when your knife is sharp." I presume that +that in a way will apply to almost all trees. Pruning the walnut trees +in the spring when sap is flowing freely would not be desirable, I +should think. Walnut trees need very little pruning. Very few of the nut +trees need pruning, excepting the hazels. These need to be pruned in +order to put them in good head. And possibly some of the hickories, but +for the most part I doubt if pruning is desirable, save for broken +branches. I leave that to Mr. Jones.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Britton</span>: The reason why I asked the question is that when +we were carrying on this investigation with the walnut weevil, we found +that when branches were cut early in the spring there was nearly always +a bad wound that did not heal over. It died back around the place. But +when we cut branches later, from the first to the middle of June, when +the growth was taking place, it healed over very smoothly without +leaving any bad scars, and I was wondering whether that happened over +the region where the Persian walnut was grown.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Morris</span>: I am glad to have that observation that the wounds +did not granulate and heal well. I have noticed that the shag bark +hickory cannot be cut well for scions in the spring without injuring the +rest of the limb on the tree. I have cut back the Taylor tree's lower +branches, in order to cut off scions, and almost every branch from which +I have cut scions is dead or dying. That is perhaps in line with the +observation of Dr. Britton. Some of the juglandaciae cannot be cut in +the spring.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Jones</span>: I have found that in cutting scions of walnut trees +when the sap is running the tree bleeds and makes a bad wound and +doesn't heal over. It dies back. But if you cut those any time in the +winter when you have say two or three days without freezing, they will +not bleed then nor in the spring when the sap comes up. Also, if cut +after the growth is well started, they won't bleed very much.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Weber</span>: Are back numbers of the Journal available?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Secretary</span>: All of our reports.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Weber</span>: I would suggest for the benefit of uninitiated +persons that they get the back numbers, also send to each of the +accredited nurserymen and get a copy of each, catalogue and then study +the back numbers and the catalogues. They will be pretty well posted, as +all the nut catalogues are well illustrated and contain a great deal of +information, and it will take them out of the realm of hazy knowledge +they now have on the subject.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Jones</span>: The Government has some excellent bulletins in line +with this work.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Smith</span>: I would like to get some information about spring +and fall planting in Massachusetts.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Member</span>: I advise planting in the spring. Where the ground +freezes heavily in the winter, plant in the spring. In the South you +don't have any injury from cold.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Weber</span>: I have planted trees in the fall and the tops +winter-kill down to the grafts. I had them wrapped and still they were +winter-killed, or else the wrapping killed them. Persian walnuts and +Indiana pecans. They threw a good shoot in the spring, however, and made +a very good growth.</p> + +<p>I move that a vote of thanks be extended to the local committee for +making this convention a success, and a rising vote of thanks to show +Dr. Morris the appreciation of the convention.</p> + +<p class='center'>The convention thereupon adjourned.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>APPENDIX.</h2> + +<p>I report on soft shell almonds as follows:</p> + + +<p>In February, 1914, I ordered from Armstrong Nurseries, Ontario, +California, the following trees:</p> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" width="75%" cellspacing="0" summary="ARMSTRONG NURSERIES"> +<tr><td align='left'>10 four to six ft. Jordon Almond trees</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>10 four to six ft. I. X. L. Almond trees</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>10 four to six ft. Ne Plus Ultra Almond trees</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>The trees were shipped in March of the same year and healed in until +May. The farm on which these trees were planted is situated on the south +shore of Lake Ontario, in Wayne County, New York. This district is a +large producer of peaches and apples. The trees were planted twenty feet +apart in a sandy loam soil in line with a young apple orchard. This soil +is especially adapted to peach growing. The entire orchard was given +clean cultivation with intercrops until the Spring of 1917. For two +years potatoes were grown among the trees, and for one year cabbage. The +land was limed and fertilized with both natural and chemical +fertilizers. Cultivation of the tree rows stopped about the 1st of +August, the intercrops about the 15th of September. For the year 1917 +the trees were grown in sod. The trees were pruned similar to the peach +trees, and have made somewhat less growth than a peach tree would make +under the same conditions.</p> + +<p>The lake on the boundary of the farm tempers the climate conditions of +this location so that the opening of the season is about two weeks later +than the average, and the date of the first frost is two to three weeks +later. On this account the trees have had a better opportunity to ripen +the wood for the winter period after cultivation ceases. During these +winters the thermometer has gone as low as four degrees below zero +without winter killing those trees which survived. Six trees of the +thirty originally planted are now living. All others died the first +winter after being set out. Unfortunately, the trees were not labeled at +the time of getting out so I am unable to indicate what varieties lived +through. Of the six trees living, three blossomed scantily this year, +but all the blossoms proved false. I think there is no particular cause +for discouragement on this account, as we have the same experience with +peach trees. That is, they often bear a number of blossoms the first +year, and none of them come to maturity. All the trees appear to have +buds for next year. Some of these should develop into blossoms, and +unless there is a frost after the blossoms come out in the spring of +1918, there may be some nuts produced. The final test as to whether or +not these trees can be brought into bearing, will come next spring. The +site upon which the trees are planted, as mentioned before, on account +of the proximity of the lake, is more favorable than most locations for +peach growing, and if the experience of the peach growers in New York +State is any index, there would be little opportunity for success with +almond trees, except under similar conditions.</p> + +<p class='author'><span class="smcap">M. E. Wile.</span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> + +<p>I am pleased to advise that the hardy soft shell pecan trees I have +planted in Virginia, and the hardy English walnut trees are all growing +finely. I find it just as easy to get a budded pecan tree to grow as it +is to get an apple tree to grow. I am telling my friends about this all +over Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee as well as Virginia. They +have planted a good many trees and all report favorably.</p> + +<p>My advice is to plant pecan and English walnut trees as they are just as +beautiful and useful for shade as any other kind, and in addition to +this they will produce a large amount of the healthiest and most +nutritious of food for the human family.</p> + +<p>I am very much indebted to the Northern Nut Growers Association for the +knowledge obtained along this line. You can rest assured that I will try +and pass it along as I go.</p> + +<p class='author'><span class="smcap">John S. Parrish</span>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ATTENDANCE</h2> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">R. T. Olcott, Rochester N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Reed, Washington, D. C.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Irwin R. Waite, Stamford, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Prof. W. O. Filley, State Forester, Connecticut.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Prof. Record, State College of Forestry.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A. C. Pomeroy, Lockport, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">S. M. McMurran, Washington, D. C.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Harry E. Weber, Cincinnati, Ohio.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fitch A. Hoyt, Stamford, Conn.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wm. H. Bump, Stamford, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wilber F. Stocking, Stratford, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">J. A. Seitz, Greenwich, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">L. C. Root, Stamford, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">John Rick, Redding, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">F. A. Bartlett, Stamford, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">J. F. Jones, Lancaster, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">R. H. G. Cunningham, Stamford, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Col. C. A. Van Duzee, Cairo, Ga.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">John H. Hohener, Rochester, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">C. L. Cleaver, Hingham, Mass.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fred A. Smith, Hathorne, Mass.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. Lewis H. Taylor, Washington, D. C.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">W. H. Druckemiller, Sunbury, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">W. G. Bixby, Brooklyn, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Ridgway, Lumberton, N. J.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Miss Marie Brial, Stamford, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">J. E. Brown, Elmer, N. J.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A. M. Heritage, Elmer, N. J.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. R. T. Morris, N. Y. City.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">T. P. Littlepage, Washington, D. C.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gray Staunton, Stamford, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">J. L. Glover, Shelton, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. E. F. Bigelow, Stamford, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Prof. W. N. Hutt, Raleigh, N. C.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Lewis, Stratford, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">H. W. Collingwood, New York City.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. J. H. Kellogg, Battle Creek, Mich.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. and Mrs. W. C. Deming, Georgetown, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Mikkelsen, Georgetown, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Paul M. Barrows, Stamford, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">G. W. Donning, North Stamford.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mrs. Payson Irwin, Stamford, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Noble P. Randel, Stamford, Ct.</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<blockquote><h2>Vincennes Nurseries</h2> + +<h3>W. C. REED, Proprietor.</h3> + +<h3>VINCENNES, <span class="smcap">Indiana</span>, U. S. A.</h3> + +<h4>PROPAGATORS AND INTRODUCERS</h4> + + +<p class='center'><i>Budded and Grafted Pecans, Hardy Northern Varieties</i><br /> +<i>English (Persian) Walnut Grafted on Black Walnut</i><br /> +<i>Best Northern and French Varieties</i><br /> +<i>Grafted Thomas Black Walnut</i><br /></p> + +<p class='center'><i>Grafted Persimmons, best sorts</i><br /> +<i>Hardy Almonds</i><br /> +<i>Filberts and Hazelnuts</i><br /></p> + +<p class='center'><i>Also General Line Nursery Stock</i></p> + + +<h4>SPECIAL NUT CATALOGUE ON REQUEST</h4> +</blockquote> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<blockquote><h3>STABLER</h3> + +<h2>BLACK WALNUT TREES</h2> + +<p>If you would provide for the future beauty of your lawn or roadside, +plant at least a few trees of the new Stabler Black Walnut. Its +luxuriant fern-like foliage and its weeping twigs make it unique among +shade trees—its thin-shelled nuts and heavy bearing habit put it at the +top of the list as a nut producer. The only black walnut that yields a +whole kernel when cracked.</p> + +<h4>ORDER NOW FOR SPRING DELIVERY.</h4> + +<p>My trees, if you plant them in a fertile spot, will surprise you by +their growth.</p> + +<p class='center'>Fine Grafted Trees $1.50 to $2.00.</p> + +<h3>HENRY STABLER</h3> + +<h4>HANCOCK, MD.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></h4> +</blockquote> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<blockquote> +<h3>CHESTER VALLEY NURSERIES</h3> + +<p class='center'>ESTABLISHED 1853</p> + +<p class='center'>Choice Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Cherry Trees on Mazzard Roots, Hardy +Evergreens, Flowering Shrubs, Hedge Plants, etc. Originators of the</p> + +<h4>THOMAS BLACK WALNUT</h4> + +<p class='center'>JOS. W. THOMAS & SONS, King of Prussia P. O., Montgomery Co., Pa.</p> +</blockquote> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<blockquote><h3>CHESTNUT TREES</h3> + +<p>Best Varieties Grown. Grown in section free from blight. Descriptive +Pricelist.</p> + +<h4>E. A. RIEHL, GODFREY, ILL.</h4></blockquote> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Northern Nut Growers Association +Report of the Proceedings at the Eighth Annual Meeting, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHERN NUT GROWERS *** + +***** This file should be named 19050-h.htm or 19050-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/0/5/19050/ + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, E. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the +Eighth Annual Meeting + Stamford, Connecticut, September 5 and 6, 1917 + +Author: Various + +Editor: Northern Nut Growers Association + +Release Date: August 15, 2006 [EBook #19050] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHERN NUT GROWERS *** + + + + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, E. Grimo, Janet +Blenkinship and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + ++------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +|DISCLAIMER | +| | +|The articles published in the Annual Reports of the Northern Nut Growers| +|Association are the findings and thoughts solely of the authors and are | +|not to be construed as an endorsement by the Northern Nut Growers | +|Association, its board of directors, or its members. No endorsement is | +|intended for products mentioned, nor is criticism meant for products not| +|mentioned. The laws and recommendations for pesticide application may | +|have changed since the articles were written. It is always the pesticide| +|applicator's responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current | +|label directions for the specific pesticide being used. The discussion | +|of specific nut tree cultivars and of specific techniques to grow nut | +|trees that might have been successful in one area and at a particular | +|time is not a guarantee that similar results will occur elsewhere. | ++------------------------------------------------------------------------+ + + + + + NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION + + + + REPORT + + OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE + + EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING + + + [Illustration] + + + STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT + SEPTEMBER 5 AND 6, 1917 + + + NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION + + + + REPORT + + OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE + + EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING + + STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT + SEPTEMBER 5 AND 6, 1917 + + ANNAPOLIS PUB. CO. PRINT. + + + * * * * * + + + + +OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION. + + + _President_ W. C. REED Vincennes, Indiana + _Vice-President_ W. N. HUTT Raleigh, North Carolina + _Secretary and Treasurer_ W. C. DEMING Georgetown, Connecticut + + +COMMITTEES + + + _Auditing_--C. P. CLOSE, C. A. REED + _Executive_--T. P. LITTLEPAGE, J. RUSSELL SMITH AND THE OFFICERS + _Finance_--T. P. LITTLEPAGE, WILLARD G. BIXBY, W. C. DEMING + _Hybrids_--R. T. MORRIS, C. P. CLOSE, W. C. DEMING, J. G. RUSH + _Membership_--HARRY E. WEBER, R. T. OLCOTT, F. N. FAGAN, W. O. POTTER, + W. C. DEMING, WENDELL P. WILLIAMS, J. RUSSELL SMITH + _Nomenclature_--C. A. REED, R. T. MORRIS, J. F. JONES + _Press and Publication_--RALPH T. OLCOTT, J. RUSSELL SMITH, W. C. DEMING + _Programme_--W. C. DEMING, J. RUSSELL SMITH, C. A. REED, W. N. HUTT, + R. T. MORRIS + _Promising Seedlings_--C. A. REED, J. F. JONES + + +STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS + + California T. C. Tucker 311 California St., San Francisco + + Canada G. H. Corsan 63 Avenue Road, Toronto + + Connecticut Henry Leroy Lewis Stratford + + Delaware E. R. Angst 527 Dupont Building, Wilmington + + Georgia J. B. Wight Cairo + + Illinois E. A. Riehl Alton + + Indiana M. P. Reed Vincennes + + Iowa Wendell P. Williams Danville + + Kentucky Prof. C. W. Matthews State Agricultural Station Lexington + + Maryland C. P. Close College Park + + Massachusetts James H. Bowditch 903 Tremont Building, Boston + + Michigan Dr. J. H. Kellogg Battle Creek + + Minnesota L. L. Powers 1018 Hudson Ave., St. Paul + + Missouri P. C. Stark Louisiana + + New Jersey C. S. Ridgway Lumberton + + New York M. E. Wile 37 Calumet St., Rochester + + North Carolina W. N. Hutt Raleigh + + Ohio Harry R. Weber 601 Gerke Building, Cincinnati + + Pennsylvania J. G. Rush West Willow + + Texas R. S. Trumbull M. S. R. R. Co., El Paso + + Virginia Lawrence R. Lee Leesburg + + Washington A. E. Baldwin Kettle Falls + + West Virginia B. F. Hartzell Shepherdstown + + + + +MEMBERS OF THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION + + + ALABAMA + Baker, Samuel C., Centerville + + ARKANSAS + *Drake, Prof. N. F., University of Arkansas, Fayetteville + + CALIFORNIA + Dawson, L. H., Llano + Kelley, M. C., San Dimas + Tucker, T. C., Manager California Almond Growers Exchange, 311 + California St., San Francisco + + CANADA + Corsan, G. H., University of Toronto, Athletic Association, Toronto + Sager, Dr. D. S., Brantford + + CONNECTICUT + Barnes, John R., Yalesville + Bartlett, Francis A., Stamford + Barrows, Paul M., May Apple Farm, High Ridge, Stamford + Deming, Dr. W. C., Georgetown + Deming, Mrs. W. C., Georgetown + Donning, George W., North Stamford + Filley, W. O., State Forester, Drawer 1, New Haven + Glover, James L., Shelton + Goodwin, James L., Hartford, Box 447 + Hungerford, Newman, Hartford, Box 1082 + Irwin, Mrs. Payson, 575 Main St., Stamford + Ives, Ernest M., Sterling Orchards, Meriden + Lewis, Henry Leroy, Stratford + *McGlashan, Archibald, Kent + Mikkelsen, Mrs. M. A., Georgetown + *Morris, Dr. Robert T., Cos Cob, Route 28, Box 95 + Randel, Noble P., 157 Grove St., Stamford + Sessions, Albert L., Bristol + Southworth, George E., Milford, Box 172 + Staunton, Gray, Stamford, Route 30 + Stocking, Wilber F., Stratford, Route 13 + Walworth, C. W., Belle Haven, Greenwich + White, Gerrard, North Granby + Williams, W. W., Milldale + + DELAWARE + Angst, E. R., 527 DuPont Building, Wilmington + + DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA + Close, Prof. C. P., Pomologist, Department of Agriculture, Washington + *Littlepage, T. P., Union Trust Building, Washington + Reed, C. A., Nut Culturist, Department of Agriculture, Washington + Taylor, Dr. Lewis H., The Cecil, Washington + + ENGLAND + Spence, Howard, Eskdale, Knutsford, Cheshire + + GEORGIA + Bullard, William P., Albany + Van Duzee, C. A., Judson Orchard Farm, Cairo + Wight, J. B., Cairo + + ILLINOIS + Casper, O. H., Anna + Librarian, University of Illinois, Urbana + Poll, Carl J., 1009 Maple St., Danville + Potter, Hon. W. O., Marion + Riehl, E. A., Godfrey + + INDIANA + Burton, Joe A., Mitchel + Phelps, Henry, Remington + Reed, M. P., Vincennes + Reed, W. C, Vincennes + Simpson, H. D., Vincennes + Stadermann, A. L., 120 S. Seventh St., Terre Haute + Woolbright, Clarence, Elnora, R 3, Box 76 + + IOWA + Snyder, D. C., Center Point (Linn Co. Nurseries) + Williams, Wendell P., Danville + + KANSAS + Sharpe, James, Council Grove, (Morris Co. Nurseries) + + KENTUCKY + Matthews, Prof. C. W., Horticulturist, State Agricultural Station, + Lexington + + LOUISIANA + Montgomery, Dr. Mary, Weyanoke + + MARYLAND + Darby, R. U., Suite 804, Continental Building, Baltimore + Fisher, John H. Jr., Bradshaw + Hayden, Charles S., 200 E. Lexington St., Baltimore + Hoopes, Wilmer P., Forest Hill + Keenan, Dr. John, Brentwood + Kyner, James H., Bladensburg + Littlepage, Miss Louise, Bowie + Stabler, Henry, Hancock + + MASSACHUSETTS + *Bowditch, James H., 903 Tremont Building Boston + Cleaver, C. Leroy, Hingham Center + Cole, Mrs. George B., 15 Mystic Ave., Winchester + Hoffman, Bernhard, Overbrook Orchard, Stockbridge (103 Park Ave. + N. Y. City) + Simmons, Alfred L., 72 Edison Park, Quincy + Smith, Fred A., Hathorne + + MICHIGAN + Kellogg, Dr. J. H., Battle Creek, 202 Manchester St. + Linton, W. S., President Board of Trade, Saginaw + Ritchey, Paul H., 12 South Rose Lawn Drive, Pontiac + + MISSOURI + Bauman, X. C., Sainte Genevieve + Darche, J. H., Parkville + Dod, Mrs. Nettie L., Knox City + Stark, P. C., Louisiana. + + NEBRASKA + Kurtz, John W., 5304 Bedford St., Omaha + Warta, Dr. J. J., 1223 First National Bank Building, Omaha + + NEW JERSEY + Hoecker, R. B., Tenafly, Box 703 + Jaques, Lee W., 74 Waverly St., Jersey City Heights + Marston, Edwin S., Florham Park, Box 72 + Ridgeway, C. S., Floralia, Lumberton + Roberts, Horace, Moorestown + Roffe, John C., 720 Boulevard, E. Weehawken + + NEW YORK + Abbott, Frederick B., 419 Ninth St., Brooklyn + Atwater, C. C., The Barrett Co., 17 Battery Place, New York City + Baker, Prof. J. Fred, Director of Forest Investigations, State + College of Forestry, Syracuse + Bixby, Willard G., 46th St. and 2nd Ave., Brooklyn + Brown, Ronald J., 320 Broadway, New York City + Buist, Dr. George J., 3 Hancock St., Brooklyn + Crane, Alfred J., Monroe, Box 342 + Ellwanger, Mrs. W. D., 510 East Ave., Rochester + Haywood, Albert, Flushing + Hicks, Henry, Westbury, Long Island + Hickox, Ralph, 3832 White Plains Ave. New York City + Hodgson, Casper W., World Book Co., Yonkers + Holden, E. B., Hilton + *Huntington, A. M., 15 W. 81st St., New York City + Hupfel, Adolph, 611 W. 107th St., New York City + McGlennon, James S., 406 Cutler Building, Rochester + Manley, Dr. Mark, 261 Monroe St., Brooklyn + Martin, Harold, 140 Continental Ave., Forest Hills Gardens, L. I. N. Y. + Miller, Milton R., Batavia, Box 394 + Nelson, Dr. James Robert, 23 Main St., Kingston-on-Hudson + Olcott, Ralph T., Editor American Nut Journal, Ellwanger and Barry + Building, Rochester + Palmer, A. C., New York Military Academy, Cornwall-on-Hudson. + Pannell, W. B., Pittsford + Pomeroy, A. C., Lockport + Rice, Mrs. Lillian McKee, Adelano, Pawling + Stuart, C. W., Newark + Teele, A. W., 30 Broad St., New York City + Thomson, Adelbert, East Avon + Tuckerman, Bayard, 118 E 37th St., New York City + Ulman, Dr. Ira, 213 W. 147th St., New York City + Wile, M. E., 37 Calumet St., Rochester + Williams, Dr. Charles Mallory, 48 E. 49th St., New York City + *Wissman, Mrs. F. deR., Westchester, New York City + + NORTH CAROLINA + Hadley, Z. T., Graham + Hutchings, Miss Lida G., Pine Bluff + Hutt, Prof. W. N., State Horticulturist, Raleigh + Le Fevre, Revere, Johns + Van Lindley, J., J. Van Lindley Nursery Co., Pomona + + OHIO + Burton, J. Howard, Casstown + Cruickshank, Prof. R. R., State College of Agriculture Extension + Service, Columbus + Dayton, J. H., Storrs & Harrison Co., Painesville + Dysart, J. T., Belmont, Route 3 + Ketchum, C. S., Middlefield + Thorne, Charles E., Agricultural Experiment Station, Wooster + Weber, Harry R., 601 Gerke Building, Cincinnati + Yunck, E. G., 706 Central Ave., Sandusky + + OKLAHOMA + Heffner, Chris, Collinsville, Box 255 + + PENNSYLVANIA + Corcoran, Charles A., Wind Rush Fruit Farm, New Albany + Druckemiller, W. C., Sunbury + Fagan, Prof. F. N., Department of Horticulture, State College + Heffner, H., Highland Chestnut Grove, Leeper + Hile, Anthony, Curwensville National Bank, Curwensville + Hoopes, Wilmer W., Hoopes Brothers & Thomas Co., Westchester + Hutchinson, Mahlon, Ashwood Farm, Devon + Jenkins, Charles Francis, Farm Journal, Philadelphia + *Jones, J. F., Lancaster, Box 527 + Kaufman, M. M., Clarion + Leas, F. C., Merion Station + Murphy, P. J., Vice President L. & W. R. R. Co., Scranton + O'Neill, William C., 328 Walnut St., Philadelphia + Rheam, J. F., 45 North Walnut St., Lewiston + *Rick, John, 438 Pennsylvania Square, Reading + Rife, Jacob A., Camp Hill + Rush, J. G., West Willow + Smedley, Samuel L., 902 Stephen Girard Building, Philadelphia + *Sober, Col. C. K., Lewisburg + Thomas, Joseph W., Jos. W. Thomas & Sons, King of Prussia + Weaver, William S., McCungie + *Wister, John C., Wister St. & Clarkson Ave., Germantown + Wright, R. P., 235 W. 6th St., Erie + + SOUTH CAROLINA + Shanklin, Prof. A. G., Clemson College + + TENNESSEE + Marr, Thomas S., 701 Stahlmam Building, Nashville + + TEXAS + Burkett, J. H., Nut Specialist, State Department of Agriculture, + Clyde + Trumbull, R. S., Agricultural Agent, El Paso & S. W. System, Morenci + Southern R. R. Co., El Paso + + VIRGINIA + Crockett, E. B., Monroe + Lee, Lawrence R., Leesburg + Smith, Dr. J. Russell, Roundhill + + WEST VIRGINIA + Cather, L. A., 215 Murry St., Fairmont + Hartzell, B. F., Shepherdstown + Cannaday, Dr. John Egerton, Charleston, Box 693 + + ~* Life Member.~ + + + + +CONSTITUTION + + +ARTICLE I + +_Name._ This society shall be known as the NORTHERN NUT GROWERS +ASSOCIATION. + + +ARTICLE II + +_Object._ Its object shall be the promotion of interest in nut-bearing +plants, their products and their culture. + + +ARTICLE III + +_Membership._ Membership in the society shall be open to all persons who +desire to further nut culture, without reference to place of residence +or nationality, subject to the rules and regulations of the committee on +membership. + + +ARTICLE IV + +_Officers._ There shall be a president, a vice-president and a +secretary-treasurer, who shall be elected by ballot at the annual +meeting; and an executive committee of five persons, of which the +president, two last retiring presidents, vice-president and +secretary-treasurer shall be members. There shall be a state +vice-president from each state, dependency, or country represented in +the membership of the association, who shall be appointed by the +president. + + +ARTICLE V + +_Election of Officers._ A committee of five members shall be elected at +the annual meeting for the purpose of nominating officers for the +following year. + + +ARTICLE VI + +_Meetings._ The place and time of the annual meeting shall be selected +by the membership in session or, in the event of no selection being made +at this time, the executive committee shall choose the place and time +for the holding of the annual convention. Such other meetings as may +seem desirable may be called by the president and executive committee. + + +ARTICLE VII + +_Quorum._ Ten members of the association shall constitute a quorum, but +must include a majority of the executive committee or two of the three +elected officers. + + +ARTICLE VIII + +_Amendments._ This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of +the members present at any annual meeting, notice of such amendment +having been read at the previous annual meeting, or a copy of the +proposed amendment having been mailed by any member to each member +thirty days before the date of the annual meeting. + + + + +BY-LAWS + + +ARTICLE I + +_Committees._ The association shall appoint standing committees as +follows: On membership, on finance, on programme, on press and +publication, on nomenclature, on promising seedlings, on hybrids, and an +auditing committee. The committee on membership may make recommendations +to the association as to the discipline or expulsion of any member. + + +ARTICLE II + +_Fees._ The fees shall be of two kinds, annual and life. The former +shall be two dollars, the latter twenty dollars. + + +ARTICLE III + +_Membership._ All annual memberships shall begin with the first day of +the calendar quarter following the date of joining the association. + + +ARTICLE IV + +_Amendments._ By-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members +present at any annual meeting. + + + + +Northern Nut Growers' Association + +EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING + +SEPTEMBER 5 AND 6, 1917 + +STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT. + + +The eighth annual meeting of the Northern Nut Growers' Association was +called to order at the Hotel Davenport, Stamford, Connecticut, at 9.30 +A. M., the Vice-President, Prof. W. N. Hutt, presiding in the absence of +the President, Mr. W. C. Reed. + +The meeting opened without formalities with a short business session. + +The report of the Secretary was read and adopted as follows: + + +REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-TREASURER. + + Balance on hand date of last report $ 21.45 + + Receipts: + Dues 255.00 + Advertisements 36.00 + Contributions 15.00 + Sale of reports. 26.65 + Contributions for prizes 46.75 + Miscellaneous .89 + ------- $401.74 + + Expenses: + Printing report $158.60 + Miscellaneous printing 19.00 + Postage and stationery 45.91 + Stenographer 40.30 + Prizes 57.00 + Litchfield Savings Society 65.00 + ------- $385.81 + ------- + Balance on hand $15.93 + +Total receipts were a little greater than the year before, receipts from +dues a little less. There are several new life members, ten in all now, +and the secretary has followed the course adopted some time ago of +depositing receipts from life memberships in a savings bank as a +contingent fund. + +There are 138 paid up members, compared with 154 last year. Fifty +members have not paid their dues and there seems to be no other course +but to drop them, after repeated notice, though some are old friends. + +Four members have resigned and there has been one death, that of Mrs. +Charles Miller, of Waterbury, Connecticut. + +We have added but 28 new members during the year, while we have lost 55. + +There have been 358 members since organization, of whom we still have +138, 220 having dropped out. + +Mr. T. P. Littlepage, as chairman of the Committee on Incorporation, +reported at some length on the advisability and the possibilities. + +On motion of Mr. R. T. Olcott, the question of incorporation was left in +the hands of the committee with power. + +The following Nominating Committee was elected: Col. Van Duzee, Mr. +Weber, Mr. Bixby, Mr. Smith, Mr. Ridgeway. + +The following Committee on Resolutions was appointed by the Chair: Dr. +Morris, Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Olcott. + +Moved by Mr. Littlepage: That the association request the Secretary of +Agriculture to include in his estimates of appropriations for the next +fiscal year a sum sufficient, in his judgment, to enable the department +to carry on a continuous survey of nut culture, including the +investigation and study of nut trees throughout the northern states, +such nut trees including all the native varieties of nuts, hickories, +walnuts, butternuts and any sub-divisions of those varieties, and that a +committee of three be appointed to interview the secretary personally to +have this amount included in the appropriation. + +[Motion carried.] + +Mr. Olcott recalled that last year the National Nut Growers' Association +secured an appropriation, and he suggested that this would make it +easier for the Northern Nut Growers to do so this year. + +MR. BARTLETT: It occurred to me that the boy scouts, with their +great membership and being often out in the woods, would be valuable to +the nut growers' association in hunting native nuts. I took up the +matter with Dr. Bigelow of the Agassiz Association, who is also Scout +Naturalist and I think he can tell us more about getting the boy scouts +interested. + +DR. BIGELOW: I would suggest that you enlist also the interest +of other organizations for outdoor life. If I knew a little more +definitely what is wanted it could be exploited in definite terms in +Boys' Life, the official organ of the Boy Scouts of America, which has a +mailing list of over 100,000, and which reaches ten or twenty boys each +copy. So you have nigh on to 1,000,000 members who would be reached in +this way. My predecessor, Mr. Ernest Thompson Seton, has organized the +Woodcrafters, which consists of both boys and girls. It seems to me that +their service should be enlisted. They have done remarkably good work. +And there are other organizations such as the Camp Fire Girls. I would +suggest that some of you formulate a resolution and let me have a copy +of it to publish in Boys' Life. + +DR. MORRIS: I will say one word in harmony with Dr. Bigelow and +the possibility of enlisting the interest of these organizations. One of +our members, I think Mr. Weber, has found on a tributary of the Ohio +River a thin shelled black walnut that came down with the flood. He has +found two specimens at the mouth of the stream and he knows that this +particular thin shelled black walnut grows somewhere up that stream. He +would give $50 to anybody who would find that black walnut tree. + +I will give five dollars every year to any boy scout who wins any of our +prizes. That is a permanent offer. Or I will enlarge it perhaps, after +we discuss the matter further by including the Camp Fire Girls. I will +add others to that list. I will give five dollars to any member of one +of those organizations affiliated with us who wins any nut prize in any +year, in addition to our regular prizes. Furthermore we will offer to +name any prize nut after the discoverer, so that his or her name will go +down in history, perhaps causing much fame. + +DR. BIGELOW: I have had my attention called to the fact that in +the West the beech trees are heavily laden with nuts. It suddenly dawned +on me that in all of my boyhood experience as a hunter and tramper, I +had never seen one edible beech nut in Connecticut. I know there are +many beech trees around Stamford, but I have not been able to find any +nuts. I have advertised for them but although I have received more than +a hundred packages from over the rest of the country, I have not seen +one single beech nut from Connecticut. Some of the old-timers say they +were once plentiful. I wonder whether beech nuts have disappeared from +Connecticut as have potato balls. + +DR. MORRIS: In the lime stone regions they commonly fill well. +I have a great many beech trees on my place from one year to more than +one hundred years of age, and they came from natural seeding, but the +seeds in this part of Connecticut are very small and shrivelled. They +are not valuable like the ones in western New York, for instance, and I +do not remember even as a boy to have known of eastern beech trees with +well-filled nuts. Many of these inferior nuts will sprout, however. + +MR. LITTLEPAGE: I think Dr. Bigelow has hit upon a point of a +great deal of interest. For example, on my farm in Maryland I think +there are perhaps three or four hundred beech trees of various sizes, +probably none of them under ten years of age and up to fifty, and in the +four years that I have been observing these beech trees, there has never +grown upon them a single full, fertile beech nut. I have observed very +carefully. On my farm in Indiana I have been observing the same thing +for probably ten or twelve years, and I have never seen a single filled +beech nut. There are some beech trees there two feet in diameter. + + + + +PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. + + + W. C. REED, INDIANA. + (Read by the Secretary.) + +FELLOW MEMBERS NORTHERN NUT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, LADIES AND +GENTLEMEN: + +Our association convenes today under changed conditions not only in this +country but throughout the world. Upon the United States rests the +burden of feeding the world, or at least a large portion of it. With +seven-tenths of the globe's population at war, surely this is a mammoth +undertaking. + +The government is urging the farmer to increase his acreage of all +leading grain crops, to give them better cultivation, and is +guaranteeing him a liberal price. + + +CROP VALUES. + +Crop values have increased until today there is land bringing more than +$100.00 per acre for a single wheat crop. Corn has sold above $2.00 per +bushel, beans at 20 cents per pound, and hogs at $20.00 per 100 pounds +on foot. + + +LABOR ADVANCES. + +With these high prices all along the line the price of labor has +advanced to the highest point ever known. Surely it is up to the +American farmer to husband his resources by the use of labor-saving +machinery, by using the tractor and other power machines to conserve +horse feed, by the cultivation of all waste land possible and by +practicing economy and thrift. + + +MORE INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE. + +In the more intensive agriculture that is urged upon us the Northern Nut +Growers' Association can do a splendid work by the interesting of all +land owners in the conservation of the native nut trees and the planting +of grafted nut trees in gardens, orchards and yards, to take the place +of many worthless shade trees. + + +HIGHWAY PLANTING. + +With the government and states working together in the establishment of +market highways and the building of permanent roads, now is the time to +urge the planting of trees that will last for this generation and the +ones that are to follow. In sections of the country the different kind +of nut trees suitable could be selected and, if planted and given proper +care, would be a source of large income in the years that are to come. + +Community effort is needed for such work and if the members of this +association will use their influence it will help to bring this about. +There is one county in England where all the roadsides have been planted +to Damson plums, which has not only made the landscape more beautiful +and furnished the people with much fruit, but the past season has +furnished many tons of plums that were picked half ripe for the +manufacture of dyes that had become scarce owing to the war. + +If such a movement as this had been taken in this country in the +planting of nut trees in former years our roadsides today would be more +beautiful, the country more healthy, the farmer more independent, having +these side crops that require little labor and that could be marketed at +leisure. Our soldier boys might today have sealed cartons of nut meats +included in their rations on the European battle fronts that would be +very acceptable as food and add little to their burden. + + +NUT MEATS IN PLACE OF PORK. + +If every land owner had enough nut trees to furnish his family with all +the nut meats they cared to use, and all the nut bread they would eat, +it would go a long way in solving the high cost of pork and beef. The +better grafted varieties of the black walnut are specially well adapted +for use in nut bread and can be grown in many places where pecans and +English walnuts will not succeed so well. + + +WHAT THIS ASSOCIATION HAS ACCOMPLISHED. + +In looking backward over the past eight years since this association was +organized it might be well to review some of the things accomplished. +When this organization first came into existence there was a small +demand for budded and grafted nut trees, but none were to be had in the +hardy northern varieties. Interest was created, best individual trees +have been located and new varieties introduced. Methods of propagation +have been worked out, public opinion has been moulded, government +investigation has been fostered, commercial planting of northern nut +trees made possible, and today pecans, English walnuts and best +varieties of grafted black walnuts may be had in quantity. This +association has caused thousands of nut trees to be planted that would +otherwise not have been. Some may ask the question, has it paid? +Individually I would say it has not, but collectively it has, and will +pay large dividends to future generations by making it possible for a +larger food supply at a minimum cost. + + +CARE OF TRANSPLANTED NUT TREES. + +It might be well to urge greater care in the cultivation of transplanted +nut trees. Trees should be set fall or early spring while perfectly +dormant. If bodies are wrapped the first summer and first winter it will +prevent much trouble from sun scald. If mounds of earth one foot high +are banked around trees before first cold weather it will often prevent +bark bursting which may be caused by freezing of the trees when full of +sap, caused by late growth. This mound can be removed the next spring +and in case of any winter injury you have plenty of fresh healthy wood +to produce a top. + +Cultivation should commence early in the spring and be kept up until +September first. Never allow weeds to grow or ground to become crusted. +Nut trees form new rootlets slowly the first summer and require special +care. After the second summer they will stand more neglect, but extra +cultivation will be rewarded with extra growth at all times. + + +FINANCES. + +In looking over the treasurer's report at Washington I find a balance of +$21.45, reported at last meeting under date August 14th, 1917. Treasurer +reports balance on hand of $14.13 and no obligations. I think he is to +be congratulated on being able to make ends meet and issue the reports. + +After going over the budget for the coming year I think that we may be +able to keep up this record if the membership committee will look after +new members and see that all old members renew their membership +promptly. + + +PLACE OF MEETINGS. + +Owing to present war conditions the president would recommend that +selection of the next place of meeting be left to executive committee +to be fixed later after conditions and crops for next year are better +assured. It would seem that some central location might draw the largest +attendance and be of greatest benefit to the association for the coming +year. + + +NUT EXHIBITS. + +Nut exhibits should be encouraged as much as possible and prizes offered +when finances will permit, or where members offer special premiums. This +effort will bring out varieties that are worthy of propagation and +valuable trees will be saved to posterity. These exhibits can often be +held in connection with local horticultural meetings. It is well for our +members to keep a watch for such chances. + + + + + +REASONS FOR OUR LIMITED KNOWLEDGE AS TO WHAT VARIETIES OF NUT TREES TO +PLANT. + +PROF. W. N. HUTT, NORTH CAROLINA. + + +Agriculturally this continent is about three centuries old. +Horticulturally its experience has scarcely reached the century mark. +Practically all the commercial fruit industry of the United States is +the product of the last half century. Relatively speaking we are quite +young and therefore there are a great many things about nut-growing that +we may not be expected to know. In the older lands of Europe and Asia +they have a horticultural experience going back from ten to twenty +centuries. + +In this new country the pioneers had necessarily to confine themselves +to the fundamentals and it is to be expected that their horticultural +operations were confined to a very narrow maintenance ratio. As the +country was cleared up and developed certain sections were found to be +especially suited to fruit culture. About these centers specialized +fruit-growing industries were developed. These planters tried out all +available varieties and developed their own methods of culture. As these +industries developed horticultural societies were formed for the +exchanging of ideas and experiences. In 1847 the American Pomological +Society was formed as a national clearing house of horticultural ideas. + +The first work the society undertook was to determine the varieties of +the different classes of fruits suitable for planting in different +sections of the country. Patrick Barry, of Rochester, one of the +pioneers of American horticulture was for years the chairman of the +committees on varietal adaptation and did an immense amount of work on +that line. At the meetings of the society he went alphabetically over +the variety lists of fruits and called for reports on each one from +growers all over the country. This practice was kept up for years and +the resulting data were collated and compiled in the society's reports. +In this systematic way the varietal adaptations of the different classes +of fruits were accurately worked out for all parts of the country. A +similar systematic roll call of classes and varieties of nuts grown by +the members of this association would be of immense value to intending +planters of nut trees. + +In northern nut-growing, however, it may be questioned if we are yet +arrived at the Patrick Barry stage. What we need is pioneer planters who +have the courage to plant nut trees and take a chance against failure +and not wait for others to blaze the trail. It needs men of vision and +courage to plant the unknown and look with hope and optimism to the +future. So many are deterred from planting by the fact that nut trees +are tardy in coming into bearing and uncertain of results. In these +stirring times we want men of nerve in the orchard as well as in the +trenches. We need tree planters like Prof. Corsan who, at a former +meeting of this association when joked about planting hickories, replied +that he wasn't nervous and could watch a hickory tree grow. It takes +nerve to be an innovator and to plant some radically different crop from +what your conservative neighbors all about you are planting. + +The Georgia cotton planters wagged their heads and tapped their +foreheads when Col. Stuart and Major Bacon turned good cotton land into +pecan groves. But the thousands of acres of commercial pecan orchards +now surrounding these original plantings showed that these pioneer pecan +planters were not lunatics or impractical dreamers, but courageous men +of vision, thirty years ahead of their time. + +Nut tree planting is not all waiting. It will give the busy man some +surprises as I have reason to know from my own limited experience. Ten +years ago when I planted my first experimental orchard I set about +preparing several other lines of quick maturing experimental work, for I +did not expect those trees would have any thing to report for a decade +or so. You can imagine how surprised and delighted I was when on the +third year there was a sprinkling of nuts, enough to be able to identify +the most precocious varieties. The surprise increased to wonder the next +year when there was an increased number of nuts on the trees that had +borne last year and a number of new varieties came into bearing. In the +eighth year when an 800-pound crop of nuts changed that experimental +planting into a commercial pecan orchard, I was, to use a sporting +phrase, "completely knocked out of the box." The man who thinks there +are no thrills in tree planting has something yet to learn. It is the +surest sign of a real true-blue horticulturist that he wants to set some +kind of new tree or plant. + +It is the rarest kind of a plantation that has on it no waste land. +Fence rows, ditch banks and rough or stony places are to be found on +practically every farm. Such spots too often lie waste or galled or at +best are covered with weeds, briars, bushes or useless scrubby trees. +These waste places would make a fine trial ground for testing out nut +trees. A few fine walnuts, pecans or hickories, or rows of chinquapins +and hazels would add profit as well as beauty to these waste and +unsightly places found on most farms. + +Following old conservative methods the average farmer sets about his +house and buildings unproductive oaks, elms and maples, with scarcely a +question of a thought that there are as handsome shade trees that will +produce pleasure and profit as well. On our lawns and about our door +yards we could plant to advantage the Japanese walnut and the hardier +types of pecans and Persian walnuts. It would be of interest to try a +few seedlings of these classes of nuts. If such practices were followed +in the planting of nut trees it would not be long until new and valuable +sorts would be found and a great deal of data made available to +intending nut planters. I believe that a great deal of good would result +from the preparation and dissemination of a circular encouraging farmers +in nut planting. + +This association is doing a valuable work in offering prizes to locate +high class seedling nut trees that will be worthy of propagating. Sooner +or later valuable sorts will be found in this way. In this connection it +will be wise for this association to solicit the active co-operation of +the horticultural workers in the different states. The workers of the +agricultural colleges, experiment stations and extension service do a +great deal of traveling and have special facilities for getting in touch +with promising varieties. The horticulturists of some states have made +nut surveys of their states to ascertain their resources in the way of +valuable varieties and of conditions suitable for nut culture. The +interesting bulletin, "Nut Growing in Maryland," gotten out by Prof. +Close, when he was State Horticulturist in Maryland, is a very valuable +contribution along this line. It would be well for this association to +solicit the co-operation of the trained horticulturists in the northern +states to make nut surveys and ascertain definitely the valuable +varieties already growing within their borders and what are the +possibilities for the production of these types for home purposes for +commercial growing. A few of the state experiment stations have taken up +definite experimental and demonstration nut projects and are doing +valuable work in this line. This association should memorialize the +directors of the other stations to undertake definite nut projects and +surveys and get the work under way as soon as possible. + +While endeavoring to stimulate private, state and national +investigations in nut culture, the author would be very remiss if he +failed to recognize the very valuable work already done by the zealous, +painstaking and unselfish pioneers of northern nut growing. Messrs. Bush +and Pomeroy have given to the country and especially to the north and +east, two valuable hardy Persian walnuts. Our absent president, Mr. W. +C. Reed, of Vincennes, Ind., is doing a great deal in the testing and +dissemination of hardy nut trees. Our first president, though an +exceedingly busy surgeon and investigator in medicine, finds time to +turn his scientific attention to the testing and breeding of nut trees. +Some of our brilliant legal friends, too, find time to pursue the +elusive phantom of ideal nuts for northern planting. + +We cannot go through the growing list of nut investigators nor chronicle +their achievements, but we know that when the history of American +horticulture is written up ample justice will be done to their labors +and attainments. Let each of us do our part in the building up of the +country by the planting of nut trees. Let us plant them on our farms, in +our gardens and about our buildings and lawns. Let us induce and +encourage our neighbors to plant and do all possible to make nut +planting fashionable until it becomes an established custom all over the +land. It will not then be long before valuable varieties of nut trees +will be springing up all over the country. This association will then +soon have a wealth of available data at hand to give to intending +planters in all parts of the country. + + +A MEMBER: In Europe they raise a great many nuts that they ship +to this country, chestnuts, hazels and Persian walnuts. I understand +they grow usually in odd places about the farms, but the aggregate +production amounts to a great deal. We could very well follow the lead +given by Europe in that particular, at least. + +I think we could have for dissemination circulars which would stimulate +people to plant nut trees more widely than at present. + +THE SECRETARY: This question of nut planting in waste places +always comes up at our meetings and is always encouraged by some and +frowned upon by others. I do not think we ought to recommend in an +unqualified way the planting of nut trees in waste places. I have +planted myself, lots of us have tried it, and found that most nut trees +planted in waste places are doomed to failure. I do not recall an +exception in my own experience. I understand that in Europe the road +sides and the fence rows are planted with trees and the farmers get a +part of their income in that way. But with us in Connecticut nut +planting in waste places does not seem to be a success. It is quite +different when you come to plant nut trees about the house and about the +barn. They seem to thrive where they don't get competition with native +growth and where they have the fertility which is usually to be found +about houses and barns. In fact, I have advocated the building of more +barns in order that we might have more places for nut trees. I think we +should plant nut trees around our houses and barns where we can watch +them and keep the native growth from choking them, and where we can give +them fertility and keep them free from worms. The worms this year in +Connecticut have been terribly destructive. My trees that I go to +inspect every two or three weeks, at one inspection would be leafing +out, at the next would be defoliated. If such trees are about your house +where you can see them every day or two you can catch the worm at its +work. So for experimental planting I think places about our houses and +barns can be very successfully utilized. When it comes to commercial +planting, I think we must recommend for nut trees what we do for peach +trees. We must give them the best conditions. I am hoping from year to +year that somebody will come forward to make the experiment of planting +nut trees in orchard form and give them the best conditions, as he would +if he were going to set out an apple or peach orchard. The association +has made efforts by means of circulars to interest the experiment +stations, schools of forestry and other agricultural organizations. A +number of the members of such organizations are members of the +association. The work has been taken up to some slight degree in such +places as the School of Forestry at Syracuse. I do not recall any others +at this moment, although there are some. I will read part of a letter +from Professor Record of the Yale School of Forestry: "The only reasons +I can think of why the consideration of nut trees is not given more +attention in our school are (1) it comes more under the head of +horticulture than forestry (2) lack of time in a crowded curriculum (3) +unfamiliarity with the subject on the part of the faculty." We would +like to interest these faculties in nut growing. We look upon them as +sources of education but evidently we are more advanced than they are in +the subject of nut growing and it is up to us to educate them. + +COL. VAN DUZEE: Right now when you are at the beginning of nut +growing in the North you cannot over estimate the value for the future +of records. My heart goes out to the man who comes to us as a beginner +and wants to know something definite. Our records are the only thing we +can safely give him. The behavior of individual nut trees, the +desirability of certain varieties for certain localities--those things +are of tremendous value. + +No doubt you know that in California they have come to the point in many +sections where they keep records of what each individual tree does. I +began that some years ago with the commercial planting that I have had +charge of for the last twelve years. We now have an individual tree +record of every nut produced since these trees came into bearing--about +2500 trees. I went further than that--I kept a record of the value of +the different nuts for growing nursery stock so that I might grow trees +that would be the very best produced in our section. Now the years have +gone by and I have a ledger account with every tree in that 2500 and I +know exactly what it has given me. I know how many nuts it has produced. +You would be surprised to see the wide discrepancy in those records, the +different behavior of individual trees. I wish I could talk to you +longer on that subject. It is something I am very enthusiastic about. + +By virtue of the records we have kept for years I have found a source of +supply for seed nuts and nursery stock which has proved to be a constant +performer. I bud this nursery stock from trees with individual records +that have proved themselves to be good performers, I have found that +certain varieties have proved themselves not worthy of being planted, +and certain other varieties have proven themselves at least promising. +This last year I took 100 Schley, 100 Stuart, 100 Delmas and 100 +Moneymaker trees and planted them all on the same land. Now these trees, +you understand, are grown from the stock grown from a nut that I know +the record of for years. I know its desirability. The buds are from +selected trees whose records I have. More than that, I alternated the +rows and the trees in the rows. These trees are now where they have got +to stand right up and make a record so that we will know ten years from +today what is the best variety for our section. + +I do not think I can make myself as clear as I wish I could this +morning, but here is the point. If anybody comes to me I can tell him +definitely, and I have records in my office to show, what the different +varieties are doing and what soil they are growing in. Here in the north +where the industry is in its infancy now is the time to start records. +When I saw the subject of Professor Hutt's paper, the "Reasons For Our +Limited Knowledge as to What Varieties of Nut Trees to Plant," it +occurred to me that if you don't now start right in making records, ten +years from today you will still have existing one of the principal +reasons why you don't know. + +MR. KELSEY: I started out four years ago with English walnuts. +I read the account of Pomeroy and so I got a half dozen trees from him. +They all died. I got five or six trees from Mr. Jones. I think this is +the third year and one of those has some nuts on. I have got now about +150 trees planted in regular rows where I am cultivating them. But I was +going to say that four years ago I sent to Pomeroy and asked him if he +wouldn't send me a few nuts as a sample. He sent me 16. I cracked two of +them. Fourteen of them I put in. I didn't know how to put them in so I +took a broom handle, punched a hole in the ground and stuck them in the +bottom. I never thought I would get any results from them. They came up +in July. They did not come up quick. I suppose I had them so deep. I set +them out three years ago. Some of them are as high as this room in three +years on cultivated land set out in rows. They have never borne any. No +one knows how long it takes for a seedling to bear. It may be two years, +or five years, or ten. + +DR. MORRIS: I want to bear witness on the point that Col. Van +Duzee made, the matter of keeping records. The man who keeps good +records is a public benefactor because what he learns becomes public +property upon the basis of available data. Every one of us should pay +attention to that point which Col. Van Duzee has brought out. +Unfortunately my records have been kept by my secretaries in shorthand +notes and I have had four different secretaries in ten years, and each +with different methods of shorthand. They have not had time to write up +all the notes, and so I find it difficult to present good nut records +when busily occupied with professional responsibilities, which must come +first. I had one field filled with young hybrid nut trees. A neighbor's +cow got into that field and the boy who came after the cow found her to +be refractory. The boy began to pull up stakes with tags marking the +different trees and threw them at the cow. Before he got through he had +hybridized about forty records of nut trees. + +THE CHAIRMAN: As a horticulturist along experimental lines I +find the trouble is to get people to plant trees and properly plant +them. I do not think that the average farmer knows how to plant trees. +That is why they get such poor results. They plant them where anybody +with intelligence would not plant them. We find in the South that we can +grow trees if there is protection against fire and stock. If fire is +kept out and stock is kept from grazing, nature will cover the land with +forest trees. I think that will go a long way to getting nut trees. But +a man planting something as valuable as a nut tree wants to take a +little more pains than that. I have seen Mr. Littlepage's place where he +is raising handsome trees, but he has planted crops around each tree and +there is plenty of plant food. You can grow trees almost anywhere if you +make the conditions favorable. In hedge rows and odd places, if the +forest soil is preserved, you can grow almost any kind of a nut tree. +These conditions must prevail or we must make them prevail. + +Just another point on the matter of home planting. I wouldn't be a very +good preacher if I didn't carry out my own practices. Just to show my +faith by my works I want to say that I took out every shade tree at home +and put a nut tree in its place. Down south where shade is very valuable +they said "that man is very foolish to cut down nice elms and maples +like that and put nut trees in their place." It did look so then for a +while. Now I have some handsome pecans and Persian walnuts and Japanese +walnuts, and this year I get my first dividends from a tree five years +old. Of course we have taken care to preserve their symmetry, but I +think our nut trees come pretty close to being our best shade tree. I +will challenge anybody to find a handsomer tree than a well-grown pecan. +It is a very stalwart tree with its branches of waving foliage, which is +the characteristic of an ideal shade tree, and yet, in addition to that, +it produces in the fall magnificent nuts. So the proposition of home +planting is one that pays quick dividends on attention given. I think I +have convinced my neighbors that it is a good deal better to raise +handsome nut trees than poplars. My neighbor planted Carolina poplars at +the same time. He was out there the other morning raking up the leaves +and that is all he will have to do until Christmas time. + + + + +THE DISEASES OF NUT TREES. + +S. M. MCMURREN, WASHINGTON, D. C. + + +MR. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS: It is a source of great regret with +me that I cannot report to you some new and horrible disease attacking +nut trees. This makes a more interesting talk. + +Last year in Washington I talked to you briefly about the Persian walnut +blight which we had definitely established as occurring in the East. +Last March the National Nut Growers' Association got very busy and so +amended the agricultural appropriation bill that all the funds for +national nut investigation were spent for pecan investigation, so it +left us up in the air for work in the north. We have, however, been able +to continue our observations with the Persian walnut blight and there is +only one further point to be emphasized and brought out at this time. +Those of you who have informed yourselves on this matter know that the +serious period of infection on the Pacific Coast is in the spring. It is +a blossom blight. During the past two years the period of infection in +the East has been in the late summer and it has not been serious on that +account. It is well known that in certain dry springs on the Pacific +Coast this blight does not occur and those years the growers are assured +of good crops. I think that this investigation, and the bulletin which +will soon be forthcoming, will not act as a discouragement for those who +want to plant Persian walnuts. I think it should not but should rather +encourage planting of these nuts. In spite of the presence of this +disease on the Pacific Coast the walnut industry has grown to be very +profitable, and if it proves that late infection is the rule in the East +there is every reason to believe that the disease will not be so +serious. That is practically the only walnut disease worthy of attention +at present. + +The filbert disease is a fungus disease and Dr. Morris and others are +authority for the statement that it can be readily controlled by cutting +out. + +DR. MORRIS: I will show this afternoon that it can be +controlled in a way. + +DR. MCMURREN: We in the department have not been in a position +to do any work on the hazel blight so far. The hazel blight is +interesting in that it illustrates a principle in plant diseases which +it is well to know, that most of our serious plant diseases fall in one +of two classes; either a native disease on imported plants or an +imported disease on native plants. This filbert blight is very slight +on native hazels but very serious on imported European hazels. I do not +think there is anything more on the filbert disease, but Dr. Morris will +have some interesting things to show you this afternoon. + +I want to interject a remark here about the business of planting trees +for commercial crops along the road sides. There is more to be +considered than the mere matter of planting a tree. Insect pests and +diseases have to be taken into consideration. There is nothing that an +apple orchard planter more hates to see than a tree out of the orchard. +It doesn't receive proper attention and is apt to be a source of +disease. I believe that wherever the nut industry has been established +on an orchard scale it is a matter that should receive careful thought +before trees are planted on the road side. When you have an adequate +fertilizing department and can give it careful attention the same as +trees in the orchard, all right. But they do not as a rule receive it. +Roadside planting perhaps sounds very attractive on the surface and is +probably a very good plan in some cases, but I think it is open to grave +objections where an orchard industry is in the same section. + +THE SECRETARY: I am sorry that Mr. C. A. Reed is not here to +take up the discussion of the walnut blight, because I think he takes a +little more serious view of it than Mr. McMurren. + +MR. MCMURREN: I know he does. + +THE SECRETARY: That is right that Mr. Reed does, and I am glad +he is here (Mr. Reed having just entered) to talk it over. Mr. Jones is +also here. Mr. Jones is a close observer and has followed it in the +field from the beginning. This matter of walnut bacteriosis is a very +important one. Here is the walnut industry just in its infancy. We want +to know whether this walnut bacteriosis is threatening such proposed +industry seriously or not. We know it is a very serious thing in +California. Can we safely begin planting English walnut trees or is the +question of the seriousness of bacteriosis so serious that we should not +plant extensively until we know more about it. Mr. McMurren has been +saying a few words about bacteriosis in which he has not given us an +impression of seriousness. I think Mr. Reed will give us some remarks on +that matter. + +MR. REED: I do not like to go up against Mr. McMurren. He is +the disease man. He is the last word in the government. I am only a +second fiddle when it comes to diseases but I must say that I have not a +very optimistic feeling over the blight situation. I have been depending +very largely on him to give us information. + +THE SECRETARY: Where did you find it, Mr. Reed? + +MR. REED: Speaking for the East only, for the part of the +country that we are directly interested in, I have visited a number of +the walnut sections. I think I have tried to reach all of them and in +nearly every place that I have been to in the last year or two there has +been blight. Several of the orchards that have been most widely +advertised have blight, according to Mr. McMurren's identification. I +went all the way from Georgia to Northwestern Pennsylvania and Northern +New York State last year to be present when the crops were gathered from +orchards of those sections, and in one of those orchards, one at North +East, Pennsylvania, the crop was what I would call about 65 per cent +failure due to blight. The other orchard, one near Rochester, was not +badly blighted, but there was a very light crop, not over 10 per cent of +a crop, but still there was some blight there. Now, I do not know just +what Mr. McMurren has said. I do know that he does not feel very badly +alarmed over the blight situation in the East and I would rather hear +him talk and Mr. Rush, and Mr. Jones. + +MR. BARTLETT: I would like to know what the chief +characteristics of the blight are. + +MR. MCMURREN: The ordinary late infection in the East begins +with a little spot on the husk around the 1st of July, and that merely +spreads until just about the time they fall off the tree. When the +blight infection strikes it it stains the nut badly. The point I want to +make is that you get the nuts anyhow. Mr. Littlepage, do you recall the +trees in Georgetown? The blight there is a very late infection. It is +not a thing that I can say should be discouraging. Blights are all over, +the pear blight, the apple blight, the lettuce blight. If we can make +the crop in spite of it I don't see why we should be unduly alarmed. I +think there are a good many other factors to be taken into consideration +in planting on a large scale and to make the question hinge on the +blight is not right. Spraying is of no avail. I don't think the walnut +growers should be discouraged because even in California where it is +most serious the industry is still profitable. + +MR. JONES: Some times the husk worm may spoil the husk and that +may be confused with the blight. So far Mr. Rush has had the blight ever +since I have known his trees. Last year the blight was more prevalent +than this year. This year I estimated the loss in the nuts about 10 per +cent. Last year I think it ran one-quarter. + +THE SECRETARY: Would those nuts be ruined? + +MR. JONES: Some of them would be and some of them not. + +THE SECRETARY: One-quarter would be affected by blight and some +of those would be good but not all? + +MR. JONES: I don't know what proportion. If the nut when taken +out of the husk is black, it would not be worth much. You can eat them +but they are not marketable. + + + + +NOTES ON THE NUT BEARING PINES AND ALLIED CONIFERS. + +DR. ROBERT T. MORRIS, NEW YORK + + +Among the food trees of the world of the nut bearing group the palms +with their many species of cocoanuts probably stand first, the pines +next, and the chestnuts third in order, so far as food supply for +various peoples is concerned. Then come the almonds, walnuts, hazels, +hickories and other nut bearing trees, the nuts of which have been +somewhat carelessly looked upon as luxuries rather than as an important +pantry full of good substantial calories to be turned into human +kinetics. + +The pines and allied conifers like _Araucaria_ and _Podocarpus_ will +take their respective places in furnishing food supply for us all when +the need comes. Such need is already close upon our new vista of war +supplies. The squirrels and mice this year will eat thousands of tons of +good food that our soldiers would be glad to have. The particular +advantage in planting nut bearing pines rests in the fondness of these +trees for waste places where little else will grow, and they need less +attention perhaps than any other trees of the nut bearing group. For +purposes of convenience in description I shall group all of the conifers +together under the head of pines in this paper, although in botany the +word "Pinus" is confined to generic nomenclature. + +Up to the present time we have not even developed our resources to the +point of utilizing good grounds very largely for any sort of nut tree +plantations. In accordance with the canons of human nature men work +hardest, and by preference, with crops which give them small returns for +their labor. Riches from easily raised crops go chiefly to the lazy +folks who don't like work. On the way to this meeting some of you +perhaps noticed near Rye on the west side of the railroad track, a +chicken farm on a side hill and a rich bottom land which had been +ditched and set out to about three hundred willow trees along the ditch +banks. Now if the owner of this property had set out English walnuts in +the place of the willows, each tree at the present time, at a low +estimate, might be bearing five dollars worth of nuts per year per tree, +and I am, sure that would be a much larger income than the owner gets +from his chickens--an income obtained certainly with much less trouble, +because neighbors cannot break in at night and carry off walnut trees of +such size. Two or three weeks from the present time you will observe +people everywhere in this section of the country raking up leaves from +various willows, poplars and maples, when they might quite as well be +raking up bushels of nuts of various kinds instead of just leaves. + +I presume that the extensive planting of pine trees for food purposes +will have to wait until we have advanced to the point of putting other +kinds of nut trees upon good ground first. Pines will be employed for +the more barren hillsides when the folks of three hundred years from now +begin to complain of the high cost of living. + +Among some thirty or more species of pine trees which furnish important +food supply for various peoples I exhibit nuts from only sixteen species +today, because much of the crop comes from Europe and from Asia. I could +not obtain a larger variety of specimens on account of the present +interest of people in the game which military specialists play wherever +industrious nations have saved up enough money to be turned over to +their murder experts. In the pine trees we have opportunity for +combining beauty and utility. As a group they are mountain lovers +preferring localities where the air drainage is particularly good, but +many of them will grow thriftily and will fruit well on low grounds. +Fine nuts range in character from the rich, sugary, oily and highly +nitrogenous nut of the Mexican pinon to the more starchy _bunya bunya_ +of Australia, as large as a small potato and not much better than a +potato, unless it is roasted or boiled. Yet this latter pine is valuable +for food purposes and the British Government has reserved one forest of +the species thirty miles long and twelve miles wide in which no one is +allowed to cut trees. + +The nut of the _Araucaria imbricata_ has constituted a basis for +contention among Indian tribes in Chile for centuries, and perhaps more +blood has been shed over the forests of this pine than over any other +single source of food supply in the world. We do not know if the _Pinus +imbricata_ will fruit in the climate and at the latitude of New York, +but I know that at least one tree of the species has lived for twenty +years on the Palmer estate here in Stamford. + +Some of the smaller pine nuts like those of the single-leaved pine, or +of the sugar pine, are delicious when cracked and eaten out of hand, but +the smaller pine nuts are pounded up by the Indians with a little water +and the thick, rich, creamy emulsion like hickory milk when pressed out, +is evaporated down to a point where the milk can be kept for a long time +without decomposition. In addition to the nuts of the sugar pine, the +Indians collect the sugar of dried juice which exudes at points where +cuts have been made in the tree for the purpose. Incidentally, the sugar +pine is one of our finest American trees anyway. Botanists tell us that +it grows to a height of two hundred and seventy-five feet, and +travellers say that it reaches three hundred feet. The latter people +having actually seen the trees we may know which estimate to accept. + +Aside from the beauty of most pines and the majesty of some of them, +their utility is not confined to nuts alone. Timber and sap products are +very valuable. The sugar pine in the latitude of New York is hardy, but +does not grow as rapidly as it does in the West. The same may be said of +the Jeffrey bull pine, but I shall show you some thriftier trees of this +latter species tomorrow on my property. A very pretty striped nut is +that of the _Pinus pinea_. This is the Italian pignolia, and you may buy +them in the confectionery stores in this country. They are used as a +dessert nut chiefly, but form an important food supply in some parts of +Europe. The Swiss stone pine, _Pinus cembra_, is one of the hardy nut +pines, fruitful in this vicinity, and the _Pinus Armandi_, the Korean +pine and the Lace-bark pine from central China, are hardy and fruitful +in this vicinity, to our knowledge. + +Two very handsome pine nuts are those of the Digger pine, _Pinus +Sabiniana_ and the Big-cone pine, _Pinus Coulteri_. Both trees are hardy +in this latitude, but I have not been able to locate any which are of +bearing age as yet. The nuts have a rich dark brown or nearly black and +tan shading. The nut of the Digger pine is very highly prized by the +Indians and is larger and better in quality than the nut of the Big-cone +pine which looks so much like it. + +Nuts of the Torrey pine have been somewhat difficult to secure for +planting, because they are esteemed so highly for food purposes that +they have been collected rather closely by local people in the small +area in which this species is found, on our Pacific Coast. It is +improbable that the Torrey pine will be hardy much above our most +southern states. + +We do not advertise dealers in our association as a rule, but Mr. Thomas +J. Lane, of Dresher, Pennsylvania, is not likely to make any great +fortune from his sale of pine nuts to us. Consequently, I am stating at +this point that Mr. Lane has offered to go to the trouble of securing +pine nuts from different parts of the world for our members who wish to +plant different species experimentally. I have given him a list of +species to be kept permanently on file, and the list is marked in such a +way that ones which are known to be hardy, semi-hardy, or fruitful in +the latitude of New York may be selected for experimental planting. I +hope that some of our southern planters will plant South American, +Asiatic, African and Australian species of nut pines for purposes of +observation. Mr. Lane will get the seed for them. + +I have included among the specimens here today nuts of the ginkgo +because that tree belongs among the conifers in natural order. It is an +ancient tree which should not fit into this time and generation, but it +has gone on down past the day when it belonged on earth. Its prehistoric +enemies have died out, so the ginkgo tree has come rolling along down +the centuries without enemies and at the same time with many +peculiarities. Comparatively few of the trees are females, but the tree +grows heartily in this latitude and one may graft male ginkgos in any +quantity from some one female. The nut of this tree is rather too +resinous to suit the American palate, but the Chinese and Japanese +visitors to the Capitol grounds at Washington greedily collect the nuts +from a bearing female tree growing there. + +Most of the pine nuts have a resinous flavor, but as a class they are so +rich and sweet that this is not disagreeable. The nuts of the +single-leaf pine and our common pinon, _Pinus edulis_, are delicious +when eaten out of hand and both of these trees are hardy in this +latitude, but they do not grow as rapidly here as they do upon the arid +mountains and under the conditions of their native habitat. + +In Europe and Asia pine nuts for the market are cracked by machinery or +by cheap hand labor, and I presume that we may eventually hull some of +the smaller ones as buckwheat is hulled. If the contents of the smaller +nuts are extracted by the Indian method of grinding them up with a +little water and then subjecting them to pressure, the waste residue +will probably be valuable for stock food of the future, very much as we +now use oil cake. + +When planting nuts of pine trees I would call the attention of +horticulturists to one very important point. The nuts must be planted in +ground that does not "heave" in the spring time when the frost goes +out. Many of the pine nuts send down a rather slender root at first +without many side rootlets, and when the frost opens the ground in the +spring the young trees are thrown out and lost. Here is another point of +practical importance. Do not plant pine seed where stock can get at the +young shoots in March. The little gems look so bright and green, so +fresh and attractive when the snow goes off that cows and sheep, deer, +squirrels and field mice will all try to collect them. Young pines +should be grown in half shade during their first two years. They will +require weeding and nice attention on the part of a lover who wishes to +be polite to them. + +QUESTION: Is there any difficulty in harvesting the crops, do +the cones shed? + +ANSWER: With some species the cones are shed before they are +fully opened. They are collected and stored until the nuts can be beaten +out. Other species retain the cones until the nuts have been shed. The +branches are shaken and the nuts collected from tree to tree by the +beaters and spread out upon the ground. + +Sometimes coarse sheeting or matting is carried from tree to tree by the +beaters and spread out upon the ground. + +QUESTION: At what age will they bear? + +ANSWER: Pines bear rather late as a rule. I doubt if very many +of them will bear in less than 10 years from seed. + +QUESTION: Would it be possible to produce grafted trees? + +ANSWER: Yes, without much difficulty. Undoubtedly you could get +bearing wood from old trees and graft on young trees, or graft on other +species. They may be grafted back and forth like the ornamental firs and +spruces of the nurserymen. + +QUESTION: They don't compass, do they. If you cut them off, do +shoots come out of the stumps? + +ANSWER: Not as a rule. Adventitious buds belong to few pine +trees. They graft conifers when the stocks are young. + +QUESTION: Of those that you suggest, what would be the best +here? + +ANSWER: The Korean, the Bungeana or lace-bark, the Swiss stone +pine, and the Armandi. These can be counted on to bear in the vicinity +of New York. Several other species not yet tried out may bear well here, +but I have not gone over the trees on estates very extensively as yet +with that question in mind. + +QUESTION: Are any of these specially good for the South? + +ANSWER: Yes, most of the pine nuts that I have shown here will +grow south of Maryland and seven of the best pine nuts in the world +belong to our Southwest. + +QUESTION: Is there any more trouble with the cows and squirrels +over nut pines than there is with ordinary pine trees? + +ANSWER: No, excepting that you don't miss the ordinary kinds so +much. It is largely a matter of comparative interest. + + + + +NOTES TAKEN ON AN EXCURSION TO MERRIBROOKE, THE COUNTRY PLACE OF DR. +ROBERT T. MORRIS, AT STAMFORD, CONN., SEPTEMBER 5, 1917. + +DR. MORRIS CONDUCTING THE PARTY. + + +(1) Taylor shagbark hickory tree, overhanging the entrance-gate. A tree +remarkable for annual bearing and for nuts of high quality, thin shell, +large size, and excellent cleavage. Among hundreds of hickories +examined, many of them in response to prize offers, this tree at the +entrance furnishes one of the very best nuts of the lot. + +(2) Buckley hickory (_Hicoria Buckleyi_) from Texas. Supposed not to be +hardy in this latitude. Perfectly hardy, but not growing as rapidly as +it does at home. Very large roundish thick shelled nut with a kernel of +good quality if you can get it. Kernel has a peculiar but agreeable +fragrance. + +(3) Another southern species, the North Carolina hickory (_Hicoria +Carolinae-septentrionalis_). Note the small, pointed, dark colored buds +and beautiful foliage. The tree is perfectly hardy in Connecticut. This +shagbark bears a small thin shelled nut of high-quality and it will be +particularly desirable for table purposes. The tree grows thriftly in +Connecticut. + +(4) Carolina hickory. Grafted on native shagbark. + +(5) A group of Korean nut pines (_Pinus Koraensis_). Raised from seed +and now six years of age. One of the valuable food supply pines of +northern Asia. Like most eastern Asiatic trees the species does well in +eastern North America. + +(6) A central Asian prune (_Prunus Armeniaca_). Without value for the +fleshy part of the drupe, but with a nut like that of the apricot, +highly prized for its kernel. The tree is hardy and thrifty, but rather +vulnerable to a variety of blights belonging to Prunus. + +(7) An ordinary black walnut grafted to the Lutz variety. A very large +nut with good cleavage, good color and good quality. + +(8) Alder-leaved chestnut (_Castanea alnifolia_) from central Georgia. +One of the most beautiful of the American chestnuts, with more or less +of the trailing habit, running over the ground like the juniper, and +apparently not subject to blight. In Georgia it is an evergreen, but in +Connecticut it is deciduous, although sometimes a few green leaves are +found in the early spring if they have been covered by snow or by loose +dead leaves during the winter. The nut is of high quality and fair size. +There are a number of hybrids between this and other chestnuts at +Merribrooke, but not bearing as yet. + +(9) A group of common papaws (_Asimina triloba_), two of them grafted. +The Journal of Heredity offered a prize of fifty dollars for the best +American papaw, and the prize was awarded to the Ketter variety, the +fruits of which weigh about one pound each. Seven little trees of this +species were secured and two larger papaw trees grafted from cuttings +when the seven were set out. Papaws grow well in this part of +Connecticut, and because of the high quality of the fruit should be more +largely planted. + +(10) Mills persimmon. One of a group of several varieties that are being +cultivated in this country. Hardy and thrifty in Connecticut. + +(11) A group of Jeffrey bull pines (_Pinus Jeffreyi_) from Colorado. One +of the nut pines. Supposed to do its best in the arid mountains of the +West. Perfectly hardy and thrifty with beautiful bluish-green foliage in +Connecticut. + +(12) Himalayan white pine (_Pinus excelsa_). One of the nut pines and +with remarkably handsome foliage. + +(13) A group of Chinese pistache nut trees (_Pistacia sinensis_). At +Merribrooke it has the habit of frequently growing twice in one year and +sometimes three times in one year. The shoots will grow a foot or more +and then make resting buts early in July. After about ten days of +resting the buds burst, new shoots grow again and rest for the second +time in the early part of September. If we have a warm moist fall the +buds burst for the third time and make a third growth. This third growth +winter-kills without injury to the tree, however. The significance of +the growth presumably relates to the tree being an inhabitant of an arid +country, where it has adapted itself to the rainfall of that country. I +do not know if the trunk adds a new ring of wood after each resting +period, but it likely enough does so. + +(14) Moneymaker pecan. Perfectly hardy and thrifty. It has not borne as +yet and there may be a question of the season being long enough for +ripening the nut. At the left a Stuart pecan, that comes from the very +borders of the Gulf of Mexico. Sometimes the smaller branches +winter-kill badly and at other times they do not. It is remarkable that +a tree from the shores of the Gulf of Mexico should live here at all in +the winter. + +(15) A field of six-year-old trees. Most of them the result of placing +bitternut hickory pollen on staminate butternut flowers. The trees have +not borne as yet and we can not tell if they are true hybrids or +parthenogens. Parthenogenesis occurs readily with many nut trees. Pollen +of an allied species which does not fuse with the female cell to make a +gamete may, nevertheless, excite a female cell into division and the +development of a tree. Such a tree would be expected to show intensified +characteristics belonging to the parent. This lot of trees notable for +the fact that some are very small for their age and some very large. + +(16) A group of Japanese chestnuts. They blight and die and blight and +live and are not given much attention as they are of little value +anyway. The chestnut blight (_Endothia parasitica_) attacks the Japanese +chestnut about as freely as it does the American chestnut. The trees do +not die from it quite so quickly and may bear for some years before +dying. + +(17) A group of Japanese persimmons in a protected corner of a +west-facing side hill. Most of the Japanese persimmons are not hardy in +Connecticut, but an occasional variety given a moderate degree of +protection will manage to live pretty well. They are uncertain trees, +however, as two of the trees grafted to Bennett Japaneses persimmons +from Newark, N. J., had two-year-old shoots winter-killed this year. +These were on low ground. I shall put my other Bennetts on hill sides. + +(18) American sweet chestnut grafted upon Japanese stock. Ordinarily +Asiatic and American chestnuts do not make very satisfactory exchange +stocks. In this case the American chestnut happens to be doing very +well. The variety is known as the Merribrooke. Among the many thousands +of chestnut trees here when I bought the place this one bore the best +nut of all, very large and of high quality, and beautifully striped with +alternate longitudinal stripes of dark and light chestnut color. The +parent tree was one of the very first to go down with the blight ten +years ago, and the standing dead trunk was removed at the time when I +cut out five thousand dead or dying chestnut trees. Stump sprouts of the +Merribrooke variety survived for grafting purposes, and I have now kept +the variety going by patient grafting ever since, on new stocks, hoping +to carry the variety along until this epidemic of blight runs out of its +protoplasmic energy. + +(19) Ordinary Japanese chestnut. With fairly good crop of large nuts, +but not of good quality, except for cooking purposes. + +(20) A group of hybrids resulting from placing the pollen of the Siebold +Japanese walnut upon the pistillate flowers of our butternut. The young +trees have not borne as yet. + +(21) Hybrids between the common American hazel and the European purple +hazel. There are a number of these hybrids, and none of them with nuts +better than those of either parent, consequently I give them little +attention. Some of the hybrids, not as yet bearing, may prove to be more +valuable. We have to make lots of hybrids in order to get a small +percentage of important ones. In this particular lot the hybrid has +taken on a habit of the mother parent, the common American hazel, +growing long stoloniferous roots, an undesirable feature. + +(22) The Golden Gem persimmon, laden with fruit. Grafted upon the stock +of a staminate common persimmon. + +(23) Early Golden persimmon. Bearing heavily, a variety grafted upon +common persimmon stock. + +(24) A group of Chinese chestnut trees (_Castanea mollissima_). Very +beautiful trees, worthy of a position on almost any lawn, the foliage is +bright and shining, and the thrifty growth very attractive. The species +is practically immune to blight, sometimes at a point of injury bark +blight will appear, but it spreads very slowly, is easily cut out and +does not reappear at that point. It will be a success in Connecticut. +The nut is not quite up to our native chestnut in quality, but it is +larger in size and a first rate nut on the whole. The tree comes from +the original home of the blight, and the two plants having lived +together for ages the law of survival of the fittest has given us this +chestnut tree, which can largely take the place of our lost American +chestnut. The tree does not grow to be quite so large as our chestnut, +but I am making hybrids between this species and three species of +American chestnuts, and may find some remarkable ones eventually. + +(25) Two young nut pines with lost labels. I shall probably not be able +to determine the species until they bear cones. + +(26) A number of black walnut trees grafted with several varieties of +English walnut (_Juglans regia_). There is particular advantage in +grafting English walnut upon black walnut stock for the reason that mice +are extremely destructive to English walnut roots in winter time. +Furthermore black walnuts will grow in soil that is distinctly acid in +reaction, while the English walnut demands a neutral or alkaline soil. +The nearest tree of this group had new shoots of the Rush English walnut +nearly six feet long, which blew off last week in a wind storm because +they had not been braced sufficiently. It is very important when +grafting nut trees to fasten strong bracing sticks alongside of vigorous +shoots and tying them with sisal tarred cord, which holds good for two +years. + +(27) Appomattox pecan, Busseron pecan, and Major pecan. All three trees +growing very thriftily and all set nuts this spring, but did not hold +them. This is the habit of young hickories and walnuts rather largely. +None of my pecan trees are old enough as yet to fruit well. I do not +know what varieties will find our season long enough for ripening +purposes. That particular feature of pecan raising is quite as important +as the mere question of hardiness in Connecticut. + +(28) A little old butternut tree by my garden. This has been the mother +of practically all my hybrids between butternuts and other species of +walnuts. This little old tree bears flowers every year and is very +conveniently situated for hybridizing work. + +(29) An English walnut tree near the garden gate is growing thriftily, +making sometimes four feet in a year, but as a seedling has not borne as +yet. + +(30) Pecan seedling with buds of Busseron recently inserted. They are +fastened in place with waxed muslin and then painted with ordinary white +paint. I use that a great deal in place of grafting wax, but make the +paint thick and heavy so that little free oil runs in between the +cambium layers when grafting or budding. Paint seems to be harder and +better than liquid grafting wax if it has no free oil. + +(31) A rapidly growing Chinese walnut (_Juglans sinensis_). Very much +like _Juglans regia_. The nuts have prominent sutures and the kernel is +rather more oily than that of the English walnut, but of very good +quality, nevertheless. + +(32) A number of hickory trees of different species grafted by my +favorite method, unless we call it "budding." I call it "the slice +graft," and have not known any one else to try it. A slice of bark from +one inch to four inches in length is removed from the stock and this +area is fitted with a slice of about the same length and breadth, +carrying a bud or spur cut from the guest variety. On one of these young +hickories you observe I made three slice grafts and all of them have +taken with a very thrifty growth of the Taylor variety. One point of +importance, I believe, is to have the slice from the guest variety a +trifle smaller than the slice from the host stock. The guest slice is +bound firmly to the host with waxed muslin. + +(33) Paragon chestnut heavily loaded with burs. This particular tree is +said to belong to a variety that is much advertised, but there is some +question if it is a peculiar variety of the Paragon, because Mr. Engel, +of Pennsylvania, is said to have furnished his own Paragon chestnut +scions when the other people were short of stock. If the nursery firm +that has put out this Paragon chestnut on the market with so much vigor +and at such expense had been a little more frank everybody would have +profited. They have made a point of advertising the Paragon chestnut as +blight resistant, which it is not; consequently, the country is full of +disappointed customers. The dealers should have said something more or +less as follows: "This chestnut blights freely, but it bears so well and +so abundantly and with such a good nut that people can afford to plant +it in large acreage and let it blight, carrying it along with about the +degree of attention that one would naturally give to good apple trees." +Had the dealers only said something like that, the members of our +Association who receive very many letters from all over the country +asking about this particular chestnut would have advised its purchase in +large quantities. Prospective customers are shy of nurserymen in +general. They write to members of our Association asking who is +reliable. People have learned what we stand for. + +(34) A hybrid between a pecan and a bitternut hickory. A large handsome +thin shelled nut, but bitter. The great vigor of growth of the seedlings +of this hybrid, which comes from Mr. G. M. Brown, of Van Buren, Ark., +would seem to make this hybrid variety of remarkable value as grafting +stock for other hickories. The nuts are exceptional in carrying the type +form of progeny. + +(35) Two rows of many species of nut trees planted in thick glazed +earthenware pots. The pots are about four feet in depth and with round +perforations. I had these made to order. I sunk them in the ground to +the level of the rim and then planted these trees in the pots under the +impression that they would remain dwarfed on account of the confinement +of the roots, and that I would have a conveniently placed series for +experiments in hybridization. The experiment was not a success. I knew +that growing trees would move rocks, but had no idea that roots +protruding through these holes in heavy glazed earthenware would be able +to break the pots. The roots have done just that, and whenever a tree in +a pot becomes large enough the protruding roots break the pot to +pieces, and the tree marches straight along to its original destiny. + +(36) One of a group of European chestnuts from seed brought me by Major +L. L. Seaman. The parent tree is famous in England for its enormous size +and heavy bearing; it is said to be centuries of age and is growing upon +the estate of Sir George B. Hingley, Droitwich, Worcestershire, England. +My young trees are growing very thriftily. They are showing some blight +spots, but this has been controlled by cutting out and painting. + +(37) A group of vigorous young trees, the result of placing pecan pollen +on the pistillate trees of Siebold walnut. They show the Siebold +parentage so distinctly that I imagine them to be parthenogens, but we +cannot tell to a certainty until they bear fruit. + +(38) A hillside set out with a large number of common bush chinkapins +from the East, tree chinkapins from Missouri and a number of hybrids. +The chinkapins and the alder-leaved chestnuts on this side hill have +been so blight resistant as to require almost no attention, and for that +reason I am making hybrids between the chinkapin and the alder-leaved +chestnut and the Chinese chestnut in the hope of making an excellent +combination of chinkapin quality and Chinese size. Up to the present +time none of my hybrids have been as valuable as either parent, with the +exception of two. Two of the hybrids bear nuts about the size of the +average American sweet chestnut and of first rate quality. These two +hybrid trees have shown no sign of blight as yet. + +(40) A hybrid between an American chestnut and a chinkapin. It blights +freely like its American parent. Some of the hybrids do that while +others show the resistance of the chinkapin parent. This particular tree +grows lustily, and I have taken the trouble to cut out the blight every +year. The leaves and general appearance are very closely like the common +American chestnut. When it first began to bear, the nuts were of the +chinkapin type, a single nut to the bur and hardly to be distinguished +from other chinkapins. A year or two later the nuts changed in +appearance, becoming distinctly lighter in color and with peculiar +longitudinal corrugations of the shell. A year or so later still the +tree made another change, and it now bears two or three nuts to the bur +like the American chestnut, the nuts retain their light color and +peculiar corrugation. + +(41) A group of European hazels (_Corylus avellana_). Several years ago +the Prince of Colloredo-Mannsfeld was visiting Merribrooke. His Highness +was much interested in the experimental work in nut trees and later sent +me a number of hazel nuts from one of his estates in Bohemia. Among the +hazel bushes which grew from these nuts there was one which bore large, +long, thin-shelled nuts of high quality. This bush, as you observe, has +rather small dark leaves and stout, crooked branches. At one of the +meetings of the Association I spoke of the bush as having a bony look, +and Prof. J. Russell Smith referred to it in discussion as the "Bony +Bush" hazel, and that name has been retained. I have grafted a number of +other American and European hazels from this bush and I have sent scions +to friends. + +(42) A Cook shagbark hickory from Moscow, Ky., grafted upon bitternut +stock. This variety bears a very large thin-shelled, irregular nut, with +rather poor cleavage, but the quality of the kernel is of such distinct +value that I prize the variety. + +(43) An example of the spur graft. A common T cut is made in the bark of +the stock and then a slice of guest bark carrying a small branch or spur +is inserted. In this particular case I put in a branch about ten inches +in length and you see that it is growing very well. + +(44) My beautiful Merribrooke chestnut grafted upon an ordinary American +chestnut stock growing by the roadside. Five years ago I noticed this +little chestnut tree growing by the roadside with two stems. One of the +stems was blighted and I cut it off and stopped the blight for the time +being. The following year the other stem blighted and I trimmed out the +blight and sprayed the stem with pyrox. In the following year I grafted +the stock, but blight appeared at another point, the blight was cut out, +and the stem again sprayed. In the following year blight appeared again, +but at another point, and after cutting it out I put on tanglefoot, +simply because I happened to have some with me when passing the tree. +This year the stem has blighted again and I have cut out the blight and +sprayed it, and I shall now whitewash a large part of the stock with +whitewash containing a little carbolineum. The graft now in its third +year is bearing one big bur. The interesting point is that this tree has +blighted every year for five years, and I have kept it going along by +giving it attention. This means if we are willing to take the trouble we +can get the best of the blight, even with such a remarkably vulnerable +tree as this one proves to be. + +(45) A barren hillside covered with very handsome red pines eleven years +of age, some of them grow nearly two feet per year. The soil is sandy +and gravelly glacial till which will raise little else beside feather +grass and sumac. The red pines are not nut pines, and attention is +called to them incidentally because of their value for growing upon this +sort of soil. + +(46) A Korean chestnut filled with burs. The Korean chestnut does not +blight quite so readily as the American chestnut, and certain +individuals are fairly blight resistant. I raised several hundreds of +them, but almost all of them are dead. A fairly large number are growing +well and bearing without much attention. The nut is pretty good, but +coarser than that of the American chestnut. + +(47) A group of Tamba chestnuts from Japan. This is the favorite +chestnut of the Japanese. I secured a number of the nuts, sprouted them +and planted them out here in rows, intending to transplant them to +permanent sites later. Finding that they were going to blight badly, I +have neglected them and have allowed them to stand. One little tree +among them bore a single bur at eighteen months of age and has borne +steadily ever since with a heavy crop this year. This particular tree +has not blighted, but its nut is coarse and of little value. + +(48) When collecting walnuts I obtained a lot of nuts from a +correspondent from the Mogollon Mountains in Arizona. The nut resembles +that of _Juglans rupestris_, but is larger and thicker shelled. No one +knows whether it is an undescribed species or only a distinct variety of +_Juglans rupestris_. Several of the nuts sprouted, but various accidents +happened to them and this tree now, seven years old, is the only one of +the lot living. It looks very different from any American walnut I have +ever seen. In fact, it looks so much like a stunted heart nut that I +suspected that one of these nuts might have gotten into the lot by +accident. In digging down about the stem, however, I found only the +shells of a Mogollon walnut. We can not tell what the tree will bring +forth, as it is not bearing as yet. + +(49) Two groups of chestnut trees of the McFarland variety, about +eighteen years of age. They grow and blight and bear, but have not +blighted to the point of killing altogether. They have been neglected +because the nut has not much value. + +(50) A group of Merribrooke hazels. Some years ago I devoted several +weeks to examining hundreds of hazel bushes in this part of the country, +where they are a pest, and I also visited other hazel localities at a +distance. Among all the bushes examined the best nut was found on my own +property and I learned later that this particular bush had been known +among the boys of the locality for a century. The nut is of large size +for an American hazel, thin shelled, of high quality. This group +consists of transplants of root progeny from the parent bush. + +(51) A Horn hazel (_Corylus cornuta_, commonly wrongly designated as +_Corylus rostrata_). A species fairly abundant in Connecticut, and I +transplanted these bushes because they happened to have a tremendously +long involucre. The nut of the horn hazel is not of such good quality as +that of the common American hazel, and I have not succeeded in making +hybrids between this and other hazels as yet. The hazels are very +ancient in descent and each species likes to retain particular identity. + +(52) A number of stocks of red birch, white birch and scrub oak grafted +with European hazels and chinkapins, but the grafts all died. The +grafting was done as an experiment in the hope that we might possibly +utilize our waste lands which are covered with birch and scrub oak by +grafting these trees with hazels and chinkapins. Some of the grafts +lived for such a long time and put out such long shoots that the +experiment will be tried again next year. It would not seem worth while, +excepting for the fact that it was a bad spring for grafting anyway, and +hazels did not even catch on hazels, though they caught freely last +year. The Japanese do grafting on stocks widely different from the +scions, but we have not developed that particular feature in this +country as yet. + +(53) Asiatic tree hazels (_Corylus colurna_). This species makes a tree +as large as the common oaks and bears heavily. The nut is about the size +of that of the common American hazel. The tree is very beautiful, and I +am using it for grafting stock and for hybridizing. + +(54) Sprouting cages. A double row of galvanized wire cages sunk four +inches into the ground and about four inches free above ground, filled +with sandy loam and used for sprouting any nuts which are to be employed +in experimental work. Each cage is fitted with a cover of galvanized +wire, the purpose of which is to keep out rodents which are so +destructive to planted nuts. In these cages there are now a large number +of hybrid nut trees growing, and they will be transplanted to permanent +sites or to the garden for culture next spring. + +(55) Japanese heart nut (_Juglans cordiformis_). The tree is supposed by +some botanists to be a form of the Siebold walnut, but it has quite a +different appearance. It has an open habit with large leaves and nuts +which are suggestive of the conventional heart. The quality of the nut +is very good, much like that of the Siebold, but the nut is larger and +compressed. The tree is very hardy and is almost tropical in appearance. +It has not been planted very largely in this county, but it undoubtedly +will be eventually. + +(56) Siberian walnut. The tree looks much like the Siebold walnut in +general appearance, but with smaller leaflets, and the nut is very much +like our butternut, but smaller and with much rougher shell. + +(57) Two pecan trees that I bought from a nursery about twelve years +ago. They have not borne as yet and being seedlings we cannot know if +they will be of value. I shall probably graft them next year and not +wait for them to bear their own nuts. + +(58) Two large Siebold walnuts only twelve years of age, but growing in +rich ground and sometimes making five feet of growth in a single year. +They were well filled with nuts two weeks ago, but the red squirrels +have cut down all of the nuts including numbers which I hybridized with +English walnut pollen this spring. On one of the lower branches of one +of the Siebold walnuts is a long thrifty graft of the Lutz black walnut +that I put in this spring, simply because I happened to cut off the +lower branches of the Siebold that were shading the garden, and I +happened to have some of the black walnut scions with me at the time. It +will not be allowed to remain on this tree. + +(59) A cross between our Siebold walnut and our butternut, now about +eight years old, but growing thriftily. It has not borne nuts as yet. I +have a number of these trees and they appear to be good hybrids. + +(60) A group of Kaghazi Persian walnuts. A valuable variety and one of +the so-called English walnuts, a term that we use for convenience +because the name has become established in this country by the market +men, not by the botanists. + +(61) A thrifty young Chinese seedling persimmon (_Diospyros lotus_). + +(62) Little trees of one of the nut pines (_Pinus edulis_). They are at +their best in the arid mountains of Arizona, and the species is very +important as furnishing a food supply for the Indians. The little trees +are hardy here in dry soil among the rocks, but do not grow rapidly. +Mine have been in more than six years and are not more than six inches +in height, but are very pretty. + +(63) The Chinese Tamopan persimmon. The tree is very handsome, with +large glossy leaves, but somewhat tender in Connecticut and requiring +protected exposure. The fruit of the Tamopan is as large as a very large +apple. + +(64) Several trees five years of age, the result of English walnut +pollen on Siebold walnut pistillate flowers. The trees are growing very +thriftily, but they show the Siebold characteristic without much +evidence of the English walnut parentage. + +(65) A field of Pomeroy English walnuts, notable for their beautiful +white bark. The trees have been in over eight years and set nuts for the +first time this year. As seedling trees we cannot tell what they will do +when in full bearing. + +(66) Two species of nut bearing pines from which the marking labels have +become lost, and I shall not be able to determine the species until they +bear cones. One of them is very beautiful, with long leaves and pleasing +bluish green foliage. + + + + +A VISIT TO THE ESTATE OF THE LATE LOWELL M. PALMER, NOTABLE FOR ITS +COLLECTION OF TREES AND SHRUBS, DR. MORRIS CONDUCTING. + + +Here we see the Ginkgo trees, two of them bearing. The Ginkgo belongs by +descent to the coniferous tree group. A very fine tree with nuts that +are highly prized by the Asiatics, but somewhat too resinous for the +American palate. Most of the Ginkgo trees are males, but one may graft +any number of males with bearing female scions. + +An _Araucaria imbricata_ grew for twenty years on this place, and we +have only just learned that it died last year. This pine is one of the +most important of the nut pines and furnishes a large food supply in +South America. The fact that one tree lived for twenty years in this +latitude means a great deal. + +A number of European hazel bushes are growing on the property and +bearing heavily. A large heart nut tree, but bearing small nuts, is +growing well. Several of the Himalayan nut pines (_Pinus excelsa_) +beautify the property, and one of the trees, heavily laden with cones, +is at least fifty years of age. Another one of the nut-bearing pines +(_Pinus paviflora_, from Japan) is represented by several specimens on +the Palmer property, and one little tree apparently less than ten years +of age, is heavily loaded with cones. Incidentally we may examine here a +trifoliate orange filled with fruit. It is growing in a well protected +corner of the grounds. Mr. Webber sent some valuable trifoliate hybrids +to Merribrooke. One variety lived through the winter, but made a +crippled start in the spring. Some day we may have good trifoliate +orange hybrids in Connecticut if the Buckley hickory, Stuart pecan, +Arizona walnut and imbricated pine grow here. + + * * * * * + +A dinner was held at the Hotel Davenport on the evening of the 5th, at +which about thirty-five members and guests were present. After dinner +the public was admitted and the following papers were read, Mr. +Collingwood being a guest of the Association: + +DR. KELLOGG: I feel a great interest in the work of this +Association and a great sympathy with it. I feel that you are all +working for me and I am doing what I can to promote your interests also. +That is, I am trying to create a market for your products. + + + + +ADVENT OF NUTS INTO THE NATION'S LIST OF STAPLE FOODS. + +DR. J. H. KELLOGG, MICHIGAN. + + +In these days when a condition of food shortage exists in the greater +part of the civilized world, any question which concerns a nation's food +supply is of public interest. + +Food conservation is the great question of the hour. Visions of +vanishing steaks and chops alarm the overfed and rising prices of all +foodstuffs pinch the bills of fare of the poor. + +It may easily be shown that most of all the hardships which the +civilized world is suffering as regards food supply is due to lack of +understanding and of foresight. + +The fundamental error is the popular faith in the high protein ration. +The physiologists are at least partly at fault. Liebig's dictum, which +made protein the essential food factor in supporting work, has misled +the whole civilized world for more than half a century. The dietaries of +institutions, armies, whole nations have been based upon a conception +which modern science has shown to be utterly false, and the result has +been an economic loss which staggers belief, and a destruction of human +life and efficiency which overshadows every other malign influence. + +To properly appreciate the place of nuts in the national dietary we must +have in mind a clear conception of the nature of food as revealed to us +in the light of modern laboratory studies of human nutrition and +metabolism. + +Food is to an animal what soil is to a plant. It is the soil out of +which we grew. What we eat today is walking around and talking tomorrow. +The most marvelous of miracles is the transmutation of common foodstuffs +into men and women, the transfiguration of bread, potatoes and beefsteak +into human intelligence, grace, beauty and noble action. We read in holy +writ how the wandering Israelites were abundantly fed in the Assyrian +desert with manna from the skies and marvel at the Providence which +saved a million souls from death, forgetting that every harvest is a +repetition of the same miracle, that each morsel of food we eat is a +gift of Heaven conveyed to us by a sunbeam. Food is simply sunshine +captured by the chlorophyll of plants and served up to us in tiny +bundles called molecules, which, when torn apart in our bodies by the +processes of digestion and assimilation release the captured energy +which warms us with heat brought from the sun and shines out in human +thought and action. + +It is less than a century since Liebig and Lehmann and their pupils +began to unravel the mystery of food. In recent years no subject has +received more assiduous attention from scientific men, and none has been +made the object of more constant or more profound research than the +questions of food and food supply. The feeding of animals and men is +without question the most pressing and vital of all economic problems. + +The labors of Voit and Pettenkofer, Rubner, Zuntz, Atwater, Benedict, +Chittenden, Mendel, Lusk and Hindhede have demonstrated that there is +the closest relation between food supply or food selection and human +efficiency. In fact, it has been clearly shown that the quality of the +food intake is just as directly and as closely related to the question +of human efficiency as is the quality and quantity of gasoline to the +efficiency of an automobile. + +In fact it has been established as a fundamental principle in human +physiology that food is fuel. Life is a combustion process. + +The human body is a machine which may be likened to a locomotive--it is +a self-controlling, self-supporting, self-repairing mechanism. As the +locomotive rushes along the iron road, pulling after it a thousand-ton +cargo of produce or manufactured wares or human freight sufficient to +start a town or stock a political convention its enormous expenditure of +energy is maintained by the burning of coal from the tender which is +replenished at every stopping place. The snorting-monster at the head of +the rushing procession gets hungry and has to have a lunch every few +miles along the way. After a run of a hundred miles or so the engine +leaves the train and goes into a roundhouse for repairs; an iron belt +has dropped out or a brass nut has been shaken off. Every lost or +damaged part of the metal leviathan is replaced, and then it is ready +for another century run. + +The human body is wonderfully like the locomotive. It pulls or carries +loads, it expends energy, it consumes fuel and has to stop at meal +stations to coal up; it has to go off duty periodically for repairs. The +body needs just what the locomotive needs--fuel to furnish energy and +material for repair of the machinery. + +Food differs from fuel chiefly in the one particular, that in each +little packet of food done up by Mother Nature there is placed along +with the fuel for burning a tiny bit of material to be used for repair +of the machine. In other words, food represents in its composition both +the coal and the metal repair materials of the locomotive. The starch, +sugar and fat of foods are the coal and the protein or albumin is the +metal repair stuff. Here we see at once the reason why starch and sugar +and fat are so abundant in our foodstuffs, while protein or albumin is +in quantity a minor element. + +But there are other differences between food and common fuel which are +worthy of mention. The water and the salts are essential to meet the +body's needs, especially the various mineral elements, lime, soda, +potash and iron. All these we must have--lime for the bones and nerves, +soda and potash to neutralize the harmful acid products of combustion +processes, and iron for the blood. + +All these are found in normal foodstuffs, but in greatly varying +proportions, so that a pretty large variety of foods must be eaten to +make sure that each of the different food principles required for +perfect nutrition are supplied in ample quantity. + +In recent years science has discovered another and most surprising +property of food in which it transcends all other fuel substances as a +diamond from the Transvaal outshines a lump of coal. Natural food +contains vitamines. It has long been known that an exclusive rice diet +sometimes causes beri-beri, a form of general neuritis, and that a diet +of dry cereals and preserved food in time gives rise to scurvy, but the +reason was a profound mystery. In very recent years it has been learned +that the real cause of beri-beri and scurvy is the lack of vitamines +which are associated with the bran of cereals and so are removed in the +process of polishing rice and in the bolting of wheat and other grains. + +Vitamines do not enter into the composition of the body as do other food +principles, but they are somehow necessary to activate or render active +the various subtle elements which are essential to good nutrition. + +There are several kinds of vitamines. Some are associated with the bran +of cereals, other with the juices of fruits. Some are easily destroyed +by heat, while others survive a boiling temperature. The discovery of +vitamines must stand as one of the most masterly achievements of modern +science, even outshining in brilliancy the discovery of radium. It was +only by the most persevering efforts and the application of all the +refinements of modern chemical technic that the chemist, Funk, was able +to capture and identify this most subtle but marvelously potent element +of the food. This discovery has cleared up a long category of medical +mysteries. We now know not only the cause of beri-beri and scurvy and +the simple method of cure by supplying vitamine-containing foods, but +within a very short time it has been shown that rickets and pellagra are +likewise deficiency diseases, probably due to lack of vitamines, and in +a recent discussion before the New York Academy of Medicine by Funk, +Holt, Jacobi and others, it was maintained that vast multitudes of +people are suffering from disorders of nutrition due to the same cause. + +Osborne a few years ago conducted experiments which demonstrated that +something more than pure food elements and salts is essential for growth +and development. They found that rats fed on starch and fat lived only +four to eight weeks. When protein was added they sometimes lived and +grew and sometimes remained stunted or died. It was thus evident that +proteins differ. Their observations proved very clearly that there are +perfect and imperfect proteins. The protein of corn, zein, for example, +was shown to be incapable of supporting life. With the addition of a +chemical fraction, tryptophan, obtained from another protein, the rats +lived, but did not grow. By adding another fractional protein, lysin, +the rats were made to thrive. + +A minute study of the subject by Osborne, Mendel and numerous other +physiologic chemists have shown that a perfect protein is composed of +more than a dozen different bodies called amino-acids, each of which +must be present in the right proportion to enable the body to use the +protein in body building. Each plant produces its one peculiar kind of +protein. The protein of milk, caseine, is a perfect protein. Eggs and +meat, of course, supply complete proteins, but among plants there are +many imperfect proteins. + +McCollum has demonstrated that grains, either singly or in combination +will not maintain life and growth. The same is true of a mixture of +grains with peas or navy beans. Another element is lacking which must be +supplied to support life and growth. + +With these facts before us we are prepared to inquire what place in the +dietary are nuts prepared to fill? With few exceptions nuts contain +little carbohydrate (starch or sugar). They are, however, rich in fat +and protein. On account of their high fat content they are the most +highly concentrated of all natural foods. A pound of nuts contains on an +average more than 3,000 calories or food units, double the amount +supplied by grains, four times as much as average meats and ten times as +much as average fruits or vegetables. + +For example, according to Jaffi's table, ten of our common nuts contain +on an average 20.7 per cent. of protein, 53 per cent. of fat and 18 per +cent. of carbohydrate, as shown in the following table: + + Protein Fat Carbohydrate + Almonds 21.4 54.4 13.8 + Peanuts 29.8 46.5 17.1 + Filberts 16.5 64.0 11.7 + Hickory 15.4 67.4 11.4 + Pine nut 33.9 48.2 6.5 + Walnut 18.2 60.7 13.7 + Pecan 12.0 70.7 18.5 + Butternut 27.9 61.2 5.7 + Beechnut 21.8 49.9 13.8 + Chestnut 10.7 7.8 70.1 + ------ ------ ------ + Average 20.76 53.08 18.23 + +Meat (round steaks) gives 19.8 per cent. of protein and 15.6 per cent. +of fat, with no carbohydrate. A pound of average nuts contains the +equivalent of a pound of beefsteak, and in addition, nearly half a pound +of butter and a third of a loaf of bread. A nut is, in fact, a sort of +vegetable meat. Its composition is much the same as that of fat meat, +only it is in much more concentrated form. + +There can be no doubt that the nut is a highly concentrated food. The +next question naturally is, can the body utilize the energy stored in +nuts as readily as that supplied by meat products, for example. + +The notion that nuts are difficult of digestion has really no foundation +in fact. The idea is probably the natural outgrowth of the custom of +eating nuts at the close of a meal when an abundance, more likely a +super-abundance, of highly nutritious foods has already been eaten, and +the equally injurious custom of eating nuts between meals. Neglect of +thorough mastication must also be mentioned as a possible cause of +indigestion following the use of nuts. Nuts are generally eaten dry and +have a firm hard flesh which requires thorough use of the organs of +mastication to prepare them for the action of the several digestive +juices. Experiments made in Germany showed that nuts are not digested at +all, but pass through the alimentary canal like foreign bodies unless +reduced to a smooth paste before swallowing. Particles of nuts the size +of small seeds wholly escaped digestion. + +Having been for more than fifty years actively interested in promoting +the use of nuts as a staple food, I have given considerable thought and +study to their dietetic value and have made many experiments. About +twenty-five years ago it occurred to me that one of the above objections +to the extensive dietetic use of nuts might be overcome by mechanical +preparation of the nut before serving so as to reduce it to a smooth +paste and thus insure the preparation for digestion which the average +eater is prone to neglect. My first experiments were with the peanut. +The result was a product which I called peanut butter. I was much +surprised at the readiness with which the product sprang into public +favor. Several years ago I was informed by a wholesale grocer of Chicago +that the firm's sales of peanut butter amounted on an average to a +carload a week. I think it is safe to estimate that not less than one +thousand carloads of this product are annually consumed in this country. +The increased demand for peanuts for making peanut butter led to the +development of "corners" in the peanut market, and more than doubled the +price of the shelled nuts and to a marked degree influenced the annual +production. The nut butter idea also caught on in England. + +I am citing my experience with the peanut not for the purpose of +recommending this product, for I am obliged to confess that I was soon +compelled to abandon the use of peanut butter prepared from roasted nuts +for the reason that the process of roasting renders the nut indigestible +to such a degree that it was not adapted to the use of invalids. I only +mention the circumstance as an illustration of the readiness with which +the public accepts a new dietetic idea when it happens to strike the +popular fancy. + +Ways may be found to render the use of nuts practical by adapting them +to our culinary and dietetic customs and to overcome the popular +objections to their use by a widespread and efficient campaign of +education. Other nuts, when crushed, made most delicious "butters," as +easily digestible as cream, since they did not require roasting. I later +found ways for preparing the peanut without roasting. + +The fats of nuts, their chief food principle, are the most digestible of +all forms of fat. Having a low melting point they are far more +digestible than most animal fats. Hippocrates noted that the stearin of +eels was difficult of digestion. The indigestibility of beef and mutton +fat has long been recognized. The fat of nuts much more closely +resembles human fat than do fats of the sort mentioned. The importance +of this will be appreciated when attention is called to the fact that +fats entering the body do not undergo the transformation changes which +take place in other foodstuffs; for example, protein in the process of +digestion is broken into its ultimate molecular units. Starch is +transformed into sugar which serves as fuel to the body, but fats are so +slightly modified in the process of digestion and absorption that after +reaching the blood and the tissues they are reconstructed into the +original form in which they are eaten, that is, beef fat is deposited in +the tissues as beef fat without undergoing any chemical change whatever; +mutton fat is deposited as mutton fat; lard as pig fat, etc. When the +body makes its own fat from starch or sugar, the natural source of this +tissue element, the product formed is _sui generis_ and must be better +adapted to the body uses than the animal fat which was _sui generis_ to +a pig, a sheep or a goat. It is certainly a pleasant thought that one +who rounds out his figure with the luscious fatness of nuts may +felicitate himself upon the fact that his tissues are participating in +the sweetness of the nut rather than the relic of the sty and the +shambles. + +It is also worthy of note that the fat of nuts exists in a finely +divided state, and that in the chewing of nuts a fine emulsion is +produced so that nut fats enter the stomach in a form best adapted for +prompt digestion. + +Another question which will naturally arise is this: if nuts are to be +granted the place of a staple in our list of food supplies will it be +safe to accept them as a substitute for flesh foods? + +Beef steak has become almost a fetish with many people, but the +experiments of Chittenden and others have demonstrated that the amount +of protein needed by the body daily is so small that it is scarcely +possible to arrange a bill of fare to include flesh foods without making +the protein intake excessive. This is because the ordinary foodstuffs +other than meat contain a sufficient amount of protein to meet the needs +of the body. Nuts present their protein in combination with so large a +proportion of easily digestible fat that there is comparatively little +danger of getting an excess. + +It is also worthy of note that the protein of nuts is superior in +quality to that of grains and vegetables. The critically careful +analyses made in recent years have shown that the proteins of nuts, at +least of a number of them, contain all the elements needed for building +up complete body proteins, in other words, nuts furnish perfect +proteins, which are not supplied so abundantly by any other vegetable +product. + +This fact places the nut in an exceedingly important position as a +foodstuff. In face of vanishing meat supplies it is most comforting to +know that meats of all sorts may be safely replaced by nuts not only +without loss, but with a decided gain. Nuts have several advantages over +flesh foods which are well worth considering. + +1. Nuts are free from waste products, uric acid, urea, carmine and other +tissue wastes. + +2. Nuts are aseptic, free from putrefactive bacteria and do not readily +undergo decay either in the body or outside of it. Meats, on the other +hand, are practically always in an advanced stage of putrefaction, as +found in the meat markets. Ordinarily meats contain from three million +to ten times that number of bacteria per ounce, and such meats as +hamburger steak often contain more than a billion putrefactive organisms +to the ounce. Nuts are clean and sweet. + +3. Nuts are free from trichinae, tapeworm and other parasites, as well +as the infections due to specific disease. Nuts are in good health when +gathered and remain so until eaten. The contrast between the delectable +product of the beautiful walnut, chestnut or pecan tree and the abattoir +recalls the story of the Tennessee school teacher who was told when she +made inquiry about a certain shoulder of pork which had been promised in +part payment of services, but had not arrived: "Dad didn't kill the +pig." "And why not," said the teacher. "Because," replied the observing +youngster, "he got well." Nearly all the cows slaughtered are +tuberculous. They are killed to be eaten because too sick to longer +serve as community wet nurses. + +That nuts are competent to serve as staple foods might be inferred from +a fact to which Professor Matthews, of the New York Museum of Natural +History, calls attention to, to wit, that our remote ancestors, the +first mammals, were all nut and fruit eaters. They may have gobbled an +insect now and then, but their staple food was fruits and nuts, with +tender shoots and succulent roots, which is still true of those old +fashioned forest folks, the primates of which the orang outang, the +chimpanzee and the gorilla are consistent representatives, while their +near relative, also a primate, civilized man, has departed from his +original bill of fare and has exploited the bills of fare of the whole +animal kingdom. + +The keeper of the famous big apes of the London Zoo informed me that +they were never given meat. Even the small monkeys generally regarded as +insectivorous, were confined to a rigid vegetarian fare and were +thriving. + +Whole races of men, comprising many millions, live their entire lives +without meats of any sort, and when fed a sufficient amount are +wonderfully vigorous, prolific, enduring and intelligent. Witness the +Brahmins of India, the Buddists of China and Japan and the teeming +millions of Central Africa. + +Carl Mann, the winner of the great walking match between Berlin and +Dresden, performed his great feat on a diet of nuts with lettuce and +fruits. The Finn Kilmamen, the world's greatest runner, eats no meat. +Weston, the long-distance champion, never eats meat when taking a long +walk. The Faramahara Indians, the fleetest and most enduring runners in +the world are strict vegetarians. The gorilla, the king of the Congo +forests, is a nut feeder. Milo, the mighty Greek, was a flesh +abstainer, as was also Pythagoras, the first of the Greek philosophers, +Seneca, the noble Roman Senator, and Plutarch, the famous biographer. +The writer has excluded meat from his diet for more than fifty years, +and has within the last forty years, supervised the treatment of more +than a hundred thousand sick people at the Battle Creek Sanitarium on a +meatless diet. + +Even carnivorous animals nourish on a diet of nuts with other vegetable +foods and cooked cereals. The Turks mix nuts with their pilaff of rice +and the Armenians add nuts to their baalghoor, a dish prepared from +wheat which has been cooked and dried. + +That nuts are not only competent to serve as a staple food, but that +they may fill a very important place as accessory foods in supplementing +the imperfect proteins of the grains and vegetables is shown in a very +conclusive way by an extended research by Dr. Hoobler, of Detroit. + +Before describing Dr. Hoobler's experiment I may be allowed to explain +that some years ago, in 1899, I was asked by the then United States +Secretary of Agriculture to undertake experiments for the purpose of +providing a vegetable substitute for meat. Dr. Dabney said there was no +doubt that the time would come when such substitutes would be needed on +account of the scarcity of meat. I succeeded in developing several +products which have come to be quite widely known and used more or less +extensively in this country and Europe. Among these were Protose +(resembling potted meat) and malted nuts, a soluble product somewhat +resembling malted milk. It was noted that the malted nuts when used by +nursing mothers greatly increased the flow of milk and promoted the +health of the infant. Recently Dr. Hoobler undertook an extensive +feeding experiment with nursing mothers and wet nurses as subjects. He +made use of these nut preparations as well as of ordinary nuts and +compared the results with various combinations into which meat and milk +entered in various proportions. He found that a diet of fruits, grains +and vegetables alone gave a very poor quality of milk, but when nuts +were added the result was a milk supply superior in quantity and quality +to any other combination of foodstuffs, not excepting those which +included liberal quantities of milk, meat and eggs. From this it appears +that nuts possess such superior qualities as supplementary or accessory +foods that they are able to replace not only meats, but even eggs and +milk in the dietary. The full account of Dr. Hoobler's interesting +observations will be found in the Journal of the American Medical +Association for August 11, 1917. + +Extensive feeding experiments are now being conducted at the research +laboratory of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, which it is hoped will +develop still other points of interest respecting the superior nutritive +properties of the choicest and most remarkable of all the food products +which are handed to us from the fertile laboratory of the vegetable +world. + +Another and most interesting phase of my subject is the relation of nut +feeding to anaphylaxis. This newly coined word perhaps needs explanation +for the benefit of my lay hearers. For many years it has been known that +some persons were astonishingly sensitive to certain foods which indeed +appeared to act as violent poisons. Oysters, shellfish, mutton, fish and +other animal products, as well as a few vegetable products, especially +honey, strawberries and buckwheat, were most likely to be the cause of +these violent disturbances. More recently it has been found that cow's +milk very often shows the same peculiarity. It is now known that this +remarkable phenomenon is due to the fact that the body sometimes becomes +sensitized to certain proteins which thereafter act as most violent +poisons and may cause death. Sensitization to animal proteins is much +the more frequent. In such cases nut products become a very precious +resource. This is especially true with reference to cow's milk. + +Liquid nut preparations have saved the lives of hundreds of infants +within the last twenty years. I have had the pleasure of meeting several +fine looking young people who owed their lives to nut-feeding when other +resources had failed. One case was particularly interesting. A telegram +from a well-known Senator at Washington announced the fact that his +infant daughter and only child was dying from mal-nutrition, as cow's +milk and all the known infant foods had been found to disagree. I +advised nut-feeding, and fortunately the prescription suited the case +and the little one began to improve at once. When the physician in +attendance learned that the child was eating nuts he vigorously +protested, declaring that such a diet was preposterous and would +certainly kill the infant, but the child flourished wonderfully on the +liquid nut diet, eating almost nothing else for the first three years of +her life, and today is a splendidly developed young woman, a brilliant +witness to the food value of nuts. + +I have by no means exhausted the physiologic phases of my subject, but +will now turn a moment in concluding my paper, to its economic aspects. + +The high price of nuts is constantly urged as an objection to their use +as a staple. It is probable that a largely increased demand would lead +to so great an increase in the supply that the cost of production, and +hence the cost to the consumer, would be decreased. But even at the +present prices the choicest varieties of nuts are cheaper than meats if +equivalent food values are compared. This is clearly shown by the +following table which indicates the amounts of various flesh foods which +are equivalent to one pound of walnut meats. + + Beef loin, lean 4.00 pounds + Beef ribs, lean 6.50 " + Beef neck, lean 9.50 " + Veal 5.50 " + Mutton leg, lean 4.20 " + Ham, lean 3.00 " + Fowls 4.00 " + Chicken, broilers 10.00 " + Red bass 25.00 " + Trout 4.80 " + Frogs' legs 15.00 " + Oysters 13.50 " + Lobsters 22.00 " + Eggs 5.00 " + Milk 9.50 " + Evaporated cream 4.00 " + +But the great economic importance of the encouragement of nut culture in +every civilized land is best shown by comparing the amount of food which +may be annually produced by an acre of land planted to nut trees and the +same area devoted to the production of beef. I am credibly informed that +two acres of land and two years are required to produce a steer weighing +600 pounds. The product of one acre for one year would be one-fourth as +much, or 150 pounds of steer. The same land planted to walnut trees +would produce, if I am correctly informed, an average of at least 100 +pounds per tree per annum for the first twenty years. Forty trees to the +acre would aggregate 4,000 pounds of nuts, or 1,000 pounds of walnut +meats. The highest food value which could be ascribed to the 150 pounds +of beef would be 150,000 calories or food units. The food value of the +nut meats would be 3,000,000 calories, or twenty times as much food from +the nut trees as from the fattened steer, and food of the same general +character, protein and fat, but of superior quality. + +One acre of walnut trees will produce every year food equal to: + + 14,000 lbs. red bass (a ship load). + 3,000 " beef (five steers). + 7,500 " chicken broilers. + 15,000 " lobsters. + 10,000 " oysters. + 60,000 eggs (5,000 dozen). + 4,000 qts. milk. + A ton of mutton (13 sheep). + 250,000 frogs. + + And when one acre will do so much, think of the product + of a million acres. + Ten times the product of all the fisheries of the country. + Half as much as all the poultry of the country. + One seventh as much as all the beef produced. + More than twice the value of all the sheep. + Half as much as all the pork. + And many millions of acres may be thus utilized in nut culture. + And the walnut is not the only promising food tree. The hickory, + the pecan, the butternut, the filbert and the pinon are all + capable of producing equal or greater results. + +A single acre of nut trees will produce protein enough to feed four +persons a year and fat enough for twice that number of average persons. +So 25,000,000 acres of nut trees would more than supply the whole people +of the United States with their two most expensive food stuffs. Cereals +and fresh vegetables, our cheapest foods, would be needed for the +carbohydrate portion of the dietary. Just think of it. A little nut +orchard 200 miles square supplying one-third enough food to feed one +hundred million of citizens. The trouble is the frogs and cattle are +eating up our food supplies. We feed a steer 100 pounds of food and get +back only 2.8 pounds. If we plant 10 pounds of corn we get back 500 +pounds. If we plant one walnut we get back in twenty harvests a ton of +choicest food. In nut culture there is a treasury of wealth and health +and national prosperity and safety that is at present little +appreciated. + + * * * * * + +Here is a veritable treasury of wealth, a potential food supply which +may save the world from any suggestion of hunger for centuries to come +if properly utilized. Every man who cuts down a timber tree should be +required to plant a nut tree. A nut tree has a double value. It produces +valuable timber and yields every year a rich harvest of food while it is +growing. + +Every highway should be lined with nut trees. Nut trees will grow on +land on which no other crop will grow and which is even worthless for +grazing. The pinon flourishes in the bleak and barren peaks of the +rockies. + +The nut should no longer be considered a table luxury. It should become +a staple article of food and may most profitably replace the pork and +meats of various sorts which are inferior foods and are recognized as +prolific sources of disease. + + * * * * * + +Ten nut trees planted for each inhabitant will insure the country +against any possibility of food shortage. A row of nut trees on each +side of our 5,000,000 miles of country roads will provide for a +population of 160,000,000. With a vanishing animal industry, nut culture +offers the only practical solution of the question of food supply. As +the late Prof. Virchow said, "The future is with the vegetarians." + + + + +THE IMPORTANCE OF NUT GROWING. + +H. W. COLLINGWOOD, NEW JERSEY. + + +In these days the importance of most things is valued in figures. I +never was good at figures. It seems to me that you can do anything you +like with figures, except make them clear, yet it was the failure to +figure that gave me my first idea of the importance of nut culture. Some +50 years ago a small boy on a New England farm could not, or would not, +do his sums in the old Coburn Arithmetic. It made no difference that the +teacher called it Mathematics, and pointed it with the end of a hickory +stick. By any other name it was not sweet. + +This boy got stuck on a question about a hare and a hound. It appeared +that the hare jumped a rod at a time, and made 33 jumps a minute. The +hound started 200 feet behind the hare. This hound made 18 ft. at a +jump, and made 321/2 jumps a minute. Now, would the hound catch the +hare before they got to a hickory tree half a mile away? + +I am glad they introduced that hickory tree because the question was a +hard nut at best and needed brain food. I couldn't tell where the hare +would be, and I can't now; nor do I believe that some of you wise heads, +grown hairless with constant thinking, could really tell how the hare +came out. If I saw one of my children headed for me with such a problem +in hand, I confess that I should make a prompt engagement outside. The +old folks who brought me up, had sterner ways of enforcing education. +They decided that the boy should live on brown bread and water until he +did that example. In order to assist hunger in bringing the boy to it, +after the first day showed that the boy was still going, the old +gentleman hunted up all the axes and hatchets, scythes and knives on the +place, and made the boy turn grindstone while he held the implements on. +Greek met Greek. The boy wouldn't give in, and the old man couldn't and +preserve his dignity, but try as he might the old man could not tire out +the boy; the old hands gave out first, and the old man straightened his +back and gazed at that wonderful boy. Now it wasn't in brown bread and +water to sustain strength and will in that way. Not when there are baked +beans for supper and you can smell them! The old man had to acknowledge +a higher power which beat him. He wouldn't do it openly, that was not +the New England way, but he did it on the second night by helping the +boy to baked beans and fried potatoes without a word. The old man went +to his death thinking that he had a most wonderful boy, and the little +fellow did not give his secret away. Now we may have it as a slight +contribution to the importance of nut culture. The sustaining power +which carried the boy through his trial was the hickory nut. There was a +pile of them in the attic, and the boy on the quiet, cracked and ate a +quart of them every day. That boy could not spell protein to save his +life, and carbo-hydrates would have scared him off the floor, but the +nuts and the brown bread gave him a balanced ration which did everything +except find out about the hound and the hare. I think it would have +required a balanced ration fed to an unbalanced brain to settle that +problem. + +Now I think the importance of the nut industry must come to the general +public in that way, through the stomach rather than through the mind. +The human mind is a marvelous piece of mental machinery, so is the +machine which sets type or weaves fine cloth, yet both are powerless +unless the fire pot under the engine, or the stomach of the man, are +kept filled with fuel or food. I have heard very old men tell of the +prejudice which existed against coal, years ago, in New England, when +attempts were made to introduce the new fuel. Cord wood was the local +fuel, people knew what it was, and its preparation provided a local +industry. The introduction of coal meant destruction for this local +business of wood cutting, and wiped out the value of many a farm. Coal +had to win its way against prejudice and local interest, and it only won +out by showing power. I am sure that 75 years ago, if some visionary +Yankee had said that coal would be so freely used in New England that +cord wood would be almost unsaleable, the public would surely have given +him that honorary title which goes with prospective and persistent +knowledge, "nut." + +In like manner the importance of nut growing will not be truly +recognized until we can show a man in the most practical way that nuts +provide the energy to be found in beef steak. It is said that knowledge +creates an atmosphere in which prejudice cannot live. I know an old man +who is absolutely settled in his conviction that New England has +degenerated because her people have given up eating baked beans and cod +fish balls, and introduced the sale of these delicacies in the West. +That man says, with convincing logic, that in the old days when New +England lived on brown bread and baked beans, we produced statesmen on +every rocky hillside, and we dominated the thought of the nation. Now, +he says, we have not developed one single statesman since the canned +baked bean industry took our specialty away from us. The only way to +convince him is to produce a dozen statesmen out of men who are willing +to subscribe to a diet of nuts. I have a friend who says he feels like +throwing a brick every time he passes a modern laundry. He says the +invention of the linen collar kept him a poor man. His grandfather +invested the family fortune in the stock of a paper collar factory. Many +of our older men remember the time when we all wore paper collars, and +bought them by the dozen in boxes. It seemed like a sure thing when the +old man put all his money into it. He figured that by 1915 there would +be 40,000 people in this country, each one wearing at least 200 paper +collars a year, something like the hound and the hare, perhaps, but he +didn't know that the hare in this case would drop dead, and the hound +double his jump, as happened to paper and linen collars. Some one +invented the modern linen collar. The laundry service started up, and +paper collars disappeared with the family fortune. Now, my friend must +work for a living, and throw mental bricks at the laundry. In a way +every new habit, or every new interference with the thought and method +of the plain people must run the gauntlet and submit to just such +violent changes. + +Now the future of the nut business, which contains the importance of the +industry, depends upon our ability to make the plain, common people +understand that in the future we must cut our beef steak and our chops +off a nut tree. We have made some of the brainy people understand this +already, but the hound is still chasing the hare, and he is several +jumps behind. You may say what you will, or think as highly as you like +of your own place in society, but the world is not run or pushed on by +the brainy people. They may steer it for a while and master it, but +only at the permission of what I may call the stomach people, who always +sooner or later rise up and dominate things. A gild-edged, red line +edition of nut knowledge will get the few or select class, but in order +to make the industry truly important we must make a homely appeal to the +plain people. It seems to me that one of the most effective nut +documents yet issued is that bulletin by George Carver, a colored man at +the Tuskegee Institute. Carver simply makes his appeal to the Southern +farmer, and he gives him 45 ways of cooking and eating peanuts. I rather +think that Carver's work in trying to get the Southern negroes to eat +more peanuts and more cow-peas has done about as much for the race as +the academic instruction given in the college. + +On the principle that "Like begets like," I feel sure that the continued +practice of cracking the shell to get at the sweet meat inside will tend +to put more phosphorus and less lime into the skull of the race. I once +explained the nut proposition to an energetic man and he said: +"Fine--the theory is perfect--now hire a man who lives on rare beef to +get out and fight for your proposition and you will put it over!" + +Last year I went up into New York State with a prominent public man, who +was to make a speech. This man was delayed, and in order to get there he +had to jump on the last platform of the last car. He had eaten no lunch, +and only a light breakfast. He said he should surely fail in his speech +because he was faint from lack of food. I asked him what he would eat if +he had the chance. He said soup, half a chicken, potatoes and asparagus, +and apple pie. I told the train boy to bring samples of everything he +had, and we finally selected an apple from Oregon, a banana from Mexico, +a box of figs from California, some pop corn from Massachusetts, +chocolate from Venezuela, and salted nuts from Louisiana. The air and +the sunshine and the water seemed to be produced in New York, but +nothing else. A great dinner for a New York man, but to his surprise it +satisfied him, took the place of the chicken, and carried him through +his speech with a strong punch. It seems to me that one trouble with our +nut propaganda is that we go at it in such a way that the pupils regard +us somewhat as "nuts," and why should the man who becomes a specialist +on any subject, and airs it on all occasions, be called a nut? We shall +have to admit that men are called such names. I think it is because we +let our brains work somewhat like the oyster or clam, and secrete a hard +shell of formal knowledge around the sweet meat of condensed human +nature, for that is what all useful knowledge is. We must crack our +shell of formal knowledge and grind it up finer before we can put it +into the think works of the plain people. + +While I was working up the Apple Consumers' League some years ago, I ran +upon the fact that Corbett, the prize-fighter, consumed 3 dishes of +apple sauce every day while training. Now, I had used the statement that +J. P. Morgan always had a baked apple for his lunch, but I got small +results from that story. Few people ever expected to make millions, and +Morgan was out of their class. Every man carried a punch, which he +wanted to enlarge and make effective. If Corbett used apple sauce to oil +his arm for a knock-out blow, every man with red blood wanted apples. +Now we must work our nut campaign in some such popular way, if we expect +to put a nut on the wheel of progress. The fact that Prof. Johnson, or +Dr. Jackson, or the Rev. Thompson, or Judge Dixon, or Senator Harrison, +find strength and comfort from eating nuts, is very important and very +pleasant, but 99 per cent of our people never expect to enter the +learned profession, and they must not get the idea that these +professions stand around the full use of nuts like a barbed wire fence. +Most men must live and work in the rough and tumble of life, and at +present they think red meat is the sustaining power for that sort of +stuff. We must change their point of view. Let us find athletes, +baseball men, wrestlers, fighters, runners, men who stand well in +popular sports and who will publicly state that they substitute nuts for +meat in part at least. We must put this thing into the popular +imagination of the plain people if it is to be of full importance. When +some fellow with a new brand of cigarettes wants to develop a trade +among young men, he gets some noted ball player to write a letter +stating his love for that brand. I think we should follow that plan +somewhat in putting our nut campaign before the people. Two years ago +the Oregon Agricultural College sent a football team East. The college +was almost unknown here, but I asked one or two football men about it. +They laughed at these Pacific Coast athletes. Here was a college they +said which had issued a bulletin advising the people to send their +children to school with nut sandwiches instead of meat. This man said +that such training could only result in puny, half grown men, and he +doubted if this team would last half way across the country. Those +Oregon boys lined up a team of giants. They simply wiped the earth with +most teams of their class, and left behind the cracked shells of a long +line of reputation, with the sweet meat well picked out. + +Personally I believe that within 25 years, 50 at the latest, our people +will be absolutely forced to accept a diet of nuts in place of our +present proportion of meat. As I see it, the time is coming when +increased population and shortage of available land will make prime, +beef nearly as scarce as turkey and venison are today. Not only so, but +I think knowledge will slowly but surely lead men to change their diet +from choice. My children will live to see the time when the acre nut +orchard on the average farm will be considered just as useful and as +much of a necessity, and far more profitable, than the present chicken +yard. In that day I think the nut industry will rank in food importance +second only to that of corn, and I believe that the greatest change will +be found here in New England, for I believe that nut culture is to +change history, and readjust population and industry to some extent. +Frankly, I expect my children to live to see the time when the hickory +nut in New England will rank far above the walnut industry in California +or in France. I think this nut culture will, in time, bring a greater +income to the New England States than all its fruits and grain combined +today. Out in the wild woods on some New England hillside there are +growing today strains or varieties of nuts which will do far more for +this section than the Baldwin apple, or the Bartlett pear have ever +done. They will be found, tamed and propagated. + +You may, if you like, call me a dreamer, or what is the same thing, a +"nut." I can stand that, for have I not in my short span of life seen +dreams come true. Suppose the wandering hunter, or the farmer's boy, who +discovered the Baldwin apple in the woods of Massachusetts, had gone +back to his home and stated that the time would come when this beautiful +red fruit would grow wherever it found a suitable climate, that it would +revolutionize horticulture, bring millions of dollars to New England, +and find its way throughout the world wherever the sails of commerce are +blown. They might have hung him as a witch or dreamer, and yet, his +dream would be no more improbable than what I say of nut culture in New +England. I have seen the telephone, the flying machine, the gasoline +engine, all grow from the vain dream of a crazy inventor to public +necessities, and as surely as fate the nut industry is to bring back to +the old hillsides of New England much of the profit and the glory of old +days. + + + + +THE PROPER PLACE OF NUT TREES IN THE PLANTING PROGRAM. + +BY C. A. REED, NUT CULTURIST, + +U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. + + +In the planting of trees for most purposes, it is now possible to +exercise practically the same degree of choice with regard to special +fitness as is employed in the selection of men for positions or tools +for a piece of work. The fruit grower in every part of the country has +his special species and pomological varieties from which to choose. The +foresters and landscape gardeners have their species and botanical +varieties or improved strains to pick from. + +Among the important purposes for which trees are planted the production +of native nuts is singularly behind. The leading species of native +nut-bearing trees include the hickories, the walnuts, the chestnuts, the +pines, and the beech. Of these, one of the hickories, the pecan, is the +only species which has so far been developed by cultivation as to become +of importance for the production of an orchard product. + +The timber of the pecan is less valuable than is that of most other +hickories, and is in commercial use only as second-class material. +However, it is the most important species of nut-bearing tree in the +United States. Its native and introduced range includes the fertile +lands of the plains of practically the entire southeastern quarter of +the country. It is neither an upland nor a wet land tree. In the United +States it is not found in the mountainous sections, nor, to any +important extent, south of Middle Florida. In Mexico, it is occasionally +found on mountain sides at considerable elevations and by some is +supposed to be there indigenous. However, according to "Pomological +Possibilities of Texas," written by Gilbert Onderdonk, of Nursery, +Texas, and published by the State Department of Agriculture in 1911, its +success at those altitudes is vitally dependent upon the water supply. +In each case investigated by Mr. Onderdonk, while upon official trips +made for the United States Department of Agriculture, he found the pecan +trees to be adjacent to some stream, either natural or artificial. "At +Bustamente," says Mr. Onderdonk, "one hundred and seven miles beyond +Laredo, are pecan trees two hundred years old that have been watered all +their lives and have continued productive. From these trees, grown from +Texas pecans, pecan culture has been extended until there are now +thousands of thrifty pecan trees under irrigation. One owner of a small +lot sold his water right when his trees were about seventy-five years +old, and when the writer visited his grounds fourteen years later, every +one of his trees was either dead or dying." + +We may yet find the pecan to be suitable for plateau or mountain land +growth, but as Mr. Onderdonk reports was the case in Mexico, it is also +the case here. The species must have ample water. With the proper amount +of moisture, neither too much nor yet too little, there is no way of +predicting to what altitudes or even latitudes it may be taken. Its +northernmost points of native range are near Davenport, Iowa, and Terre +Haute, Indiana. Iowa seed planted in 1887, at South Haven, Michigan, on +the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, at a latitude of about 421/2 +degrees, have never been seriously affected by winter temperatures. +However, they have fruited but little. So far as the writer can +ascertain the crops of nuts have been insignificant both as regards +quantity and character. Dr. Deming reports a large tree at Hartford, +Conn., at a latitude of nearly 42 degrees which, judging from a +photograph which he took several years ago, was then 3 feet in diameter +and quite at home, so far as growth was concerned. + +Other planted trees are fairly numerous along the Atlantic Coast between +Washington and New York. There is one in the southern part of Lancaster +County, Pa., near Colemanville, but so far as is known to the U. S. +Department of Agriculture, important crops of nuts have never been +realized from any of these northern trees. Crops from the native trees +in the bottoms north of latitude 39 degrees or approximately that of +Washington, D. C., and Vincennes, Indiana, are fairly uncertain. +Northern nurserymen are now disseminating promising varieties of pecans +from what has come to be known as the "Indiana district," which includes +the southwestern part of that state, northwestern Kentucky and +southwestern Illinois. In many respects these varieties compare very +favorably with the so-called "papershells" of the southern states. They +are believed to be of very great promise for northern planting in +sections to which they may be adapted. However, before any northern +varieties are planted for commercial (orchard) purposes, they should be +fully tested as to their adaptability in the particular section where +the planting is to take place. The commercial propagation of northern +varieties of pecans began less than ten years ago; the first attempts +were not generally successful, and as a result there are no budded or +grafted trees of northern varieties yet of bearing age. + +Aside from the pecan there are no named Pomological varieties of any +native nut now being propagated, with very few exceptions. So far as +these exceptions are concerned, it is probable that fewer than one +hundred budded or grafted trees of such varieties are yet of bearing +age, and of such as have attained the age at which fruit might be +expected, exceedingly few have borne in paying quantities for any number +of consecutive years. Therefore, with reference to the planting of +native nut species for profit, the truth of the situation is simply +this: In the ordinary course of events, with the exception of the pecan, +years of experimentation in the testing of varieties and in a study of +their cultural requirements must be gone through before any native +species of nut-bearing trees can be planted in any of the northern +states with a certainty of commercial return from nuts alone which would +be comparable with that of many other crops which already are upon a +well established commercial basis in this part of the country. + +With reference to two of the foreign species of nuts which have been +introduced, the situation is quite different. In order of commercial +importance of the nuts now grown in this country, two foreign species, +the Persian (English) walnut and the almond, stand second and third, +respectively, the pecan, which is an American species only, being first. +With these exceptions, the foreign introductions are all in the +experimental or test stage, and while possibly the European hazel +(filbert) may now be making a strong bid for commercial recognition in +the northwest, and the pistache in parts of California, neither species +can yet be recommended for commercial planting. + +With the exception of a few hardshell varieties of almonds, which are +practically as hardy as the peach and which are suitable only for home +planting, as they are in no way to be compared with the almond of +commerce, there is now no indication that this species is destined ever +to be come of commercial importance east of the Rocky Mountains. + +The Persian or so-called English walnut is of commercial importance in +this county only in the far Western States. In the South, it has thus +far failed altogether. In the North and East it has held out gleams of +hope, first bright, then dull, for more than a century. There is no way +of telling the number of trees of this species which have been planted +in the northeastern section of the country, but let us imagine it to +have been sixty thousand. Of these fully fifty per cent have succumbed +to climatic conditions; twenty-five per cent have been but semi-hardy, +and possibly twenty-five per cent have attained the bearing age. A part +of each of the last two classes have borne crops of commercial size for +a number of years. Some have produced nuts of good size and quality. A +great many of all those surviving are now proving susceptible to a +walnut blight upon which Mr. McMurran is to report tomorrow. A liberal +estimate of the present number of bearing Persian walnut trees in this +part of the country would be ten per cent of the original supposed sixty +thousand or six thousand trees. Of these, the writer has positive +knowledge of none which are now bearing crops of nuts in such quantity, +and of such size, and quality and with such regularity and which have so +borne for such length of time as to encourage commercial planting. Few +of the eastern grown nuts are so free from tannin as to be really +pleasing to the taste, or favorably comparable with the best nuts of the +market. The writer is now closely watching the best known varieties +which the nurserymen are putting out, but at the present time there is +no variety which, in his judgment, should be commercially planted +without further testing. + +The proper place for such partially improved species, as are most of the +nut producers hardy in this section at the present time, is that in +which they may be used for more than the single purpose of nut +production. Most of the species of the botanical family _Juglandaceae_, +to which the walnuts and hickories belong, are slow growers, and as +such, are objectionable to the average planter. In answer to this, it +may be said that among trees, slowness of growth is invariably +associated with longevity of tree and its value when cut as timber. +Also, when due pains are taken, it is possible to select species which +are exceedingly satisfactory in the landscape. Several of the slides, +which are to follow, illustrate the individual beauty of selected nut +trees, and some show their effective use in the landscape. + +Foresters are now advocating the planting of trees in waste places in +the country, especially about farm buildings. There are, perhaps, no +conspicuous waste places with a greater aggregate area than the strips +along the public highway. In certain foreign countries, these strips are +planted to fruit trees and the right of harvest awarded to the highest +bidder. The revenue so obtained goes a long way toward keeping the +highways in good condition. It is possible that this practice may +sometime be introduced into the United States, but until public opinion +is radically changed, the planting of fruit trees along the highways can +not be expected to yield any satisfactory returns to the public. The +experience of Dr. Morris who planted cherry trees along the public road +past his farm here in Connecticut, where we have just been, is typical +of what, under present conditions, might be expected in any part of the +country. When the cherries were ripe, automobile parties came for many +miles to pick the fruit, and when that in the highway was gone, the +cherries from the nearby orchard were taken. In both cases, the branches +were broken down and the trees left in badly mangled condition. Dr. +Morris then tried nursery-grown and expensive evergreens, but on +Sundays, automobile parties came again with spades and shovels and dug +up the trees. + +The ratio of population to tillable land in this country is not such +that, for a long time to come, the American people as a whole will be +pressed into the using of highway land for the production of crops or +into respecting the right of the public to harvest such crops as might +be grown in its highways. Therefore, for the present, except in densely +populated, or in more than ordinarily well regulated communities, it +would be useless to advocate the planting of ordinary fruit trees along +the public roadways. + +Irrespective of the possible value of their crops, fruit trees of most +species are both too small and too short-lived to be suitable for +highway planting. With nut trees, the situation is entirely different. +The native walnuts, most species of hickories and the American beech are +large-growing and long-lived trees. In addition, they are capable of +withstanding severe temperatures; they are tough and strong and not +liable to injury by storm or while being climbed by ordinary persons; +and they readily adapt themselves to a wide range of soil, moisture, and +climatic conditions. + +Ordinary species of nut trees can not be recommended for the dual +purpose of timber and nut production, as, for the former purpose, the +trees should be planted close together in order to induce length and +straightness of trunk with a minimum of top or bearing surface, while +for the latter, they should be planted in the open and given space for +the maximum development to bearing surface and a minimum length of +trunk. The great demand for hickory in the making of axles, wheels, and +other vehicle parts and handles for tools, and for walnut in the +manufacture of furniture and gun stocks, makes it not only possible but +common practice to use these woods in short lengths. Therefore, both +species planted along the highways and in other waste places might +profitably be converted into their timber upon reaching maturity, if +their crops of nuts should prove to be of small commercial value. + +The butternut, _J. cinerea_, is a less symmetrical grower than are the +black walnuts. The timber is less valuable and the nuts are cracked with +greater difficulty. Nevertheless, it is the most hardy of any native +species of _Juglans_. Its kernels are rich in quality and of a flavor +more pleasing to some persons than that of any other nut. Cracking the +native butternut and marketing the kernels affords the rural people in +many sections a fairly profitable means of employment during the winter +months. Its native range extends farther north than does that of either +the eastern black walnut, or that of the shagbark hickory, _Hicoria +ovata_, and considerably beyond that of the shellbark hickory, _H. +laciniosa_. Therefore, in view of its hardiness, and the merit of its +kernels, it is well worthy of consideration for planting in the most +northern parts of the country. + +Were it not for the blight which is now making practically a clean sweep +of destruction over the eastern states, wherever the native chestnut is +found, the American chestnut, _Castanea dentata_, would certainly be +entitled to leading consideration as a highway, an ornamental or a nut +producing tree. Unaffected by blight or other diseases, it is one of the +largest-growing and most graceful species in the eastern United States. +The European chestnut is nearly as susceptible to this blight as is the +American species. The chestnuts from eastern Asia now appear to be +sufficiently immune to offer a practical solution to the situation by +their introduction into this country. However, they commonly lack the +sweet agreeable flavor of the American species and need hybridizing in +order to improve their quality. This, the Federal Department of +Agriculture is now doing, and in due time, there may be something to +offer in ample quantity which will make a satisfactory substitute for +the native species. Exclusive of the Asiatic species and the government +hybrids, there are now no available species which can be recommended for +planting in the blight affected area, and these should be planted only +for test purposes. + +The pines referred to at the outset of this article as being important +nut producers are all western species found only on the mountains and +nowhere under cultivation. There are at least fourteen American species. +Representatives are found in most of the Rocky Mountain states. The most +important species is _Pinus edulis_. It is found at altitudes of from +five to seven thousand feet in the mountains of New Mexico, Arizona and +northern Mexico. In favorable years, the seeds are gathered in enormous +quantities under the name of "pinons," or according to the Mexicans, +"pinyonies." The nuts are rich in flavor but small and difficult to +extract from the shells. They are not well known in the eastern market, +but in the southwest they form a highly important article of food for +the Indians and Mexicans. These pines are exceedingly slow growers and +not of graceful form. They could scarcely be considered for ornamental +planting, except at the altitudes to which they are common, and then; +probably, only where some more satisfactory shade trees would not +succeed. + +Among all American species of trees, it is probable that in a +combination of beauty, longevity, strength and hardiness, the American +beech, _Fagus grandifolia_, is unexcelled. Although commonly looked upon +as being a northern species, its range extends south to northern Florida +and west to the Trinity River in Texas. It is most familiar as a +clean-barked, spreading tree, with low head, and a height of from fifty +to sixty feet. However, its form depends largely upon environment. The +writer has seen it in the bottoms of southwestern Georgia, in common +with the magnolia, growing to a height of from seventy-five to one +hundred feet and with trunks of two feet in diameter extending upward in +a manner which, with regard to height and uniformity of size, compared +favorably with the long-leafed Georgia pine. The nuts of the beech are +rich in quality and of excellent flavor, but owing to their small size +and the great difficulty attending the extraction of the kernels, they +are not ranked as being of direct importance for human food. Their +principal use in this country is as a mast crop for turkeys and swine, +for which they serve a most useful purpose. Crops which can be used in +this manner to good advantage, thus practically obviating the problems +of harvesting, storing and marketing, are certainly well worth thinking +about in these days of labor scarcity. + +There are few large sections of the United States adapted to the growing +of trees to which some nut-bearing species is not suited. Most species +of nut trees are as capable of producing shade and ornamental effect, +and are as hardy and lasting as any others which might be mentioned. In +addition, they produce an edible product which is entering into the list +of staple food products with great rapidity. The present scarcity of +meats and the consequent high prices are compelling the substitution of +other products. The superiority of nuts over practically all other +products which are available, as substitutes, scarcely needs argument. +Already, nuts are being pressed into service as rapidly as production +permits, and perhaps more so than prices and comparative food values +justify. Singularly enough, this section of the United States, which is +the oldest and most thickly populated portion of the country, and that +within which the greatest number of edible species of nuts are +indigenous, is today practically without pomological varieties for +planting. Within this area, individuals have made tests of species and +varieties for many generations, yet little progress has resulted. The +obvious need is for further test on a large scale. A better opportunity +for the making of such a test could scarcely be imagined than that of +highway planting. + +Pomologists are firmly recommending the exclusive use of budded or +grafted trees. But this advice applies only to orchard planting for the +purpose of commercial production. Until more and better varieties are +known and their merits established, that portion of the country lying +north of the pecan belt and east of the Rocky Mountains, must await the +development and trial of new varieties. Seedlings must be planted in +large numbers from which to select varieties. The process is too slow +and the percentage of varieties which may be expected to be worth while +too small for it to be possible for the individual to make much headway +during an ordinary lifetime. Our present system of national highways by +which all parts of the country are being connected is perfecting the +opportunity. The general planting along these great national highways of +elm, oak, poplar, tulip, cedar, hemlock, magnolia, pine or any other +species which, unless cut, are capable of producing no crop other than +that of shade, would hardly be in keeping with the present need for +utility. It would be giving a questionable degree of thought to the +welfare of future generations. + +To the list of nut trees as utility trees there might be added the sugar +maple, and certain species of prolific-bearing oaks. The former could be +drawn upon for the making of syrup and sugar, and the acorns from the +latter could be put to good use as hog and turkey food. In wet sections, +willows might prove useful from which to cut material for baskets, +furniture, or tying bundles. + +A way of overcoming the objection of slow growth of some of the nut +species might be the alternate planting of quick-growing species which +would furnish shade in a minimum length of time, and which could be cut +for pulp or other purposes by the time the nut trees reach maturity. + +A practical objection to highway planting of nut trees is that unless +cared for, such trees are in danger of becoming breeding places for +diseases and insect pests which would quickly spread to nearby orchards. +However, such planting in numbers too small to be worth caring for is +not to be considered. Already the country is agreed that the maintaining +of the middle of the road in such condition that it can render maximum +service is a paying investment. The suggestion here made is only as the +next step in highway investment. It is a proposition to make more +comfortable and attractive the present system of roadways, and at the +same time to help develop new varieties of nut trees for orchard +planting. Unless such new varieties are soon to become available, a +large part of the country will presently find itself dependent upon +outside sources for its principal substitute for meat and its main +supply of vegetable fats. + +A little thought should be able to work out a sound program for the +planting of utility trees on practically every highway in this country. + +Since this manuscript was completed, attention has been called to a +reference to a war use of the horse chestnut, which appears on page 18 +of the July number of "My Garden," a monthly publication, with +headquarters at 6 Bouverie Street, Fleet Street, London. As the heading +"NEW USE FOR HORSE CHESTNUTS," and its sub-head "Cereal Saving," both +indicate it may be of interest to the American people, although the +production of horse chestnuts in this country is not large. The article +which is credited to The Times, is as follows: "An important war time +use has been found for horse chestnuts by the systematic collection and +transport of all the nuts that can be obtained to the centre where they +can be utilized. Up to the present time cereals have been necessary for +the production of an article of great importance in the prosecution of +the war. Under the direction of the Food (War) Committee of the Royal +Society, which acts for and in consultation with the Royal Commission on +Wheat Supplies, the Minister of Food, and the Minister of Munitions, +experiments have been carried out during the winter to find a substitute +for these cereals, and thus to set them free for food supplies. +Brilliant work has ended in the difficulties being overcome, and the +proof that the seeds of the horse chestnuts answer the purpose +admirably. Except as food for deer and goats the seeds have, in the +past, been practically a waste crop, and they can be used instead of +cereals, essential for human consumption, without interfering with any +existing industry or interest. + +"The organization for the collection and transport of all that can be +obtained is being rapidly perfected. When the time comes it will be the +privilege and duty of every owner of a tree or trees to help and to give +facilities for the collection of the nuts. Every ton of chestnuts +collected will set free an equivalent amount of grain. The tree being +chiefly grown for ornamental purposes occurs most freely in towns and +private gardens. In some towns it is the practice to remove the young +nuts from the trees in July so as to prevent them from being stoned and +broken by boys later on when the "conker" demand begins. Urban +authorities and park-keepers must discontinue the practice this year. +Chestnut Day, early in next autumn, will have a far wider observance and +significance this year than any Chestnut Sunday at Bushey, or than Arbor +Day over here, or even in America. For once the small boy will collect +the nuts with the full approval of the owner. + +"To prevent any misapprehension it should perhaps be made clear that the +horse chestnuts will not themselves be used as food. They are required +for another purpose altogether, and the only way in which they will help +the food supplies of the country is by setting free cereals which have +now to be consumed in the production of a necessary article." + + * * * * * + +THURSDAY, SEPT. 6, 1917. + +Meeting called to order at 9.30 A. M. + +The Nominating Committee reported the renomination of all the officers. +The Secretary was instructed to cast one vote for these candidates. + +[Carried.] + +Moved and carried that the selection of the time and place for next +meeting to be left to the Executive Committee with especial +consideration of a joint meeting with the National Association at +Albany, Georgia. + + + + +SOME INSECTS INJURING-NUT TREES. + +BY W. E. BRITTON, STATE ENTOMOLOGIST, CONNECTICUT. + + +Nut-bearing trees, like other kinds of trees, are attacked by insect +pests. Some kinds are seriously injured by them; others scarcely at all. +Some of these insects are borers in the trunk and branches; some devour +the leaves; some feed inside the nuts and ruin them; some suck the sap +from the stems and leaves. + +I shall make no attempt in this paper to enumerate these pests. Time +forbids. I shall only mention a few of the most obvious and most +serious, and where possible, point out control measures. + + +THE WALNUT CATERPILLAR. + +_Datana integerrima_ G. & R. + +During the month of August clusters of blackish caterpillars bearing +white hairs, may be seen stripping the terminal branches of black +walnut, butternut and hickory trees. This is called the walnut +caterpillar, and it has been very abundant in Connecticut this season. +Many small trees have been entirely stripped and large ones almost +defoliated. There is only one brood each year in Connecticut, though two +occur in the southern states, and the pupae winter in the ground. The +adult is a reddish brown moth, having a wing-spread of about one and +one-half inches. Clipping off the twigs and crushing the mass of +caterpillars is perhaps the simplest control method on small trees. +Spraying with lead arsenate will prevent defoliation. + + +THE FALL WEB-WORM. + +_Hyphantria cunea_ Drury. + +Though a general feeder attacking all kinds of fruit, shade and forest +trees, the fall web-worm commonly feeds upon the foliage of nut trees, +especially hickories, causing considerable damage in the South. The +adult is a white moth, having a wing-spread of an inch or more, +appearing in midsummer and laying its egg-cluster on the under side of a +leaf. The young caterpillars make a nest at the end of a lateral branch +by drawing the leaves together with their webs. These nests usually +appear in July and August, though in Connecticut there is a partial +second brood and usually a few nests of the early brood may be found in +June. In the South there are two complete generations. When the larvae +have exhausted their food supply, they extend their nest by taking in +fresh leaves, but always feed inside the nest, differing in this respect +from the tent caterpillar which makes its nests here in May. When fully +grown the caterpillars are about one and one-fourth inches long, with +brown bodies covered with light brown hairs, and may be seen crawling +about seeking a place to pupate. They soon go into the ground where they +transform, the adults emerging the following year. + +The best remedies are (1) clipping off and burning the nests when small, +and (2) spraying the foliage with arsenical poison. + + +THE WALNUT BUD MOTH. + +_Acrobasis caryae_ Grote? + +Inconspicuous nests containing small caterpillars are often found at the +ends of the new shoots of _Juglans regia_, seriously injuring them, and +sometimes killing the trees. One small tree two feet high was killed, +and thirty-five pupae were found in the nests at Dr. Morris' farm in +1912. The adult is a small gray moth with a wing expanse of about +three-fourths of an inch. There are three broods each season in +Connecticut, the larvae appearing about June 1, July 10 and August 18. + +By spraying the foliage with lead arsenate (3 lbs. in 50 gals. water) +this insect can be controlled. One application should be made about June +1, followed by a second about July 10. + +Though this insect is thought to be _Acrobasis caryae_ Grote, it is +often difficult to distinguish some of these species in this genus +without a knowledge of their food habits and seasonal life histories. We +possess such knowledge regarding this species which we have studied and +reared in Connecticut, but it is lacking in connection with adult +specimens in the United States National Museum labeled _caryae,_ which +superficially seemed identical with ours. Further study, therefore, may +prove this to be an undescribed species. There are other bud-worms +attacking nut trees, especially in the southern states, where they cause +considerable damage to pecans. + + +THE WALNUT WEEVIL OR CURCULIO. + +_Conotrachelus juglandis_ LeC. + +Probably the most serious enemy of _Juglans_, in Connecticut at least, +is the walnut weevil or curculio, _Conotrachelus juglandis_ LeC. The +larvae tunnel in the tender shoots, often ruining the new growth, and +they also infest the nuts. The adults feed upon the shoots and leaf +petioles. Observations on the different hosts indicate that _Juglans +cordiformis_ and _J. sieboldiana_ are preferred, and the most severely +injured, followed in order by _cinerea_, _regia_, _nigra_ and +_mandshurica_. + +Though described as early as 1876, little was known about the life +history of this insect until the studies were made at the Station in +1912 by Mr. Kirk and the writer. Formerly it was supposed that this +insect attacked and injured only the nuts or fruit, and Dr. Morris in +1909 seems to be the first on record to observe the injury to the shoots +of _Juglans regia_. It was on the trees of Dr. Morris here in Stamford +and those of Mr. H. L. Champlain at Lyme that the life history studies +were made. There is but one brood each year, and the winter is passed in +the adult stage. The beetles appear the latter part of May and feed upon +the stems and leaf veins during the egg-laying period, which extends +from the last week in May up to August 1st. The eggs are laid in +irregular crescent-shaped punctures, similar to those of the plum +curculio, and hatch in from six to twelve days, depending upon the +weather. + +From four to six weeks are necessary for the development of the larvae, +and when mature they go into the ground where they remain for about ten +days an inch or so beneath the surface. They then pupate, and from +sixteen to twenty days later the adult beetles emerge. They fly to the +trees and eat small holes chiefly at the base of the leaf petioles, but +must early go into winter quarters as they are seldom seen after the +first week in September. + +This insect occurs throughout the Eastern United States, but seems to +cause more injury in Connecticut than has been noted elsewhere. The +remedy is to spray the new shoots and under side of the leaves about +June 1, with lead arsenate (6 lbs. of the paste in 50 gallons of water), +to kill the beetles when feeding on the leaf petioles. + + +THE NUT WEEVILS. + +_Balaninus_ sp. + +Several kinds of nuts are attacked and injured by long-beaked snout +beetles or weevils belonging to the genus _Balaninus_, the chestnut +probably being the most seriously damaged. All of them feed inside the +nuts or fruit during the larval stage, and the larvae are without legs. +As both the methods of attack and the life history are similar for all +species, they will be considered here in a group. For the sake of +distinguishing them, however, their names are mentioned. + + Larger Chestnut weevil, _Balaninus proboscideus_ Fabr. + Lesser Chestnut weevil, _B. rectus_ Say. + Hickory nut or Pecan weevil, _B. caryae_ Horn. + Hazelnut weevil, _B. obtusus_ Blanch. + Common acorn weevil, _B. quercus_ Horn. + Mottled acorn weevil, _B. nasicus_ Say. + Straight-snouted acorn weevil, _B. orthorhynchus_ Chittn. + Sooty acorn weevil, _B. baculi_ Chittn. + Confused acorn weevil, _B. confusor_ Ham. + Spotted acorn weevil, _B. pardalus_ Chittn. + +All of these weevils pass the winter in the ground in the larval stage, +transforming to pupae about three weeks before the adult beetles emerge, +which varies from June, when they are usually few and scattering, to +September, when they have become abundant. Thus there is a single brood +each year, and the larval period lasts from three to five weeks in the +nuts and some ten months in the ground, from two to eight inches below +the surface. + +The control of these weevils is difficult, and ordinary methods such as +spraying are not effective. In fact little can be done other than +destroying the weeviled nuts, which may be fed to hogs. When first +gathered the nuts may be fumigated with carbon disulphide. About two +fluid ounces of the liquid should be used for each bushel of nuts and +placed in a shallow dish on top of the nuts, which should be enclosed in +a tight box or barrel. The period of fumigation should be from 12 to 24 +hours. Where nuts are not to be used for seed they may be thrown into +boiling water for about five minutes--just long enough to kill the +weevils. The nuts are then dried and sold. Most of the weeviled nuts +will rise to the surface and may be discarded, but this test is not +absolute and cannot be depended on to distinguish the sound from the +weeviled nuts. + + +HICKORY BARK BEETLE OR BARK BORER. + +_Scolytus quadrispinosus_ Say. + +Outbreaks of the hickory bark borer occur periodically throughout the +northeastern United States, and during the past five years many hickory +trees in this vicinity have died. + +The adult is a small black beetle appearing in May and June, which eats +holes in the axils of the leaf stems causing them to fall early--usually +in July and August. Brood galleries are then made longitudinally just +under the bark of the trunk by the female, and a row of eggs is placed +along either side of this brood chamber. On hatching the grubs, which +are at first very small, tunnel at right angles to the central chamber, +each making its own separate gallery. These galleries never meet or +cross each other, but must necessarily diverge toward their extremities +as they become larger. The effect of this is to girdle the tree which +soon dies. The larvae pass the winter under the bark, finish their +development in the spring, pupate, and the adults emerge in May and June +from small round holes about the size of bird shot. + +For control measures, Dr. Hopkins advises examining the trees during the +fall and marking all dead and dying trees within an area of several +square miles. Then between October 1 and May 1, cut all such trees and +dispose of the infested portion to destroy the insects before the adults +emerge. + +Many forms of treatment have been devised and recommended by tree +doctors for the control of this insect. Some of them may be worth +trying; most are of doubtful value, and some are absolutely injurious to +the trees. On July 3, 1914, some affected hickory trees on the Station +grounds were sprayed heavily with powdered lead arsenate, 4 lbs. in 50 +gallons of water, to which one pint of "Black Leaf No. 40" was added. +Two days later many dead beetles were found on the tar walks under the +trees, and a few were observed each day up until about the middle of +August. Most of the trees treated, however, had been so badly injured by +the insect that they were removed. Since then this insect has caused +little damage on the grounds, though a few hickory trees still remain. +In 1901 an outbreak of the hickory bark beetle caused the death of 110 +trees on the Hillhouse place in New Haven; then the destructive work of +the insect ceased and the few remaining hickory trees are still standing +and in fairly good condition. I mention these instances to show that +nature's control methods through parasites and natural enemies is far +more effective with certain pests than any which man has yet devised. Of +course, we hope that in the future man will make better progress along +this line. + + +THE PAINTED HICKORY BORER. + +_Cyllene pictus_ Drury. + +There are several borers attacking the wood of the trunk of the hickory, +but one of the commonest is the painted hickory borer. It also +occasionally attacks black walnut, butternut, mulberry and osage orange. +In hickory especially the larval tunnels are often found in the wood +when trees are felled. There is probably one brood annually and the +winter passed in the pupa stage, though it may possibly hibernate as a +larva. Its life history is not fully understood. It is a common +occurrence in Connecticut, and specimens are sent me every year, for the +adult beetles to emerge in March from firewood in the house or cellar +and crawl about seeking a chance to escape. The housewife fears that a +terrible household pest has descended upon her, and with fear and +trembling invokes the aid of the Agricultural Station. + +The beetles appear outside in April and May, and probably oviposit soon +afterward. They are about three-fourths of an inch in length and are +black, prettily marked with golden yellow. + +The insect can be controlled only by the old arduous methods of digging +out, and injecting carbon disulphide into the burrows. + +Several other long-horned beetles are borers in the hickory and other +nut trees. Then, too, the leopard moth, _zeuzera pyrina_ Linn., and the +carpenter worm, _Prionoxystus robiniae_ Peck, may be found occasionally +in most any kind of tree. + +The chestnut tree (if it has thus far escaped the blight or bark +disease) may show small, deep tunnels into the wood of trunk and +branch, made by the chestnut timber worm, _Lymexylon sericeum_ Harr. +Slow-growing woodland trees are more apt to show these galleries than +trees of rapid growth standing in the open. + +There are a number of tussock moths, sawflies, beetles, etc., which feed +on the leaves of nut trees. Spraying with lead arsenate will prevent +damage. There are also many sucking insects attacking them, such as the +hickory gall aphis, and several species found on the leaves. Some of +these may be controlled by spraying with a contact insecticide such as +nicotine solution or kerosene emulsion. + +In the Southern States, pecan trees are attached by some of these +insects which I have mentioned; there are also many more which cannot +even be mentioned in the time allotted to this paper. Information may be +obtained regarding them, by any one interested, and for this purpose I +have appended a short list of publications. + + +LITERATURE. + +Britton, W. E., and Kirk, H. B. The Life History of the Walnut Weevil or +Curculio. Report Conn. Agr. Expt. Station for 1912, page 240. + +Brooks, Fred E. Snout Beetles That Injure Nuts. Bull. 128, West Virginia +Agr. Expt. Sta., Morgantown, W. Va., 1910. + +Chittenden, F. H. The Nut Weevils, Circular 99, Bureau of Entomology, U. +S. Dept. of Agr., Washington, D. C., 1908. + +Felt, E. P. Insects Affecting Park and Woodland Trees. Memoir No. 8, N. +Y. State Museum, Albany, N. Y. 2 vols., 1905, 1906. + +Gossard, H. A. Insects of the Pecan, Bull. 79, Fla. Agr. Expt. Station, +Gainesville, Fla., 1905. + +Herrick, G. W. Insects Injurious to Pecans, Bull. 86, Miss. Agr. Expt. +Station, Agricultural College, Miss., 1904. + +Hopkins, A. D. The Dying Hickory Trees. Circular 144, Bureau of +Entomology, U. S. Dept. of Agr., Washington, D. C., 1912. + +Kirk, H. B. The Walnut Bud Moth. Report Conn. Agr. Expt. Station for +1912, page 253. + + * * * * * + +A MEMBER: Early in the spring I noticed something on the +hickory trees swollen and bright red in color, so that the trees were +conspicuous from a distance. Later insects emerged which appeared to be +these little gnats that fly in swarms. + +DR. BRITTON: From the description I am not able to say what it +was, but it was probably one of those gall flies, a great many species +of which exist and which attack all kinds of plants. They do not, as a +rule, cause very serious damage, and I can not suggest any particular +remedy. Did it interfere with the growth of the tree? + +A MEMBER: I noticed what seemed to be the same insect on the +grape vines. + +DR. MORRIS: I would call attention to one pest that is very +destructive to hazels; unless watched closely it will produce serious +injury. That is the larvae of two of the sawflies. Dr. Britton was +unable to determine off-hand the species of the specimens I sent him, +but you may know the sawfly larvae by their habit of collecting in a row +like soldiers around the edge of the leaf and when the branch is +disturbed, their heads and tails stand up. These sawfly larvae need +looking after and can be killed by spraying. They usually collect on two +or three leaves at a time. + +I would like to ask about a bud worm that attacks the leaf of the +hickory near the axil, sometimes very extensively, but not very +injuriously. At the same time it makes deformities. Colonies of this +insect select certain trees, for instance, the Taylor tree that you saw +yesterday is infected with this particular bud larva. The base of a +petiole becomes enlarged two or three times, and you will find one white +worm at the bottom. This colony is confined to this one tree, and the +very next tree adjoining the Taylor has its branches interwining, but is +not bothered at all, so far as I can determine. + +This colony habit is also true of the hickory nut weevil--the hickory +weevil makes the Taylor tree a colony house, whereas I haven't found a +single weevil in nuts of the adjoining hickory tree that has its +branches interwining. + +That colony habit is, perhaps, a weak point with the weevil, and it may +enable us to eradicate them by concentrating our attention upon their +colony trees. + +One point in regard to the chestnut weevil. When our chestnuts began to +die here, I supposed that the chestnut weevils would immediately turn to +my chinquapins for comfort. Weevils attack the chinquapins so +extensively in the South that Mr. Littlepage said chinquapins would not +be acceptable to Dr. Kellogg because they furnished so much animal diet. +(Laughter). Curiously enough, the chestnut weevils did not go to my +chinquapins. These chinquapins bear full crops, heavy crops, and one +will almost never find a chestnut weevil in the nuts. I have found now +and then a little weevil, about half a dozen altogether, that attacks +the involucre at its point of attachment to the chinquapin. This looks +like the chestnut weevil, but perhaps, only according to my eye, very +much as all Chinamen look alike to one who has never seen them before. + +The matter of carbon disulphide for the painted hickory borer. I have +used that apparently successfully, but I didn't tunnel through six feet +of hickory tree afterward to see whether the borers were dead or not. It +is a successful treatment for apple borers. I have no trouble with the +apple borers now. I simply clean off the entrance of the hole, the +"sawdust," and then with a little putty spread out with my hand make a +sort of putty shelf below the hole, then I squirt in a few drops of +carbon disulphide with a syringe, turn up the putty and leave it +adhering to the bark, closing the hole. You can do that very quickly, +and it spares a good deal of perspiring and backache. + +The black walnut. On one of my black walnut trees there is a serious +pest, a very little worm which infests the involucre. The black walnuts +of this tree fall early. I found that same worm last year also extending +to the Asiatic walnuts, so that a great many Japanese walnuts fell early +as the black walnuts fall, as a result of this little worm's working in +large numbers within the involucre. I sent some specimens to New Haven +for the species to be observed. This will be a very serious matter if it +is going to involve the English walnuts as it does on Long Island. I +have found the same thing, apparently, on Long Island in the black +walnut, in the English walnut, and in the pecan. It causes a serious +drop of these nuts at Dana's Island, near Glen Cove, Long Island. + + + + +THE EXTENT OF THE HARDY NUT TREE NURSERY BUSINESS. + +R. T. OLCOTT, NEW YORK. + + +For obvious reasons this subject may well be considered as constituting +a gauge of commercial nut culture in the North; it is therefore of much +more importance than the mere title would suggest. If there is merit in +all that has been preached regarding the planting of budded and grafted +trees instead of seedlings; and if it is still true, as we have long +observed, that the propagation of named varieties of nut trees, and +especially of hardy nut trees, is successful almost solely in the hands +of experts, the progress of commercial nut culture in the northern +states rests largely in the hands of the nurserymen. We may even go +further and assert that it rests for the present mainly in the hands of +a few nurserymen who have persistently studied the problems pertaining +to the taming of a denizen of the forest, and have persevered with +experiments in the face of repeated failure; for, as editor of the +_American Nurseryman_, I am in a position to state that with a few +exceptions nurserymen generally have not attempted to prepare to supply +a demand for hardy, northern-grown, improved nursery nut trees. Seedling +walnuts and hickories have been procurable for years from nurseries all +over the country, as is shown by nursery catalogue listings; and at +least two concerns--one at Lockport, N. Y., and another at Rochester, N. +Y.,--have advertised nut tree seedlings extensively, despite the +universal nursery practice of budding or grafting or layering +practically all other kinds of trees and plants offered for sale as +nursery stock--simply because it is not easy to propagate nut trees, and +these nurserymen would take advantage of the growing demand for nut +orchards. + +Within established nut circles all this is commonly known. It was my +purpose in referring to these conditions to direct the attention of +those not posted to what has been done by a half dozen or more +conscientious nursery concerns in an endeavor to supply material of +quality for the starting of nut orchards or the planting of isolated +trees in response to the arguments set forth in behalf of nut culture. +My subject lies at the very base of the formation of this association; +for was it not with the idea of directing into safe channels interest +which might be aroused in nut culture that the pioneers of the industry +in the North organized and convened repeatedly to select and propagate +and recommend certain varieties? As the result of years of concentrated +effort selections have been made and varieties have been named--and to +some extent recommended--throughout the northern states. Now and for +some time past the public has had opportunity to purchase and plant +carefully grown budded and grafted true-to-name nursery nut trees of +varieties having in the parent trees exceptional characteristics deemed +sufficient to warrant propagation and dissemination. I need not go into +the matter of years of patient effort on the part of a few nurserymen +and of a few investigators who entered the lists solely for the love of +Nature's developments. + +This, in brief, is the rise of the hardy nut tree nursery business. Now, +what of its extent? There are upwards of two thousand propagating +nurserymen in the country, but those who have made a specialty of +hardy, northern-grown nut trees are few. They include the Vincennes +Nurseries, W. C. Reed & Son, Vincennes, Ind.; the Indiana Nurseries, J. +Ford Wilkinson, Rockport, Ind.; the McCoy Nut Nurseries, R. L. McCoy, +president, Evansville and Lake, Ind.; the Maryland Nurseries, T. P. +Littlepage, Bowie, Md.; J. F. Jones, Lancaster, Pa,; J. G. Rush, West +Willow, Pa.; C. K. Sober, Lewisburg, Pa., and some in the northwest. + +As showing the extent of the business, Mr. Reed, of Vincennes, reports +demand for nut trees increasing. He had to return orders unfilled last +spring. His nurseries have 3,000 to 4,000 Persian walnut trees and about +the same number of pecan trees for fall sales; also about 1,000 grafted +black walnut trees. There are growing in the Vincennes nurseries ready +for budding and grafting 50,000 black walnut seedlings and 50,000 pecan +seedlings. Mr. Reed said recently: "Owing to the extreme difficulty of +propagating nut trees in the North, I think the demand will keep up with +the supply." + +Mr. Jones sold last year about 8,000 nut trees which went to points all +over the country; not many to California, or to the far South; a good +many to New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, +Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, etc. The largest order +was for 600 trees. A number of orders were for 100 to 300 trees. New +Jersey leads in planting, he finds, with Virginia a close second, in +large orders. In small orders, Pennsylvania leads with him. + +Mr. McCoy has done a great deal of experimenting with grafts and he is +still at it. He has 40 acres mostly under nut tree cultivation, and has +a considerable number of trees for sale. + +Anyone who has seen the handsome nut tree catalogue issued by Mr. +Littlepage, of the Maryland Nurseries, must have been impressed with the +great care taken to produce the attractive trees and nuts there +depicted. These nurseries have been recently established and not a great +number of trees have yet been offered for sale, but Mr. Littlepage has +150,000 seedling nut trees in his nurseries for propagating purposes. + +Mr. Sober's nurseries are devoted almost entirely to the cultivation of +chestnut trees. Mr. Rush's specialty is the Persian walnut. Mr. +Wilkinson naturally specializes in Indiana pecan trees. At Rochester, N. +Y., James S. McGlennon and Conrad Vollertsen have produced interesting +results with filberts imported some years ago from Germany. They have +five-year-old bushes bearing; these have proved hardy in every way and +they have no blight. The nuts compare favorably with the best of the +imported kinds. Nursery stock will soon be ready in quantity, and they +now have 500 plants suitable for transplanting. + +Filbert and walnut are the only nut trees grown commercially to any +extent in the nurseries of the northwest. A few almond and chestnut +trees are grown there, but the demand for them is very light. J. B. +Pilkington, Portland, Ore., a well-known grower of a general line of +nursery stock, advertises French, Japanese and Italian chestnut trees +and the American Sweet. Filberts are being produced to a considerable +extent. At present the nurseries cannot supply the demand for filbert +plants, owing to the limited number of mother plants in the northwest. +Practically all the nurseries have Barcelona and Du Chilly for sale, and +a number have the Avelines. From one nursery or another De Alger, +Kentish Cob and a few other varieties can be had. Persian walnuts are +grown on a larger scale. Groner & McClure, Hillsboro, Ore., are the +largest exclusive walnut nurserymen in the northwest. They produce close +to 6,000 grafted trees annually. These sell at 90c. to $1.00 per tree in +lots of 100. The Oregon Nursery Company, Orenco, Ore., produce a large +number of both grafted and seedling walnut trees, asking up to $2.00 per +tree for grafted and 35 to 50c. for seedlings. Many of the smaller +nurseries procure their nut trees from California nurseries. Each year +the proportion of seedlings planted is less. Franquette is the popular +variety that is propagated. + +The Northern Nut Growers' Association and one or two other similar +organizations have labored for years to extend interest in nut culture. +The files of the secretary of this association will show in heaps of +letters and piles of newspaper clippings the marked success in view of +the means that were at hand. And it has all been upon a high plane. The +campaigns have been marked by the utmost degree of conscientious effort +to arrive at the truth regarding, adaptability of varieties and cultural +methods. This work is still in progress--indeed, the need for it will +never end. But in the opinion of the writer there should from this day +go hand in hand with investigation and experiment a very practical +application to orchard purposes of what has been learned. The sooner +northern nut trees come into bearing in grove form the sooner will +general interest in nut culture increase. I would urge constant effort +in that direction; even, if need be, to the exclusion of some of the +further study on varieties. + +There are now grown in northern nut tree nurseries approved by this +association named varieties of pecans, Persian walnuts, black walnuts, +hickories and some other nuts amply sufficient to start orchards. The +pecan growers of the southern states selected and experimented and +discussed for a time--and then they planted. Mistakes were made, but +these were discovered quicker by grove planting. Now they are shipping +improved varieties of pecans by the carload, at $12,000 per car. +Naturally interest in pecan culture in the South is widespread. With +bearing orchards of nut trees in the northern states, similar interest +will be manifested; and then we shall all see the real progress which +comes of producing commercial results. Has not the time arrived to put +into practical operation what has been learned in the last eight years? +I believe this association could wisely consider the policy of confining +discussion in the open session of its annual meetings to topics relating +to behavior of varieties in orchard form and commercial cultural +methods--at least to the handling of the planted tree by the public, +whether isolated or in orchard rows--and reserve for executive sessions +the discussion of varieties and methods not yet at a stage for formal +endorsement by the association. It seems to me that any other policy +obscures the issue which, I take it, is to foster the extension of nut +culture. How can nut culture be practically extended if the public is +constantly confronted with features of the experimental stage? Persons +mildly interested in nut culture, as the result, perhaps, of association +propaganda, drift into our meetings or make ad interim inquiry and +receive for membership enrollment, or otherwise, printed matter relating +almost wholly to experimentation in nut work. No wonder their interest +wanes a short time afterward and many of them are not heard from again. +What most of them expected was information as to varieties of improved +nut trees available, where to get them and how to treat them when +planted. Discussion by the experts is not for them; they will reap the +result of that in due time. + +Now, the extent of the hardy nut tree nursery industry is directly +dependent upon all this. If that extent is not yet great, it is due +undoubtedly to the newness of the industry. But it is also due in part +to conditions which have been referred to. I wish especially for the +purposes of this address that this association were an incorporated body +so that I could speak of it as such and not seem to be criticising +individuals. What has been done by our officers and members has been +very necessary. It is of the future that I speak. + +Nut brokers, wholesale grocers and manufacturers of confectionery are +calling for crop and market reports of nuts. A letter from a large +commission house in San Francisco, importers and exporters, says that +what is wanted is information as to growing crops of nuts and market +conditions. Other brokers and dealers ask the same thing. The _American +Nut Journal_ has given crop and market conditions of southern pecans and +California walnuts and almonds; and, in peace times, of foreign nut +crops. What else is there to give? The native nut crop? But that +concerns this association about as much as the blueberry and huckleberry +crops of the Michigan and Minnesota barrens concerns the horticultural +societies and the National Apple Growers. What the brokers, wholesale +grocers and commission merchants want is crop and market reports on +cultivated nuts. But where are they? The public and the middlemen are +calling for nuts. And these people write that they are not interested in +cultural methods. + +The hardy nut tree nursery business is what it is and will be what it +will be just in proportion to the character of the crop and the market +report. Interest in nut culture generally will lag or increase in just +the same ratio. This is the eighth annual convention of this +association. Will the sixteenth annual meeting see a greatly augmented +membership without a practical incentive? + +I have said that this association has recommended to some extent the +planting of nut trees--the named varieties. I believe that what is +needed is a publicity campaign bearing upon the planting of the +varieties now on the market. When other varieties come on they may +receive proper attention. Native nuts are in great demand. The varieties +considered by this association are the best of the natives. Is that not +sufficient basis to proceed on? Has not this association officially +endorsed the varieties grown by the nut tree nurserymen we have referred +to, by officially endorsing those nurserymen? Having endorsed the named +varieties grown for sale by the nurserymen on its approved list can this +association consistently do otherwise then to urge without hesitation +the planting of those varieties by the public? + +DR. MORRIS: Mr. Olcott spoke on the almonds of the Pacific +Coast. Here in the east it was said yesterday that only hard shelled +almonds would thrive. That has been my experience with one exception. I +got from a missionary some soft shelled almonds of very high quality and +thin shelled. There were about twenty of those almonds, I ate two and +planted the rest. The ants enjoyed the sprouting cotyledons of all but +one. That one lived and thrived and grew in two years to a height of +about four feet. In its third winter it was absolutely killed. Now that +means that somewhere in Syria there is a soft shelled almond of very +high quality that will live three years in Connecticut according to +accurate record. It may live fifty years here if well started and +protected when young. + +THE CHAIRMAN: You showed us some hard shelled almonds I believe +from your place. + +DR. MORRIS: The hard shelled almonds do pretty well on my place +if looked after. I have had trees that bore nearly a bushel each, but +the chief difficulty is due to the leaf blights. Almond trees are quite +subject to leaf blights. As long as I sprayed the almond trees +frequently they did well but I had several other things to do and +couldn't keep it up. + +A MEMBER: The Association has a list of nurserymen who are +reliable and who will furnish reliable trees. It occurred to me in line +with the spirit of Mr. Olcott's paper, if it would be practicable, for +the Association to get up a little paper on approved varieties of trees +for planting. That may seem foolish to suggest but a good many members +who come in here are very green on the subject of nut growing. It may +have been done but if it has I am not familiar with it. + +THE SECRETARY: A good many requests are received by the +secretary for information as to what nut trees to plant. My advice +usually is that they get the catalogues of all the different nurserymen +on our approved list and select from those catalogues as many nut trees +of each variety recommended by the nurserymen as they wish and give them +the best cultural conditions they can. I don't see that we can recommend +any particular varieties. There are few enough grafted varieties of nut +trees obtainable, and I do not see that we can, as an association, +recommend any particular varieties. I would like to have suggestions. + +MR. OLCOTT: I Don't Think It Is Advisable for the Association +To go into that detail. I think that as the association has endorsed a +list of nurserymen, so long as those nurserymen keep within boundary and +retain that endorsement that is sufficient guarantee to the public. + +MR. REED: We cannot recommend the different varieties because +they have not been tested out and fruited. In the National Nut Growers' +Association data are obtainable because they have been worked out by +experiment stations and by individuals. But in this association where +varieties are just being discovered and have not been disseminated and +tried we have got to test them. We haven't got developed beyond the +infant class in this Northern Nut Growers' Association. + +A MEMBER: I realize that the thing is in an experimental stage, +but since I have been at this meeting I have been asked by two +different people here if I could give them any information as to what +varieties to plant. That is a very live question for a person here for +the first time and he wants a primer. + +THE SECRETARY: We had a circular, now exhausted, giving the +best information known at that time. It gave the method of procedure +from the cultivation of the land until the nut trees were advanced +several years in their growth, covering it in detail in so far as it lay +in the secretary's ability to give it at that time. The same advice +perhaps would not be given now but it would be practically the same +thing. It may be desirable that we reprint something of the kind for the +person who wants to begin the cultivation of nuts and has no knowledge +on the subject. + +MR. JONES: I think the association might do something of the +kind. We could have a map of the states for instance, and have that +outlined in belts and varieties specified that would be somewhat likely +to succeed in those belts. + +MR. CHAIRMAN: I think it is only a question of time when that +will be done. In the National Association that has been worked out, what +they plant in Florida what they plant in west Georgia, what they plant +in Mississippi, and what they plant in all the different sections. I +think it is only a question of time when it will be worked out by this +association. Every year will bring in new data. You will find in the +National Nut Growers' Association that good reports on new varieties of +nuts from year to year keep accumulating. From that we get data very +definite for certain varieties. I expect the members of this association +will know lots of them. They have become past history in nut growing in +the south. We have got past those poor things and in to something that +is definite and satisfactory. + +MR. BARTLETT: Would it be possible and advisable for the +association to have such a thing as an experimental orchard, provided +they could get somebody to take care of such a place? There is a man in +this room who has plenty of room and facilities for taking care of an +orchard. + +THE CHAIRMAN: That is worthy of attention but I do not know +whether the association is in a position to take care of it. In my paper +yesterday I spoke about putting it up to the experiment stations. + +COL. VAN DUZEE: The experiment stations are at the service of +the people and if you will call upon your stations repeatedly they will +respond eventually. It is going to take some little time but it seems to +me that they are the logical people to carry it out. We have found in +the south that the behaviour of varieties in different localities was +so different that we have been obliged to wait until each locality had +something of history to guide us. I suppose it would be a very good plan +if all who are interested in nut culture in the North would convey the +information to their experiment stations that they are desirous of +having these orchards established. Eventually the country could be +covered with little experimental plots where the information obtained +would be reliable, where the work could be under the supervision and +inspection of people who are paid by the state for that purpose. + +Now in regard to the publicity. We have followed a plan for a number of +years in the South of publishing frequently what we call Nut Notes. They +were gathered together by the editor of the Nut Grower. Whenever an item +of interest to the public came to him in his exchange and from any other +source, he made a paragraph of it and then at the end of the month, or +perhaps two months, he would publish a little circular "Nut Notes," and +that would be run off in some large number, and distributed to the +nurserymen, or other interested people, and they would simply enclose it +in their correspondence. They would send them to the local papers all +through the South so that the things that were found worthy of +dissemination in the way of new records and new ideas were constantly +being sent to the local papers and to the interested people in that way. +I have a vast sympathy for Dr. Deming. He is not drawing a princely +salary and he has a lot of things to do. I know his heart is in this +work and he would be glad to do these things but he must have help. +These two ways I suggest to you are ways we have found in the South to +accomplish a considerable work. Make a demand upon your experiment +stations that this work be taken up and get Mr. Olcott to print the +slips and then get the nurserymen who are interested and the local +newspaper people to publish the nut notes that become available from +time to time. + +MR. OLCOTT: I have knowledge of these circulars of Nut Notes +sent out by Dr. Wilson in the South and have thought of doing something +like it but have not gotten at it yet. I have exchanges and notices +coming in that could be summarized just that way and even more +extensively but I haven't had time to do this work. + +THE SECRETARY: I think this proposal of Mr. Bartlett's is very +important and I promise Mr. Bartlett and Mr. Barrows that all the +members of this association will help. I am sure Dr. Morris will be glad +to give advice about planting this orchard. I haven't the slightest +doubt that Mr. Reed will go there in his position as Nut Culturist of +the Department of Agriculture. I think we ought to go ahead and do that +without waiting for the Connecticut authorities, but at the earliest +opportunity begin to try to interest them. They are not interested +enough to go into it now. Some of the members of this association have +got to start this thing and then we have got to interest the men at the +agricultural experiment station. Two of them were here yesterday and +have expressed their interest in the subject. We hope eventually that +they will take full charge of such work which really ought to be in the +hands of self perpetuating institutions and not in the hands of +individuals. I can assure Mr. Bartlett of the hearty co-operation of +this association in any planting of that kind and I wish that the steps +might be taken at once to begin such a planting. + +DR. MORRIS: I would be only too glad to give him some trees to +start with. + +MR. JONES: The nurseries growing these trees would be glad to +cooperate and supply these trees at reduced prices for this experimental +orchard. + +THE CHAIRMAN: There seems to be lots of interest in this matter +but it ought not to be on a voluntary basis. It might be interesting to +you to have an idea of how we have done that further south. In North +Carolina we have definite nut projects on our experiment station's list. +The work is outlined and funds appropriated for carrying it out, and +workers and funds are assigned to that particular project. They have a +regular definite program and when a project is once begun that project +has to be reported on. It cannot be discontinued. It has to be continued +until it is worked out. In that way we are getting something definite +and we have some machinery to work with. At first we had no commercial +nut growing. We instituted a nut survey of the state. We issued +instructions for our extension men to look out for nut trees on the +farms. Then we made a list of the growers and orchards. There we made +experimental planting and we made them in every section of the state so +as to find out what varieties were best for the different sections. We +had difficulty in finding varieties for all of our conditions. We had +experiment orchards in all of the various sections of the State which +have been conducted now for ten years and we have very definite data. +The man who writes in to me for information can be answered shortly. +Every year we are getting new data. I think every tree that we can get +from any nursery catalogue that I can find is in those experimental +orchards. Every year eliminates a few. If the stocks are good we work +them over. There is no uncertainty about it. It is either a positive or +a negative result. These results are published just as soon as they can +be. It is part of our experiment work just as we experiment with cotton +or apples or corn. I made a suggestion in my paper for work of this kind +here and I thought it would be picked up by the Committee on +Resolutions, but it was not acted on. To get this matter crystallized +and get it to the attention of the experimental station I think that the +secretary ought to be empowered to write officially to the directors of +the experiment station in the various states asking that a nut survey be +made of those states and that nut projects be entered upon and +especially the testing of the varieties that have been found in the +various states. + +DR. BRITTON: Representing the Connecticut station I can say +that the men there will be glad to help you, but they are in the same +position as Dr. Deming, doing all they can at present, more than they +ought to do, and most of the funds for that reason are arranged for in +definite projects. That being the case, it will be necessary to provide +for a future appropriation. During his war we are all short handed. I +have four young men working in my department who have not had a day's +vacation this summer--more work than they can do. At present we have no +one connected with the station who is a specialist on nuts, and it would +mean getting in a man to work up this subject. But I think that can be +brought about in time. Of course if the legislature is asked for any +appropriation, this association or those interested in growing nuts +would have to help get the appropriation for the state. + +THE SECRETARY: Prof. Hutt is State Horticulturist of his state +and he is also a specialist on nuts. He lives in a state where nut +culture is much further advanced than it is here, consequently it has +been, it seems to me, a good deal simpler for him to accomplish results +there than it is for us here. I approve of grasping this opportunity and +going ahead with it and at the same time following up the suggestions of +Dr. Britton of trying to get the appropriation in order to enable the +agricultural experiment station to take action. + +MR. OLCOTT: I move that the secretary be asked to communicate +with the experiment stations in the various states along just the lines +you suggested for the purpose of getting started. + +The motion, duly seconded, was passed. + +MR. OLCOTT: I would like to make another motion that the +association do whatever it can to take advantage of this opportunity +that Mr. Bartlett has just spoken about, and I would move that the +matter be put in the hands of the secretary with power to act. + +Mr. Webber seconded the motion and it was carried. + + + + +NUT TREES FOR SHADE. + +FRANCIS A. BARTLETT, CONNECTICUT. + + +Were we to limit our shade trees to those trees which alone produce +edible nuts we would then have a greater assortment of trees than one +could hardly suppose, and not only would be varieties be numerous but +they would embrace many of our most noble and most beautiful trees. + +Let us consider the varieties from which we may draw. In so doing let me +ask why, with all these trees, we really need other trees which in +themselves are no more ornamental and are non-producing. + +Of the oaks there are many, while the nuts or acorns are seldom eaten by +man, yet they have often composed his diet when other foods have failed. +In many parts of the South this nut has been the principal food used in +the fattening, or possibly the sustaining food, of the native razor-back +hog. + +Our native beech produces the small triangular nuts which have been +sought by the boys and girls of centuries and are as popular today as of +hundreds of years ago. The beech will grow to immense size and may live +sometimes for centuries. A beautiful bright smooth foliage makes it very +desirable as a park tree and it does not lose its charm in winter. On an +extensive lawn it makes a very desirable tree but in close proximity to +the house the one objection there may be is that the dead foliage seems +to cling to the twigs sometimes the entire winter. This objection is +more pronounced, however, in the younger trees than in the older ones. + +Our native black walnut is a magnificent tree which can compare +favorably with the finest oak in size, in shape, in picturesqueness and +above all, in its huge nuts, which are both wholesome and delicious. +Were it not for the great value of its wood for making gun stocks and +for cabinet work we would today have hundreds of these trees growing, +where now but few can be found; yet there are individual specimens with +spread of over 150 feet and as magnificent and majestic as the finest +oak. + +Our native chestnut; let us not think of it in memory only, though the +pride of our forests seems to have left us after the scourge of the +chestnut blight. Unless the history of all scourges has been upset we +will find some tree somewhere sometime that is blight resistant and then +from this tree we will produce and propagate the chestnut back to its +own. At least, as far as an ornamental and useful nut-producing tree is +concerned. Should we find no tree in all this huge area which is +disease-resistant we have at least one hope in the chestnut brought from +China, where for probable centuries this disease has been present, but +unable to destroy its host, the chestnut. Already in this country there +are thousands of these seedlings growing which are apparently +disease-resistant. The tree itself compares very favorably with our +native tree. We will yet grow our favorite chestnuts and our children +will yet enjoy them as we have done in the days of our youth. + +We must not forget the chinkapin, the little brother of the chestnut, +but a better fighter of its enemies, for this latter tree is almost +resistant to the blight and will bloom and bear nuts while only a little +tree, and the nuts are sweet and good. Then, too, it is not necessary to +climb the tree to gather the nuts for the tree being small the nuts can +almost be gathered from the ground. For planting over rocky banks and +hillsides nothing is more handsome. The dark green foliage dotted here +and there with the bright green burrs always attracts favorable +attention and comment. + +Our butternut, too, cannot be omitted, for there are few better flavored +nuts than the butternut. Though hard to crack, this fault, if it may be +a fault, will soon be overcome, for we will find a tree with +thin-shelled nuts somewhere. They are no doubt present and when we do +find such a tree we may all propagate from it. Though the tree is a +rather irregular grower and is susceptible to certain bark diseases yet +it has its place in the home planting for its compound leaves and light +bark always shows prominently in the landscape. This tree sometimes +grows to an immense size. At my early home in Massachusetts one huge +butternut stood in the yard. Though the tree died long before I became +especially interested in old trees I remember that we counted the +annular rings and as near as I can recall the figures for its +measurements and rings were 13 ft. in circumference and 80 annular +rings. The trunk was perfectly solid and showed no signs of decay. Many +bushels of nuts were gathered from this one tree yearly and I can +remember the long winter evenings when we sat in the kitchen cracking +the nuts from this old tree. Some have said the butternut is +unsatisfactory as an ornamental tree but let me add--do not neglect it +in the planting plan for it will give you much pleasure, and, too, the +meats are well worth the trouble in cracking the nuts even though a +bruised finger may result. + +To the family of the walnut we are indebted to Japan for the beautiful +and tropical foliage of the Japanese walnut, _Sieboldiana_. Although the +tree has many characteristics of the butternut the foliage is much more +luxuriant and it is an admirable tree for planting in the open lawn. +The individual fruit of the _Sieboldiana_ walnut is similar in +appearance to that of the butternut and is borne in clusters or racemes, +sometimes as many as twenty or more in a cluster, and is equal in every +way to that of the butternut but the nuts being smaller contain a much +less quantity of meat. + +The king of the walnuts, _Juglans regia_, sometimes called Madeira +walnut, Persian walnut, Spanish walnut and English walnut, is the finest +of the nuts as far as the fruit is concerned, and is a handsome tree +growing to immense size with large spreading branches and almost +tropical foliage. For over 150 years this tree has been growing and +thriving in our immediate neighborhood, producing bushels of nuts +annually, yet few people whom we have met will hardly believe that the +English walnut will thrive in this northern latitude. There is one +specimen of this tree today with which I am familiar in Tarry town, N. +Y., which is over 2 feet in diameter, with a spread of 75 feet or more +and nearly 100 feet in height. While the tree has not produced regularly +yet it bears a few nuts each year and sometimes numbers of bushels. + +The English walnut always attracts attention on account of its +symmetrical growth and its luxuriant foliage. As a shade tree there are +few better. + +Of the nut family the one truly American tree of which we should be duly +proud is the hickory, this tree being found in no other part of the +world, with the exception of China, but North America. As a park or +roadside tree there are few trees that can compare with it,--upright in +growth with a beautifully rounded head, sometimes growing to immense +size and producing nuts almost annually. Of this group of trees we have +the shellbark, shagbark and pignut. The pignut being of little value as +far as the nuts are concerned, yet having smaller and possibly more +luxuriant foliage than the shagbark or shellbark. The shagbark is the +nut most sought for by the younger generations and bids fair to become a +nut of considerable importance. + +It seems strange that in the long history of the hickory or shagbark +more has not been done in the improvement of the nuts in the growing of +large thin-shelled and sweeter nuts. Trees bearing such nuts do exist +and I think most of us can recall certain trees in our boyhood days that +produced nuts of far superior quality than are ordinarily found from the +common tree. At least, I can recall one tree from which twenty-five +years ago there was produced a very large fine sweet nut which was +sought by all the children in the neighborhood. This tree, however, has +passed away with hundreds of others, either by the hickory bark beetle +or the axe. + +It is well to mention the filbert and hazel. While not really trees the +filbert sometimes reaches a height of 5 ft. or more with very luxuriant +foliage in the summer and in the early spring the catkins are very +prominent and attractive. There is no reason why the filbert should not +be grown more extensively even though it is affected by blight or +canker. We are assured that this can be readily cut away with less +trouble than the ordinary treatment of trees. + +Of the hazel there are two kinds, the common hazel and beaked hazel, +both native here. While the nuts of these shrubs are really too small to +be of any commercial value yet I believe we will find nuts growing +somewhere that are as large as our imported filberts. + +Of the pines and evergreens there are a number which produce nuts of +which Dr. Morris has told us. Some of them are rapid growing trees and +there seems to be good reason why we should not plant out evergreens +which produce fruit and are just as attractive and fine as those +evergreens which produce shade only. + +I have not mentioned one tree which I believe to be the most promising +for this locality--that is the pecan. It has been demonstrated that we +can grow the pecan on our native hickories and from what I have seen of +the wonderful growth of the first year of the bud I am sure we will be +able to produce as fine pecans as can be produced in any section of the +country, and further than that, we have an unlimited number of native +hickories on which we can graft this finest of nuts. The pecan is hardy +in this locality and farther north. I have seen it grown to a fair sized +tree in Connecticut. I have seen it on the south side of Long Island and +have seen one tree planted possibly over 100 years near Oyster Bay, L. +I. which today is more than 3 ft. in diameter and reaches possibly 75 +ft. in height. The pecan, too, is fruiting on Long Island and I believe +we will have it fruiting in this locality within the next two or three +years. During the last few years I have talked with numbers of people, +many of them owners of large estates who could hardly believe it is +possible to grow the English walnut and pecan in this latitude. + +I have said that were we to limit our shade trees to those trees alone +which produce edible nuts we would then have a greater assortment than +one could hardly suppose. Each and every one of the trees I have +mentioned were they not to produce a single nut would in themselves +equal or surpass almost any tree in beauty and majesty. + +Were we to develop a park and limit the plantings to nut trees alone how +attractive such a park might be--the taller trees in the background to +be of the black walnut and beech. These trees to be banked with the +smaller trees of the butternut and English walnut. Over the rocky places +we could plant the chinkapin and hazel. We could then put in specimen +trees of the hickory and pecans with groups of filberts, dotted here and +there with plantings of nut bearing pines. I believe such a planting +would be as attractive as a planting of an added number of our ordinary +shade trees. Let us imagine what the return from such a planting might +mean to the public or the owners. In fifty years from this time, and in +speaking of nut trees looking forward to fifty years is but a +comparatively short time, our roadside trees could be replaced by nut +bearing trees which are as attractive as any shade tree. I have no doubt +that in this city alone were the roadsides planted with nut trees and +these received reasonable care the returns from these trees would pay +the entire city and town tax. + + * * * * * + +DR. MORRIS: Mr. Bartlett said that the hickory belonged only to +North America. That was supposed to be the case until very recently Mr. +Meyer, an agricultural explorer, found an open bud hickory in China. + +MR. OLCOTT: Mr. Bartlett said he hoped the day would come when +the filbert and hazels would be produced in this country. I saw last +week the report of a crop in Rochester, New York, on five-year old +filbert bushes that had been pronounced as good as imported nuts in +quality and certainly were in size, and finer in coloring. I have some +photographs of the trees on which they grew. These were the trees which +were described in detail in a paper read at the National Nut Growers' +Association at Nashville last year by Mr. McGlennon, of Rochester. He +told me that all he said at that time stands, with the addition that +since then he has had proof regarding the absence of blight and the +extreme hardiness of the trees and their continued bearing. The trees +are grown for propagating purposes and not for fruit, and therefore they +are not in their best condition for bearing. Mr. McGlennon is a business +man of Rochester, with no special experience except that he became +interested in some southern pecan plantings. Afterwards the filbert +planting came up and he worked with Mr. Vollertson, who was experienced +in this work in Germany. He and Mr. McGlennon imported 22 kinds of +filberts from Europe. They are so far blight-proof and extremely hardy +and are bearing. + +MRS. IRWIN: I would like to say that I do not think there is +enough publicity given this organization. There are a number of people, +to whom I casually mentioned yesterday, that I had become interested in +this thing, but they had not seen the Advocate and knew nothing about +the meeting. They are interested, I think, and it seems to me that an +organization for growth must have publicity and a lot of it. + +A MEMBER: We were discussing this morning why we did not have a +larger number of people here from Stamford and Greenwich. It is the +merest chance I saw the notice. I have been interested for some time. I +think there should be greater publicity because only by large membership +can we get the growth and the standing that we want. + +DR. MORRIS: Even a good many people in the vicinity who knew +about this conference and said they would be interested to come, have +not appeared. Our meeting came to Stamford this year because there are +so many wealthy people interested in horticulture in Stamford and +Greenwich. Very large funds are required for development of this +subject, experimental orchards, publication and publicity. We believed +here we would strike the sort of men to further public interest in the +subject. This is by all means the smallest local attendance, however, +that we have ever had since the beginning of the Association in any part +of the country. + +THE SECRETARY: We have never had the advertising more +thoroughly done. Mr. Bartlett and Mr. Staunton and Dr. Morris and I have +all worked at it; notices have been in at least three of the New York +papers, clippings of which have been sent me, and articles in Ansonia +and Hartford papers; articles and programs have been sent repeatedly to +Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, Port Chester, Danbury, Ridgefield and New +Canaan papers. Dr. Morris has written personal letters. And then, too, +there are the signs around here. I don't know what other measures could +have been taken. + +DR. MORRIS: My chauffeur, who is in the Naval Reserve, and +doesn't know about nuts at all, dropped in casually yesterday, but +stayed through the whole session. That shows what interest might be +aroused if only you can catch people. No trouble to hold them when +captured. + +Every person who has come into this association has done so because of +something from the heart within. + +MR. BIXBY: On this subject of publicity, I have done something +in a very humble way that I thought might help, and this year I am +planning to do it to a little larger extent. I have been very much +interested in the butternut. The concern with which I am associated has +a connection with general stores throughout the country, so I sent +circulars calling attention to the butternut prizes to the general +stores in the smaller towns throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. That +circular invited the people who had specimens of butternuts that they +thought superior to send them to Dr. Deming, and in the same circular I +called attention to the fact that there were prizes for other nuts, and +invited them to communicate with Dr. Deming. It was all done in the name +of the Association. + +PROF. HUTT: When we started our meeting we announced a question +box. + +THE SECRETARY: We expected to have a revised proof of our +question box to be distributed among the audience, but it has not come. +I would like to ask any one who now desires to ask questions relative to +nut culture to do so and I think he will be able to get answers from +members present. I had better begin by propounding a question myself +that has been asked often--what variety of nut trees to plant--and I am +going to make a short answer myself, just to bring about discussion. For +early bearing, and encouragement to the nut grower, plant chinkapins, +hazels, or filberts, many varieties, so that they will pollenize one +another, and plant Japanese walnuts, early bearing and beautiful trees. +For later results plant Persian walnuts, the Franquette and Mayette +varieties, which are old standard ones. If you want to go a little bit +more experimentally, plant pecans, say the Indiana and Busseron +varieties, both from the Indiana district, and both hardy, though +neither of them have fruited here. Plant some black walnuts, say of the +Stabler and the Thomes varieties, which are the best known, and plant a +few shagbark hickories. There are very few varieties to be had in the +shagbark. We don't know much about the Kirtland, although that is one of +the best nuts. We know little of the bearing records of these trees. I +leave this answer for emendation, addition or correction. + +DR. MORRIS: Has anybody any Kirtland hickories in stock grafted +for sale? + +MR. JONES: 100 to 150. + +DR. MORRIS: Have you any Weicker? + +MR. JONES: Yes, some are in stock for sale. + +DR. MORRIS: Hales's hickories? + +MR. JONES: No, not grown. + +DR. MORRIS: The Hales' nut is big, too coarse and not very +good. + +MR. JONES: The kernel is yellowish. + +DR. BRITTON: I would like to ask Dr. Morris what time of the +year he would advise pruning the Persian walnuts here in Stamford. + +DR. MORRIS: The editor of a horticultural journal at one time +set out to get opinions about the best time for pruning peaches. There +were opinions from all points as to whether peach trees should be +trimmed in winter, spring, summer or autumn, and summing up all of the +replies, the editor said, "We have come to the conclusion that the right +time to prune peach trees is when your knife is sharp." I presume that +that in a way will apply to almost all trees. Pruning the walnut trees +in the spring when sap is flowing freely would not be desirable, I +should think. Walnut trees need very little pruning. Very few of the nut +trees need pruning, excepting the hazels. These need to be pruned in +order to put them in good head. And possibly some of the hickories, but +for the most part I doubt if pruning is desirable, save for broken +branches. I leave that to Mr. Jones. + +DR. BRITTON: The reason why I asked the question is that when +we were carrying on this investigation with the walnut weevil, we found +that when branches were cut early in the spring there was nearly always +a bad wound that did not heal over. It died back around the place. But +when we cut branches later, from the first to the middle of June, when +the growth was taking place, it healed over very smoothly without +leaving any bad scars, and I was wondering whether that happened over +the region where the Persian walnut was grown. + +DR. MORRIS: I am glad to have that observation that the wounds +did not granulate and heal well. I have noticed that the shag bark +hickory cannot be cut well for scions in the spring without injuring the +rest of the limb on the tree. I have cut back the Taylor tree's lower +branches, in order to cut off scions, and almost every branch from which +I have cut scions is dead or dying. That is perhaps in line with the +observation of Dr. Britton. Some of the juglandaciae cannot be cut in +the spring. + +MR. JONES: I have found that in cutting scions of walnut trees +when the sap is running the tree bleeds and makes a bad wound and +doesn't heal over. It dies back. But if you cut those any time in the +winter when you have say two or three days without freezing, they will +not bleed then nor in the spring when the sap comes up. Also, if cut +after the growth is well started, they won't bleed very much. + +MR. WEBER: Are back numbers of the Journal available? + +THE SECRETARY: All of our reports. + +MR. WEBER: I would suggest for the benefit of uninitiated +persons that they get the back numbers, also send to each of the +accredited nurserymen and get a copy of each, catalogue and then study +the back numbers and the catalogues. They will be pretty well posted, as +all the nut catalogues are well illustrated and contain a great deal of +information, and it will take them out of the realm of hazy knowledge +they now have on the subject. + +MR. JONES: The Government has some excellent bulletins in line +with this work. + +MR. SMITH: I would like to get some information about spring +and fall planting in Massachusetts. + +A MEMBER: I advise planting in the spring. Where the ground +freezes heavily in the winter, plant in the spring. In the South you +don't have any injury from cold. + +MR. WEBER: I have planted trees in the fall and the tops +winter-kill down to the grafts. I had them wrapped and still they were +winter-killed, or else the wrapping killed them. Persian walnuts and +Indiana pecans. They threw a good shoot in the spring, however, and made +a very good growth. + +I move that a vote of thanks be extended to the local committee for +making this convention a success, and a rising vote of thanks to show +Dr. Morris the appreciation of the convention. + +The convention thereupon adjourned. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +I report on soft shell almonds as follows: + +In February, 1914, I ordered from Armstrong Nurseries, Ontario, +California, the following trees: + + 10 four to six ft. Jordon Almond trees + 10 four to six ft. I. X. L. Almond trees + 10 four to six ft. Ne Plus Ultra Almond trees + +The trees were shipped in March of the same year and healed in until +May. The farm on which these trees were planted is situated on the south +shore of Lake Ontario, in Wayne County, New York. This district is a +large producer of peaches and apples. The trees were planted twenty feet +apart in a sandy loam soil in line with a young apple orchard. This soil +is especially adapted to peach growing. The entire orchard was given +clean cultivation with intercrops until the Spring of 1917. For two +years potatoes were grown among the trees, and for one year cabbage. The +land was limed and fertilized with both natural and chemical +fertilizers. Cultivation of the tree rows stopped about the 1st of +August, the intercrops about the 15th of September. For the year 1917 +the trees were grown in sod. The trees were pruned similar to the peach +trees, and have made somewhat less growth than a peach tree would make +under the same conditions. + +The lake on the boundary of the farm tempers the climate conditions of +this location so that the opening of the season is about two weeks later +than the average, and the date of the first frost is two to three weeks +later. On this account the trees have had a better opportunity to ripen +the wood for the winter period after cultivation ceases. During these +winters the thermometer has gone as low as four degrees below zero +without winter killing those trees which survived. Six trees of the +thirty originally planted are now living. All others died the first +winter after being set out. Unfortunately, the trees were not labeled at +the time of getting out so I am unable to indicate what varieties lived +through. Of the six trees living, three blossomed scantily this year, +but all the blossoms proved false. I think there is no particular cause +for discouragement on this account, as we have the same experience with +peach trees. That is, they often bear a number of blossoms the first +year, and none of them come to maturity. All the trees appear to have +buds for next year. Some of these should develop into blossoms, and +unless there is a frost after the blossoms come out in the spring of +1918, there may be some nuts produced. The final test as to whether or +not these trees can be brought into bearing, will come next spring. The +site upon which the trees are planted, as mentioned before, on account +of the proximity of the lake, is more favorable than most locations for +peach growing, and if the experience of the peach growers in New York +State is any index, there would be little opportunity for success with +almond trees, except under similar conditions. + M. E. WILE. + +I am pleased to advise that the hardy soft shell pecan trees I have +planted in Virginia, and the hardy English walnut trees are all growing +finely. I find it just as easy to get a budded pecan tree to grow as it +is to get an apple tree to grow. I am telling my friends about this all +over Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee as well as Virginia. They +have planted a good many trees and all report favorably. + +My advice is to plant pecan and English walnut trees as they are just as +beautiful and useful for shade as any other kind, and in addition to +this they will produce a large amount of the healthiest and most +nutritious of food for the human family. + +I am very much indebted to the Northern Nut Growers Association for the +knowledge obtained along this line. You can rest assured that I will try +and pass it along as I go. + JOHN S. PARRISH. + + + + +ATTENDANCE + + + R. T. Olcott, Rochester N. Y. + Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Reed, Washington, D. C. + Irwin R. Waite, Stamford, Ct. + Prof. W. O. Filley, State Forester, Connecticut. + Prof. Record, State College of Forestry. + A. C. Pomeroy, Lockport, N. Y. + S. M. McMurran, Washington, D. C. + Harry E. Weber, Cincinnati, Ohio. + Fitch A. Hoyt, Stamford, Conn. + Wm. H. Bump, Stamford, Ct. + Wilber F. Stocking, Stratford, Ct. + J. A. Seitz, Greenwich, Ct. + L. C. Root, Stamford, Ct. + John Rick, Redding, Pa. + F. A. Bartlett, Stamford, Ct. + J. F. Jones, Lancaster, Pa. + R. H. G. Cunningham, Stamford, Ct. + Col. C. A. Van Duzee, Cairo, Ga. + John H. Hohener, Rochester, N. Y. + C. L. Cleaver, Hingham, Mass. + Fred A. Smith, Hathorne, Mass. + Dr. Lewis H. Taylor, Washington, D. C. + W. H. Druckemiller, Sunbury, Pa. + W. G. Bixby, Brooklyn, N. Y. + Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Ridgway, Lumberton, N. J. + Miss Marie Brial, Stamford, Ct. + J. E. Brown, Elmer, N. J. + A. M. Heritage, Elmer, N. J. + Dr. R. T. Morris, N. Y. City. + T. P. Littlepage, Washington, D. C. + Gray Staunton, Stamford, Ct. + J. L. Glover, Shelton, Ct. + Dr. E. F. Bigelow, Stamford, Ct. + Prof. W. N. Hutt, Raleigh, N. C. + Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Lewis, Stratford, Ct. + H. W. Collingwood, New York City. + Dr. J. H. Kellogg, Battle Creek, Mich. + Dr. and Mrs. W. C. Deming, Georgetown, Ct. + Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Mikkelsen, Georgetown, Ct. + Paul M. Barrows, Stamford, Ct. + G. W. Donning, North Stamford. + Mrs. Payson Irwin, Stamford, Ct. + Noble P. Randel, Stamford, Ct. + + + * * * * * + + +~Vincennes Nurseries~ + +W. C. REED, Proprietor. + +VINCENNES, INDIANA, U. S. A. + +PROPAGATORS AND INTRODUCERS + + _Budded and Grafted Pecans, Hardy Northern Varieties_ + _English (Persian) Walnut Grafted on Black Walnut_ + _Best Northern and French Varieties_ + _Grafted Thomas Black Walnut_ + + _Grafted Persimmons, best sorts_ + _Hardy Almonds_ + _Filberts and Hazelnuts_ + + _Also General Line Nursery Stock_ + +SPECIAL NUT CATALOGUE ON REQUEST + + + * * * * * + + +~STABLER~ + +~BLACK WALNUT TREES~ + +If you would provide for the future beauty of your lawn or roadside, +plant at least a few trees of the new Stabler Black Walnut. Its +luxuriant fern-like foliage and its weeping twigs make it unique among +shade trees--its thin-shelled nuts and heavy bearing habit put it at the +top of the list as a nut producer. The only black walnut that yields a +whole kernel when cracked. + +ORDER NOW FOR SPRING DELIVERY. + +My trees, if you plant them in a fertile spot, will surprise you by +their growth. + +Fine Grafted Trees $1.50 to $2.00. + +~HENRY STABLER~ + +HANCOCK, MD. + + + * * * * * + + +~CHESTER VALLEY NURSERIES~ + +ESTABLISHED 1853 + +Choice Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Cherry Trees on Mazzard Roots, Hardy +Evergreens, Flowering Shrubs, Hedge Plants, etc. Originators of the +~THOMAS BLACK WALNUT~ + +~JOS. W. THOMAS & SONS King of Prussia P. O., MONTGOMERY CO., PENNA.~ + + + * * * * * + + +~CHESTNUT TREES~ + +Best Varieties Grown. Grown in section free from blight. Descriptive +Pricelist. + +E. A. RIEHL, GODFREY, ILL. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Northern Nut Growers Association +Report of the Proceedings at the Eighth Annual Meeting, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHERN NUT GROWERS *** + +***** This file should be named 19050.txt or 19050.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/0/5/19050/ + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, E. Grimo, Janet +Blenkinship and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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