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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/23656-8.txt b/23656-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7b89fb4 --- /dev/null +++ b/23656-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6874 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Northern Nut Growers Association, Report of +the Proceedings at the Third Annual Meeting, by Northern Nut Growers Association + +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 Third Annual Meeting + Lancaster, Pennsylvania, December 18 and 19, 1912 + +Author: Northern Nut Growers Association + +Release Date: November 28, 2007 [EBook #23656] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NNGA REPORT, 1912 *** + + + + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Janet Blenkinship +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://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 THIRD ANNUAL MEETING + +LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA DECEMBER 18 and 19, 1912 + +THE CAYUGA PRESS ITHACA, N. Y. + +1913 + + +[Illustration: PROFESSOR JOHN CRAIG + +A FOUNDER OF THE ASSOCIATION + +_Died 1912_] + + + * * * * * + + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS + + + Officers and Committees of the Association 3 + + Members of the Association 4 + + Constitution and Rules of the Association 8 + + Proceedings of the Meeting held at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, + December 18 and 19, 1912 9 + + Address of Welcome by the Mayor of Lancaster 9 + + Response by Mr. Littlepage 11 + + President's Address. The Practical Aspects of Hybridizing Nut Trees. + Robert T. Morris, New York 12 + + Fraudulent and Uninformed Promoters. T. P. Littlepage, Indiana 22 + + Recent Work on the Chestnut Blight. Keller E. Rockey, Pennsylvania 37 + + Some Problems in the Treatment of Diseased Chestnut Trees. Roy G. + Pierce, Pennsylvania 44 + + Nut Growing and Tree Breeding and their Relation to Conservation. J. + Russell Smith, Pennsylvania 59 + + Beginning with Nuts. W. C. Deming, New York 64 + + The Persian Walnut, Its Disaster and Lessons for 1912. J. G. Rush, + Pennsylvania 85 + + A 1912 Review of the Nut Situation in the North. C. A. Reed, + Washington, D. C 91 + + Demonstration in Grafting. J. F. Jones, Pennsylvania 105 + + Some Persian Walnut Observations, Experiments and Results for 1912. + E. R. Lake, Washington, D. C 110 + + The Indiana Pecans. R. L. McCoy, Indiana 113 + + + Appendix: + + Report of Secretary and Treasurer 116 + + Report of Committee on Resolutions 117 + + Report of Committee on the Death of Professor John Craig 119 + + Report of Committee on Exhibits 120 + + The Hickory Bark Borer 122 + + + Miscellaneous Notes: + + Members Present 124 + + List of Correspondents and Others Interested in Nut Culture 124 + + Extracts from Letters from State Vice-Presidents and Others 138 + + + + + OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION + + President T. P. Littlepage Indiana + Secretary and Treasurer W. C. Deming Georgetown, Conn. + + + COMMITTEES + + _Executive_ + Robert T. Morris + W. N. Roper + And the Officers + + _Promising Seedlings_ + T. P. Littlepage + C. A. Reed + W. C. Deming + + _Hybrids_ + R. T. Morris + J. R. Smith + C. P. Close + + _Membership_ + W. C. Deming + G. H. Corsan + W. N. Roper + + _Nomenclature_ + W. C. Reed + R. T. Morris + W. C. Deming + + _Press and Publication_ + W. N. Roper + T. P. Littlepage + W. C. Deming + + + STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS + + Canada Goldwin Smith Highland Creek + Colorado Dr. Frank L. Dennis Colorado Springs + Connecticut Charles H. Plump West Redding + Delaware H. P. Layton Georgetown + Florida H. Harold Hume Glen St. Mary + Georgia G. C. Schempp, Jr. Albany + Illinois Dr. F. S. Crocker Chicago + Indiana R. L. McCoy Lake + Iowa Alson Secor Des Moines + Kentucky A. L. Moseley Calhoun + Louisiana J. F. Jones Jeanerette + Maryland C. P. Close Washington, D. C. + Massachusetts Bernhard Hoffmann Stockbridge + Michigan Miss Maud M. Jessup Grand Rapids + Minnesota C. A. Van Duzee St. Paul + New Hampshire Henry N. Gowing Dublin + New Jersey Henry Hales Ridgewood + New York A. C. Pomeroy Lockport + North Carolina W. N. Hutt Raleigh + Ohio J. H. Dayton Painesville + Oklahoma Mrs. E. B. Miller Enid + Oregon F. A. Wiggins Toppenish + Panama B. F. Womack Canal Zone + Pennsylvania J. G. Rush West Willow + Texas C. T. Hogan Ennis + Vermont Clarence J. Ferguson Burlington + Virginia W. N. Roper Petersburg + West Virginia B. F. Hartzell Shepherdstown + + +MEMBERS OF THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION + + Abbott, Frederick B., 419 9th St., Brooklyn, N. Y. + Armstrong, A. H., General Electric Co., Schenectady, N. Y. + Arnott, Dr. H. G., 26 Emerald St., South, Hamilton, Canada. + Barron, Leonard, Editor The Garden Magazine, Garden City, L. I. + Barry, W. C., Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y. + Benner, Charles, 100 Broadway, N. Y. City. + **Bowditch, James H., 903 Tremont Bldg., Boston, Mass. + Button, Herbert, Bonnie Brook Farm, Cazenovia, N. Y. + Browne, Louis L., Bodsbeck Farm, New Canaan, Conn. + Butler, Henry L., Gwynedd Valley, Pa. + Casper, Norman W., Fairlawn, New Burnside, Ill. + Chalmers, W. J., Vanport, Pa. + Chamberlain, W. O., 300 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis, Minn. + Clendenin, Rev. Dr. F. M., Westchester, N. Y. City. + Close, Prof. C. P., Expert in Fruit Identification, U. S. Dept. + of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. + Cole, Dr. Chas. K., 32 Rose St., Chelsea-on-Hudson, N. Y. + Coleman, H. H., The Northwestern Mutual Life Ins. Co., Newark, N. J. + Corsan, G. H., University Gymnasium, Univ. of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. + Crocker, Dr. F. S., Columbus Memorial Bldg., Chicago, Ill. + Dayton, J. H., Painesville, Ohio. Rep. Storrs & Harrison Co. + Decker, Loyd H., Greeley, Col., R. 5, Box 11. + Deming, Dr. N. L., Litchfield, Conn. + Deming, Dr. W. C. Georgetown, Conn. + Deming, Mrs. W. C. Georgetown, Conn. + Dennis, Dr. Frank L., The Colchester, Colorado Springs, Col. + Ellwanger, W. D., 510 E. Ave., Rochester, N. Y. + Ferguson, Clarence J., Rep. Eastern Fruit & Nut Orchard Co., + 144 College St., Burlington, Vt. + Fischer, J., Rep. Keystone Wood Co., Williamsport, Pa. + Fullerton, H. B., Medford, L. I. + Gowing, Henry N., Dublin, N. H. + Gschwind, Geo. W., 282 Humboldt St., Brooklyn, N. Y. + Haberstroh, Arthur L., Sharon, Mass. + Hale, Mrs. Geo. H., Glastonbury, Conn. + Hall, L. C. Avonia, Pa. + *Hales, Henry, Ridgewood, N. J. + Hans, Amedée, Supt. Hodenpyl Est., Locust Valley, L. I., N. Y. + Harrison, J. G., Rep. Harrison's Nurseries, Berlin, Md. + Hartzell, B. F., Shepherdstown, W. Va. + Haywood, Albert, Flushing, N. Y. + Hicks, Henry, Westbury Station, L. I., N. Y. + Hildebrand, F. B., 5551 Monroe Ave., Chicago, Ill. + Hoffman, Bernhard, Stockbridge, Mass. + Hogan, C. T., Ennis, Texas. + Holden, E. B., Hilton, N. Y. + Holmes, J. A., 127 Eddy St., Ithaca, N. Y. + Hopper, I. B., Chemical National Bank, N. Y. City. + Hume, H. Harold, Glen Saint Mary, Fla. + Hungerford, Newman, 45 Prospect St., Hartford, Conn. + **Huntington, A. M., 15 W. 81st St., N. Y. City. + Hutt, W. N., Raleigh, N. C. + James, Dr. W. B., 17 W. 54th St., N. Y. City. + Jaques, Lee W., 74 Waverly St., Jersey City Heights, N. J. + **Jones, J. F., Jeanerette, La., & Willow St., Pa. + Jessup, Miss Maud M., 440 Thomas St., Grand Rapids, Mich. + Keely, Royal R., 1702 Mt. Vernon St., Philadelphia, Pa. Walpole, + Mass., Box 485. + Koch, Alphonse, 510 E. 77th St., N. Y. City. + Lake, Prof. E. R., Asst. Pomologist, Dept. of Agriculture, + Washington, D. C. + Layton, H. P., Georgetown, Del. + Leas, F. C, 400 So. 40th St., Philadelphia, Pa., and Bala, Pa. + Littlepage, T. P., Union Trust Bldg., Washington, D. C, and + Boonville, Ind. + Loomis, Charles B., E. Greenbush, N. Y. R. D. 1. + Lovett, Mrs. Joseph L., Emilie, Bucks Co., Pa. + Malcomson, A. B., 132 Nassau St., N. Y. City. + Mayo, E. S., Rochester, N. Y. Rep. Glen Brothers. + McCoy, R. L., Ohio Valley Forest Nursery, Lake, Spencer Co., Ind. + Meehan, S. Mendelson, Germantown, Phila., Pa. Rep. Thos. Meehan & Sons. + Miller, Mrs. E. B., Enid, Oklahoma, R. Box 47 1-2. + Miller, Mrs. Seaman, Care of Mr. Seaman Miller, 2 Rector St., N. Y. + McSparren, W. F., Furnice, Pa. + Magruder, G. M., Medical Bldg., Portland, Oregon. + Morris, Dr. Robert T., 616 Madison Ave., N. Y. City. + Moseley, A. L., Bank of Calhoun, Calhoun, Ky. + Moses, Theodore W., Harvard Club, 27 W. 44th St., N. Y. City. + Niblack, Mason J., Vincennes, Ind. + Nichols, Mrs. F. Gillette, 129 E. 76th St., N. Y. City, and + E. Haddam, Conn. + Patterson & Taylor, 343 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, Ill. + Pierson, Miss A. Elizabeth, Cromwell, Conn. + Plump, Chas. H., West Redding, Conn. + Pomeroy, A. C., Lockport, N. Y. + Potter, Hon. W. O., Marion, Ill. + Reed, C. A., Div. of Pomology, U. S. Dept, of Agriculture, + Washington, D. C. + Reed, W. C., Vincennes, Ind. + Rice, Mrs. Lilian McKee, Barnes Cottage, Carmel, N. Y. + Rich, William P., Sec'y Mass Horticultural Society, 300 Mass. Ave., + Boston. + Ridgway, C. S., "Floralia," Lumberton, N. J. + Riehl, E. A., Alton, Ill. + Roper, Wm. N., Arrowfield Nursery Co., Petersburg, Va. + Rose, Wm. J., 413 Market St., Harrisburg, Pa. + Rush, J. G., West Willow, Pa. + Schempp, G. C., Jr., Albany, Ga. Route 3. + Secor, Alson, Editor Successful Farming, Des Moines, Iowa. + Sensenig, Wayne, State College, Center Co., Pa. + Shellenberger, H. H., 610 Broadhead St., Easton, Pa. + Shoemaker, Seth W., Agric. Ed. Int. Corresp. Schools, Scranton, Pa. + Smith, E. K., 213 Phoenix Bldg., Minneapolis, Minn. + Smith, Goldwin, Highland Creek, Ontario, Canada. + Smith, J. Russell, Roundhill, Va. + Smith, Percival P., 108 S. LaSalle St., Chicago, Ill. + Tuckerman, Bayard, 118 E. 37th St., N. Y. City. + Turner, K. M., 1265 Broadway, N. Y. City. + Ulman, Dr. Ira, 213 W. 147th St., N. Y. City. Farm, So. Monsey, Rockland + Co., P. O., Address, Spring Valley, N. Y. + Van Duzee, Col. C. A., St. Paul, Minn, and Viking, Fla. + Walter, Dr. Harry, Hotel Chalfonte, Atlantic City, N. J. + Wentink, Frank, 75 Grove St., Passaic, N. J. + White, H. C., DeWitt, Ga. + Wiggins, F. A., Rep. Washington Nursery Co., Toppenish, Wash. + Wile, Th. E., 1012 Park Avenue, Rochester, N. Y. + Williams, Dr. Charles Mallory, 48 E. 49th St., N. Y. City, and + Stonington, Conn. + Williams, Harrison, Gen. Land & Tax Agt., Erie R. R. Co., 50 Church St., + N. Y. City. + **Wissmann, Mrs. F. DeR., 707 Fifth Ave., N. Y. City. + Womack, B. F., Ancon, Canal Zone, Panama. + Wyman, Willis L., Park Rapids, Minn. + + * Honorary Member. + ** Life Member + + + + +CONSTITUTION AND RULES OF THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION. + + +_Name._ The society shall be known as the NORTHERN NUT GROWERS +ASSOCIATION. + +_Object._ The promotion of interest in nut-producing plants, their +products and their culture. + +_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 approval of the committee on membership. + +_Officers._ There shall be a president, a vice-president, and a +secretary-treasurer; an executive committee of five persons, of which +the president, vice-president and secretary shall be members; and a +state vice-president from each state represented in the membership of +the association. + +_Election of Officers._ A committee of five members shall be elected at +the annual meeting for the purpose of nominating officers for the +subsequent year. + +_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. + +_Fees._ The fees shall be of two kinds, annual and life. The former +shall be two dollars, the latter twenty dollars. + +_Discipline._ The committee on membership may make recommendations to +the association as to the discipline or expulsion of any member. + +_Committees._ The association shall appoint standing committees of three +members each to consider and report on the following topics at each +annual meeting: first, on promising seedlings; second, on nomenclature; +third, on hybrids; fourth, on membership; fifth, on press and +publication. + + + + +NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION + +THIRD ANNUAL MEETING + +DECEMBER 18 AND 19, 1912 + +AT LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA + + +The third annual meeting of the Northern Nut Growers Association was +held in the Court House at Lancaster, Pa., beginning December 18, 1912, +at 10 A. M.; President Morris presiding. + +The Chairman: The meeting will be called to order. We have first an +address by the Mayor of Lancaster, Mayor McClean. (Applause.) + +Mayor McClean: Ladies and gentlemen of the Northern Nut Growers +Association: + +The Mayor of a city of the size of this, in which conventions meet so +frequently, is so often called upon to make a speech that the prospect +of having to do so causes him some disturbance of mind, not only on the +day of the delivery of the speech but for many days preceding; but I +confess that the invitation to come here today has had no such effect on +me. I am very glad to meet and mix up with the members of this +organization. The evolutionists tell us where we came from; the +theologians, where we are going to; but no matter how much we may differ +as to the theories of these respective leaders of thought, upon one +thing we can all agree and that is that we are here. You ladies and +gentlemen representing the Northern Nut Growers Association are here to +interchange opinions and discuss questions which have to do with the +greater success of the very useful industry, the youthful and useful +industry, in which you are engaged. I am here as the Mayor of this +goodly town to tell you that you are not looked upon as intruders; that +we will be blind when you help yourselves to our wine flasks, but that +we will not be deaf should you ask for more. I am thoroughly in sympathy +with the purpose of this organization, understanding it to be the +encouragement of the planting of nut bearing trees in order that an +addition to our present food supply may be provided; and that much waste +land, now profitless, may be taken up and converted to practical and +profitable uses; and further that through the medium of such tree +planting and tree care as you propose, landscape embellishment in +greater degree than that which now exists may be provided. We hear very +much about conservation these days and it seems to me that the +proposition which you advance is conservation in a very worthy and very +high degree. The soil and climate of Lancaster County seem to be +peculiarly adapted to the growing of trees bearing nuts and fruits, and +I am sure that the result of this convention will be to stimulate +locally a very great interest in this worthy undertaking. You have +chosen wisely in selecting Lancaster as the place for this meeting, +because we feel and we are satisfied that you will agree, after you have +been here a few days, that this was the town that Kipling had in mind +when he wrote of the town that was born lucky. (Laughter.) Here you will +find all the creature comforts, everything that makes for the pleasure +of existence, good food and good water, and if there be any of you who +have a liking for beverages other than water, it may be some consolation +to you to know that in this vicinity the mint beds are not used for +pasture, the punch bowls are not permanently filled with carnations, the +cock-tail glasses show no signs of disuse and the corkscrew hangs within +reach of your shortest member. (Laughter.) We are a great people over +this way. Perhaps you are not aware of that, but we bear prosperity with +meekness and adversity with patience. We feel that we can say to you, +without boasting, if you seek a pleasant country, look about you. You +may not know it, but it is a fact and the United States census reports +ever since census reports have been made will prove it, that the annual +valuation of the agricultural products of the county in which you now +sit exceeds that of any other county in all this great nation. +(Applause.) Another bit of local history may surprise you when I tell +you that the combined deposits of the banks of Lancaster County +approximate the enormous amount of fifty million dollars, that they are +larger than the total deposits of any one of seven states in the Union +that I can name and that they exceed the combined deposits of two of +those seven states. But I don't want to take up your time with a +recitation of local history, because I feel that your Lancaster +colleagues will give you all the information, and I don't want to spoil +their pleasure in giving it by anticipating them. I congratulate you +upon the success of this convention. I applaud the purpose for which you +are united. I felicitate you upon your achievements up to this time, and +predict for you a greater measure of usefulness and advantage in the +time to come, which usefulness and advantage, let me suggest, can be +made yours more promptly, certainly more surely, by your proceeding upon +the principle that whatever is of benefit to the organization as a whole +must be of benefit to each of its members, either directly or +indirectly. I trust that you will go on with this good work and +stimulate enthusiasm in your purpose in a nation wide way, working +together with one common object, proceeding under the motto of the Three +Guardsmen of France, "One For All and All For One." I now extend to you +the freedom of the city. Roam where you will. Just one bit of advice I +have to give. Contrary, perhaps, to general report, this is not a slow +town and therefore you are in more danger of being run down than run in. +(Laughter.) I will not follow the time honored practice of handing you +the keys of the city, for the reason that when I heard you were on the +way, I had the old gates taken off the hinges in order that your +incoming might be in no way impeded. (Laughter.) And now, in the name of +the city of Lancaster, its heart filled with the sunny warmth of July, I +bid you welcome and promise that we will try to extend to you a +hospitality as generous as golden October. (Applause.) + +The Chairman: Will Mr. Littlepage please respond to the Mayor's kindly +address of welcome? + +Hon. T. P. Littlepage: Mr. President: On behalf of the members of the +Northern Nut Growers Association, I desire to thank the Mayor very +cordially for his delightful words of welcome to this city. We feel that +the words haven't any strings to them, such as were indicated in a +little poem I noticed the other day, which said that a young man took +his girl to an ice cream parlor and she ate and she ate and she ate +until at last she gave him her heart to make room for another plate. +(Laughter.) There apparently isn't anything of that in the cordial +welcome which we have received here to this great County of Lancaster. I +know now after hearing the Mayor's discourse upon the great resources of +this county, why it was that a young fellow who had rambled out into the +West and happened to drop into an old fashioned protracted meeting, when +asked to come up to the mourners' bench, objected somewhat, and finally +when they said, "Well, young man, you've got to be born again;" replied, +"No, it isn't necessary, I was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania." +(Laughter and applause.) I understand now why the young man was so +sanguine, why it wasn't necessary to be born again, even under the +auspices of the Great Spirit. It is very gratifying indeed to be in the +midst of a great county of this kind that has made one of the great +basic industries so successful. It takes three things to make a really +great nation; it takes great natural resources, it takes great policies +and it takes great people. We have nations in this world where the +resources, the possibilities of agriculture and all lines of human +endeavor are as unlimited, almost, as ours, but they haven't the people +and in the cases where they have people of the right kind, they haven't +adopted the policies. It takes those three things for any county, any +state or any nation to be really great, and it is indeed gratifying to +those of us who believe in the highest development, the best for +humanity, to come into a county where the people, through their +industry, their policies of advancement, have made that county one of +the best farmed agricultural counties in the United States; and that is +saying a great deal when you consider the greatness of this nation and +her immense wealth and resources. It is indeed gratifying to all of us +who are spending some time and some effort to further somewhat the +advancement of the country along horticultural lines, to be met with a +cordial welcome and to come into this community that has so highly +developed her various resources: so, on behalf of this Association and +all its members, even the members that are not here, those of them who +might, if they desired, take advantage of the Mayor's corkscrew and +carnation bowl, I thank the Mayor and thank the citizens of this County +and say that we are delighted to be among you. (Applause.) + +The Chairman: We will now proceed with the regular order of business. As +my paper happens to be placed first on the list, through the methods of +the Secretary, I will ask Mr. Littlepage to kindly take the chair while +I present notes on the subject of hybridizing nut trees. + + + + +THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF HYBRIDIZING NUT TREES + +DR. ROBERT T. MORRIS, NEW YORK + +[Illustration: DR. ROBERT T. MORRIS OF NEW YORK + +_First President of the Association, 1911 and 1912_] + + +In the experimental work of hybridizing nut trees, we soon come to learn +that a number of practical points need to be acquired before successful +hybridizing can be done. This is a special field in which few have taken +part as yet, and consequently any notes upon the subject will add to +the sum total of the knowledge which we wish to acquire as rapidly as +possible. First, in collecting pollen; it is important to shake our +pollen into dry paper boxes. If we try to preserve the pollen in glass +or in metal, it is attacked by various mould fungi and is rapidly +destroyed. We have to remember that pollen consists of live cells which +have quite as active a place in the organic world as a red squirrel, and +the pollen grains need to breathe quite as much as a red squirrel needs +to breathe. Therefore they must not be placed in glass or metal or +tightly sealed. Further, the pollen grains need to be kept cool in order +to avoid attacks from the greatest enemy of all organic life, the +microbes or the lower fungi. Probably we may keep pollen for a longer +time than it could ordinarily be kept, if it is placed in cold storage, +but practically I have tried the experiment on only one occasion. Last +year I wished to cross the chinkapin with the white oak. The white oak +blossoms more than a month in advance of the chinkapin in Connecticut, +and the question was how we could keep the white oak pollen. Some of it +was placed in paper boxes in cold storage; some in paper boxes in the +cellar in a dry place. Pollen which had been kept in the cellar and +pollen which had been kept in cold storage were about equally viable. It +is quite remarkable to know that pollen can be kept for more than a +month under any circumstances. Hybridization occurred in my chinkapins +from this white oak pollen. Sometimes, where the flowering time of such +trees is far apart, it is important to know how we may secure pollen of +one kind for the female flowers of the other. Two methods are possible. +In the first place, we may secure pollen from the northern or southern +range of a species for application upon pistillate flowers at the other +end of the range of that species. Another way is to collect branches +carrying male flowers before the flowers have developed, place them in +the ice house or in a dark, cold room without light until the proper +time for forcing the flowers, and if these branches are then placed in +water, the water changed frequently as when we are keeping flowers +carefully, the catkins or other male flowers will develop pollen +satisfactorily a long time after their natural time of furnishing +pollen, when they are brought out into the light. In protecting +pistillate flowers from the pollen of their own trees, with the nut tree +group where pollen is wind-borne rather than insect borne, I find that +the better way is to cover the pistillate flowers with paper bags, the +thinner the better, the kind that we get at the grocery store. It is +best to pull off the undeveloped male flowers if they happen to be on +the same branch with the female flowers, and then place the bags over +the female flowers at about the time when they blossom, in advance of +pollination of the male flowers. It is not safe to depend upon pulling +off the male flowers of an isolated tree and leaving the female flowers +without bags to protect them from pollen of the same species or of +allied species, for the reason that wind may carry pollen to a great +distance. One of Mr. Burbank's critics--I am sorry he has so many, for +they are not all honest or serious--one of his critics, in relation to +the crossing of walnuts, said that it was due to no particular skill on +the part of Mr. Burbank, for, whenever the wind blew from the east, he +regretted to say that his entire orchard of Persian walnuts became +pollinized from the California black walnuts nearly half a mile away. +This is an exaggeration, because the chances are that most of the +Persian walnuts were pollenized from their own pollen, but in the case +of some Persian walnuts blossoming early, and developing female flowers +in advance of male flowers, pollen might be carried to them from half a +mile away in a high wind from California black walnut trees. Black +walnut pollen would then fertilize pistillate flowers of the Persian +walnut. I have found this a real danger, this danger of wind-pollination +at a distance, much to my surprise. Last year I pollinized one or two +lower branches of female flowers of a butternut tree which had no other +butternut tree within a distance of a good many rods, so far away that I +had no idea that the pollen would be carried from the tree with male +flowers to the one which happened to have female flowers only that year; +consequently I placed pecan pollen on the female flowers of the lower +branches of this butternut tree without protecting them with bags, and +left the rest of the tree unguarded. There were no male flowers on that +butternut tree that year. Much to my surprise, not only my pollinized +flowers but the whole tree bore a good crop of butternuts. This year, on +account of the drought, many of the hickory trees bore female flowers +only. I do not know that it was on account of the drought, but I have +noted that after seasons of drought, trees are apt to bear flowers of +one sex or the other, trees which normally bear flowers of both sexes. +This year a number of hickory trees bore flowers of one sex only, and I +noted that some shagbark trees which had no male flowers had fairly good +crops of nuts from pollen blown from a distance from other trees. I had +one pignut tree (H. Glabra) full of female flowers which contained only +one male flower, so far as I could discover and which I removed. On one +side of this tree was a bitternut; on the other side a shagbark. This +tree bore a full crop of pignuts, (Hicoria glabra) evidently pollinized +on one side by the bitternut and on the other side by the shagbark These +points are made for the purpose of showing the necessity of covering the +female flowers with bags in our nut tree hybridizations. We must +sprinkle Persian insect powder inside the bags or insects will increase +under protection. When we have placed bags over female flowers, it is +necessary to mark the limb; otherwise, other nuts borne on neighboring +limbs will be mistaken for the hybridized nuts unless we carefully place +a mark about the limb. Copper wire twisted loosely is, I find, the best. +Copper wire carrying a copper tag with the names of the trees which are +crossed is best. If I mark the limb with string or with strong cord I +find there are many ways for its disappearance. Early in the spring the +birds like it so well that they will untie square knots in order to put +it into their nests. Later in the season the squirrels will bite off +these marks made with cords for no other purpose, so far as I know, +except satisfying a love of mischief. Now I am not psychologist enough +to state that this is the reason for the action of the red squirrel, and +can only remember that when I was a boy I used to do things that the red +squirrel now does. (Laughter.) Consequently, on that basis, I traced the +psychology back to plain pure mischief. Red squirrels and white footed +mice must be looked after with great care in our hybridized trees. If +the squirrels cannot get at a nut that is surrounded by wire cloth, they +will cut off the branch and allow it to fall to the ground and then +manage to get it out. White footed mice will make their way through +wire, and mice and squirrels will both manage to bite through wire cloth +unless it is very strong in order to get at the nut. The mere fact of +nuts being protected by wire cloth or in other ways seems to attract the +attention of squirrels. One of my men, a Russian, said, in rather broken +English, "Me try remember which nuts pollinized; no put on wire, no put +on tag, no put on nothing; squirrel see that, see right straight, bite +off one where you put sign for him." (Laughter.) The best way for +keeping squirrels and white footed mice from ascending a tree, I find is +by tacking common tin, slippery smooth tin, around the trunk of the tree +and this may be left on only during the time when squirrels are likely +to ascend the tree. They will begin long before the nuts are ripe. In +the case of hazel nuts, I have surrounded the bushes with a wire fence +or wire mesh, leaving a little opening on one side, and have placed +steel traps in the opening. Now here enters a danger which one does not +learn about excepting from practical experience. I went out one morning +shortly after having thought of this bright idea and found two gray +squirrels in the traps. They had followed their natural instinct of +climbing when they got into the steel traps, and climbing wildly had +broken off every single branch from those hazels which carried +hybridized nuts. There wasn't one left, because the squirrels when +caught had climbed into the trees and had so violently torn about with +trap and chain that they had broken off every single branch with a nut +on it. So many things happen in our experiments that appeal to one's +sense of the ludicrous, if he has a sense of humor, that I assure you +nut raising is a source of great delight to those who are fond of the +drama. + +The field of hybridizing nut trees offers enormous prospects. We are +only just upon the margin of this field, just beginning to look into the +vista. It has been done only in a limited way, so far, by crossing +pollen and flowers under quite normal conditions. We may look forward to +extending the range now of pollinization from knowledge based upon the +experiments of Loeb and his followers in biology. They have succeeded in +developing embryos from the eggs of the sea urchin, of the nereis, and +of mollusks, without spermatozoa. Their work has shown that each egg is +a single cell with a cell membrane and it is only necessary to destroy +this cell membrane according to a definite plan to start that egg to +growing. Life may be started from the egg in certain species without the +presence of the other sex. This may lead us into a tremendous new field +in our horticultural work. We may be able to treat germ cells with acids +or other substances which destroy the cell membrane so as to allow +crossing between very widely separated species and genera. Loeb, by +destroying the cell membrane of the sea urchin, was enabled to cross the +sea urchin with the star fish, and no one knows but we may be able, +following this line of experimentation, eventually to cross the shagbark +hickory with a pumpkin and get a shagbark hickory nut half the size of +the pumpkin. That is all! (Applause.) + + * * * * * + +(President Morris then took the chair.) + +The Chairman: Please let me add that the hickory pumpkin idea is not to +be taken seriously. That is a highly speculative proposition. I have +found some times that, in a very scientific audience, men who were +trained in methods of science, had very little selvage of humor,--little +margin for any pleasantry, but this highly speculative suggestion, +curiously enough, is not in fact more speculative than would have been +the idea twelve years ago that you could hatch an egg, start an egg to +development--without fertilization. + +Mr. Hutt: I would like to ask how widely you have been able to cross +species? + +The Chairman: It has been possible to cross species of hazels freely +with the four species that I have used, the American hazel, Corylus +Americana; the beak hazel, Corylus rostrata; the Asiatic, Corylus +colurna, and Corylus pontica. These apparently cross readily back and +forth. With the hickories I think rather free hybridization occurs back +and forth among all, but particularly in relation to groups. The +open-bud hickories, comprising the pecan, the bitternut, the water +hickory, and the nutmeg hickory, apparently, from my experiments, cross +much more readily among each other than they cross with the scale-bud +hickories. The scale-bud hickories appear to cross much more freely +among each other than they cross with the open-bud hickories; not only +species but genera may be crossed, and I find that the walnuts +apparently cross freely with the open-bud hickories and the open-bud +hickories cross with the walnuts. I have thirty-two crosses between the +bitternut hickory and our common butternut, growing. All of the walnuts +apparently cross rather freely back and forth with each other. I have +not secured fertile nuts between the oaks and chestnuts, but I believe +that we may get fertile nuts eventually. The nuts fill well upon these +two trees fertilized with each others' pollen respectively, but I have +not as yet secured fertile ones. We shall find some fertile crosses I +think between oaks and chestnuts, when enough species have been tried. + +Mr. Hutt: Do you notice any difference in the shapes of any of those +hybrids, the nuts, when you get them matured and harvested? Do they look +any different from the other nuts on the tree? + +The Chairman: There isn't very much difference, but I seem to think that +sometimes the pollen has exercised an influence upon the nuts of the +year. Theoretically it should not do so, but I noticed one case +apparently in which I crossed a chinkapin with a Chinese chestnut, and +the nuts of that year seemed to me to present some of the Chinese +chestnuts' characteristics. + +Mr. Hutt: This year I crossed a number of varieties of pecans and in +nearly all those crosses there was to me quite an evident difference in +the nuts. For instance those gathered off certain parts of a pecan tree +of certain varieties, Schley or Curtis or Frotscher, would be typical +nuts, but those hybrids or crosses that I produced were distorted, more +or less misshapen and seemed to have peculiarities; so that when we came +to look over the colony we were in doubt whether they were hand +pollinated hybrids or had been pollinated before we got the blossoms +covered. Many of them evidenced a great number of distortions, and one +of them I remember particularly whose shell was so thin it was just like +a piece of brown paper; and there were several peculiarities that were +quite noticeable in those hand pollinated nuts. + +The Chairman: That is a very interesting point. When we come to consider +deformities of nuts we shall find very many cases due to the character +of the pollinization. I crossed the Persian walnut with the shagbark +hickory and had nuts that year of just the sort of which Mr. Hunt +speaks, with shells as thin as paper. One could crush them with the very +slightest pressure of the finger. The shells were not well developed. +Unfortunately the mice happened to get at all of those nuts. I don't +know if they were fertile or not. The kernels were only about half +developed. I should look for deformity in these nuts rather than a +taking on of the type of one parent over the other, the idea being based +on theoretical biological considerations. We had last year a photograph +of a tree in California which apparently was a cross, a very odd +cross--does any one remember about that California tree? + +Mr. Wilcox: It was a cross between Juglans Californica and the live oak. + +The Chairman: Both the foliage and the nuts were very remarkable and +pertained to characters of these two trees. Such a cross to my mind +would be wholly unexplainable excepting on the ground recently brought +out by Loeb and his followers in crossing the lower forms of animal life +and finding that the cell membrane of the egg, if destroyed, will allow +of very wide fertilization subsequently with other species. It occurs to +me now--I had no explanation last year, but it occurs to me now, +knowing of Loeb's experiments--that it is possible that one of the +parents, the parent California oak tree carrying the female flowers, +might have had its sex cells subjected to some peculiar influence like +acid, sulphurous acid, for instance, from some nearby chimney. +Sulphurous acid perhaps from someone merely lighting a match to light a +cigar under the tree; he might have so sensitized a few female flowers, +may have so injured the cell membrane of a few female germ cells that +cross pollinization then took place from a walnut tree. It is only on +some such ground as the findings of Loeb that we can explain such a very +unusual hybridization as that, which appeared to me a valid one, of a +cross between an oak and a walnut. + +(Secretary Deming then called attention to hybrids in the various +exhibits.) + +Professor Smith: I should like to ask why, if this free hybridization +takes place in nature among the hickories, you do not have a perfect +complex of trees showing all possible variations in the forest. + +The Chairman: In answer to Professor Smith's question I will start from +his premises and remark that we do have such complexities. The hickories +are so crossed at the present time, like our apples, that even crossing +the pollen of various hickory trees of any one species does not promise +interesting results unless we cross an enormous number. They are already +so widely crossed that it is very difficult sometimes to determine if a +certain tree is shagbark or pignut or shellbark or mockernut. For the +most part the various species and varieties of hickories retain their +identity because their own pollen is handiest, and different species do +not all flower at the same time. Their own pollen from the male flowers +is apt to fall at the time when their own female flowers are ripe and +under these circumstances the chances are very much in favor of the tree +pollinizing its female flowers with its own pollen. On the other hand, +there is hardly one chance in many hundred thousand for any crossed nut +to grow, for the reason that most nuts are destroyed by mice, squirrels, +rats and boys. If you have a hickory nut tree growing in a lot, and +which has produced a bushel of hickory nuts year after year, do you know +of one single nut from that tree which has grown? In this plan of +Nature, this plan of enormous waste of Nature in order to get one seed +to grow, the chance for a hybridized hickory nut to grow under normal +conditions, is so small that we should have relatively few crossed +trees growing wild in Nature, though we do find quite a good many of +them. + +Professor Smith: If I am not taking up too much time, I would like to +put some more questions to you. + +The Chairman: That's what we are here for. + +Professor Smith: Have you ever tried the plan of serving collations to +squirrels? Why wouldn't it pay to give them portions of wheat and corn? +Second, what percentage of the oak pollen kept in cold storage a month +was alive? Third, what is the range of time that the hybridizer has to +make the pollinization? Must we go on the dot or have we two days or +four days or a week, in the case of hickories and walnuts? + +The Chairman: I think possibly as these are three direct questions, I +might answer them now. No, I think it would be better to have all +questions bearing on this subject brought out and then I will answer all +together. So if you will kindly ask all the questions, I will then +endeavor to answer them. + +Mr. Corsan: The squirrels bothered me last year. I've got forty acres of +land for experimental purposes only and I started planting and the +little beggars would dig down exactly where I planted the nuts, so I +went into town and got a rat trap with a double section so I could catch +them alive; and I caught so many by feeding them cheap pignuts, the +sweet pignuts from Michigan, that I brought them in and my boys sold +them for twenty-five cents apiece. Since then we have never been +bothered with red squirrels. For the white footed mice I laid down large +doors over some hay or long grass and they gathered underneath and then +I lifted the doors up every day and with a stick I smashed hundreds of +them. I have posted a notice to leave the skunk and mink alone; I don't +want anybody on the place shooting them. + +The Chairman: I will first answer Professor Smith's questions. This +matter of serving collations for squirrels had best be done as +collations are served at political meetings--with a trap attached. You +don't know how many squirrels there are in the vicinity or how many +white footed mice. You will be surprised at the numbers of the little +rascals, and not only that, but the field mice, the common field mouse +and pine mouse run in mole holes under the ground and can smell a nut a +long way off. They are extremely destructive. What percentage of pollen +grains of the white oak were alive? I do not know. Enough to fertilize +a number of flowers. The sooner pollen is used the better. I cannot +answer the question exactly because I did not make an experiment in the +laboratory to know what part of the pollen was viable. I put on a good +deal of it and there were at least some viable grains in the lot. That, +however, is a matter which can be subjected to exact laboratory tests +without any difficulty. I am so busy with so many things that I can only +follow the plan of the guinea hen that lays forty eggs and sits in the +middle of the nest and hatches out all she can. Now the range of time +for pollinizing is a thing of very great importance and we have to learn +about it. We must all furnish notes on this question. With some species +I presume the duration of life of pollen, even under the best +conditions, might be only a few days. Under other conditions it may be +several weeks; but we have to remember that, in dealing with pollen, we +are dealing with a living, breathing organism. + +The Secretary: I believe the experiment has been carried to completion +of fruiting a thousand trees from nuts grown on one pecan tree without +two of the resulting nuts being like one another or like the parent nut. +Is that true, Mr. Reed. + +Mr. Reed: Yes, you might say ten thousand. + +The Secretary: We have an illustration of the variability of the progeny +of a nut in this collection of chestnuts by Mr. Riehl out in Illinois. +This is a parent nut, the Rochester, and these others are seedlings from +the Rochester, except where marked otherwise, some showing a tendency to +revert to the parent, and some promising to be improvements on the +parents. + +The Chairman: Mr. Secretary, I think we'd better confine ourselves to +the hybrid question at the present time. + +The Secretary: Are not those all hybrids? + +The Chairman: I don't believe any man can tell, unless you get the +flowers, because you have the American and European types merging +together so perfectly. Some of them show distinctly the European type; +others show distinctly the American type. That is what I would expect, +however. The practical point is the question of quality. Which one keeps +the American quality and which one retains the coarseness of the +European type? + +Mr. Harris: Speaking of variations of nuts I think it is well known that +there is quite a variation in the nuts of the oak. I noticed in one +species, michauxii, which is an oak in the South, that its nuts varied +a great deal. It is something of the type of the chestnut, the white oak +or the rock oaks and it varies a great deal. + +I found one on my father's range in New Jersey and also one on the +Potomac. The variations extend to the trees as well as the nuts. + +The Chairman: The oak tree properly belongs in another tree group and +some of the acorns are not only edible, but first-rate. In China there +are at least three species found in the markets to be eaten out of hand +or roasted. Our white oaks here, some of them, bear very good fruit, +from the standpoint of the boy and the pig, anyway, and it seems to me +that we may properly include the oaks in our discussion. There would be +great range in variation of type from hybridization between oak trees +and I have seen a number of oak trees that were evidently hybrids, where +the parentage could be traced on both sides, that were held at very high +prices by the nurserymen. I asked one nurseryman, who wanted an enormous +price for one hybrid oak, why he didn't make ten thousand of those for +himself next year? It hadn't occurred to him. + +If there is no further discussion in connection with my paper we will +have Mr. Littlepage's paper on Nut Promotions. + +Mr. Littlepage: Dr. Deming said that he thought it might be time that we +have something just a little lighter--that either he should read a paper +or I. (Laughter.) Inasmuch as he included himself, I took no offense +whatever. The subject I have written on, roughly and hurriedly, is +Fraudulent and Uninformed Promoters. + + + + +FRAUDULENT AND UNINFORMED PROMOTERS + +T. P. LITTLEPAGE, WASHINGTON, D. C. + +[Illustration: MR. T. P. LITTLEPAGE + +OF INDIANA + +_President of the Association_] + +In the beginning, let me assert my confidence and interest in +agriculture in general. This is one of the basic industries, upon the +proper understanding and growth of which depends the food supply of the +nation. It is admitted by scientists that, other conditions being equal, +an adequacy or inadequacy in the supply of proper food makes the +difference between great people and undesirable people. This being true, +the various operations of agriculture must always be of the greatest +concern to those who are interested in the nation's welfare. + +The "back-to-the-farm" movement is being discussed today in various +periodicals, but back of the "back-to-the-farm" movement is a philosophy +that has not been generally understood. It is not proper here to take +time to discuss the reasons why the man in the "steenth" story of some +magnificent office building, with telephones, electric lights, +elevators, and all modern conveniences, longs for the time when he can +roam again amidst the green fields in the sunshine and fresh air, but +suffice it to say that in my judgment a majority of the professional +men, and men in other walks of life, would, if they could, abandon their +various employments and turn again to the soil. The boy on the farm +dreams of the days when he can be the president of a bank, have a home +in the city, own an automobile, smoke good cigars and go to the show +every night. The bank president dreams of the day when he can turn again +to the farm and walk in the green fields, where he can shun the various +artificial activities of life, drink buttermilk and retire with the +chickens. + +It may be asked what connection these statements have with the subject, +and the answer is this--that in the minds of many thousands of people +there is this supreme desire to some day own a portion of God's +footstool to which they can retire from artificial and vainglorious +environments to those under which they can be their real selves and +follow pursuits to their liking. It is this that makes it possible for +the promoter of various horticultural enterprises to succeed in +interesting in his schemes the clerk, the merchant, the doctor, the +lawyer, the school teacher, the preacher, and all others whose +occupations confine them within the limits of the great cities. + +In the beginning, let us distinguish between the fraudulent promoter and +the uninformed promoter. The fraudulent promoter is he who recognizes +this great and worthy ambition of many people to buy a spot to which +they can some day retire and work and rest and dream and enjoy the +coming and going of the seasons, and the sunshine and the shadows, and +who capitalizes this ambition, with that industry as his stock in trade +which, at the particular moment, happens to offer the most attractive +inducements. Those familiar with the industry he is exploiting, can tell +him by his actions, by his words, by his nods and winks. It is hard for +the crook to disguise himself to the informed. + +Distinguished from the fraudulent promoter is the uninformed promoter, +but, so far as results are concerned, there is not much difference +between them for the innocent investor. They both lead him to failure. +They are unlike only in this, that the pathway of the one is lined with +deception, crookedness and chicanery; of the other, with blasted hopes +based upon good intentions but bad information. Both lead to the +self-same sepulcher which in the distance looks white and beautiful but +when reached is filled with the bones of dead men. + +There is not much difference after all, when one comes right down to the +facts, between the crook who starts out deliberately to get one's money +and the fellow who starts out in ignorance and makes great promises of +returns that he knows nothing about. Both succeed in getting one's money +and both succeed in misleading those who have a desire to lay aside +something for their old days. We naturally feel more charity for him who +has good intentions, but who fails, than for him who starts out with bad +intentions. But, after all, only results count. + +Did you ever receive the literature of one of these various concerns +that has pecan or apple orchards to sell? How beautiful their schemes +look on paper! With what exquisite care they have worked out the +pictures and the language and the columns of figures showing the +profits! While writing this article I have before me a prospectus of a +certain pecan company that prints columns of attractive figures. +Fearful, however, that the figures would not convince, it has resorted +to all the various schemes of the printers' art in its portrayal of the +prospective profits from a grove set to pecans and Satsuma oranges, and +it tells you in conclusion that it guarantees by a bond, underwritten by +a responsible trust company, the fulfillment of all its representations. +Yet what are the facts? Their lands are located in a section where the +thermometer falls to a point that makes highly improbable the profitable +growing of Satsuma oranges. And all their figures are merely estimates +of the wildest character, printed in attractive columns, based upon +nothing. + +As a member of the National Nut Growers Association I was this year +chairman of the committee on orchard records. I sent out blanks, with +lists of questions, to many prominent nut growers to see if I could +secure data upon which to base a report to the association. The replies +I received showed the existence of some very promising young orchards of +small size, well cared for, but they also showed that there was no such +thing as an intelligent report upon which reliable data as to the +bearing records of orchards could be based for any future calculations. +There are two reasons for this. First, most of the figures we have are +based upon the records of a few pet trees around the dooryard or garden, +grown under favorable conditions. Second, the young groves are not yet +old enough for anyone to say, with any degree of accuracy, what the +results will be. Therefore, the alluring figures printed in these +pamphlets are only guesses. + +Furthermore, what of the contract of these concerns? What does it +specify? You would be surprised to know the legal construction of one of +these contracts, together with their guaranty bond. In most cases they +advertise to plant, and properly cultivate for a period of five to seven +years, orchards of the finest varieties of budded or grafted pecan +trees, with Satsuma oranges or figs set between. But the guaranty +company is usually wise enough to have lawyers who are able to advise +them of their liabilities, and about all they actually guarantee is +that, after a period of five years, provided all payments have been +promptly met, there will be turned over to the purchaser five acres of +ground with trees upon it. Five years old? No, they may not be one year +old. Budded or grafted? No, they may be mere seedlings. Oranges set +between them? No, the orange has passed out of the proposition before +the bond stage. The companies generally print a copy of the bond, but +usually in such small type that the victim does not read it, though the +heading is always prominent. It thunders in the index and fizzles in the +context. + +Moreover, suppose suit is brought on one of these contracts and bonds? +What is the measure of damages? What basis has any court or jury for +fixing damages? And be it remembered that courts do not exist for the +protection of fools against their folly. The principle "caveat emptor" +is as old as the common law itself, and it means that the buyer must +beware, or in other words, that he should inform himself, and that he +cannot expect the courts to protect him where he has failed to exercise +due caution and diligence. Therefore, as a lawyer, I should very much +hesitate to take on a contingent fee the suit of one of these various +victims against a promoting orchard corporation. + +However, in any jurisdiction where there is a criminal statute against +fraudulent representation and obtaining money under false pretenses, I +should not hesitate, if I were the prosecuting attorney, to indict every +member of such a corporation, and, to sustain the case, I would simply +present to a jury of honest men the representations in their advertising +literature, and then have the court instruct the same jury as to the +validity and limitations of their contract. Their advertising is +brilliant enough to dazzle the sun. Their contract is as dull as a mud +pie. + +In addition to all of this comes the question of orcharding by proxy, +and the success of the unit or acreage system, and many other similar +questions; and let me say that I doubt if there is today in the United +States one large development scheme, either in pecan or apple orchards, +that will prove of ultimate financial profit and success to the +purchaser. The promoter may get rich--he has nothing at stake. In most +instances he has the price of the land in his pocket before there is a +lick of work done on it, and the payments come in regularly and promptly +to take care of his salary and the meager and unscientific development. + +Of course I would not be understood as saying that pecan or apple +orchards cannot be made profitable. I am of the opinion that reasonable +sized orchards in proper locations and proper soil, of proper varieties, +with proper care in handling, are good investments, and, as proof of my +confidence, I am planting orchards both in the north and south. The +adjective "proper" which I have used here may seem insignificant at the +start but, believe me, before you have begun to clip the coupons off +your orchard bonds this adjective will loom up as important as Webster's +Unabridged Dictionary. In fact you will wonder how it has been possible +for anyone to forecast in one word such comprehensive knowledge. Think +of a man a thousand miles away putting money into the hands of some +unknown concern, for five acres of unknown land, to be set in unknown +varieties of trees, to be cared for by unknown individuals. Can he not +see that, in keeping with all the other unknown factors, his profits +must also be unknown? + +We look at a great industrial enterprise, such as the steel trust, and +marvel at its success. But it must be remembered that this industry +started many years ago, and step by step built furnace after furnace and +mill after mill, after the owners had tried out and become familiar with +all the factors of that industry, and after great corps of trained +experts had been developed, and after science had given to this industry +many of the most marvelous mechanical inventions of the age. These facts +are overlooked, however, when some fellow steps up and proposes to put a +steel-trust-orchard on the market in twelve months. In most industrial +enterprises there are well-known and established factors to be +considered. In horticultural enterprises, however, no man knows what +twelve months hence will bring. I read the other day with great +interest the prospectus of a great pecan orchard started several years +ago by a very honorable and high-minded man, and the promises of success +were most alluring. What are the facts? The boll weevil came along and +wiped out his intermediate cotton crops. The floods came later and +destroyed acres of his orchards, and, if he were to write a prospectus +today, it would no doubt be a statement of hope rather than a statement +of facts. He would no doubt turn from the Book of Revelations, where at +that time he saw "a new heaven and a new earth," and write from the Book +of Genesis, where "the earth was without form and void." + +How many people have been defrauded by these various schemes, no one +knows. How many clerks, barbers, bookkeepers, stenographers, students, +preachers, doctors, lawyers, have contributed funds for farms and future +homes in sections where they would not live if they owned half of the +county. How many people have been separated from their cash by +literature advertising rich, fertile lands in sections where the +alligator will bask unmolested in miasma for the next fifty years, and +where projects should be sold by the gallon instead of by the acre. + +Some time ago it was reported that inquiries in reference to the +feasibility and profits of various orchard schemes had come in to the +Bureau of Plant Industry of the Agricultural Department, at Washington, +in such numbers that the officials of that Bureau had considered the +advisability of printing a general circular, which they could send to +the inquirers, advising them to make due investigation, and giving a few +general suggestions about proxy farming and orchard schemes. I was +advised by a friend in the middle west that the contemplated issuance of +this circular by the Bureau of Plant Industry had aroused a number of +protests throughout the country, and that various Senators and Members +of the House of Representatives had entered strong protests with the +Secretary of Agriculture against it. A number of these protests have +come to my notice, and they take various forms of opposition, but are +all unanimous against the Department of Agriculture offering to the +prospective purchaser any information. Various reasons for their stand +were given by the protestants, but how flimsy and ridiculous they are +when analyzed. Congress for a number of years has been appropriating +money and authorizing certain work by the Department of Agriculture. It +is the people's money, and the people's Department, and the information +gathered by the experts in this Department ought to be the people's +information, and it ought to be possible for any citizen to write the +Department a letter about any proposition that he has received from any +of these various promoters, and have the advice of those who know most +about it. + +I suppose the Department of Agriculture has entirely too many duties to +perform to undertake a work of this kind, but what an inconsistent +position it is for a Member of Congress, who has been voting for +appropriations to carry on this work, to appeal to the Secretary of +Agriculture to suppress such information in order that some exploiter +may get somebody's money under false representations. I think if it were +possible today to know the list of concerns and companies who +registered, directly or through agents, their opposition to this +proposed warning circular, you would have a correct index of the +concerns good to let alone. For no honest, reputable individual or +company need be afraid of the work or suggestions of that great +Department. I have the pleasure of knowing many of the officials in the +Bureau of Plant Industry, and never anywhere have I seen a body of men +so conscientiously engaged in the work of promoting legitimate +horticultural and agricultural knowledge. It is the very life of that +great Department, and its officers and employees above everyone else are +most interested in seeing the land produce the most and best that it can +be made to produce, and they are best qualified to pass upon these +matters. + +Most of the questions in these various schemes are questions of soil and +horticulture. One letter in opposition to the Agricultural Department's +attitude, that was brought to my attention, stated that crops varied +under different conditions, and that no one was able to tell what a +certain soil would or would not produce throughout a period of years, +and intimated that the Department of Agriculture might mislead the +public; and yet the concern that sent it printed columns of figures +guaranteeing returns from pecans and Satsuma oranges in a section where +orange growing is of very doubtful possibility. Boiling down these +objections by the promoters, they come to simply this: That the +Agricultural Department, with no motive but to tell the truth, and with +its corps of trained experts, might mislead the public, but they (the +promoters) could not possibly be mistaken in their fabulous figures +compiled for the purpose of getting money from some misinformed victim. + +Proxy farming never was a success and I do not think it ever will be. +One of my friends told me a short time ago of a very successful young +pecan orchard on the gulf coast. Upon inquiry I found that it was of +reasonable size, nine years old, and that the owner had lived in it nine +years. It was not 500 acres in extent, or 1,000 acres, or 2,000 acres, +but about 20 acres. Last summer I went into a beautiful apple orchard in +Southern Indiana and saw about forty acres of trees bending to the +ground with delicious Grimes Golden apples. On that particular day there +were great crowds of people walking among the trees and admiring the +fruit. I too walked among the trees a short time, but of greater +interest to me than the trees was the old, gray-haired man who had made +the orchard. The trees could not talk, but he could, and he told the +story of the years of care, and diligence, and work, and thought, and +patience, that showed why it is not possible to cover the mountains of a +state with orchards bringing almost immediate and fabulous incomes. + +Some time ago I stood talking to the old superintendent of the Botanical +Garden in Washington--William R. Smith, now deceased--and while +discussing with him the requisites for tree culture, he said "Young man, +you have left out the most important one of them all," When I asked him +what I had left out, he said "above all things it takes the eye of the +master." So it does, and the master is he whose vigilance is continual, +who watches each tree as if it were a growing child--as indeed it is, a +child of the forests--who has the care and the patience, and who is not +dazzled by the glitter of the dollar, but who loves trees because they +are trees. + +Theoretically, one can figure great successes in big horticultural +development propositions, but these figures rest upon theory and not +fact. It would be difficult to state all the reasons why I have a firm +conviction that such big schemes of every kind will fall, but I believe +this conviction is shared by the foremost thinkers in the horticultural +world. A four-year-old boy was once taken to see the animals in a +circus. He was very much interested, but, when shown the tremendous +elephant, shook his head and said "he is too big." + +A small grove properly handled ought to be an excellent investment. The +various uncertainties and vicissitudes involved can, in a degree, be +compensated for by great care; and I suppose it would be possible even +with some of these big schemes--by placing enough money behind them--to +insure a fair degree of success. It must be borne in mind, however, that +these promoters, of whom we have been speaking, are not so much +concerned in the successful orchard as they are in big salaries and +profits, and, if one has money enough to pay big salaries and profits, +and still pay for the proper care of the orchard, then he does not need +an orchard. Most of these promoters charge too much for a proper and +honest development alone, and too little for the proper development plus +the profits and salaries of the promoters. I wish it were not so. I wish +the old earth could be made to smile bountiful crops without such +expensive tickling, but this is one of the checks and balances that +nature places upon her great storehouse of wealth. + + * * * * * + +The Chairman: This is a matter of very great importance and I hope we +shall have a good discussion, from a practical point of view, by men who +know about fraudulent promotions and their effect. We ought to go on +record in this matter right now. I know of numbers of teachers, doctors +and other poor people who have put money into nut promotion schemes +without knowing anything about the ultimate prospect of profit. + +Mr. Hutt: One noticeable thing about the promoter's literature is that +he never knows anything about crop failure, and in the agricultural and +horticultural world that is a thing that is painfully evident to a man +who has been in business a great length of time. In the promoter's +literature it is just a matter of multiplication; if one tree will +produce so much in a year, a hundred trees will produce a hundred times +as much. I got a letter the other day from Mr. S. H. James, of Beaumont, +Louisiana, and he said, "I have been very fortunate, I have actually had +two good crops in succession," and when you come to compare that with +the promoter's literature--why he knows no such thing as crop failure. +Anybody who knows anything about agricultural or horticultural work +knows that we have winter and floods and everything else to contend +with. + +The Chairman: Someone might tell us about failures they happen to know +of in promotion schemes. + +Mr. Smith: I would like to ask if Mr. Littlepage isn't going to open up +that barrel of actual facts that he has about yields? + +Mr. Littlepage: Mr. President, I didn't know that I had a whole barrel +of actual facts. When I started in several years ago a barrel wouldn't +have held all of them, but I think that now I could put the actual facts +in a thimble. I've got several barrels of good pecans, however, I'd like +to open up and let Mr. Smith sample if he wants to. + +The Chairman: Let's hear about frauds from someone who knows how the +land was managed and how the trees were managed and how it actually +occurred. + +Mr. Van Duzee: Mr. President, I feel that I ought to say something, +first in commendation of the paper itself. It is a question how far we, +as an Association, are responsible for the care of our fellowmen, but at +this period when the industry is new, I feel that it is a very +legitimate thing for us to do a little work to try and prevent these +people from preying upon our fellowmen. The president remarked this +morning that something was an evidence of the tremendous waste in +Nature. It is true, Nature, in building a forest, wastes a vast amount +of time and energy. These people who are preying upon the nut industry +today find as their victims the weaklings which Nature buries in the +forest. Those things are incidental and we must expect them, but I feel +that a paper of this kind, at this time, is a very valuable thing and I +hope it will receive wide publication. We cannot say too much to +discourage this sort of thing. Now, to respond, in a measure, to the +President's request for actual facts, I am confronted with this +proposition, that some of the men who have made the greatest failures +are men who have done so through ignorance. They are honest men, they +are personal friends of mine. I don't care to go too much into details, +because they are just as sorry today as I am, but I have seen this done. +I have seen hundreds of acres of nut orchards in the South planted with +the culls from nurseries bought at a very low figure. I have seen these +trees neglected absolutely, not in one case but in many cases. I have +seen the weeds as high as the trees at the time when a telegram was +received by the the local agent that a carload of the purchasers of +these tracts was about to leave to look over their property. I have seen +the local manager hustle out, when he got that telegram, and hire every +mule in the community to come in and, with a plow, throw a furrow or two +to the rows of trees so that they could be distinguished from the weeds +they were growing among. As Mr. Littlepage has said, there can be no +success in such operations; and I feel, looking at it in a very broad +way, that this is a very good time to emphasize the point that those of +us who have the greatest experience in the growing of nut trees do not +feel that these enterprises are legitimate, or that they promise very +much success. (Applause.) + +Mr. Pomeroy: I live just a short distance from Buffalo. A few months +ago--I got it on the very best authority--there was some salesman in +Buffalo who didn't have time to call on all those who wanted to give him +money for pecan propositions. He didn't have time, Doctor, he just had +to skip hundreds of them, he said; he was just going from one place to +another, making his collections. Buffalo is a city of only about 450,000 +people and there must be some money being collected and sent in to +somebody. + +The Chairman: Very glad to hear of that instance; let's hear of others. + +Mr. Littlepage: I would like, if possible, to answer Mr. Smith's +question. I didn't know that he referred to facts about these +promotions, I thought perhaps he meant facts about nut growing. + +Mr. Smith: You said you had made inquiries as to nuts, harvest yields, +orchard yields; it was those, particularly, that I had in mind. + +Mr. Littlepage: Oh well, I could give those to you readily. There are +some very promising orchards, making a good showing under investigation, +handled under proper conditions and of proper size. I would not want to +say that those things are not possible. Talking specifically of these +overgrown schemes, one of them is recalled to my mind, a development +company in southern Georgia, that advertises very alluringly. It set out +one year a lot of culls; they all died. I am told that they went out the +second year and, without any further preparation, dug holes and set out +another lot of culls. They too died; and then they went out the third +year and planted nuts, and those trees, at the end of a year's growth, +were perhaps six or seven inches high, and the salesman from that +company, I understood, took one of the prospective purchasers over into +a fine grove owned by another man on the opposite side of the road, and +let him pick out his five acres from the orchard across the road. That's +one type I could multiply indefinitely. + +Mr. W. C. Reed: I think this is a very important matter. As a nursery +man who has sold a great many trees to promoting companies, I want to +say that I have never, with one exception, seen an orchard that has been +a success, but I have seen hundreds of failures, some of them where they +have set out orchards of 150,000 trees and sold them off in one and ten +acre tracts, and in only one case have I seen a success. I think these +promotions should be avoided by the nut growers of the North. + +The Chairman: This is very valuable information, coming from a dealer. + +Mr. Van Duzee: I have found this in the yields of my orchards. Six or +seven or eight years ago, I discounted every source of information that +I could have access to, as to yields, brought them to a conservative +point, submitted them to the best informed men in the United States, and +then divided those figures by five as my estimate of what I might hope +to accomplish as my orchards came into bearing. I have since been +obliged to find some excuses for failing to even approximate those +conservative figures. I had this year in our orchard, a 35 acre plot of +Frotscher trees which is one of the most promising varieties, six years +of age, and there were not five pounds of nuts in the whole plot. I have +had an orchard of 36 acres, mostly Frotscher and Stewart, go through its +sixth year with less than 200 pounds of nuts to the entire orchard. I +have another orchard of 30 acres which in its sixth year has produced +less than 100 pounds of nuts. Now many of these promoters guarantee to +take care of these orchards, which they are selling, for 10 per cent or +20 per cent, or even half the proceeds of those orchards, from the fifth +year. You can see readily that the entire crop of such orchards as I +have been able to produce, would not begin to pay their running expenses +the sixth and seventh year. + +The Chairman: You took good care of yours? + +Mr. Van Duzee: I think so. I think there are many gentlemen in the +audience who have been through them, and it is conceded that my orchards +are at least fairly good representatives of what can be done under +normal conditions. + +Mr. Corsan: Are yours southern orchards? + +Mr. Van Duzee: These pecan orchards are in south-western Georgia. + +Mr. Corsan: The Northern Nut Growers Association, as I understand, is a +collection of men who are interested in finding out what we can do in +the way of growing nuts for the North. We go to the markets and see +baskets of cocoanuts, Brazil nuts, California walnuts, but no nuts +growing for the market around our neighborhood. In my own city, Toronto, +I can see some nut trees because I look very closely at everything, but +the average person cannot see them because they are very few. I have a +number of experiments on hand. If I succeed in even one of these +experiments, I am satisfied to spend my whole life at it. I am not +nervous, I can watch a hickory tree grow. (Laughter.) I want to grow +some nuts for the next generation. I haven't the slightest thought of +making a copper of money out of it but I am going to enjoy the thing, +and that's the idea of the Northern Nut Growers Association, or else I +have made a mistake. + +The Chairman: Is there any further discussion on the matter of frauds? +Does anyone else wish to speak on this subject? + +Mr. Littlepage: It is indeed very gratifying to hear the President of +the National Nut Growers' Association, Col. Van Duzee, speak on this +subject and to have the honor of having him with us as a member of our +Association. It is gratifying to have him come out in such strong terms +on this question. It has always been his policy and his reputation, so +far as I have heard, to stand for what is best and squarest in nut +culture. + +The Chairman: The paper of Mr. Littlepage is one of very great +importance, because the number of frauds associated with an enterprise +is an indication of the fundamental value of the cause. These fraudulent +nut promoters capitalize the enthusiasm of people who want to get back +to the land, just as porters at the hotels capitalize the joy of a newly +married couple. (Laughter.) We have in this "back-to-the-land" movement, +a bit of philosophy of fundamental character which includes the idea of +preservation of the race. Preservation of the race!--why so? Nature made +man a gregarious species and, being gregarious, he has a tendency to +develop the urban habit. Developing the urban habit, he fails to oxidize +his proteins and toxins. Failing to oxidize his proteins and toxins, he +degenerates. Recognizing the degenerating influence of urban life, by +means of his intelligence he has placed within his consciousness that +automatic arrangement, as good as the automatic arrangement which turns +water on to a boiler, which says to him, "go out and oxidize your +proteins and toxins." That is what "back-to-the-land" means. You've got +to begin from this fundamental point. Now then, if this represents a +fundamental trait in the character of our species and we are acting in +response to a natural law, then must we be doubly careful about having +our good intentions, our good methods, halted by unwisdom. That brings +to mind the point made about our present Secretary of Agriculture. I am +very glad this has been made a matter of record here, for I am sorry to +say that in connection with another subject--(health matters)--wherever +there has been opportunity for the Secretary to act, he has decided as a +matter of policy on the side of capital and against the side of public +interest. Almost every time, so far as we have a record of the action of +the present Secretary of Agriculture and of Dunlap and McCabe, his +assistants. We ought to state here, in connection with fraudulent nut +promotions, that he has acted in favor of capital and against the public +interest if it is true. It ought to go as a matter of record from this +Association. We may be bold in this matter, but we should be righteously +bold because we are speaking for the public interest ourselves. We have +nothing to gain; there is nothing selfish about this organization. We +may be kindly and say that the Secretary is at the mercy of shrewder +men. + +Mr. Corsan says that we are interested in scientific work only. That is +true at the present time, because all progress must be from a scientific +basis. If our care in managing experiments is such that we cannot avoid +getting rich, we will accept the result. (Laughter.) I am glad that in +connection with this discussion Mr. Corsan made one epigrammatic +remark,--that he was not nervous and could watch a hickory tree grow. I +tell you there's a lot of wit in that. + +Mr. Littlepage: He has good eyesight, Mr. President. + +The Chairman: The reason why we have so many fraudulent promotions is +largely because of our American temperament; we are so nervous that we +can't watch a hickory tree grow. In matters of public health, our +Secretary of Agriculture has prevented actual criminals from being +brought to justice--he made that his policy. + +I think those are the points that I wish to make in commenting upon Mr. +Littlepage's paper and if he will make any concluding remarks we will be +very glad to hear them. In regard to Mr. Hutt's suggestion that we +cannot count on crop success or crop failure mathematically--now, there +are fortunes to be made from the proper management of good nut orchards. +We know of orchards where very large incomes are at present being made, +and I am very glad that the sense and sentiment of this meeting is +against quotation of that feature. I have not heard here one word in +quotation of orchards which bring incomes of $10,000 a year or more from +various kinds of nuts, and we know there are many such orchards. It is +the failures upon which we should concentrate our attentions right now, +and the reason for failure is not that nut growing is not going to make +progress but that we cannot count on our nuts from a mathematical basis. +One of my friends, an old Frenchman, became very enthusiastic about +raising poultry. He sent out requests for circulars to every poultry +fancier who published circulars, and I will wager that he got 50 per +cent of answers to his requests for circulars about fancy poultry. He +began to raise chickens, and my father-in-law met him on the street one +day and asked how he was getting on with his pullets that were going to +lay so many eggs. "Oh," he said, "Ze trouble is with ze pullet; she no +understand mathematique like ze fancier. If I have one pullet, she lay +one egg every day; if I have two pullet, _perhaps_ she lay two egg every +day, and if I have three pullet, she _nevaire_ lay three egg every day." +(Laughter.) Now I think that the remaining time this morning we had +better devote to the executive session, then we had better meet at two +o'clock for the election of our committee. The meeting then is at +present adjourned, with the exception of those who will take part in the +executive session, and we will meet again at two P. M. There is one +point I wanted to make in connection with Col. Van Duzee's remarks that +a certain number of really honest men have allowed their names to be +used in connection with promotion propositions. Men who are quite +skillful at learning the use of names, have gotten men of good +intentions and kindly interest, I know, to lend their names as even +officials of nut promotion companies. Besides that, a good deal of +garbled literature of recommendation has gone out in their circulars. I +have had a number of circulars sent to me quoting abstract remarks that +I had made relative to nut culture in general, and this has been applied +concretely in circulars; the context did not go with it. I asked a +lawyer what I could do about it, and after going over the question he +said that I probably was powerless. + +After announcements by the Secretary, the convention took a recess until +2 P. M., at which time it was called to order by President Morris and +the regular program was resumed as follows: + +The Chairman: The executive session will be held after the meeting, as +many are here to hear the paper on the chestnut blight, so we will +proceed at once to the order of business and listen to the first paper +by Mr. Rockey. + +Mr. Rockey: This paper deals more particularly with the work that has +been done in Pennsylvania. But what has been done here may be considered +to be typical of what has been done elsewhere. + + + + +RECENT WORK ON THE CHESTNUT BLIGHT + +KELLER E. ROCKEY + +Forester in charge of Demonstration Work, Pennsylvania Chestnut Tree +Blight Commission + + +The history of the blight, briefly outlined, is as follows: + +In 1904 the diseased condition of the chestnut trees around New York +City was noted and an examination of them showed that they were being +attacked by a disease at that time unknown. Investigations since then +have shown that the blight had been at work there and elsewhere for a +number of years before that time, but it has been impossible to +determine just when it first appeared or where. The disease was studied +and described at that time. + +On display here are specimens and photographs showing the appearance of +the blight so that I will not go into that part of the subject in +detail. I hope that you will notice, however, the symptoms by which the +disease is recognized: 1st. The small red pustules which produce the +spores and, on rough barked trees, appear only in the crevices. 2nd. The +peculiar mottled appearance of the inner bark of the canker. 3rd. The +discoloration of the outer bark. 4th. The danger signals, such as +withered leaves in summer or persistent leaves or burrs in winter, +suckers which develop at the base of cankers, and the yellowish cracks +which soon appear in the bark over the cankers. + +Workers in the Bureau of Plant Industry, Washington, D. C., have been +studying the blight since 1908. In the Spring of 1911, a bill creating +the commission for the investigation and control of the blight in +Pennsylvania was passed, and the active work began in August 1911. The +method upon which the Commission is working is outlined in Farmers' +Bulletin No. 467, of the Department of Agriculture, and consists briefly +of determining the area of blight infection and in removing diseased +trees west of a certain line, with the purpose of preventing the western +spread of the blight. + +This Commission has ascertained as accurately as possible the amount of +infection in the various parts of the state and the results are given in +a map on display here. The state is divided into two districts by a line +drawn along the western edge of Susquehanna, Wyoming, Columbia, Union, +Snyder, Juniata and Franklin Counties, which is approximately the +western line of serious blight infection. West of this line a large +portion of the state has been scouted, and the remainder will be +finished early in 1913. We have learned by experience that in the +winter, after the fall of the leaves, the best scouting work can be +done. Persistent leaves and cankers along the trunk are readily seen, +and more and better work can be accomplished than in the summer, except +when the snow is very deep. + +Blight infections have been found in counties adjacent to this line: +also in Fayette County, near Connellsville, in Warren County, near +Warren, and in Elk County, near St. Mary's. These three infections were +directly traceable to infected nursery stock, and in one case the blight +had spread to adjacent trees. A large area of diseased chestnut in +Somerset County illustrates the harm done by shipping infected nursery +stock. The centre of this infection is a chestnut orchard where about +100 scions from an infected eastern orchard were grafted to native +sprouts in 1908. The percentage of infected trees in the orchard from +which the scions were obtained, according to a count made this Fall, +averages 80 per cent. Evidently these scions brought the disease into +this region, for the grafts have all been killed by the blight and every +tree in the orchard is killed or infected by disease. On adjoining +tracts over 5,400 infected trees have been cut, and there are a number +of others in process of removal, radiating in all directions from the +orchard as a center to a distance of three miles. Another infection of +143 trees was found in Elk County. It is thought that three trees at the +centre of infection were diseased in 1909, although it is possible that +one of these trees was already infected in 1908. In 1910, 27 additional +trees were infected; in 1911, 50 additional trees, and in 1912, 228 +additional trees. The disease spread in all directions from the center +of infection to a distance of 700 feet. + +These infections are interesting in showing the rate at which the blight +may travel in healthy timber. + +These infections have all been removed and it is the expectation that by +the end of January 1913 all scattered spot infections will be removed +from the territory west of the line previously mentioned, and that, to +the best of our knowledge, these western counties will be free from +blight. In 1913 the field force will be concentrated on the advance line +and the work will be carried eastward. The Commission has the power to +compel the removal of infected trees. In the western part of the state +this power has been exercised in the few cases where it was necessary. +As a rule, however, the owners are not only willing but anxious to get +rid of the infected trees, and our field men are given hearty support by +individuals, granges and other organizations. The timber owners of Elk +County had printed and posted an announcement that the chestnut blight +had been found in the locality and warned the people to be on the +look-out for it. In addition the Commission has had a man, for a short +time at least, in each of the eastern counties of the state, and their +time has been taken up principally by those who requested inspections of +timber with the view of determining the percentage of blight infection +and the best method to be pursued in combating it and realizing on their +timber. Our men are all deputy wardens, with the authority which is +attached to this office, and are instructed to do their utmost to +prevent fire damage. + +An exhibit which consists of specimens showing the blight in various +stages together with photographs, literature, etc., was placed in about +30 of the county fairs throughout the state. The appreciation of the +public has been so clearly shown that next year it is the intention of +the Commission to continue and perhaps increase this phase of the work, +and to place large permanent displays at the Commercial Museum, +Philadelphia, the State Capitol, Harrisburg, and other places. + +Many of the Annual Teachers' Institutes have been reached with a display +and lecture. We have arranged also to have a speaker at fully one +hundred of the Farmers' Institutes this winter. We are also arranging to +have a permanent display at many of the public schools, normal schools +and colleges, where instruction on the blight is given. An effort was +made last winter to enlist the service of the boy scouts and we are +indebted to them for considerable work, chiefly in an educational way. +The successful outcome of all our work will depend in a large measure +upon the owners themselves, and it is our purpose to give them all the +information possible upon the whole subject. + +The Commission established a Department of Utilization which is +collecting information on the various industries which use or might use +chestnut wood, listing the buyers and owners of chestnut wood, thus +assisting owners of blighted chestnut trees in marketing their timber to +the best advantage. The Department is trying to increase the use of +chestnut wood by calling attention to its many good qualities, and thus +utilize the large quantity which must necessarily be thrown upon the +market. There has been more or less discrimination against blighted +chestnut timber. This has been in many cases unjust, since the blight +does not injure the value of the wood for most purposes for which it is +used. However, the owners sometimes fail to realize that the blight +cankers are the most favorable places for the entrance of the borers, +and that where a large number of trees are being considered, a +percentage of them will be materially injured by insects which follow +blight infection. Where telegraph poles are barked, it is often seen +that borers have attacked the wood under blight cankers, and have not +touched any other part of the tree. All blighted timber should be cut +before death to realize its best value, since insects and +wood-destroying fungi cause the very rapid deterioration of dead, +standing timber. There has been a good market in almost every locality +for poles, ties and the better grades of lumber. Cordwood presents the +difficult problem of disposal. The best market for this is in the +central part of the state, at the extract plants. The Commission has +secured from the Pennsylvania R. R. a special tariff on blighted +chestnut cordwood so that this product may be profitably shipped from +greater distances than before. + +The Commission has inspected all chestnut nursery stock shipped from +nurseries within the state and has also provided for inspection of all +chestnut stock entering the state. This should prevent a repetition of +infections in the western part of the state which might destroy millions +of dollars worth of timber. + +From time to time publications have been and will be issued by the +Commission, which are obtained free of charge upon request, or they may +be consulted in the leading libraries throughout the state. + +An appropriation for $80,000 was given by the last Congress for +scientific research work upon the blight disease and work is being +carried out in cooperation with the various states. Several of the +Government investigators are now at work upon our force. Some of the +most important unsolved scientific problems of the blight, as given by +Secretary Wilson, in his message, to Congress, are as follows:-- + +First, the relation of the disease to climate. + +Second, the relation of the parasite to the varying tannin content of +the tree. + +Third, the origin of the disease. + +Fourth, relation of birds and insects to the dissemination of the +disease. + +Fifth, the nature and degree of resistance of the Asiatic species. +Another problem in relation to tree treatment may be added, that is, the +relation of spores and mycelium to toxic agents. + +The Pennsylvania Commission maintained laboratories during the summer at +Charter Oak, Centre County, and at Mt. Gretna, Lebanon County. The +latter has been moved to Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, for +the winter. We have also had a laboratory at the University of +Pennsylvania, which has been greatly enlarged this fall. + +The number of people who informed us that they had discovered a sure +"cure" for the blight made it necessary to obtain an orchard near +Philadelphia where all such discoverers were given an opportunity to +demonstrate the efficacy of their remedies. It might be noted that in +every case the blight is thriving as usual. These cures consisted +largely of an injection of a toxic principle by some means into the +circulation of the tree. In some cases this was accompanied by a +fertilizer of some kind, and this fertilizer may account for the +apparently improved condition of the tree in some cases, after such +remedies were used, since the growth was increased and the leaves and +branches had a healthier appearance. This increased growth has not had +any appreciable effect upon the rapidity of spread of the blight +mycelium. As the experiments are not officially finished and recorded it +is too early to give any further data. Our pathologists have also +conducted experiments in this same line but no medicinal remedy or +fertilizer has yet been found. + +The varying chemical constituents of chestnut trees, principally tannic +acid, have often been suggested in regard to the origin and spread of +the blight. Investigators are now working along this line and we hope, +for valuable results before long. + +The origin of the disease, as already stated, is something of a mystery, +and there is as yet no generally accepted theory, although many people +have very pronounced views on the subject. Many puzzling facts have been +noted since investigating the disease in Pennsylvania, among them being +the large percentage of infection in eastern York and southern Lancaster +counties, the relative small percentage in certain localities around +which the blight is generally prevalent, and recent infections found in +Warren and other western counties, a great distance from what is known +as the western advance line of the disease. + +Our pathologists have reported some very interesting facts in regard to +the dissemination of the blight. In the preliminary report of the +summer's work at our field laboratories the results tend to show: + +First, the prolific ascospore stage is very important in causing the +spread of the blight, the spores at this stage being forcibly ejected +from the pustules and borne through the air for some distance. This +ejection of spores takes place under natural field conditions only when +the bark has been soaked by rain, but the expulsion of spores is also +dependent upon temperature conditions and ceases entirely at +temperatures from 42 to 46 degrees F. and below. + +Second, the wind plays a large part in local ascospore dissemination. + +Third, birds and insects (except ants) are apparently of very little +importance in the dissemination of the blight except in providing +wounds. Further investigations of the importance of ants is being made +during the present winter. + +Several kinds of beetles have been observed eating the pustules and are +in this way beneficial, since tests show that they digest and destroy +the spores. It has also been suggested by workers in the Bureau of +Entomology that such beetles, which are of several kinds, may be of +value in the attempt to control the disease. These are perhaps the only +natural enemies discovered to date. + +The proper classification of the chestnut blight fungus has also been +the subject of much discussion. Last winter specimens of what in +external characteristics appeared to be Diaporthe parasitica were found +in western Pennsylvania, Virginia and elsewhere, growing upon chestnut, +oak and other species. This condition was puzzling and the subject of +some controversy. It has been found, however, that this fungus, called +the "Connellsville fungus," is a distinct species closely related to the +true blight fungus, being, however, entirely saprophytic. Cultural +distinctions are apparent and the ascospores differ in size and shape so +that no further confusion need occur. + +Upon the question of immunity of certain kinds of Asiatic stock, there +is very little to report beyond what was known one year ago. In the +investigations made the work has been hampered by the fact that much of +the so-called Japanese stock is in reality a hybrid of European or +American species. In 1909, 45 Japanese seedling trees were set out at +Gap, Lancaster Co., for experimentation along this line. A recent +examination showed that 90 per cent are infected. Concerning the variety +or purity of this stock, I have not been informed. Our force as well as +others are at work upon the problem which will require many years' +study. + +Previous investigations seem to show that certain pure strains of +Japanese and Korean chestnut are resistant to the blight. Blight cankers +may be found upon them but they are less easily infected and suffer less +than the more susceptible varieties. With this as a working basis, +considering the results that have been attained in other fruit by +selection and hybridization, the situation is hopeful. Prof. Collins +said at the Harrisburg Conference in February that "There is no reason +to doubt that we may eventually see an immune hybrid chestnut that will +rival the American chestnut in flavor and the Paragon in size". + +In southern Europe chestnut orcharding is a well established and +profitable industry. In the United States chestnuts have been considered +a marketable commodity ever since the Indians carried them to the +settlements and traded them for knives and trinkets. The demand has +always exceeded the supply and at the present time about $2,000,000 +worth of nuts are imported from Europe annually. With the development of +the better varieties of the American nut has come an increased activity +in the United States and the chestnut orchard industry promises to +become one of very large importance. It has an added advantage that the +trees can be grown upon the poorer types of soil which are not adaptable +for farming or the raising of other fruit. + +At the present time there are in what is known as the blight area of +Pennsylvania, or eastern half of the State, about 100 orchards ranging +from 12 trees up to 400 acres in extent. These orchards are in varying +stages of blight infection, some of them being almost entirely free, due +to the attention which has been given them. In order to protect such +orchards the Commission is compelling the removal of infected trees +within a certain radius of them. + +As you know the blight has been a very serious factor in this industry. +Some of the orchards have been completely annihilated and the income +reduced from several thousand or more dollars per year to nothing. +Whether or not the blight will completely wipe out the orcharding +industry is a subject of large importance. Personally I believe that +chestnuts will be raised commercially in Pennsylvania in increased +abundance, and as the various phases of the blight subject are brought +to light, keeping the disease under control can be more easily +accomplished. At the present time this is being done in certain orchards +by the present methods of examining the trees often, treating each +infection, or removing the tree. If this policy is successfully pursued +for several more years it will demonstrate conclusively that chestnuts +can be grown in spite of the blight and this will mean an opportunity to +use vast areas of waste land in Pennsylvania and in the other states, in +a highly profitable manner. + + * * * * * + +The Chairman: The subject of the next paper is Some Problems in the +Treatment of the Chestnut. It will be presented by Mr. Pierce, after +which we will have a general discussion of the entire subject. + +Mr. Pierce: Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen: I see that, as we wrote +our papers separately, some of the things I had in mind will be similar +to those Mr. Rockey had. + + + + +SOME PROBLEMS IN THE TREATMENT OF DISEASED CHESTNUT TREES + +BY ROY G. PIERCE + +Tree Surgeon, Pennsylvania Chestnut Tree Blight Commission + + +The problems that present themselves to the growers of chestnut trees +concerning the present disease may be summed up under three heads: +first, what the disease is, how it is caused, and how it may be +recognized; second, what is to be done with diseased trees to bring them +to health or to prevent them from infecting other healthy trees nearby; +third, what means in the future can be undertaken to keep a tree +healthy, that is, to prevent reinfection. + +First, what the disease is, how it is caused, and how it may be +recognized. The disease known as the chestnut tree blight is caused by +the fungus, _Diaporthe parasitica_, which usually finds entrance to the +tree through wounds in the bark. The mycelium or mass of fungous +filaments gradually spreads through the bark in much the same manner as +mold spreads over and through a piece of bread, even penetrating the +wood to a depth of sometimes five annual rings. The spread of the +fungus, resulting in the cutting off of the sap flow, is the immediate +cause of the wilting and dying of the leaves and branch above the point +of girdling. This wilting of the leaves, followed later by the death of +one branch after another as the fungus spreads, has given rise to the +term "blight" of the chestnut trees. + +The danger signals which the chestnut tree displays when diseased are +not a few. In summer, when the tree is first affected, the leaves turn +yellow-green and wilt, later turning brown. Small burs and withered +leaves retained in winter are some signs of the diseased condition of +the tree. At the base of the blighted part a lesion, or reddish brown +canker, is usually found. This lesion may be a sunken area or, as is +frequently the case, a greatly enlarged swelling, known as a +hypertrophy. After a branch has become completely girdled sprouts or +suckers are very apt to be found below the point of girdling. In old +furrowed bark on the main trunk of the tree the presence of the disease +is seen in the reddish brown spore-bearing pustules in the fissures. In +determining the presence of the fungus in the furrowed bark of old +trees, one must learn to recognize the difference between the light +brown color characteristic of fissures in healthy growing bark, and the +reddish brown color of the fungus. When the disease has been present +several years the bark completely rots and shrinks away from the wood, +and when the bark is struck with an axe a hollow sound is produced. + +Many of the owners of chestnut trees throughout Pennsylvania do not +acknowledge that a fungus is causing the death of the trees. They state +that since they have found white grubs or the larvae of beetles in +nearly every tree that dies, that it has been the larvae that killed the +tree. It is acknowledged that generally white grubs are found in dying +chestnut trees, and that in nearly all of the large cankers or lesions +these grubs are present. However, if one will take the pains to examine +the small twigs and branches or the new shoots rising from the stumps, +that are diseased, he will not find the grubs present. + +Second, what is to be done with diseased trees to bring them back to +health or to prevent them from infecting other healthy trees nearby. To +bring the trees back to health implies that the disease can be cured. +This is not always true for the tree may be already nearly girdled, when +the disease is first noticed. A tree taken in time, however, may have +its life prolonged indefinitely though it may have the blight in some +portion of it every year. More particularly does this apply to valuable +ornamental and orchard trees. + +Prof. J. Franklin Collins, Forest Pathologist in the Department of +Agriculture in Farmer's Bulletin No. 467 on "The Control of the Chestnut +Bark Disease" gives the following: "The essentials for the work are a +gouge, a mallet, a pruning knife, a pot of coal tar, and a paint brush. +In the case of a tall tree a ladder or rope, or both may be necessary +but under no circumstances should tree climbers be used, as they cause +wounds which are very favorable places for infection. Sometimes an axe, +a saw, and a long-handled tree pruner are convenient auxiliary +instruments, though practically all the cutting recommended can be done +with a gouge with a cutting edge of 1 or 1-1/2 inches. All cutting +instruments should be kept very sharp, so that a clean smooth cut may be +made at all times." + +All of the discolored diseased areas in the tree should be removed. +Small branches or twigs nearly girdled are best cut off. Cankers in the +main trunk or on limbs should be gouged out. Carefulness is the prime +requisite in this work. If the disease has completely killed the +cambium, the bark should be entirely removed as well as several layers +of wood beneath the canker. By frequent examination, however, diseased +spots may be found on the tree where the mycelium of the fungus is still +in the upper layers of the bark. It is not necessary then to cut clear +to the wood, but the discolored outer bark may be removed and a layer of +healthy inner bark left beneath the cut. The sap may still flow through +this layer. The border of the diseased area is quite distinct, but +cutting should not stop here but should be continued beyond the +discolored portion into healthy bark, at least an inch. The tools should +be thoroughly sterilized by immersion in a solution of 1.1000 bichloride +of mercury, or 5 per cent solution of formaldehyde, before cutting into +the bark outside of the diseased area. Experiments have shown that a +gouge or knife may carry the spores into healthy bark and new infection +take place. Experiments are being carried on in the laboratory to +determine the length of time which spores will live in solutions of +different strengths of fungicides. + +It has been shown that a cut made pointed at the top and bottom heals +much faster than one rounded. The edges of the cut should be made with +care so as not to injure the cambium. The chips of diseased bark and +wood should not be allowed to fall on the ground then to be forgotten. A +bag fastened just below the canker will collect most of this material as +it is gouged out and prevent possible reinfection, which might take +place if the material were allowed to scatter down the bark. Canvas or +burlap spread around under a small orchard tree might be sufficient to +catch all of the diseased chips of bark and wood cut out of the lower +infections. This diseased material should be burned together with +blighted branches. After completely cutting out all of the diseased +parts the cut surfaces should be either sterilized or covered with a +waterproofing which combines a fungicide with a covering. Among these +might be mentioned coal tar and creosote, or a mixture of pine tar, +linseed oil, lamp black and creosote. + +The trees which have been killed by blight, or nearly girdled, have been +overlooked. These should be cut off close to the ground, the stump +peeled and the bark and unused portions of the tree burned over the +stump. The merchantable parts of the trees should be removed from the +woods promptly, as all dead unbarked wood furnishes an excellent +breeding place for the blight fungus. + +Third, what means in the future can be undertaken to keep a tree +healthy, that is, to prevent reinfection. The spores may be carried by +so many agents that it is difficult to prevent reinfection. However it +is clear that the farther infected products or trees are removed from +healthy trees the less liable they are to have spores carried to them. +Cooperation with nearby owners of diseased trees will help solve this +problem. + +Spraying on a large scale has only been carried on, so far as I know, on +the estate of Pierre DuPont, Jr., at Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. At +this place there are many large chestnut trees ranging from sixty to +ninety feet in height, many of which were planted some sixty-five years +ago. Mr. R. E. Wheeler started the work of cutting out diseased limbs +and cankers in October 1911, and began spraying with Bordeaux mixture in +April 1912. The formula 5-5-50, five pounds of copper sulphate and five +pounds of lime in 50 gallons of water was found to be injurious to the +foliage in the Spring. This was changed therefore, to 4-5-50, which had +one pound less of copper sulphate. This did not seem to injure the +foliage. + +About 70 trees were sprayed twenty times during the season. Nearly all +of these were gone over four times to remove diseased branches and +cankers, once in October 1911, then in early summer and again in +September and November 1912. As an example take tree No. 6 which was +studied, December 14, 1912. It is 39 inches in diameter at breast +height, and approximately 70 feet in height. On this one tree six +diseased limbs were removed, and sixteen cankers were cut out. Of these +sixteen, two infections continued, that is, were not completely cut out, +and had spread; three had infections below old limbs which had been +removed, and eleven were healing over. This tree was about 1000 feet +away from other badly infected trees, though but 25 feet away from other +chestnut trees in the same row. The experiment of Mr. DuPont in spraying +shows what can be done on valuable lawn trees. On the whole, these trees +look well and healthy. Trees which were not sprayed over three times and +were within 50-100 feet from badly blighted trees, became infected in so +many different places that it will be necessary to remove them. + +One of the problems to be solved next year will be that of the least +number of sprayings which will be effective in preventing new infection. + + * * * * * + +The Chairman: The question of the chestnut blight is now open for +discussion. + +Mr. Littlepage: I should like to ask these gentlemen how far west they +have heard of chestnut blight--that is, heard of it with any degree of +authenticity, and also whether or not they care to express an opinion as +to what the prospects are in the middle west, say out in Indiana, +Illinois and Ohio? + +Mr. Pierce: In answer to that question, I will say that in Pennsylvania +we have found infections in Wayne County and also in Fayette County, +both near the western extreme of the state, but those have been attended +to, very largely, and the boundaries closely determined. In Ohio there +have been several reports of the blight being found, but I don't think +either of the reports have been proven. There has been a fungus that I +have spoken of as the Connellsville fungus, that has been all around in +that neighborhood, south-western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. + +The Chairman: Is the Connellsville fungus also _diaporthe parasitica_? + +Mr. Pierce: Yes, sir. It was placed by Mr. Anderson, who did the work +on that, in the same genus as diaporthe, but he preferred the name +_endothia parasitica_. + +The Chairman: The question is of changing the generic name, from +_diaporthe_, on the basis of the previously established species? + +Mr. Pierce: Yes, sir, previously established species of _endothia_. It +is only a suggestion of Mr. Anderson; it was made by him. This was very +similar to the true blight fungus and when our men first went out into +the western part of the State, they reported these various cases that +came up there as chestnut blight, and none of the pathologists of our +force then were competent to determine the difference, except that the +fact was noted even then that it was not growing as a parasite in the +sense that the true blight fungus has been growing in the east. + +The Chairman: That may be due to varietal differences, though, rather +than specific? + +Mr. Pierce: Yes, although Mr. Anderson seemed to think it was specific. + +The Chairman: Is there any further discussion? The subject is worthy of +a good deal of comment. + +Mr. Pomeroy: I want to ask the speaker what the approximate cost would +be for one spraying of a tree about that size, 70 feet in height? + +Mr. Pierce: We have photographs on the table there showing our eight +hundred dollar spraying machine, the same kind used in Massachusetts in +gypsy moth work. With this two men can spray about ten such trees in a +day. I haven't got it down in black and white but I figured that, on +those chestnuts at DuPont's, they sprayed about 600 gallons a day. Ten +trees a day would make it, say, with a $2.50 man, not very high for a +tree. I think it costs in all something like four dollars a tree during +the whole season, but that is a very rough estimate and the materials +are not included. + +The Chairman: The cost will have to be calculated on a sentimental basis +for the ornamental trees, and on a commercial basis for the commercial +trees. The actual value of the spraying has not yet been determined. +This spraying cannot reach the mycelium in the cambium layer; if the +disease has been carried in by a beetle or woodpecker your spraying +would be ineffective. + +Mr. Pierce: Yes indeed, that was just the thought Mr. Galena had, +notwithstanding the fact that they cut out all visible infections and +the trees were so blue with spray that you could see them for half a +mile. + +The Chairman: But, later on, cracks and squirrel scratches and all sorts +of injuries would allow new spores to be carried in? + +Mr. Pierce: Yes, sir. + +Mr. Reed: The future of the chestnut depends so largely on the +conquering of this disease that no other horticultural problem of this +nut is, just at present, imperative. So far as we know, all of the +European and American varieties are highly subject to this disease, so +much so that there is no inducement to plant them, and we are waiting +for Dr. Morris and a few other hybridizers to find some hybrids, or +straight Japanese varieties, that are of sufficient merit, and of +sufficient degree of resistance to this disease, for us to have a basis +for building up the future industry. On the tables there are quite a +number of exhibits from Mr. Riehl and Mr. Endicott of Illinois. Most of +them are hybrids between the American and the Japanese species, but, so +far as we know, they have not been tried in communities where the +disease prevails. We don't know whether they are resistant or not, as +they are being grown in a section entirely outside of the area where the +blight exists. I think I am right in that, am I not, Mr. Pierce? Is +there any chestnut blight in southern Illinois? + +Mr. Pierce: There has been none reported. + +Mr. Reed: I think that the varieties that these men in Indiana have +originated are the most promising we know of. I think that in examining +these specimens you will agree that they are of fairly high quality and +good size, and if they prove to be resistant to the disease much may be +expected from them. + +Mr. Hutt: I have not seen the chestnut blight at all. I hope that it +isn't in our section. I have heard it was brought in from some point but +I do not know whether it was identified exactly as the chestnut blight. + +Mr. Pierce: I saw a specimen sent from North Carolina and it proved to +be the Collinsville fungus. + +Mr. Corsan: If you remember reading Fuller's book on nuts, he reported +that the chestnut blight extended through the Carolinas but said that +chestnuts were still coming from that direction in great abundance. Up +in Canada we haven't the chestnut blight. The chestnut tree runs from +the Ohio River to the Niagara River but it doesn't cross into Michigan, +except along the Michigan Southern and Lake Shore Railroad where some +enterprising gentlemen have planted the chestnut with the tamarack +alternately all the way from Cleveland to Chicago. I examined the state +of Indiana across and from top to bottom several times in the summer and +I never saw any chestnuts there, but I have seen some newly planted +places in Michigan; near Battle Creek I saw a farm of about fifty acres. +We are having up in Ontario, beyond Toronto, a blight that has attacked +the Lombardy poplar and that looks similar to the chestnut blight. I +have been watching it for the last ten years and the tree seems to have +at last outlived it. It dies down and then a little sprout comes out +from the carcass. + +The Chairman: Isn't that the poplar tree borer that always attacks the +Lombardy? + +Mr. Corsan: Oh no, it's very similar to the chestnut tree blight. We can +grow chestnut trees all we like but no one has brains enough to grow +them. The farmers grow pigs and things but don't bother with chestnut +trees; consequently the chestnut blight does not exist there. + +Mr. Pierce: I didn't answer a portion of Mr. Littlepage's question. Mr. +Littlepage asked whether or not the blight might be expected in the +Middle West. That depends, more or less, upon the results of the work +Pennsylvania is now carrying on. If we can keep the disease from +extending through the territory in which we are working, there is a very +good chance to keep it out of the West. If we are not successful, it may +be expected to develop, in time, over the whole chestnut range. + +There seems to be a very good opportunity for growing the chestnut +commercially beyond its present range; that is, where it is so +infrequent as not to be in danger from infected growths nearby. + +In the eastern part of the state different people have reported that the +blight seemed to them to be dying out and, a number of these reports +coming from a certain locality, the Commission decided to investigate +one which seemed to be better reported than the others. It was found, +after a very extensive investigation, that this dying out was true only +in the sense that it was not spreading, perhaps, as fast as it had been +spreading before. The mycelium and the spores were healthy and were +affecting the new trees in quite the same manner as the year before and +as in other parts of the state. + +The Chairman: The question of controlling blight after it has appeared +is of very great consequence. Concerning any commercial proposition +with chestnuts the people are wide awake to the seriousness of the +blight. They are afraid to go into growing chestnut orchards; they have +had so many fake propositions in the past in pecan promotions that they +are afraid of chestnuts and everything else. Any proposition for +bringing forward chestnuts commercially must be a plain, simple, +straightforward statement of the truth, the whole truth and nothing but +the truth. We are ready, all through the North and East, to raise +hundreds of acres of chestnuts, such as Mr. Reed has spoken about, ones +which resist the blight, or ones which resist the blight comparatively +well. + +Let us consider comparative immunity for a moment. We know how expensive +it is to manage an apple orchard, and yet, with the present high prices, +the profits on apple orchards, well managed, are great. May we not have +chestnut orchards managed with the same degree of relative expense and +the same degree of relative profit? I would like very much to hear from +some of the men who have actually raised chestnuts in orchards +concerning the relative care of the chestnut compared with the apple, +and the relative profit. I see Col. Sober here; can't you tell us about +your experience in managing the blight? Can it be managed successfully +in proportion as apple tree parasites are managed? + +Col. Sober: My experience has been this; I have four hundred acres of +chestnuts in bearing. They range from five years to fifteen years old. I +find that I can control the blight easier than I can control the scale +on apple trees. If anyone doesn't believe this I invite him and all to +come to my place and see for themselves. I think I have nearly one +million seedling and grafted paragon trees. I don't think you will find +fifty affected trees on the whole place today. I have men going in every +grove at the present time who have inspected thousands of trees and +found seven that had blight on the limbs, so I know what I am speaking +about. + +The Chairman: What is your method? + +Col. Sober: Cutting out, cutting off anything I see; if it is really +necessary, cut the tree down; but we don't often find that necessary +because just as quick as we see any affected, or any limb dying or dead, +we cut it off. I had my groves laid out in sections of a hundred feet +wide and numbered; and I had charts made so that they can be inspected +section by section. In that manner, every tree is inspected. One +individual will inspect the trunk and another one the top. In each +section I can show you as far as we have gone. I can show you how many +trees are in each section and how many affected trees there are in that +section, or whether there are any or not. I say I can control it easier +than I can control scale and with less expense and I want that to go on +record. There is no question about it. It can be seen at my place. I go +over my groves about four times a year and have been doing it all the +time, and I don't doubt but that I discovered this disease the first of +anybody in the state, perhaps, in 1902. I was looking around to cut +scions and I saw one tree whose center was dead and around it were the +finest shoots almost that I had ever seen for grafting purposes. I went +to it and saw the center was dead. I cut some scions and today that is +one of the finest trees I've got on my place. From what I know now that +was a blighted tree. + +A member: Did you paint over the scars? + +Col. Sober: No sir, but we are doing it now, using white lead. + +A member: How much blight is there around you? + +Col. Sober: I am surrounded with it on all sides. Right up against my +groves about 17 per cent of the trees are affected. That is the report +coming from the parties inspecting now for the Blight Commission. I +shipped Mr. Mayo about four or five thousand trees this fall. I don't +suppose there were a dozen that were thrown out, thinking they were +blighted or diseased. We have records of all that up at my place. There +are some trees right here now that came from my nursery. I wish you +gentlemen could just see for yourselves; come out and see. + +The Chairman: In advancing this chestnut on a commercial basis it had +better be stated that it does not blight as badly as the American +chestnut and that when blighted it can be cared for with less cost than +the apple tree. I would suggest that some such notice be sent out with +commercial stock. That would put it on the right basis so that the +chestnut would find its position, which it is not finding now because +the people are full of the blight; and if a frank, full statement of +this sort were made I believe it would be extremely important. + +Mr. Rockey: I went through practically the whole extent of Mr. Sober's +orchard recently and found one infected tree. I can vouch for the +statement that he has made that he is almost surrounded by blight. + +The Chairman: I have given attention to only a few of my own trees that +were blighted because I have too much else to do and too large a place, +a couple of hundred acres engaged in a small and large way,--a variety +of ways--with nut trees; and the few I have cared to save after blight +has begun I have saved by cutting it out very thoroughly and using +either white paint or grafting wax. I used also pine tar and some gas +tar. I killed some good trees that I wanted particularly to save by +putting on gas tar. + +The matter of compelling the removal of infected trees is a very +important one, but it must rest with the authorities. In the vicinity of +New York we have so much hard wood that you cannot sell it unless you +are in some sort of a trade combination. Fine oak, fine hickory, fine +chestnut, you can't dispose of in New York City, because we have such a +lot of it. We have wild deer within fifteen miles of New York City on +three sides of us on account of the forests. You have got to find some +special way for disposing of this blighted chestnut timber. Telephone +and telegraph poles and ties all go for nothing, unless you happen to be +so situated that you can manage the matter commercially, and a way +should be found by the state so that people can dispose of their +blighted timber, which is just as good as any other. + +It is very important to note that the boy scouts are interested, and we +ought to encourage their interest. It is a splendid thing, getting the +interest of boys engaged. You know how active a boy is in getting a +snake from under a rock and he will do the same thing with the chestnut +blight. It is his natural tendency to hustle when he gets after +anything. This chestnut blight belongs to the microbe group and the +microbe is the great enemy of mankind. In wars the microbe kills about +eight men for every one killed by missiles. If we can encourage the +interest of boy scouts in fighting the greatest of all human enemies, +the microbe, including this little fungus, we shall have a splendid +working force. + +In regard to the injection of poisons and medicines into trees, it seems +to me that a very firm stand ought to be taken by all responsible men +who know anything about plant pathology. We know that a poison injected +into a tree must either act injuriously right there upon the cells of +the tree, or else must undergo metabolic changes. A tree cannot use +anything that is thrown into it, poison or food or anything else, until +it has undergone a metabolic change; you must have a distinct, definite +chemical process taking place and we ought to state that most of the +substances which are alleged to be of value, when injected into a tree, +are either absolutely worthless or injurious. One man tried to persuade +me that his medication if applied to the cambium layer would be +absorbed, and said that if I would only use it on a few of my trees I +could see for myself. He said it would drive off even the aphides. I +tried it on four trees affected with aphides and found that he told me +the truth. It drove them off, because the trees died and the aphides +left. One tree lived a year before being killed; it was a most insidious +sort of death, but the aphides left that tree. (Laughter.) + +Some of the Asiatic chestnuts resist the blight very well. Curiously +enough when grafted upon some of the American chestnuts they then become +vulnerable. Two years ago, from a lot of about one thousand Corean +chestnuts in which there had been up to that time no blight, I grafted +scions on American stump sprouts and about 50 per cent of those grafts +blighted in the next year, showing that the American chestnut sap offers +a pabulum attractive to the Diaporthe, and that is a fact of collateral +value in getting our negative testimony upon the point. + +Concerning the question of carrying blight fifty miles, there's no +telling how far birds will fly carrying the spores of Diaporthe upon +their feet. The spores are viscid and adhere to the feet of beetles, or +migratory birds which sometimes make long lateral flights following +food, rather than direct flights north and south. It is quite easy to +imagine birds carrying this Diaporthe over an interval of possibly fifty +miles, making that distance in one night perhaps. Someone may have +carried chestnuts in his pocket to give to his granddaughter fifty miles +away, and in that way carried the blight. If any grafted trees have been +carried fifty miles, or any railroad ties, with a little bark on, +carried fifty miles and then thrown off, it might blight the chestnuts +in that vicinity. One can have as much range of imagination as he +pleases as Longfellow says, There is no limit to the imagination in +connection with questions of spreading the blight of Diaporthe. + +Some of the Japanese and Corean chestnuts and some of the Chinese +chestnuts resist blight fairly well. Among my chinkapins, I have the +common _pumila_ and the Missouri variety of _pumila_, which grows in +tree form forty or fifty feet high. I have the alder-leaf chestnut, +which keeps green leaves till Christmas, sometimes till March when the +snow buries them, and those comparatively young trees have shown no +blight; but one hybrid, between the chinkapin and the American chestnut, +about twelve years of age, has blighted several times. I have cut off +the branches and kept it going, but this year I shall cut it down. It +will start at the root and sprout up again. I thought I'd give up that +hybrid, but having heard Col. Sober's report I will begin at the root +and look after some of the sprouts. That hybrid is the only one of my +chinkapin group that has blighted at all. + +In regard to the use of bichloride of mercury or formaldehyde, it seems +to me that formaldehyde will be a better germicide than bichloride of +mercury, because bichloride of mercury coagulates the albuminous part of +the plasm and may destroy the cell structure, whereas the formaldehyde +will be more penetrating and less injurious. One would need to know how +strong a formaldehyde solution can be used safely. I presume the most +vulnerable part of the tree would be at the bud axils. Spraying must +require considerable experience at the present time and is of doubtful +efficiency for timber chestnuts I am sure. We would like very much to +hear any further comment upon this subject. + +Prof. Smith: Mr. Sober's orchard is so unusually large that evidently it +does not apply to average cases. The average man is buying chestnut +trees for the garden or yard or lane. Prof. Collins has an acre on the +top of a hill at Atlantic Forge and there he has fought diligently with +the skill of a highly trained man, and the blight is gradually driving +him back. I think that in a short time the trees on Prof. Collins' acre +will be gone. I believe we need much more information before we can +offer any hope that chestnut trees from a nursery will be safe against +blight. I should like to ask the Blight Commission if they are at the +present time planning to breed immune strains of chestnuts, and if not, +I wish to suggest that it is a piece of work well worthy of their +consideration. They might try grafting on American stocks, or on their +own seedlings, some of the Korean chestnuts, on any variety that +promises resistance, and also hybridizing, with the hope of getting a +good nut that will resist the blight. + +The Chairman: That is a very important matter, no doubt. In regard to +the few chestnuts bought for lanes and gardens, I know a good many men +who have bought a few grafted chestnuts with the idea of setting out a +number of acres if those few did well, being men of a conservative sort. +Men of that sort are the ones we want to have in our Association. We +want to have men who will buy four trees, and if they do well, set out +four hundred acres. That is what a great many men have had in mind in +buying two, four or six trees of any one kind; they want to try them +out. That is the wise way, the conservative way, the truly progressive +way. If we are going to have very large numbers of any one kind of +chestnut set out, we must make a statement of the dangers, so that men +may be forewarned. If they set them out without warning and are +disappointed, they drop the entire subject and go to raising corn and +hogs; and then, to save trouble, turn these hogs into the corn and get +to doing things in the easiest way, rather than carry on the complicated +methods of agriculture that belong to the spirit of the present time. I +would like to know if many efforts are being made toward breeding immune +kinds. I am at work on that myself. + +Mr. Pierce: Our Commission has recently gotten, I think, about fifty +pounds of Chinese chestnuts of several kinds, which they expect to plant +for experiment. Besides that they have made some other arrangements of +which I know very little. This investigation will take years. The +Commission has been compelled to devote itself to so many lines of work +that I am afraid this question has not been given the attention it might +have had. I think in the future there will be a good deal done along +that line. + +Two of us have been given the title of tree surgeons, and we work, or +make arrangements to have someone else work, sometimes the scout, in the +orchards throughout the state. I have a list of two hundred owners of +cultivated chestnut trees that I got in the last month from various +sources. Anyone in Pennsylvania who has a cultivated chestnut tree, can +send a postal card, get one of us out to examine the tree and see +whether it is blighted, and we will demonstrate what can be done in the +way of treating it. I have done that right along in the last two months. +If it is only a single tree I cut out all I can myself. + +The Chairman: There are two distinct questions; first, the chestnut as a +food tree, and second, as a timber tree. Your work has been chiefly with +the chestnut as a timber tree? + +Mr. Pierce: No, mine has been mostly on the lawn, so that it is for +nuts. + +Experiments made on one or two species of Japanese chestnuts show about +9 per cent of tannin; the tannin in the American chestnut runs only 6 +per cent and in the small American, runs less. We know that the Japanese +is somewhat more immune than the American. We have already found that it +has 50 per cent more tannin. I believe one of us wrote you about +experiments to find out the percentage of tannin in Corean, North +Japanese, South Japanese and Chinese chestnuts. The investigation will +be carried on for the next two or three months. + +Mr. Corsan: May I ask if there is any soil food that would increase the +amount of tannin? Trees protect themselves. We have watched the black +walnut and seen him fight all sorts of enemies. The tree has poisons +everywhere and the nut a thick shell to boot and doesn't coax enemies to +get at him or to eat him until he is ripe. + +A Member: Have you found that fertilizing a tree increased the +percentage of tannin? + +Mr. Rockey: That hasn't been determined yet but it will be studied. + +The Chairman: It is a question if the tendency would not be for tannin +to go over to sugar and cellulose under cultivation. I don't remember +the chemistry on that. Aren't there any expert chemists here who can +tell us? The natural tendency of the tree under high cultivation would +be to change tannin over into sugar and starch. + +Mr. Corsan: This talk of the chestnut blight reminds me of a remark made +by a gentleman at a peach growing convention. He said the best thing +that ever happened to this country was to get that San Jose scale +because it stopped lazy men from growing peaches. He said, "I don't mind +it a bit and can make more money than when peaches were nothing a +basket." Probably nature will help us some way. + +The Chairman: We have to consider what nature wants to do. + +Mr. Mayo: If I am in order, I would like to know whether this fungus +trouble is likely in the future to attack or has at any time attacked, +the apple, pear or quince? + +The Chairman: I think it has been pretty well decided that they are not +in danger. I will, however, ask Mr. Rockey and Mr. Pierce to answer that +question. + +Mr. Rockey: Up to the present time there has been no indication that the +blight will get into them. This might be a good occasion for me to +mention the Connellsville fungus again. It was found on some of the oaks +and other trees in this section of the country, and for a time it +looked as though the blight was getting into other species, but since +that fungus has been identified there has been no indication that the +blight will extend beyond the chestnut group as a parasite, although you +can inoculate oaks and other trees with the fungus and it will live in +them, but only on the dead portion of the tree and not as the parasite +lives on the chestnut. + +Prof. Smith: I should like to ask Mr. Sober if he has found any evidence +that the paragon chestnut differs from the native chestnut in resistance +to the blight, and if his paragons are different from other paragons? + +Col. Sober: I cannot say whether my chestnuts are different from the +other paragon chestnuts or not, or whether they are as resistant to the +blight. I know it is a very sweet chestnut. In regard to keeping my +groves clean--from 1901 to 1910, we had three broods of locusts and two +hailstorms that opened the bark in almost every tree and branch. The +limbs were stung by the locusts thousands of times, so that I didn't +have a crop of chestnuts. Professor Davis was cutting off limbs for a +couple of months so you see my trees were open, if any ever were, to +receive the blight. The hailstorms destroyed the leaves and I didn't +have any chestnuts that year in one part of my grove and with all +that--you people come and see how clean it is, that's all there is to +it. I know what I've done and what I can do. + +The Chairman: The next paper in order is that of Professor Smith. + + + + +NUT GROWING AND TREE BREEDING AND THEIR RELATION TO CONSERVATION + +PROFESSOR J. RUSSELL SMITH, PENNSYLVANIA + + +Prof. Smith: Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen; I am going to ask your +indulgence for including in my subject a matter that perhaps goes a +little beyond the scope of this organization, for I wish to speak of +fruit as well as nut-bearing trees. Conservation, whose object is the +preservation of our resources for future generations, as well as for +ourselves, finds its greatest problem in the preservation of the soil. +The forests can come again if the soil be left. It is probable that we +can find substitutes for coal, and for nearly everything else, but once +the soil is gone, all is gone; and the greatest danger to the soil is +not robbery by ill cropping, because no matter how man may abuse the +soil, scientific agriculture can bring it back with astonishing speed. +But the greatest enemy of conservation is erosion, the best checks for +erosion are roots. + +Thus far, the only man who has been telling us anything about planting +roots upon the hillsides is the forester. But he usually sets nothing +but wood trees, which at the end of fifty or a hundred or a hundred and +fifty years, we can cut down, and which, during the intervening time, +have done nothing but cast shade, drop leaves and retain the soil. My +doctrine is that the potentially greatest crop-producing plants are not +those on which we now depend for our food, but are the trees,; that the +greatest engines for production are not the grasses, but the trees. Our +agriculture is an inheritance from the savage, and the savage found that +he could do better with annual grains than he could with nut trees, +because he didn't know how to improve the nut crop by selection of the +trees, while there came involuntarily an improvement in the other crops. +No man today knows the parentage of some of the cultivated plants and +grains on which we now depend. Thus we came down to the present day of +science, with the purely chance discoveries of savages as the main +dependence of mankind for the basis of agriculture. + +We have within a decade discovered the laws of plant breeding. We know a +good deal more about it now than ever before and are in a position to +start about it very deliberately and with a reasonable certainty that we +are going to get certain combinations of qualities if we keep at it long +enough. Thus the hickory and walnut offer perfect marvels of +possibilities. Look around on these tables and see the size of some of +these things. There are hickory nuts 1-1/4 inch long and there are +shagbarks as full of meat as pecans and probably quite as good. There +are in Kentucky, I am told, hickory nuts that you can take in your +fingers and crush. Here we have the pecan, this great big shellbark from +Indiana, the shagbark from the North, and the thin shell nuts from +Kentucky. Now hybridize these and I think, if you work at it long +enough, you will get a tree that will have all those good qualities. + +The wonderful black walnut is a tree of hardiness, and the delicious +Persian or English walnut is a nut of acceptable form. The pair offers +splendid possibilities in their hybrid progeny. + +We have fruits thus far recognized as of little value which offer great +possibilities as forage producers. The mulberry bears from June to +September and the persimmon from September till March and the pig +harvests them himself. + +We have the possibility of a brand-new agriculture, depending not upon +grains, but upon tree crops, provided someone will breed the +crop-yielding trees which we can use. This will permit us to use +entirely different kinds of land from that now considered best for +agriculture. The natural necessities for plant growth, I believe, are +heat, moisture, sunlight and fertility. Now they are not all the +limiting factors with man, because man adds the fifth, the arbitrary +fact of arability, and that right away bars out about half of the +fertile earth, because when we insist on heat, light, moisture, +fertility _and arability_, we leave out that rough half of the earth +equally fertile, idle, subject only to the work of the forester, who +will give us a forest about 1999. It might just as well be planted with +a host of crop-yielding trees, the walnuts, hickory nuts, pecans, +persimmons, mulberries--and the list is very long. There are at the +present time in use in Mediterranean countries twenty-five crop-yielding +trees other than the ordinary orchard fruits. I am told that they have +oak trees there which yield an acorn that is better than the chestnut. A +pig will fill himself with acorns on the one hillside and with figs on +the next hillside and then lie down and get fat. We are too industrious, +we wait on the pig; I want the pig to wait on himself. + +But who is going to breed these things? These crop yielding trees? A +gentleman told us this morning that he was not nervous, that he could +watch a hickory tree grow, and stated that he had forty acres of land +and was breeding trees for fun. Here is Dr. Morris, who is having a +delicious time doing the same thing. We should not have to depend on +enthusiasts who are working for fun; we must not depend on such sources +for the greatest gifts in the line of food production that man can +imagine. This work should be done by every state in the Union. I believe +that it is capable of proof that we can get just as much yield from a +hillside in untilled fruit and nut-yielding trees, as we can from +putting that same hillside under the plough and getting wheat, corn, +barley, rye and oats and a little grass once in a while. It will make +just as much pig or just as many calories of man food from the tree +crops as it will make under the plough. And under the plough that +hillside is going down the stream to choke it and reduce the hillside to +nothing. + +We have three classes of land. The first class is the level land, which +belongs to the plough now and for all time. The third class, which is +the unploughable steep mountain and hill land, is probably as great in +area as the level land, and between the two is the hilly land that we +are now cultivating to its great detriment, visibly reducing the earth's +resources by bringing about rapidly that condition which has led to the +saying in the Old World: "After man, the desert." The Roman Empire, +where men have had possession for two thousand years, proves, "After +man, the desert." It is equally proven in much of China, but it can be +prevented if these hill lands are put to trees. But we cannot afford to +put those lands into trees unless the trees yield. + +I move that this Association memorialize those persons who are in +position to promote the breeding of fruit and nut-yielding trees, that +we may bring nearer the day of tree-crop agriculture. I want a letter to +go from this Association with the authority of the Association and its +sanction, to the Secretary of Agriculture at Washington and to all the +men in authority in the Bureau of Plant Industry at Washington, to the +Presidents of the State Agricultural Colleges, the Directors of +Experiment Stations and professors who are interested in plant breeding. +That will make a list of three or four hundred persons and involve an +expenditure of a few dollars but I believe it will be productive of +good. I hope that the Association will see fit to lend its name and a +little cash to that proposition, because if we can get the authority of +the state and the money of the state, the results will come much more +rapidly than if there are just a few of us doing it independently. +(Applause.) + + * * * * * + +The Chairman: Will someone put Prof. Smith's suggestion in the form of a +motion? + +A Member: I move that it be referred to the Committee on Resolutions. + +(Motion carried.) + +Mr. Corsan: Undoubtedly we all agree with Prof. Smith. He spoke of the +persimmon. When I speak of the persimmon in my country nobody knows what +I am talking about. I found two trees in Battle Creek, Michigan, in a +front yard. The person who owned them was an old lady. I said, "Will you +give me these persimmons?" She said, "Yes, take them all; the neighbors +come here and while they are getting the persimmons they bother me a +lot. Everybody seems to like them." They were delicious persimmons that +were quite edible before frost, they are probably the two furthest north +persimmon trees in the world. I went a little way around Devil Lake, and +found pawpaws. They are a very good fruit when cultivated. The idea of +preserving the soil and not sending it all into the Lakes and down into +the Gulf of Mexico--that is a good idea of Prof. Smith's. + +Mr. Gardner: I submit that that Battle Creek woman should start a new +breakfast food. (Laughter.) + +Mr. Corsan: Every second year there is an immense crop on one of the +persimmon trees; they are a male and female, I think. You can't see the +branches for the fruit, and the thermometer there falls to 22 degrees +below zero. + +The Chairman: You can graft the male trees with pistillate grafts if you +want to, or you can transfer grafts both ways. The persimmon and pawpaw +will undoubtedly both grow at Toronto. They are not indigenous there +because of natural checks to development in their sprouting stage, but +if you buy Indiana stock for Toronto, such transplanted trees will both +grow there, I am sure. This is not quite relevant to Prof. Smith's +paper. It seems to me that Prof. Smith gave us a very comprehensive +resumé of facts bearing upon the situation, perhaps not particularly +calling for discussion. We are very glad to have his arraignment of +facts. + +The next paper on the program will be that of Dr. Deming. While Dr. +Deming is getting ready, I would like to have the trees shown. Mr. Jones +will speak about his pecans, these specimens of young trees here. + +Mr. Jones: These are pecans that Mr. Roper brought up from the +Arrowfield Nurseries. (Here Mr. Jones described the trees.) + +The Chairman: Would those trees grow after they have been dried as much +as that? + +Mr. Jones: I don't think so; pecans don't stand much drying. + +The Chairman: No, unless you cut off all the roots. + +Prof. Smith: If we should dig up a tree like this and cut it off a foot +and a half down, would it be all right to transplant it? + +Mr. Jones: Yes, if your season should not be too dry. + +The Chairman: What has been your experience with the Stringfellow method +of cutting off every single root? + +Mr. Jones: We cut the tap-roots off, but leave an inch of the lateral +roots. + +The Chairman: I think you can do better by following the Stringfellow +method and cutting off all the laterals. + +Prof. Smith: If you were going to transplant those for your own use +where would you cut them off? + +Mr. Jones: About here, a foot and a half down. + +The Secretary: And the top? + +Mr. Jones: Yes, sir, I'd reduce the top about that much; I think we will +have to work for a better root for the North. + + + + +BEGINNING WITH NUTS + +DR. W. C. DEMING, WESTCHESTER, NEW YORK CITY + + +In his official capacity as secretary of the Northern Nut Growers +Association the writer is frequently asked, by persons wishing to grow +nuts, about climate, soils, varieties and methods. + +The following observations are intended to apply only to the +northeastern United States, the country lying east of the Rockies and +north of the range of the southern pecan. They are intended more for the +person who already has his land, or is restricted in his range, than for +the one who can range wide for larger operations and will study deeper +before deciding. + +It is probable that most nuts will grow wherever the peach will. Outside +the peach area there is probably not much use in trying to grow the +pecan or Persian walnut. Yet it must always be remembered that nut +growing in the North is, at present, almost entirely experimental and +that anybody may be able to disprove the authorities. We are all +experimenting now. By and by it will be different. + +In severer climates the chestnut, shagbark, black walnut, butternut, +hazel, beech, pine, Japanese cordiformis and hardy Chinese walnuts can +be grown or, at least, offer possibilities. In such climates the +development of the native nuts by selection and crossing, and the +adaptation of alien nuts, deserves, and will repay, experiment. + +It is to be supposed, as before said, that the hopeful beginner already +has his land. Let him choose the best part of it that he can spare. By +"best part" is meant the most fertile, not too wet nor too dry nor, if +possible, too hilly to cultivate. Hard pan near the surface, and too +thick to be easily broken up by dynamite, is not desirable. + +A nut orchard ought to have much the same preparation as an apple +orchard. A practical way would be to plow deeply and harrow well in +summer and sow a cover crop like rye and vetch or clover. The more +stable manure, or other fertilizer, applied the better. + +Let the field now be staked off thirty feet apart in squares, or in +triangles if preferred. Late in the fall dig the holes and plant nuts, +three or four in each hole, two to four inches deep, according to size, +and six inches apart. Put a good handful of ground bone in each hill. +Unless the soil and subsoil are mellow, so that the long tap roots may +penetrate deeply, it would be best to dynamite the holes, using a half +pound of 20 per cent or 25 per cent dynamite at a depth of two and a +half feet. This is a simple matter and the dynamite companies will +furnish materials and instructions. It is also some fun. + +There is some danger that nuts planted in fall may be destroyed by +rodents, that some will "lie over" and not sprout the first year, or +that all the nuts in a hill may make inferior plants, so that some +authorities advise putting them in a galvanized wire cage, the nuts only +half buried, then covered with a few leaves during the winter and +otherwise left exposed to the elements. In the spring they must be taken +from the cage and planted in the hills before the sprouts are long +enough to be easily broken. + +The different kinds of nuts should be planted in "blocks" rather than +mingled, to facilitate handling. + +These nuts are to furnish trees that are later to be grafted or budded. +After they have grown a while the weaker ones are to be removed, as +necessary, until only the strongest remains in each hill. When grafted +and grown to great size the brave man will thin them out to sixty feet +apart. Interplanting with fruits or vegetables may be practised. + +As to the kinds of nuts to be planted that depends on what you want to +grow. If chestnuts it must be remembered that the bark disease is very +likely to attack them, in the East at any rate. Experiments with +chestnuts outside the range of the blight are very desirable. The +American (_Castanea dentata_) and European (_C. sativa_) chestnuts are +specially susceptible. The Asiatic chestnuts (_C. Japonica_, etc.) seem +to have a partial immunity, especially the Korean, and it is possible +that the native chestnut grafted on these may be rendered more or less +immune. It is being tried and is an interesting experiment. + +The Asiatic chestnut trees are dwarfish in habit, come into bearing +early, the nuts are generally large and some of them of pretty good +quality. They may be planted as fillers between the trees of larger +growth. The nuts may be bought of importers. (See circular on "Seedsmen +and Nurserymen".) The small Korean chestnut has been especially +recommended. + +If you wish to grow the shagbark hickory (_Hicoria ovata_) plant the +best specimens of this nut you can get, or the bitternut (_H. minima_) +which is said to be a superior stock for grafting. + +High hopes are held that that other favorite hickory, the pecan (_H. +pecan_) may be grown far outside its native range, and the Indiana pecan +is the nut on which these hopes are founded. Seed nuts may be obtained +from reliable Indiana dealers, but it is said that some of them are not +reliable. + +The hickories may be budded and grafted on one another so that one kind +of stock may serve for both shagbark and pecan. + +If you want to grow the Persian walnut (_Juglans regia_), often called +the "English" walnut, the black walnut (_J. nigra_), seems to afford the +most promising stock, though _J. rupestris_, native in Texas and +Arizona, has been recommended and _J. cordiformis_, the Japanese heart +nut, is also promising. This nut can be recommended for planting for its +own sake as the tree is hardy, a rapid grower, comes into bearing early +and bears a fairly good nut. There are no grafted trees, however, so the +variable seedlings will have to be depended upon. + +On any of these walnut stocks the black walnut and the butternut (_J. +cinerea_) may also be propagated if worthy varieties can be found. There +are none now on the market. + +The nuts mentioned are enough for the beginner and the three stocks, +chestnut, hickory and walnut, will give him all he wants to work on and +furnish plenty of fascinating occupation. + +The hazel, the almond and others, though offering possibilities, had +better be left to those further advanced in the art of nut growing. + +Now the nut orchard is started and the owner must push the growth of the +trees by the ordinary methods, cultivation, cover crops and fertilizers. +See any authority on growing fruit trees. + +In from two to five years the trees will be ready for budding and +grafting, they will have made a good growth above ground, and a bigger +one below, they are permanently placed and haven't got to be set back a +year or two, or perhaps killed, by transplanting, with loss to the tap +roots and laterals. In the writer's opinion that natural tap root of the +nut tree growing down, down to water is not to be treated as of no +importance. + +So let your seedlings grow up and down happily while you get ready the +stuff with which to build their future character, for seedling trees are +very slow in coming into bearing, and uncertain in type and quality of +nut. Grafted trees bear early and true to type. + +Take your choicest bit of ground and put it in the best shape you know +how. Then order the finest grafted trees you can find on the market. +(See circular on "Seedsmen and Nurserymen".) Your choice will be limited +for there are as yet only a few grafted varieties of the Persian walnut +and the Indiana pecan, and but one of the shagbark hickory to be had. Of +chestnuts there are more and, in the South of course, plenty of pecans. +But pecan growing in the South is another story. If you order chestnuts +be sure that they do not come from a nursery infected with blight. Get +young trees because they are more easily established. + +Order from two to four of each variety. Fewer than two gives too small +an allowance for mortality and more than four, besides the not +inconsiderable strain on the pocket, will divide your attention too +much; for you have got to give these trees the care of a bottle baby. + +Set them sixty feet apart if you have the room. If not set them closer. +Better closer if that means better care. They may be set in the fall but +probably spring is better, as early as you can get them in. Follow the +instructions of the nurserymen closely. Digging holes with dynamite is +probably good practice. Put some bone meal in the soil around the roots +but no strong fertilizer. Some soils need lime. Tamp the soil about the +roots with all your might. It cannot be made too firm. + +Then water them all summer, or until August if they have made a good +growth. Give them all they can drink once a week. Sink a large bar about +a foot from the tree and pour the water into the hole, as much as the +soil will take. + +Keep up cultivation and a dust mulch or, if you cannot do this, mulch +with something else. Mulching doesn't mean a wisp of hay but something +thick or impervious. Six inches of strawy manure, grass, vines or weeds; +an old carpet, burlap, feed or fertilizer bags or even newspapers, held +down with stones or weeds or earth, all make good mulches. + +These trees ought to grow and, whether you ever succeed in grafting your +seedlings or not, you should have at least a small orchard of fine nut +trees. + +The second summer with the trees will be something like the baby's. +Worms may bother them. Look out for bud worms and leaf-eating +caterpillars. Give them all the water they can drink in the dry dog +days. Nurse them, feed them and watch them and they will grow up to +bless you. Some of them may bear as early as apple trees. + +These trees, and such scions as, from time to time, you may obtain +elsewhere, are to furnish your propagating material. + +The plan just described may be modified in various ways, but the general +principles are the same. Instead of planting the nuts in their permanent +positions they may be put in nursery rows where they may have the +advantage of intensive cultivation. The best of the resulting trees may +be grafted or budded in the rows, or after they have been transplanted +and have become well established. This method is an excellent one and +has distinct advantages and many advocates. + +Yearling seedlings may be bought and set either in permanent positions +or in nursery rows. + +Of course the man who is in a hurry, who can disregard expense and who +does not care for the experience and gratification of grafting his own +trees, may set his whole plantation with expensive grafted trees and +replant where they fail. + +The technique of budding and grafting you must work out yourself with +the help of the instructions obtainable from several authorities, or, by +far the surer way, study the art with a master. The essentials are good +stocks and good scions, the right moment--and practice. + +Excellent publications giving instructions in methods of propagation +are: "The Persian Walnut Industry in the United States," by E. R. Lake; +Bulletin 254, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture, +1913: "The Pecan," by C. A. Reed; Bulletin 251 of the same department, +1912: "Walnut Growing in Oregon," published by the Passenger Department +Southern Pacific Company Lines in Oregon, Portland, Oregon, revised +edition, 1912; and "Nut Growing in Maryland," by C. P. Close; Bulletin +125 of the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station, College Park, +Maryland. Any of these may be had free on application. + +The files and current issues of the nut journals are full of +information. Join the nut growers associations, subscribe to the nut +journals, get all the literature (see Circular No. 3) and you will soon +be happily out of the fledgeling stage of nut growing and begin to do as +you please. + + * * * * * + +The Chairman: Comment upon this paper is now in order. + +Mr. Lake: You say you are going to issue that? + +The Secretary: On my own responsibility, but subject to modification. + +Mr. Lake: If that is going out as a circular of the association, I would +like to suggest two slight changes. For instance, you wouldn't expect +the ordinary nut tree to begin to bear as early as the ordinary +transplanted apple tree. + +The Chairman: Some would. + +Mr. Lake: A summer apple would begin to bear much earlier than the +ordinary nut tree. + +The Secretary: Well, chestnuts begin to bear very early after grafting. +I refer only to grafted trees here. + +Mr. Lake: I thought that the paper had to do with trees that were +planted as nuts. + +The Secretary: No, I think I made that perfectly clear. + +Mr. Lake: What is that new statement about roots, that it is desirable +to leave them? + +The Secretary: That it is better that a tree should go undisturbed than +that it should be transplanted. + +Mr. Lake: Isn't there a question about that? + +The Secretary: A question would arise in the hands of an expert, +perhaps, but I think for an amateur, that a tree growing where the nut +was planted is more likely to live and do well than a transplanted tree. + +Mr. Lake: I am not so certain about that, but what I had in mind was +that the planter would get the idea that the tap-root was not to be cut +off and that it is very desirable to the tree. + +The Secretary: That's a good point. + +The Chairman: About cutting the tap-root I have said yes and no so fast +that I don't know which I've said last, and it seems to me that we ought +to have discussion on this very point. + +The Secretary: I have said that in buying these grafted trees you should +set them out following the instructions of the nurseryman closely. + +Mr. Lake: But that statement about the tap-root would lead the average +planter to think that it was very desirable to have the tap-root. + +The Secretary: Has it been settled that it is not desirable? + +Mr. Lake: Well, I think it has been generally accepted that it is of no +special value. + +The Secretary: That trees will grow as well transplanted as if they have +never been transplanted? + +Mr. Lake: Well, I shouldn't want to put it that way, but this is the +point: I would like to have the tree planter understand that a walnut +tree doesn't need the tap-root and if he cuts off the tap-root in +planting, there is no great loss. I wouldn't want to say that his trees +wouldn't begin to bear earlier or bear larger if left in the original +place. I prefer to transplant my own tree after it is grown, rather than +run the risk of getting scrub trees in the post hole or on the hill. I +prefer to select the grafted trees even without the tap-roots, which +would be removed in digging, and planting them all uniform, rather than +to plant the seeds. Speaking for the amateur, I think the latter is good +practice. The point I had in mind was that many people will not take the +time to plant nuts but will want to set grafted trees, and the question +is, should they have considerable tap-root--the grafted trees? + +The Secretary: Following my plan, a man would buy a small number of fine +trees and set them out at once; that would probably be all he would +undertake and all he could probably manage. He would also plant a small +number of nuts on which to experiment in propagation. My experience up +in Connecticut has been that all my southern transplanted trees, almost +without exception, have died. I have planted pecans and Persian walnuts +from a number of different nurseries. I have done it personally and done +it as carefully as I could, but they have either made a very feeble +growth indeed or have all died. On the other hand, the seeds I have +planted have grown into very vigorous trees. + +Mr. Rush: I have had a little experience with the tap-root theory. You +can't dig a walnut tree without cutting the tap-root, and that tap-root, +I find, is practically of no benefit at all after you have your upper +laterals, and an abundance of them; by cutting the tap-root growth is +stimulated and a new tap-root is made. It is very largely in the mode of +pruning the tap-root. You can readily stimulate the tap-root system. + +The Chairman: You try to keep an equilibrium by cutting down the top in +proportion? + +Mr. Rush: Yes, sir. + +Mr. Pomeroy: In examining transplanted trees I found ten times as many +roots where the tap-root had been cut; and there were two tap-roots. I +like a tree with a good tap-root system and I am positive that if you +transplant a tree you get a better root system, get a great many more +roots. + +The Chairman: The tree development, it seems to me, depends not upon the +number of roots which are carried with it when it is transplanted, but +upon the feeding roots which develop. Now, if we cut back the tap-root, +cut back the laterals, cut back the top, we have a tree carrying in its +cambium layer, food, just as a turnip or beet would carry it--and I look +upon a transplanted tree much as a carrot or beet, with stored food +ready to make a new root. + +Mr. Harris: I planted last fall a year ago a lot of English walnuts. +Would the gentleman advise taking those up, cutting the tap-roots and +planting them again? + +Mr. Rush: I don't think that would be advisable. + +Mr. Harris: They were grown from the nuts sown in a row last fall a year +ago and grew very well. + +Mr. Rush: In propagating the English walnut we have had them do the best +by transplanting when the tree is about two years old, but it will more +or less disturb the vigor of a tree to transplant it. That is +self-evident; it needs some time to heal those wounds that are made both +in the root and the branch. + +Mr. Harris: What time of year do you bud them? + +Mr. Rush: In August. + +Mr. Hutt: I notice some trees here that are evidently two-year old +pecans that have been cut back, and you notice that in every case +several tap-roots have taken the place of the one. Here are some others +that have not been cut. These have gone straight down. They are strong +roots with few fibers on them. On these other trees that have been cut +the formation of tap-roots continues. They will go down till they strike +a permanent water-table and then the tap-root will stop. In Hyde County, +North Carolina, near the ocean, the water-table is close to the surface +and there is a deep black alluvial soil with a great deal of water in +it. In order to grow anything there they have to put in ditches to get +the water out. The pecan trees growing there have absolutely no +tap-roots at all, it rots off as soon as it strikes the permanent +water-table; and I think that's the reason they produce such enormous +quantities of pecans in that county. In bottomless, sandy land where +there is no clay the root keeps on going down till it finds the +permanent water-table, even if that is six or eight or ten feet down. +These roots, as you see, were going right down to China to look at that +king on the other side if they got a chance. It's the same with the long +leaf pine. It has a tap-root below ground thicker than the trunk above +ground. The reason is that it grows naturally on those bottomless +places; the root goes down till it strikes water, then runs off +laterally. If you cut the roots they are bound to make new tap-roots. +You can see the place where they have been cut and in place of one +tap-root you have two, going right down into that sandy soil till they +find a water-table. I believe that a nurseryman who will cut off the +root of the pecan tree when it is transplanted, will cause it to form +more lateral roots and make a better tree. There's a great number of +vigorous roots in this tree than in this, and this tree whose root has +been cut off will make a tree much easier to transplant and will be a +better tree than those with great thick roots without the fibers that +have the root hairs upon them. + +A member: You wouldn't recommend cutting back that tap-root too +severely, would you? + +Mr. Hutt: In planting a tree of this kind, I'd cut off a foot or 18 +inches. If you get about 24 inches in a specially good soil, or about 30 +inches of root ordinarily that's all you want. + +A member: I should think that would depend quite a little on the height +of the water-table. If you were planting on land where the water-table +is low, you would leave more tap-root? + +Mr. Hutt: Yes. + +A member: That was the reason I brought up the point, because I think +cutting so short would be too severe. + +Mr. Hutt: The cambium is the only part of the tree that maintains +growth. Every wound kills the cambium to a certain extent, so I always +cut off roots of any size with sharp shears as smoothly as possible. I +cut far enough back to find good, fresh, living tissue. In moist soil +that will callous over. In the South the soil is moist and we have +growing conditions in the winter time, so it will callous over during +the winter. In the North, I understand, you make a practice of planting +in the spring, because of the weather conditions. + +Mr. Harris: In Western Maryland we have in the mountains a deep, sandy +soil; there doesn't appear to be any water bottom to it; what would the +tap-root do in that case? + +Mr. Hutt: It will go down until it finds what it wants, finds sufficient +moisture. + +Mr. Harris: Gravelly bottom? + +Mr. Hutt: If you have ever seen the roots of a long leaf pine, you've +seen where the roots go to when they get a chance. + +Prof. Smith: I should like to ask Dr. Deming if he would give us his +experience in propagating the walnut and hickory? + +Dr. Deming: A very important thing indeed for us nut growers in the +North is to learn how to propagate. Dr. Morris has had some success; I +haven't had any. I have tried it summer and spring, year after year. I +believe there are a few pieces of bark, without buds, still growing. +Chestnuts I haven't found very difficult, but with the walnut and +hickory I have had no success whatever, although I have practiced the +best technique I could master. I think one reason why I have had no +success is that I haven't had good material. I have had good stocks, but +I haven't had good scions, not the sort of scion that the successful +southern nurserymen use. Still, Dr. Morris has had success with the same +kind of material that I have failed with. + +The Chairman: Not very much success. + +Mr. Lake: Dr. Deming said that the land ought not to be too dry nor too +wet. Would you feel like saying that a water-table at 24 inches was +neither too low nor too high? + +Mr. Hutt: It depends a great deal on the nature of the soil, the +water-pulling capacity of the soil. Take a soil like that I mentioned, +in Hyde County, near the ocean; you can see it quake all around you. + +Mr. Lake: But would you say that the northern nut grower might safely +put his orchard on soil that had a water-table within two or three feet +of the surface? + +Mr. Hutt: I could tell if I saw that soil. If it is craw-fishy, or soil +that is ill-drained or won't carry ordinary crops, I'd say keep off of +it, but if it will bear ordinary crops it's all right; in some cases +where the soil is very rich the plant does not need to go down into that +soil anything like the depth it would in a poor soil. The poorer the +soil the further the roots have to go to find nourishment. + +Mr. Lake: I think that is an extremely exceptional case in relation to +northern nuts. There is very little such North Carolina land in this +section of the country, if I judge right. We don't plant nut-growing +orchards up here in peaty soils, so Dr. Deming's recommendation was +rather for very good agricultural soil. A water-table here must be eight +or ten feet deep; in that event, it would not make any difference +whether you left three feet of tap-root or 15 inches. + +Mr. Hutt: No. + +The Chairman: In the soils of some parts of New England, a tree would +have to have a root three or four hundred feet deep to get to flowing +water, but nevertheless trees flourish there. + +Mr. Lake: But the capillarity of the soil provides water for the tree +above the water-table. + +Mr. Corsan: It all depends on the kind of nut. At St. Geneva I came +across a butternut that was growing in a soil that would kill a chestnut +very quickly. The soil was very springy and wet and the butternut just +loves that soil. I found that while other butternut trees bore nuts in +clusters of one to three, this butternut tree was bearing them in +clusters of ten and eleven. At Lake George, right in front of the +Post-Office, there was one tree twenty-four years old, two feet through, +that grew butternuts in clusters of ten and you could get a barrel of +nuts from it. It bore again this last summer heavily, not in clusters of +ten but in clusters of seven or eight. When we have damp soil we can't +grow the chestnut but the hickory nut will grow in a swamp, and so will +the butternut. + +The Chairman: And the beech. + +Mr. Corsan: The beech wants clay; it won't grow unless there is clay. + +The Chairman: Our beech will grow where it has to swim. + +Mr. Reed: Before we get away from this discussion I think that we ought +to commend Dr. Deming in the selection of this subject and in the +handling of his paper. In my position in the Government, we have a good +many inquiries about nut matters, and they are usually from people who +want to know how to start. The great call for information at the present +time is from the beginners, not from the advanced people, and I am glad +that Dr. Deming took that subject and handled it as he did, and I am +glad that he proposes to issue it as a circular from this Association. +It will be a great relief to others who are called on for information. + +I should like to have a word, too, about this tap-root question. From +what has been said it is pretty clear that there is quite a difference +of opinion. We sometimes think we can improve on nature in her ways by +harsh methods and, while I know it is customary in the nurseries of the +South to cut the tap-roots back pretty severely, I wonder, sometimes, +whether that is always the best thing. + +I haven't had any personal experience, but I have observed quite a good +deal, and the tendency, it seems to me, is to try to develop as much as +possible the fibrous root. Sometimes that is brought about by cutting +the tap-root, or putting a wire mesh below where the seed is planted, so +as to form an obstruction to the tap-root, so that it necessarily forms +a fibrous root. Where the tap-root is the only root I doubt very much +the advisability of cutting back too severely. + +Col. Van Duzee: I have heard this subject discussed all over this +country, in meetings of this kind, and a great deal of energy has been +wasted. I do not think any of us know anything about it, but I do wish +to say this, that when you come to transplant a tree from the nursery to +the orchard, there are things of infinitely more moment than how you +shall hold your knife between your fingers when you cut the roots. The +exposure of the roots to the air, the depth to which the tree is to be +put in the ground, the manner in which it shall be handled--those things +are of infinitely more importance, because we know we can transplant +trees successfully and get good results when the tap-root has been +injured or almost entirely removed. I do not consider that the question +of cutting the tap-root is of very serious importance, but I do think we +should insert a word of caution as to the exposure of the roots of trees +to the atmosphere, and make it just as strong as we are capable of +writing it. + +The Chairman: That is a very interesting point, that we have fixed our +eye on the tap-root and talked too much about it. Not long ago one of +the agricultural journals decided finally to settle the question about +the time for pruning grapes, whether it should be done in the fall, +spring, winter or summer, and after summing up all the testimony from +enthusiastic advocates for each one of the seasons, the editor decided +that the best time is when your knife is sharp; and that is very much +the way with the tap-root. Be very particular in getting the root in and +caring for it. + +Mr. Pomeroy: Prof. Close, in a bulletin issued two years ago, spoke as +does Col. VanDuzee about protecting the roots of the trees; he said +"when the trees are taken from the box that you receive them in, don't +expose them to the sun or air, puddle every tree, and plant as soon as +possible." I think that is pretty good advice. It doesn't cost any +money, and takes very few minutes, to puddle the trees and it saves many +of them. + +The Chairman: I have tried the Stringfellow Method of cutting back top +and root until my men asked me if I didn't want to transplant another +tree instead, and they have grown just as well as trees on which I took +great pains to preserve fine branching roots. + +The Secretary: The last thing in my thought was to start a discussion of +this perennial subject of the tap-root, but I should like criticism of +this little circular, no matter how severe, because I am not finally +committed to it and want to make it as useful as possible. + +Prof. Smith: Every man likes to ride his own hobby horse. Would it not +be wise to suggest that some of these seedlings be put in odd corners? +Certainly the hickory and walnut are adept in making themselves a home +in the roughest kind of land. + +The Secretary: I have tried that, but I don't think, as a rule, the +trees do well when stuck around in fence corners and odd places. To be +sure the trees I put behind the barn or pig pen have grown beautifully, +so that at one time I thought of building barns and pig pens all over +the farm to put trees behind, but where they were set in fence corners +and out of the way places they have not done very well. I think the +experience of others is about to the same effect. + +Prof. Smith: My experience has been different from yours. I have some +chestnut and walnut trees, on an unploughable hillside in the corner of +my father's farm in Virginia which I stuck there ten or a dozen years +ago and have done very little to them. Of course they are native. They +have thriven. Nature does it exactly that way. + +The Secretary: It seems to me there is no question that they will do +better under cultivation. Of course they may do fairly well in odd +places if they can dominate the other growth. + +Prof. Smith: A man could take a pocketful of the various kinds of nuts +and go around his fence corners and plant a few. In an hour he can plant +fifty, and if he gets one to grow it is good return for that hour's +work. + +The Secretary: I have advised people to take a handful of nuts and a +cane when they go out walking and occasionally stick one in. + +The Chairman: In our locality, people would ask, "Why is that string of +squirrels following that man?" + +Mr. Corsan: I have been planting nuts in that way for years. + +The Chairman: If a man planted trees which belonged in his neighborhood, +nuts that were already in the dominant ruling group, then his chances +for success would be very good, but if he introduced in fence corners +trees that had to adjust themselves to a new environment, he would find +very few growing and the squirrels, other trees and various obstacles to +development in the midst of established species, would wipe out most of +them. Nevertheless, as it isn't much trouble, I would advise anybody to +take a pocketful of hickory nuts out with him when he goes for a walk +and plant one every little way. + +A Member: The idea is good; let us follow it up. + +Mr. Rush: I don't think it is feasible at all to plant trees around +fence corners. + +The Chairman: In our locality it would not do at all. + +A Member: It won't do in any locality. The sods and grass around the +tree will dwarf it and cause a very slow growth. Our time is valuable +and we can't wait on that kind of a tree to bring results. Cultivation +is the main need. Sometimes trees will do well where the soil is rich +and competition absent. In Burlington, N. J. we found a walnut tree +bearing enormous crops in a back yard. I have seen the same thing in +this county, and also in Carlisle, and the Nebo tree, famous for its +wonderful productiveness, has a similar environment. But it is high +cultivation that usually is necessary for the best results in all trees, +and walnut trees particularly. + +The Secretary: Here is a note relating to this subject: + +"The women of Sapulpa, Okla., who recently organized for city and county +improvement and advancement, have determined to plant pecan, walnut and +hickory trees on both sides of a road now being constructed through +Creek County, basing their action on the theory that two pecan trees +placed in the back yard of a homestead will pay the taxes on the +property. They believe that when the trees begin to bear they will +provide a fund large enough for the maintenance of the road." + +The Chairman: That's all right if you can look after them. + +Mr. Littlepage: It is very interesting to listen to these discussions of +roadside trees and I have until recently been a strong advocate of them, +but I have changed my opinion. I don't think there is anything in the +planting of trees in fence corners or along the roadside, for several +reasons. The first reason is that nobody knows how long it is going to +take that tree to amount to anything. I wouldn't give two cents a piece +for trees stuck out where you cannot cultivate them and get to them to +fertilize them. Another thing, we are right up against the problem of +the insect pests of these trees and who is going to take care of them +along the roadside? The insect pests will get on them and come into the +fields of the man who is cultivating and raising trees legitimately. +Down in southern Indiana, now, we find along the roadside hundreds of +walnut trees that are every year eaten up with caterpillars. They love +those trees and come over on to my trees. I keep my trees cleaned off +pretty well. There's that problem. Up to a short time ago I was an +advocate of roadside trees. It would be all right if there was some +means of cultivating them. If there is land somewhere that is of no use, +so that it doesn't make a bit of difference whether the trees on it have +insect pests or not, you can go out there and scatter nuts and let it +alone and wait the length of time you've got to wait. I don't think it's +of much value, however, even then. I don't think there is a thing in it. +I used to pride myself on the fact that I had set out more trees than +anybody else in the State of Indiana. I haven't bragged about that for a +long time, though I have set out, perhaps, in the last eight or ten +years, or had set out under my direction, about 750,000 trees; I am not +particularly proud of that any more, but I am proud to meet the fellow +who has set out twenty or thirty acres of trees on good land, the best +he's got, and cultivated them and kept the insects off of them and +burned them up instead of letting them prey on the neighborhood. I think +there should be a law passed that these trees along the roadside must be +cut down or that somebody will have to take care of them. + +The Chairman: The original idea of roadside trees was constructive in +its nature but failed to include the idea that, with the increase of +orchard trees, or trees of any one species, we increase the insect pests +because we disturb the balance of nature; and by disturbing the balance +of nature we give advantage to insects which then remain on neglected +trees to prove a menace to our own orchards. It we have various towns +setting out roadside trees and detailing the children to look after +them, asking the children to report on them, I believe the thing can be +made a success and that the taxes of many a small town can be paid from +the nut trees along the roadside, provided you have one boy or one girl +for each tree, their services to be given free and the profit from the +tree to be given to the town. + +Mr. Corsan: How about the cattle? Let them keep grazing around? + +The Chairman: Oh, my, yes. + +Prof. Smith: I think we sometimes let our feelings make us say things +that our brains would scarcely approve. I believe Mr. Littlepage's +charge against the tree on the roadside is not necessarily +substantiated. I don't know just how he is going to take care of his +trees, but if it requires a vehicle carrying spray, I submit that a +roadside tree is about as well fixed as one in his field. If it requires +a man with a stick or a hoe or a ladder, the tree on the roadside is in +about as eligible a location as one in the field. If care implies the +idea of turning over the soil, the roadside is handicapped, but nature +has got along without having the soil upturned. My point is this; there +is on nearly every farm in the East a little patch of land somewhere, a +little row between a road and stream where a few trees can grow, and if +fertilization is required, a few barrels of manure can go there as well +as anywhere else. The fact that a tree is put in a place that is not +ploughed doesn't mean that it is beyond all care. My point is that with +care we can get trees in fence rows without tillage and that, in +addition to Dr. Deming's formal and carefully cultivated plot, there is +about every farm a place where a man can stick a few trees and give them +such care as can be given without tillage. + +Mr. Littlepage: I agree heartily with Prof. Smith's theory, but having +had some experience, I find those things that he describes are not done; +there is just that difference, always, between theory and fact. I read a +beautiful book once, written by a woman, entitled, "There is No Death," +and I found on inquiry that she had already buried four husbands. +(Laughter.) I was much interested in reading, once upon a time, +Rousseau's beautiful story of domestic life and I found that while he +was writing it, his children were in an orphan asylum. A fellow teaching +in the high school in Terre Haute, Indiana, married one of the beautiful +attractive young ladies of that town. Shortly after they were married he +was busy writing and turned and told her that he didn't love her any +more and he wished she'd go home. She was heartbroken and left and it +turned out later that he was writing a book on how to get to Heaven. +(Laughter.) There's just the difference between theory and fact. This +is a beautiful theory. I used to be the strongest advocate of it, but +all you've got to do is to go on a farm and try it. The trees won't get +big enough to amount to anything in our lifetime, because these things +you say you will do to them you don't do; at least, that has been my +experience, and I would like to ask anyone to point to any section in +the United States today, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, where +this theory is carried out successfully; and yet I know it has been +advocated for fifty years. + +The Chairman: How about school children reporting on trees under their +care? + +Mr. Littlepage: Whenever you give the proper care to them you solve the +problem--whenever anyone will convince me that that will be done. There +is no reason, of course, why the tree won't grow in these places, but my +experience is that they don't thrive. + +The Chairman: I've put out thousands of them for public-spirited +citizens, but it would be difficult to find one of them today. + +Mr. Rush: In France and in Germany the land is very valuable and they +take a great deal of pride in their nut trees. The nuts we have here in +the Lancaster market, Persian walnuts, are largely brought from France, +Spain, Italy and Germany. The land being so valuable there, they devote +much of their waste land to nuts, like Mr. Smith's idea of planting +along the wayside, and they plant and cultivate them in their yards and +in all corners. They would not, under any consideration, plant a maple +tree just for the shade; the tree must serve for both fruit and shade, +and those are some of the sources of foreign wealth. + +Mr. Harris: I don't think the question is so much one of planting in +fence corners as that we have a great deal of waste land on which the +soil is very well adapted to growing nut trees. I know that sometimes in +growing peach trees it is almost impossible to cultivate them. I know +places in western Maryland where the rocks are lying so that you can +hardly plough, and yet the soil is fertile and particularly adapted in +some places for peach trees, and would be for chestnut trees. They have +there a system of cultivation much as if you used the plough, and yet +they are on steep hillsides. There is no reason, I think, why nut trees +shouldn't grow there as well as on the level field where you can +cultivate every inch of soil. + +The Chairman: They are looked after, that's the whole thing. + +Mr. Gowing: I come from New Hampshire and we have what used to be an old +farm, but it is now a pasture and the soil is quite a potash soil, I +think, amongst the rocks, and there's some apple trees planted there by +the original man that worked this place. It was too rough to plough, but +they have borne us as good apples some years as we have had on the +place; and on this same piece of twenty acres or so, there's some +chestnut trees more than two feet through that were cut off when the +land was cleared, and they must have done well, for they grew to be such +enormous trees. + +The Chairman: The trees are planted on this same old stump land? + +Mr. Gowing: Yes, sir. + +The Chairman: A great deal of stump land can be planted in this way. + +Mr. Corsan: That wouldn't be planting them along roadsides and in fence +corners. + +The Chairman: No, they would be looked after; the whole thing is looking +after them. + +A Member: My idea is that there would be very few nut trees planted if +every one was to start his own trees. They put off planting the trees +even when they can get them at the nurseries, and if they had to start +their own nurseries there wouldn't be one planted to where there's +10,000 now; and I think that in the end the nurserymen are going to +attend to the planting of trees and the other people are going to attend +to growing them. Maybe I'm mistaken but did this Government ever produce +any trees? Prof. Smith spoke of appropriating money and letting the +Government get us some new variety. Hasn't it always been private +individuals who get the new varieties? I have been trying to think of +some fruit tree, apple or something, that a state or the Government has +propagated. + +The Chairman: In this country I believe the Government has never done +it, but in some parts of Europe, especially Switzerland, the taxes of +some towns are paid by the trees along the roadside; but there every man +has to report on his own trees and the proceeds go to support the town, +and the taxes of certain small towns are actually paid today by roadside +trees; but this is in a country where land is valuable, and every tree +is under the direct supervision of a citizen who must report on it, and +the product of that tree goes to the Government, he giving his labor +instead of paying taxes. + +Prof. Smith: I was merely pleading for the continuation and spread of +that work, both geographically and in increasing the varieties of trees. + +Mr. Lake: I am heartily in favor of that, but I think it ought to be +referred to a committee. I want Prof. Smith to write it out in the form +of a letter. + +Prof. Smith: I am glad you called my attention to that. + +Mr. Lake: The Government and the states are now engaged in such work and +this ought to give it impetus. I think that the time and labor of the +Nut Growers Association, since its organization, will have been well +spent if we succeed in bringing to fructification this one resolution. I +want also to suggest that Prof. Smith include among the nuts, the +beechnut, because there's more meat in beechnuts for the amount of shell +than any other nut we grow. + +The Chairman: If there is no further discussion, we will have now to +spend a short time in Executive Committee work. I think we will ask to +have a Nominating Committee appointed first. Mr. Rush, will you kindly +read the list of the names of the men you proposed to act as a +Nominating Committee? + +Mr. Rush then moved that the Nominating Committee consist of Messrs. +Lake, Hutt, C. A. Reed, Smith and Deming, and the motion was adopted, +after which the Nominating Committee reported as follows: For President, +Mr. Littlepage; for Vice-President, Mr. C. A. Reed; for Secretary and +Treasurer, Dr. Deming. On Executive Committee: Dr. Robert T. Morris, in +place of Mr. C. A. Reed. On Hybrids, Prof. J. R. Smith, in place of Mr. +Henry Hicks. On Membership Committee, Mr. G. H. Corsan, in place of +Prof. E. R. Lake. On Committee on Nomenclature, Dr. W. C. Deming in +place of Prof. John Craig; the other committees to stand as heretofore. + +Mr. Lake: I move that the secretary be instructed to cast the ballot of +the association for these nominations. + +The motion was seconded and adopted and the ballot cast in accordance +therewith. + +The Chairman: Now I will appoint as a Committee on Resolutions relating +to Prof. Craig, Dr. Deming and the Chairman; Committee on Exhibits, Col. +VanDuzee, Mr. Roper and C. A. Reed, and they will be here this evening +to report on exhibits. Committee on Resolutions, Prof. J. Russell Smith +and Mr. T. P. Littlepage. There is no Committee on Incorporation. Will +someone propose that we have such a committee? + +The Secretary: Isn't it a desirable thing that the society should be +incorporated? It was mentioned to me by a wealthy man that if anyone +wished to leave, or give, some money to this association, they would be +much more likely to do it if the society were incorporated. + +The Chairman: I think it would be better for someone to make a motion. + +Mr. Lake: I move that a Committee on Incorporation be appointed by the +chairman; a committee of three. + +(Motion seconded and adopted.) + +The Chairman: The Committee on Incorporation will consist of Mr. +Littlepage and Prof. Close. This evening we will meet informally here at +about eight and tomorrow at ten we have the meeting at the Scenic to +hear the papers of Mr. Rush and Prof. Lake and Prof. Reed, and see the +lantern slides. We will first meet here at nine o'clock for an executive +meeting and to look over the exhibits. The Committees will report at +that time. + +(After discussion, on motion of Prof. Smith, seconded by Mr. Littlepage, +the selection of the place of the next meeting was left to the Executive +Committee.) + +The report of the Secretary and Treasurer was then read. + +(SEE APPENDIX) + +The Chairman: You have heard the Secretary's report. We had better take +up, first, the question of deficit. What are we going to do about the +$66.00? What prospects have we for the balancing of that account? + +The Secretary: That account will be easily balanced, and more than +balanced, by the dues coming in and then I will proceed to run up a +deficit for next year. + +The Chairman: You have heard the Secretary's report. If there is no +discussion, a motion to adjourn will be in order. + +(Adjourned till December 19th.) + + * * * * * + +The Convention met, pursuant to adjournment, December 19th, 1912, at +9:30 A. M., President Morris in the Chair, and went into Executive +Session. + +It was moved and carried that the President be empowered to appoint a +committee to attend the conference at Albany, called for the +consideration of the hickory bark borer, by the Commissioner of +Agriculture of the State of New York. + +The question of the publication of reports of the Convention proceedings +in the American Fruit and Nut Journal, was next taken up and it was +moved by Mr. Lake and carried that the papers and discussions of this +Society shall be used for its own publications exclusively, except as +the Executive Committee deems it to the best interests of the industry +to furnish them for separate publication. + +The Secretary: On November 8th, I received a letter from Calvin J. +Huson, the Commissioner of Agriculture of New York, to this effect. + +Dear Sir: + +At the coming land show in New York this department proposes to have, as +a part of its exhibit, a collection of native and introduced New York +grown nuts. + +Can you give us the names of growers of the better strains of nuts who +might be able to furnish material for such an exhibit. Perhaps your +association would be able to assist in the matter. The Department will +be able to stand a reasonable expense for cost of nuts, expressage, etc. +Perhaps a few seedling trees would add interest.... By the exhibit as a +whole we wish to show the variety and quality of nuts that may be grown +in this state.... + + Very truly yours, + CALVIN J. HUSON, + Commissioner. + +He wished me to assist in getting up an exhibit, but as he only gave us +a week I was unable to do anything. I do not know that there is any +action to be taken on that, but I read the letter simply to show that +the interest in nut growing is increasing and that this is an +opportunity for us to make an exhibit another year. + +Mr. Lake: Would the secretary take the trouble to make a collection of +nuts covering the territory of the association and submit it for exhibit +at a meeting of this character, this land show, giving credit to the +donors for material, somewhat as Mr. Reed has done in pecans for the +National Nut Growers Association? + +The Secretary: I think I'd have a few minutes to spare to do that. + +Mr. Lake: I think it would be an admirable thing. + +The Chairman: Yes, it would advertise the organization extensively and +be a constructive step in agriculture. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Littlepage, have you any report from the Committee on Incorporation? + +Mr. Littlepage: That is a matter that will require considerable thought +and attention. It will require attention from several standpoints, as +for example under what laws we might wish to incorporate, so I think the +committee will reserve its report to make to the Executive Committee at +some later meeting. + +The Chairman: We have no other business, I believe, and will now retire +to the hall where we will have the lantern slide exhibition. The morning +session closes the meeting and we are to meet at two o'clock at the +Monument and from there go out to see certain trees in the vicinity. Mr. +Rush and Mr. Jones are to show us these and their two nurseries. + +Mr. Lake: I would like to offer as a resolution, that the secretary be +instructed to make arrangements with the publishers of the American +Fruit and Nut Journal for the distribution of one copy to each member as +a part of his membership fee. The secretary will then be able to reach +the members in his published notices without special printers' troubles +of his own, and the members will be able to get some live matter right +along. + +The motion was seconded and adopted, after which the executive session +closed and the members adjourned in a body to the Scenic Theatre, where +the regular program was resumed as follows: + +The Chairman: We will have Mr. Rush's paper first. + + + + +THE PERSIAN WALNUT, ITS DISASTER AND LESSONS FOR 1912 + +J. G. RUSH, PENNSYLVANIA + + +The year just closing has been full of disasters both on land and sea, +though I do not wish it to be understood that I am inclined to be a +pessimist on account of these occurrences. + +I wish to speak of a disaster which overtook the walnut industry in the +northern states. Early in the year we had an arctic cold wave which put +the thermometer from 23 to 33 degrees below zero. This cold wave +apparently did no injury to the walnut trees at the time but late in the +spring it was discovered that the wood cells were ruptured though the +buds and bark were uninjured. In cutting the scions in early April the +bark and buds seemed in good condition for grafting; but as the time +approached to do the work it was readily seen, by its changed color, +that the wood was injured, some scions of course more than others. Those +that were only slightly discolored were used in grafting. But as time +passed the unhappy result came to light that out of about 2,000 nursery +trees grafted only one graft grew. After climbing an 80 foot walnut tree +to get our scions, and paying a good price for them besides, this was +rather discouraging. + +This cold wave, which was unprecedented for the time, had wrought other +injuries to the nut industry. That was especially to the young trees +that were transplanted the fall previous and last spring. The +transplanting with a frost injury already was too great a strain on the +feeble life of the trees. The consequence was that some of them died +outright, and others made only a feeble growth. But where low and severe +pruning was practised good results followed and such trees as were +established on the original root system escaped the frost injury +entirely. The young nursery trees with dormant buds were not affected in +the least but made a strong growth of from three to seven feet this last +summer. + +The intense cold wave was such that some old and young seedling Persian +walnut trees were killed outright, and not only the Persian walnut but +in a few instances the American black was very much injured; likewise +the Norway maple, magnolia, California privet and roses. Also the peach +both in tree and fruit. + +Now in conclusion let me say, what is the lesson to be learned? First, +as to the propagation of the Persian walnut, great care should be taken +that only trees that are hardy should be propagated from, as well as +having good bearing qualities with a first class nut. Second, after a +freeze such as we had last winter, a special effort should be made to +save the newly planted tree by close and severe pruning. As, for +example, I had a very fine two year old Hall Persian walnut which was +referred to me as dead. I cut the tree off about 4 inches above where it +was budded on the black walnut stock. It was not long after that signs +of new life appeared and eventually it made a very fine, handsome tree. +Nature does indeed some wonderful tricks in this respect by which we can +learn valuable lessons; and chief of these is close pruning. + +Such a cold wave may visit us only once in a lifetime and should not +discourage us from carrying nut culture to its highest development. We +must not think for a moment that other walnut sections are exempt from +similar visitations. They have them in the Pacific Northwest, and in +France and Germany. + +As regards the walnut industry for Lancaster county or Pennsylvania in +general, I am safe in saying that a fair percentage of the farmers are +taking hold of it. This is because of the fact that the San Jose scale +has practically destroyed all the old apple trees around the farm +buildings, and, not wishing to have the building denuded of the +customary shade and fruit, nut trees are planted instead. This is in +reality the practice prevalent in France and Germany where they utilize +every foot of ground to profitable account. + +The life of an apple tree is from fifty to sixty years whereas a walnut +tree is just in its prime at that age and destined to live for hundreds +of years afterwards. Then again the ravages of the chestnut tree blight +are destroying the cultivated paragons just as freely as the chestnuts +in the forests, which in a few years will be things of the past, thus +giving still more room for walnut and other nut trees. + +The Northern Nut Growers Association was organized for a grand and noble +purpose, that is to stand together shoulder to shoulder to devise ways +and means to bring nut culture to a grand and glorious success. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Corsan: The temperature Mr. Rush spoke of rather surprises me. Last +year at Toronto it did not fall lower than 9 degrees below zero. We had +summer almost until New Year's and then a very severe winter until +April. I didn't notice any evergreen trees killed, but at Detroit, the +Bronx and various other places, I never saw a winter so disastrous for +killing evergreens. + +The Chairman: Not only that but nurserymen all over eastern New England +said they suffered greater losses last winter than ever before. + +Prof. Smith: I would like to ask Mr. Rush if it would be possible to cut +scions by December 1st, so as to escape danger from such great freezes. + +Mr. Rush: I really have little experience in keeping scions. This fall I +put some in the moist cold earth in the cellar. I think the experiment +will be successful because I have known chestnut scions cut in the fall, +to be kept under leaves in the grove till spring. + +Prof. Smith: I should like to suggest that you try the following +experiment; bury them, wrapped up in a gunny-sack or something, entirely +underground where they will have absolute moisture and be shut away from +the air. I have found that very successful. + +Mr. Rush: Sometimes the trouble is they get too moist. + +The Chairman: There is a principle here, and we had better keep down to +principles as much as we can. That principle is that if the cells of the +scions are distended with water a certain chemical process is going on +all the while, because a scion is just as much alive as the red +squirrel; it is a living organism. Now then, if the cells are a very +little below normal dryness the chemical processes mostly cease, and +that is better. We have to use nice judgment in avoiding having a scion +so dry that its cells perish or so moist that its cells are undergoing +chemical processes too rapidly. Our scions are cut, say, the last of +November, then covered with leaves enough to prevent freezing and +thawing. That will carry scions pretty well through the winter and +perhaps is the best way, but we must never forget that in dealing with +scions we are dealing with living red squirrels just as when we are +dealing with pollen. + +A Member: Are the leaves moist or dry? + +The Chairman: The driest leaves in the woods contain more water than you +think they do. They carry enough to maintain the life of the cells, if +they are packed pretty firmly about your scions, and at the same time +the scions are still allowed to breathe. I keep them above ground. I put +a layer of shingles on the cellar floor, if I've got a bare ground +cellar floor, and then a layer of very fine leaves like locust leaves, +then a single layer of scions and then a good big heap of leaves over +those, packed tight, a good big heap of apple leaves or anything you +have at hand. Try it on the basis of principles. It is a complex +question. You can't settle any of these questions off-hand. Every man +who has had much experience has learned that he needs a whole lot more. + +Prof. Smith: Have you had any experience in fixing up a bed of scions +like that and putting it in cold storage? + +The Chairman: Yes, but you must tell the cold storage people not to let +them get too dry. Tell them you want them in moist cold storage, and to +keep the temperature about 40. + +A Member: We have found with walnuts that if you have the scions too +damp they won't keep very long. If you have them just moist enough to +hold them you can keep them all winter, maybe indefinitely. + +The Chairman: If your cell is full of water the scion will work as hard +as an Irishman. + +A Member: I find that we have to graft them above ground, in the North, +and if they are too moist when grafted they will dry up, but if kept dry +they will grow, because they will remain in good condition until the sap +comes up in the stock. + +The Chairman: Yes, you must choose a position midway between too dry and +too moist. + +Mr. Littlepage: That is very important; they won't stand dampness. + +Mr. Pomeroy: Wouldn't it be well to dip the cut end of the walnut scion +in wax to hold the sap? + +The Chairman: I am afraid that would stop its breathing. You are dealing +with a red squirrel all the while, remember that. + +Col. Sober: My method is this: I have a little room about six feet wide +with ice packs on both sides and double doors. In that I pack my scions +in this way: I take carbide cans made of iron and put damp sawdust, +about an inch or so, on the bottom and then I pack my scions in the +cans, cut end down, then I put the top on loosely. I have carried them +over the second year in that way. + +The Chairman: But you let them breathe all the while? + +Col. Sober: Certainly, and they have but very little moisture. They are +kept in a temperature of about 40 degrees. + +Prof. Smith: How often do you wet that sawdust? + +Col. Sober: Not once. + +The Chairman: Well, that's in keeping with our theoretical basis. + +Col. Sober: I cut scions any time between now and March. I don't take +them out of storage until we use them. We graft up to the middle of +June. + +The Chairman: I found some hickory scions that had been accidentally +overlooked, kept under leaves, and the buds in the cambium were +perfectly good after two years. In regard to winter injury--in the +vicinity of Stamford, Conn., the nurserymen reported greater losses of +all kinds in nursery stock than they had had before in their experience. +I noticed that some small branches of the Persian walnuts had been +injured, and particularly where grafts had started a little late and had +not lignified quite thoroughly I lost whatever grafts had not had time +to lignify. Last winter the injuries in our vicinity consisted chiefly +of two kinds; occasional killing of the small branches--this does little +harm because, where the branch is killed and dies back for a certain +distance, we have three or four more branches starting up, so that +perhaps it is not sophistical to say that it does the tree good. We get +a larger bearing area than if it were not for this occasional freezing +of small branches. Another form of injury occurs in the spring. The sap +will start to ascend when we have warm days in February and March; then +a few cold days come and, if we have absolutely freezing temperature at +night, this sap freezes and when it freezes it expands, as water does +everywhere, and the result is a bursting of the bark. That is an +occasional happening with all trees but particularly with exotics. One +kind of winter injury has been overlooked in connection with the walnut. +The very last thing which the tree does in the autumn is to complete its +buds for female flowers. That is the very last job the tree has on hand +and if the tree cannot complete the buds for female flowers perfectly, +then a very little wood killing will make that a barren tree, although +it appears to be a good strong tree. That covers the kinds of winter +injury I have seen in the vicinity of Stamford, Conn. + +(Here Col. C. K. Sober of Pennsylvania showed lantern slide views of his +orchards of paragon chestnuts and his methods.) + +The Chairman: We will have now Mr. Reed's address with lantern views. + + + + +A 1912 REVIEW OF THE NUT SITUATION IN THE NORTH + +C. A. REED, WASHINGTON, D. C. + + +In taking up the question of the present status of the nut industry of +the Northern States, we have to do more with what has not been +accomplished than with what has been. Very little has been done toward +developing the northern chestnut. What has been done has been mostly +with the European species and so far that has not been very +satisfactory. The European species is quite subject to the blight. The +Japanese nut is not ordinarily of a quality equal to that of the +American. It is thought, too, that with the Japanese chestnut the +chestnut blight has been introduced, which has been so serious to our +native species. The walnut has not become well established in the +eastern states. So far, most of the European nuts that have been +imported have been too tender to adapt themselves to our climatic +conditions, and the filbert, when brought from Europe, proves quite +subject to a blight that prevails everywhere with our native species, +but with them is not so serious. In running over these slides, I will +begin first with the chestnut. That is perhaps the best known species in +this locality. That shows one of our native chestnut trees as it is +familiar to you all in a great part of this territory under discussion, +that is, the part of the United States east of the Mississippi River and +north of the Potomac. That photograph was taken some time last June or +July when the tree was in full bloom. The chestnut is one of the most +beautiful of our native nut trees. This tree has the blight in one of +the earlier stages and it is shown here merely to call attention to the +disease, because no discussion of the chestnut industry at the present +time can be complete without at least calling attention to the +seriousness of that blight. That tree, perhaps, has not been affected +more than two years, possibly one. Is that right, Mr. Pierce? + +Mr. Pierce: About two. That's an 18 or 20 inch tree, isn't it? + +Mr. Reed: Yes, sir. + +Mr. Pierce: It must be an 18 or 20 inch tree to be so badly blighted at +the top. + +Mr. Reed: Two years, but you see it's pretty well gone. We come now to +the Paragon, one of the first trees of that variety ever propagated. It +was planted where it stands, by the introducer, Mr. Henry M. Engel, at +Marietta, where they had quite an orchard at one time, but the blight is +so serious that there are only a few specimens of the trees left. That +tree is probably in the neighborhood of twenty-five years old. The next +slide shows two trees of the same variety that we may possibly see this +afternoon. They are on the farm belonging to Mr. Rush and they are about +twenty years old. + +Prof. Smith: What have those trees yielded? + +Mr. Rush: They yield four, five, six and seven to eight bushels. You can +see that they are not far from the barn and the roots run under that +barnyard manure pile. + +Mr. Reed: What would you consider an average crop? + +Mr. Rush: They grow five or six bushels per tree. + +Mr. Reed: The greatest attention that has been paid to developing the +paragon chestnut in orchard farming has been on the plan Mr. Sober has +just shown, by clearing away the mountain side and cutting down +everything but the chestnut sprouts. This photograph was taken in a +thicket where the underbrush had not been cleared away. Those are a good +age now or perhaps a little bit older than we usually graft, aren't +they, Mr. Sober? + +Mr. Sober: Yes, sir; one or two years old. When they get to be three +years old they are past grafting, according to my method. + +Mr. Reed: This photograph was taken at Mr. Sober's a little over a year +ago, taken in the rain and is not very clear, but it shows the distance +between the trees at the time when these trees were four or five years +old--is that right? + +Mr. Sober: They are eleven year old trees. + +Mr. Reed: Do you thin them out after they get that size? + +Mr. Sober: Yes, sir, they should be thinned out more, but I hesitated on +account of the blight; I have thousands that I could spare, but for fear +the blight will take them out. + +A Member: Do you cultivate the ground? + +Mr. Sober: I don't cultivate it, I just pasture it. The land is +fertilized, but not cultivated. + +Mr. Reed: That is a photograph of a large chestnut orchard in this +county. It is not many miles from here. I understand that owing to the +blight and to the weevil, that orchard has not been satisfactory, and I +was told two or three days ago that it was being cleared away. + +The Chairman: What varieties? + +Mr. Reed: Paragon and native stock. + +A Member: Was that the old Furness Grove? + +Mr. Reed: Yes, sir. That slide shows the congeniality, ordinarily, +between the stock of the native chestnut and the paragon. The next slide +shows a typical instance of malformation between the Japanese and native +chestnut. I understand that this is not unusual at all. The Japanese, +ordinarily, does not make a good union with the American sweet chestnut. +That slide was taken in Indiana. It is a twenty-five acre paragon +orchard owned by Mr. Littlepage and Senator Bourne of Oregon, planted in +the spring of 1910. The next slide shows one of the trees in the orchard +during its first season. Mr. Littlepage had to have them all gone over +and the burs removed. They were so inclined to fruit during the first +season that they would have exhausted themselves if the burs had not +been removed. They made a very promising start, but I understand from +Mr. Littlepage that a number of the trees have since died. Is there +anything you'd like to add to that, Mr. Littlepage? + +Mr. Littlepage: I haven't yet quite determined the cause of the trouble. +Last winter I lost perhaps one-third of the trees with a peculiar +condition. The wood under the bark was darkened. I sent some of them to +Washington the year before to see if there was any blight or fungus and +they reported there was none on any of the trees, but this winter +perhaps one-third of the trees died down to the graft. A few, however, +would sprout from the scion, giving me, of course, the grafted top +again. It seemed to indicate, perhaps, a winter killing and yet I would +not undertake to assert that that was the cause, but it was very +serious. + +Prof. Smith: Was the land low or high? + +Mr. Littlepage: High land along a hillside, very excellent land for +chestnuts. + +Mr. Reed: Sandy loam? + +Mr. Littlepage: No, it's a hilly clay with a considerable humus and set +in clover. + +The Chairman: Which way does it face? + +Mr. Littlepage: South. + +The Chairman: That is rather bad. + +Mr. Littlepage: I don't know. I have some over on the other side of the +hill and I don't know whether the killing was greater on the other side +or not. + +Mr. Reed: We have before us a view of the original Rochester and its +originator, Mr. E. A. Reihl, of Alton, Ill. Over in the Court House we +have on exhibition nuts of that variety which most of you have seen. You +are aware, probably, that it is a native chestnut. It is one of the +largest and best of the native chestnuts and originated in southern +Illinois, where so far the blight has not spread. It gives considerable +promise for the future. We come back now to Lancaster county to a +chinkapin tree, a hybrid chinkapin. The original tree stands in a forest +in this county, and as you notice there, it is a very good sized tree. +You might think from the looks of the photograph that that is a +chestnut, but the nuts are small and borne in racemes, so they are +typical chinkapins. + +Mr. Lake: One parent was a chestnut? + +Mr. Rush: We don't know; it's a native tree; it's a hybrid. + +Mr. Lake: It's a supposed hybrid. + +Mr. Reed: Yes, the chestnut and chinkapin grow close together. + +The Chairman: What is the form of the nuts? + +Mr. Rush: Round like a chinkapin. I think it was a chestnut on a +chinkapin. + +Mr. Lake: If it is a chinkapin, what is there to indicate that there is +any chestnut blood in it? + +Mr. Rush: The size of the tree and the fact that the nut matures with +the chestnut. The chinkapin is about three weeks earlier than this +variety of chinkapin. + +Mr. Reed: That photograph is typical of the Rush hybrid chinkapin. We +take up the butternut now. So far as we know, there are no named +varieties of the butternut; there cannot be until some good individual +tree is found which is of sufficient merit to entitle it to propagation +by budding and grafting. It is one of the best known nuts in our field, +especially in New England; it is more common there than it is further +south. + +This slide shows the native butternut in the forests of southern Indiana +near the Ohio River. Of course, those trees in forests like that don't +mature many nuts. It is not in the forests, ordinarily, that you will +find individual trees of sufficient merit to entitle them to +propagation. It is the tree in the open that has had greater +opportunities than are afforded in the forest. + +Mr. Lake: Are there any coniferous trees in that forest? + +Mr. Littlepage: No, that's an alluvial bottom, Mr. Lake. There is quite +a long bottom by the creek where the butternut grows profusely. We have +the same tree on the farm that Senator Bourne and I own. Hundreds of +those trees grow in the woods there. It's rich alluvial soil. + +Mr. Lake: The fact that it is rich alluvial soil does not usually bar +coniferous trees; it may in your section. + +Mr. Littlepage: There are none there. + +Mr. Reed: The slide before us shows typical black walnuts that are +almost as common, perhaps more so, in many parts of the area under +discussion, than the butternut. This photograph was taken in Michigan +where the trees are growing along fence rows without cultivation or +special attention. No one knows whether the nuts of those trees are of +special value or not. It merely shows the starting point for improvement +in the walnut. We come now to the Persian walnut, which Mr. Lake will +discuss more fully in a few minutes. This is one of the trees we will +probably have an opportunity to see this afternoon. It is between Mr. +Rush's nursery and the station, on the right hand side as you are going +out. Just above the top of the fence you will notice a dark line which +indicates the point of union. The Persian walnut was grafted on the +black stock. The Persian is of slightly greater diameter. Now we have +Mr. Rush in his walnut nursery. These are seedling walnuts in their +third year. + +Mr. Rush: Second year. + +Mr. Reed: Second year from the time of planting. You will notice the +luxuriant growth. The next slide shows the methods of propagation. This +is the first step in the operation. The knife is similar to those on the +tables in the Court House. The next slide shows the second stage in the +operation where the bark has been lifted and Mr. Rush holds the bud of +the Persian walnut in the fingers of his left hand, and the next slide +shows the bud in position and being held firmly by a finger of the left +hand. As soon as it is in position like that, Mr. Rush lifts the +pencil--the instrument that he holds in the right hand and folds the +bark back over the new bud and then cuts it on the outside, so that he +makes a perfect fit. If anything, the bark of the black walnut overlaps +slightly the bark of the bud, and the third step in the operation is the +wrapping. Below, right at this point, is a completed operation. That was +done in August, using buds of the present season's growth, and in about +how many days is it that you take off the wrapping? + +Mr. Rush: About two weeks. + +Mr. Reed: In about two weeks take off the wrapping; and about how much +longer is it before you get a growth like that? + +Mr. Rush: About two weeks more, three weeks more. + +Mr. Reed: In about four or five weeks from the time of the operation a +growth like that is not uncommon. + +Prof. Smith: When is the top cut off? + +Mr. Rush: When I see that growth is taking place I cut the top off in +order to encourage the growth to get strong enough for the winter. Of +course our object is to keep the bud dormant until the following season, +perfectly dormant, but sometimes they do make a growth and, if they do, +cut them off at the top and force them. You will not get that bud to +grow next summer, but another bud starts out below that branch and gives +you your tree. + +Mr. Reed: That one dies then? + +Mr. Rush: Yes, sir, invariably dies. + +Mr. Reed: There is one of Mr. Rush's own growing of the Rush walnut, a +little tree which, in its second season, matured two nuts. That +photograph was taken just about the time the nuts were ready to be +gathered. + +Mr. Corsan: I noticed in the nurseries at the Michigan Agricultural +College, a lot of black walnuts that were sun-scalded. They were too far +apart. Can anyone tell us anything about this danger of sun-scald to the +trunk? + +Mr. Reed: Well, in this particular instance, the tree stands right next +to a fence, so it is protected from the hot sun during a large part of +the season. Perhaps Mr. Rush could tell us whether he has had any +trouble with sun-scald. + +Mr. Rush: Not at all, none whatever, never. + +The Chairman: There is, in some localities, a great deal of danger from +sun-scald. In the vicinity of Stamford, Conn., most of the English +walnuts will sun-scald more or less unless we look out for that and give +them shade; mostly in the trunk below the branches. + +Mr. Lake: How about the nuts? + +The Chairman: I haven't seen any scalding there. + +Mr. Reed: These are all interesting points and I am glad to have them +thrown in. Mr. Rush can tell us about this slide. It is one of the +cut-leafed varieties of walnut from California that he is propagating. +It is more of an ornament than it is a commercial nut, isn't it? + +Mr. Rush: It is both combined. It is very productive and very hardy. The +nut is not quite as large as the Nebo. It is the cut-leafed weeping +walnut. The first tree that came from California cost twenty dollars. It +is very ornamental. + +Mr. Reed: This is a view of a seedling Persian walnut orchard in Bucks +county, this state, some twenty or thirty miles north of Philadelphia. +It is now about ten years of age and is owned by Mrs. J. L. Lovett, of +Emilie. Some of the nuts of this orchard are on exhibition over in the +Court House. The orchard was not given any special cultivation at the +time this photograph was taken. The nuts from the trees, of course, are +very ununiform, being seedlings, and the bearing of the trees is not +especially large, but the apparent thrift and vigor of these trees gives +a good deal of ground for looking forward to a walnut industry in the +eastern states. + +Prof. Smith: Do you know the origin of the seed? + +Mr. Reed: No, sir, we do not. The nuts from which those trees were +planted were obtained and planted by Mr. Lovett who is now deceased. + +The Chairman: One of the most important features, it seems to me, of +grafting, is the idea that we can graft from prolific trees. The +majority of trees, of walnuts, hickories, anything you please, are not +remarkably prolific, but in grafting you select a tree that is prolific +as one of the most desirable of its qualities. + +A Member: You say that this grove was given no particular cultivation; +are they careful to allow all the foliage to remain on the ground where +it drops? + +Mr. Reed: I couldn't answer as to that. + +A Member: Mr. Sober, do you do that? + +Col. Sober: Yes, sir. + +A Member: The point I wanted to make is that that is probably very much +better than any cultivation that could be given. + +The Chairman: The matter of cultivation is one we have got to settle in +this country. I have been over the walnut orchards on the Pacific coast, +in the East and in Europe, and I find three entirely separate and +distinct methods of treatment. On the Pacific coast, the rule is to +cultivate every year and irrigate where they can, but to cultivate, at +any rate, whether they irrigate or not. In the East, where people are +supposed to be very industrious, we have adopted the lazier way of +letting the trees grow in sod; but that is not so bad if we follow the +principle brought forward by Stringfellow of letting the leaves all +decompose, and adding more fertilizer and more leaves and taking away +nothing. In France and Germany and England, where the trees are +cultivated, particularly in France, where they are best cultivated, we +find two methods; first, keeping up clean cultivation and adding a +little lime every year and, second, add lime without the cultivation. +One great feature of the treatment of the tree in France, where the best +walnuts come from, is the addition of a little lime every year, even if +it's a limestone ground, and that may possibly account for the delicate +character of the French walnuts and the reason why they have the first +call in the market. I don't know that that is true, but it seems to me, +at least, a collateral fact, and collateral facts often mean something. + +Mr. Pomeroy: Judging from my own experience I think that that orchard +would be producing now two or two and a half bushels per tree each year +if put under cultivation and given the care of an ordinary peach +orchard. + +Mr. Reed: These are seedling trees, you understand, in that orchard we +showed. This is a Persian walnut tree in Mr. Rush's front yard. I've +forgotten the variety. + +Mr. Rush: That is the Kaghazi. + +Mr. Reed: Now we come to the original hickories. This is one of the +earliest hickory nuts propagated, in fact, it's about the only one so +far. That tree is owned by Mr. Henry Hales of Ridgewood, N. J. + +Prof. Smith: Have they fertilized it? + +Mr. Reed: No, not especially. It stands on good, fertile soil but I +think no attention has ever been paid to it in the way of cultivation. + +Prof. Smith: Have you its yielding record? + +Mr. Reed: It never made large records; as I recall it now, it has never +borne more than a few bushels at any one time, perhaps two bushels. + +The Chairman: One reason is because it has been cut back regularly every +year for scions? + +Mr. Reed: Yes, that's true. + +Prof. Smith: Over two hundred years old, then? + +The Chairman: I doubt if that tree is over fifty or sixty. + +Mr. Reed: That's what I should say,--somewhere in the neighborhood of +fifty or sixty years old. + +Mr. Reed: That slide shows a typical grafted tree in Mr. Hales' garden. +It's a nice shapely, thrifty tree about seven years old and only +recently came into bearing to any extent. The nurserymen have had great +difficulty in propagating it until recently. Now that Mr. Jones has come +up from the South and he and Mr. Rush are getting down together +earnestly in the propagation of these northern trees, we will probably +have more of them, but in all the years that Mr. Hales has been working +with that particular variety, he has never been able to get more than a +few trees grown in the nursery, so it is not disseminated to any extent. + +The Chairman: Do you think that this will be like the pecan and hickory, +that some varieties will bear fifteen years after grafting and other +varieties two years after grafting, for instance, as extremes? + +Mr. Reed: Probably so, the same as it is with other fruits. + +The Chairman: It seems to me that that is what we may fairly anticipate. + +Mr. Corsan: Like Northern Spy apples and other apples. + +Mr. Reed: This slide is a little bit out of order. It's a native Persian +walnut tree that stands in this county. It is owned by Mr. Harness. Mr. +Rush has propagated it under the name of Geit. That photograph was taken +in the fall of 1911. Last year it suffered greatly during the extreme +weather, but it came out again and made a very good growth. This is the +original Rush tree that we may be able to see this afternoon. And this +is the original Nebo that we had hoped to be able to see but will +probably not succeed. It is some seven or eight miles from Mr. Rush's +home and we will hardly be able to make it this afternoon. The slide +before us shows some European filberts that were planted by Mr. Hales +and up to the present time they are doing nicely although they have +never fruited especially heavily; but there is no blight. + +The Chairman: How many years? + +Mr. Reed: I think those are ten to twelve years old. Perhaps you have +seen them. + +The Chairman: Yes. There are two features connected with the filbert +that we ought to discuss right here. One is the tendency to its being +destroyed by the blight of our American hazel, which extends to Indiana, +and another is the fact that it blossoms so early that the female +flowers or the male flowers are both apt to be killed by the frost. All +the members of this Association ought to get to work to bring out a +variety which will have the blight-resisting features and the later +blooming of the American hazel. + +Mr. Reed: This slide shows a filbert we will probably be able to see +this afternoon. It is in Mr. Rush's door yard and is still pretty young. +I believe it has not borne of any account. + +Mr. Rush: It has borne a little. + +The Chairman: How old is it? + +Mr. Rush: I think it's about five years old. It is a Barcelona. + +Mr. Reed: The next slide is taken in the orchard of Mr. Kerr at Denton, +Md. At one time he had a very nice orchard of these filberts, but the +blight has gotten in and has about wiped out everything. In a letter +from him this fall he said he had very few nuts of any variety, although +he did have a few. A letter that came this week from J. W. Killen, of +Felton, Md., said he had found filberts to be about as unprofitable a +nut, as any he could have grown. + +We will spend a few minutes now running over the pecan situation. We can +hardly omit it altogether because there are so many people in the +northern states who are interested in the pecan in a financial way. The +chart before us shows first the native area. This part here is the +portion of the United States in which the pecan is a native. You notice +how far upward it extends, almost to Terre Haute, Indiana, and across +southern Indiana along the Ohio River, and it is right in here, about +where the pencil indicates that some of our best northern varieties have +originated. Mr. Littlepage and W. C. Reed and others have shown us nuts +over in the Court House that originated there. The Busseron and the +Indiana are the two most northern. They are a little way north of +Vincennes. No varieties so far of any merit have originated in Illinois. +While we have the map of Illinois before us, I would like to point out +the place where Mr. Riehl originated the variety of chestnut we referred +to some time ago. Down in more southern Illinois is where we find Mr. +Endicott. This darkened area along the southeastern part of the United +States, and extending away up into Virginia, shows the area to which the +pecan has been planted with more or less success. This area extending +down over the Piedmont and up into Virginia and West Virginia, is the +mountain area to which the pecan is not adapted. You never find pecans +on the uplands. This thick, heavy area shows the territory within which +the pecan has been most extensively planted. It is not common down in +southern Florida. You notice, too, that over here in Texas there have +been very few orchards planted to pecans. North of these shaded areas, +anywhere up in Ohio or Pennsylvania or New York, the pecan has not shown +any adaptability or has not shown sufficient adaptability to justify +commercial planting. Whatever planting of pecans is done in the area +north of the shaded portions there must be considered as experimental. + +The Chairman: The southern part of Texas is actually in the tropical +zone. It would be interesting to know if we have the pecan actually +growing in the tropics. + +Mr. Reed: We have more or less vague reports that it is growing down +near Brownsville. I think Mr. Littlepage told us the other day of a +friend of his who is planting pecans. + +The Chairman: Brownsville is very close to the tropics. + +Mr. Littlepage: Mr. Yoacum told me he had a grove down there that had +not been a success so far. I know that quite a number of people have +discussed the question of planting pecans in that section. + +Mr. Reed: This is one of the largest of pecan trees; it is the largest +that it has ever been my personal privilege to see. It has a +circumference of between 18 and 19 feet and a spread of about 125 feet. +We estimated that it was about the same height. It stands on the west +side of the Mississippi River, some distance south of Baton Rouge. + +Mr. Littlepage: What is the approximate water level below the ground? + +Mr. Reed: It is quite near the surface. + +Mr. Littlepage: I thought so. There are conditions you will observe that +are unusual. In lands where the water level is near the surface, there +is a tendency in the tree to shove out a lot of surface roots. You can +travel all over the pecan belt of Indiana and will never see a pecan +tree that does not look as if it had been driven in the ground with a +pile-driver, but I have noticed that you find those spreading roots +where the water level is near the surface of the ground. + +Mr. Reed: It is interesting to know that right near this tree were other +large trees, nearly as large, that were blown over, and they showed no +tap-roots, but merely the surface roots, This slide shows a pecan bloom. +The pistillate bloom is clear up on the terminate growth; the staminate, +like other nut trees, is on the growth of last season and comes out +somewhat in advance of the pistillate, necessarily. + +We come now to the wild pecans of Texas. The recent census figures show +that fully three-fifths of all the pecans produced in the United States +come from Texas. This photograph shows the native wild pecans along the +Colorado River. Here is the pecan as a park tree. This picture was taken +in Llana Park, New Braunfels, in west Texas. One of the nuisances in +pecan trees is illustrated in the upper part of this photograph; you +will notice the Spanish moss that grows so densely on the pecan trees if +neglected. Unless the moss is kept out it gets so dense that it smothers +the fruiting and leafing surface, so trees that are densely covered with +that are able to make leaves only on the terminals. You notice in the +rear the leaves of bananas that grow there throughout the entire year. + +The Chairman: I have noticed that the mistletoe was a bad parasite on +the pecans in some regions. Have you found that? + +Mr. Reed: Yes, that is true; that is one of the pests of the pecan. This +slide shows a typical Texas scene. The wild pecans have been gathered +and are brought into town and are waiting the buyers. You will notice +right here is a bag that has been stood up and opened, waiting for a +buyer, the same as we see grain in the streets of northern towns, and +here are pecans on their way from the warehouse to the car. The next +slide shows another step; they are on their way now from Texas to the +crackery or the wholesalers. The crop of pecans in Texas alone usually +runs from 200 cars to 600 or 700 cars. This year the crop is small and +probably not over 200 cars, so the prices are going up. This is the +pecan crackery in San Antonio, having a capacity of 20,000 pounds a day. +The pecans are cracked by machinery and the kernels are picked out by +hand. This slide shows a native pecan tree. The one in the foreground +was from across the river near Vincennes. It is one of the first +northern varieties that was introduced, but it is now superseded. The +next is the original tree of the Busseron. The nuts from that tree are +on exhibition over at the Court House brought here by Mr. Reed. The tree +was cut back quite severely several years ago to get budwood and has not +made sufficient top yet to bear normal crops again. This is the original +tree of Indiana. Beside the tree is the introducer, Mr. Mason J. +Niblack, the gentleman with his hand by the tree. Now we come to the +original Green River, one of the northern Kentucky pecans. It is in a +forest more than twelve miles from Evansville across the Ohio River in +Kentucky. The trunk of that tree is typical of others in the forest. +There is a pecan forest of perhaps 200 acres, from which everything but +pecan timber was removed several years ago. + +The slide before us shows the trunk of a supposed chance hybrid between +hickory and pecan. The next slide shows a grafted tree of that variety. +It is interesting to note the vigor of this hybrid. It is quite the +usual thing to get added vigor with hybrids. This is one of the most +beautiful, dense, dark green trees that I have ever seen in the hickory +family. This tree is in northern Georgia, but it is not so prolific as +the parent tree. + +The Chairman: Does the shell fill down there? + +Mr. Reed: No, it does not. + +The Chairman: It grows very vigorously in Connecticut. It is a perfectly +hardy hybrid, but I am afraid I shall only be able to use the crop for +spectacle cases. + +Mr. Reed: This shows one of the most common methods of propagating the +pecan, the annular system. It is a slight modification of the system Mr. +Rush applies to the propagation of the walnut. This shows one of the +tools designed especially for annular budding, the Galbraith knife. The +rest of the operation you already understand. It is merely placing the +bud in position and wrapping the same as Mr. Rush does. + +The Chairman: I would like to ask, does it make a great deal of +difference whether the bud ring is half an inch long or an inch and a +quarter long? + +Mr. Rush: It does not make any difference. The union takes place on the +cambium layer. It is not made on the cut. + +The Chairman: Then the length of the bud is not of great importance? + +Mr. Rush: No, it is of no importance at all. + +Mr. Reed: This slide may be a little bit misleading. Two nuts matured in +the nursery on a scion that was inserted in February. The scion was +taken from a mature tree and the fruit buds had already set and had +enough nourishment to carry them through the season so that they +matured. That is no indication of what may be expected in the way of +bearing. It is one of the freaks. This is merely a view of a +fourteen-year old pecan orchard in south-western Georgia, a 700-acre +orchard owned largely by one person. That is the orchard belonging to +Mr. G. M. Bacon, a name probably familiar to some of you. Those trees +are set 46 feet, 8 inches apart, each way. There are twenty trees to the +acre, just beginning to bear now. That photograph was taken some two +years ago showing the first step in topworking. The top has been +removed, as you notice, and the next slide shows the subsequent +water-sprouts which are later budded. The lower branches were left in +the first place to take up the sap while the new head was in formation. +They have now been removed. Our next point might be brought out in +connection with this slide. One of the typical, sub-tropical storms, not +unusual in the Gulf States, swept over this area in September, just as +the nuts were beginning to mature and defoliated the trees and whipped +off the nuts. The sap was still in circulation, and the varieties that +respond most readily to warm weather, that start earliest in the spring, +sent out new leaves, so that foliage was foliage that ought to have come +on the next year, that is, it was exhausting next year's buds. The same +year the tree sent out its blossom buds, so it had no fruit the +following season. This slide shows one of the pests in the pecan +orchard, the twig girdler, at work. The insect deposits its egg under +the bark up at about that point, then goes down below girdles the twig, +and it breaks off, goes to the ground, and the insect comes out, goes +into the ground and comes out the next season. There are a good many +drawbacks that are occurring and more are to be expected the same as +with other fruit. There are probably no more setbacks to pecan growing +than there are to the growing of other fruit, but this is one of the +things. This orchard was set in land bordering the Flint River and at +the time this picture was taken the water stood at the depth of three +feet. It probably did no harm, because it didn't stay more than a week +or ten days. Sometimes it stays longer and in such cases it is a serious +matter. In Texas, floods come up like that into the branches of the +trees, so high in some seasons after the nuts are formed, that the nuts +deteriorate and fall to the ground. In such cases it is a pretty serious +thing. (Applause.) + +The time for which the "scenic" was engaged having expired, the +delegates returned to the Court House and the regular program was +resumed. + +The Chairman: We will next hear from Mr. Lake. + +Mr. Lake: My topic, aside from the slides, was concerning the result of +the work at Arlington this year. It is all written out but I don't +propose to read the paper at this stage. I have not been a teacher and +lecturer for 25 years for nothing, and I don't propose to kill the few +friends I have among nut growers by talking them to death when they are +hungry and want to see something interesting. I will send this paper in +due time to the secretary, and give way now to Mr. Jones. I did want to +show you on the slides a few illustrations of cross fertilization +between the Japanese and the American walnut, but we will put those in +engravings and put them in the Northern Nut Growers' Journal, so that +you will see them there with better satisfaction. Now one or two words +about these Persian walnuts. These are eastern grown seedlings, the best +that I have been able to pick out. Here is an Oregon grown nut. That is +the ideal type for dessert walnuts. This is the Meylan. There is only +one better, and that is the real Mayette, of which we grow very few in +the United States, but we are growing considerable of the Meylan. +Whether we can grow this successfully here or not, I am not certain, but +it is well worth trying. The better type of our nut seedlings in the +east are from the Parisienne. We must get a nut something like this that +you can crack between your fingers, not one that is sealed so hard that +it requires a hammer, and must get one with a very good quality of meat. +One great advantage to the walnut grower in the East will be that he can +get his crop on to the Thanksgiving market, which is the cream of the +market--something the Western or European nut grower cannot do. So if we +can grow a nut reasonably fair in quality we can expect excellent +results. + +The Chairman: Mr. Jones, will you give us your points now? + +Mr. Jones: Dr. Deming yesterday asked me to give a little demonstration +of grafting and I have brought along a sort of transplanted nursery on a +board, so that I might do so. + +(Here Mr. Jones demonstrated methods of grafting the pecan.) + +The Chairman: Tell us about the wax cloth, Mr. Jones. + +Mr. Jones: We use that over the cut. + +The Chairman: How do you make your wax cloth? + +Mr. Jones: We take a roll of this, possibly three or four yards long, +very thin muslin, roll it up and drop it in the melted wax. + +The Chairman: How do you make that wax? + +Mr. Jones: We don't measure the ingredients, but I think it varies from +four to six pound of rosin, to one pound of beeswax and a tea cup full +of boiled linseed oil and about a tablespoon of lamp black. + +Prof. Smith: What do you use the lamp black for, Mr. Jones? + +Mr. Jones: To toughen the wax so that it will not crack and so that it +will adhere better. + +A Member: How do you get your excess of wax off the cloth? + +Mr. Jones: We just throw the rolls on a board and press them. + +Mr. Reed: I believe you would find it easier to tear it up into strips +than to put it in rolls. We have been using that method. We ran short of +cloth and I went to town and got some and tore off a piece about 8 or 9 +yards long and folded it up into strips that wide and dipped it in the +pure beeswax and pressed it on a board and it was ready for work. + +Col. Sober: I take just a common corn cob and wind it on as you would on +a spool, then, while the wax is warm, I dip it in; you can have the +cloth half an inch wide or an inch wide just as you please. My way of +making wax is, I take two pounds of rosin, one pound of beeswax and half +a pound of tallow. I find that stands all kinds of weather. + +Mr. Jones: You prefer the tallow? + +Col. Sober: Yes sir, I do. + +The Chairman: Beef tallow or mutton tallow? + +Col. Sober: I prefer mutton tallow; two pounds of rosin, one of beeswax +and half a pound of tallow. Then you want to boil it very slowly and +thoroughly, and pour it in cold water. + +A Member: Do you unroll this roll of cloth? + +Col. Sober: I have a machine to turn it on just the same as you would on +a spool. + +Mr. Jones: The strip goes through the wax? + +Col. Sober: No, you wind that, then when your wax is warm, you drop this +in but secure the ends, then take it out and lay it by till it's all +saturated; then I tear it off as I use it. I find that is the most +convenient thing, and I generally get calico, that is pretty closely +woven, but is rotten so that it tears easily. + +Mr. Jones: Did you ever use raffia for tying your grafts? + +Col. Sober: No sir, I have not. + +Mr. Jones: We have used it on pecans and walnuts for the reason that it +doesn't have to be untied as it bursts off with the growth of the tree. + +Col. Sober: This wax I have tried on thousands and thousands of grafts +and it stands all kinds of weather. You can get wax that's been there 8 +or 10 years and you can take it off now and use it. + +Mr. Jones: That is one advantage of using the tallow; linseed oil will +dry out. + +Col. Sober: Tallow is the best; that's been my experience. + +A Member: If linseed oil is not used immediately or very soon, it gets +hard. + +Mr. Jones: It's all right in wax and all right in cloth, too, if you +keep it in a damp place till ready to use. + +Mr. Hutt: Can you use parafine in place of beeswax? + +The Chairman: Have you tried this method on the other hickories besides +the pecans? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir. + +The Chairman: You've got shagbark to catch fairly well, have you by this +method? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir. + +The Secretary: How did your pecans and hickories do last summer? + +Mr. Jones: I've forgotten the exact percentage that grew. Some died +after they had made a growth of several inches. I think I left too many +limbs growing on the hickories. Some of them made quite good growth. + +A Member: When is this kind of grafting done? + +Mr. Jones: We wait until the sap is up. + +The Chairman: What do you cover the top with? + +Mr. Jones: With wax. We leave this open at the bottom, for the reason +that the sap can get out and not ferment. If it holds the sap, it will +sour you know. + +The Chairman: How far down does your wax go, Mr. Jones? + +Mr. Jones: Far enough to cover up the wrapping. + +A Member: Does that work on pecans as well as hickories? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir. To show the value of this patch, we have grafted +rows side by side and got 80 per cent where we used this patch and 34 +per cent where we waxed it over solid and left no ventilation or exit +for the sap. + +A Member: Isn't that to keep the wax out of the cambium layer? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir, it does that too. + +Prof. Smith: Are there any fine points about this trimming, other than +mere wedge? + +Mr. Jones: No sir, only it's thick on one side, as you will see so that +it wedges tightly. + +A Member: Isn't it a fact that you can use three and four year pecan +wood just as well? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir, two year wood or three will give you better results +than one year. + +Col. Sober: What time in the season do you graft? + +Mr. Jones: The 20th of April to the 20th of May here. + +Prof. Smith: What stage of stock do you prefer? + +Mr. Jones: Well it doesn't matter, you can graft these after they have +made a foot of new growth, if you've got a good dormant scion; you could +put in a graft any time in the summer, perhaps. + +A Member: How long do you leave on the paper bags? + +Mr. Jones: Until the scion begins to grow. Sometimes I have made a +mistake and left them on until they grew up and curled down. + +Prof. Smith: What is the superiority of that over plain cleft grafting? + +Mr. Jones: You can do better work and do it quicker. I have put in 1200 +grafts in a day. + +The Chairman: You don't mind this arch being left up? + +Mr. Jones: That ought to go a little deeper, maybe, but it don't make +much difference, so long as it is well waxed. + +Prof. Smith: The paper bag protects the scion? + +Mr Jones: Yes sir. The object is not to protect the scion so much as to +keep it dry. You want to keep the scion dry until it gets sap from the +stock to start it into growth. + +Prof. Smith: Is it necessary that this should be waxed cloth? + +Mr. Jones: No sir, we use paper ordinarily, of course we run wax over +the paper in waxing the scion and then the paper is as good as cloth. + +Col. Sober: Do you find it apt to curl up in windy days--the paper? I +tried that and had all kinds of trouble until I got on to the tape. + +Mr. Jones: We don't try to tie with the paper; the paper is only to let +the surplus moisture or sap out. + +A Member: Does this tend to hold that in or is it all held in by the +patch there? + +Mr. Jones: This doesn't really need any tying, as it is large. + +The Chairman: Would you carry the patch around to the other side? + +Mr. Jones: No sir, just fill it up with wax. + +The Chairman: And the juice runs out of there and will escape anyway. + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir. + +A Member: Do you wax in addition to the paper you put on? + +Mr. Jones: We don't wax the scion all over. We used to take hot wax and +run a thin layer over the whole scion, but we quit that and used the +bag, because if you wax over a scion tight and it happens to have +sufficient moisture, it will start growth with that moisture before it +makes the union. + +Prof. Smith: Do you wax the tip end? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir. + +Prof. Smith: Do you wax this in here? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir; we fill that over with liquid wax. It is possible to +have your wax too hot, and burn the scion. + +Prof. Smith: Have you found that all the species of hickory take grafts +with equal ease? + +Mr. Jones: We grafted some here last spring that started very nicely and +then died. I don't know whether it was in the hickory stock or whether +they were robbed by the sprouts; we didn't pull off any sprouts. There's +a whole lot of things we don't know about grafting yet, but will know +more in time. + +The Chairman: How about using scion wood more than one year old? + +Mr. Jones: We prefer two or three year old wood for the scion. We have +coming now, 3,000 walnut scions from California and they are all to be +two and three years old. I have put in rows of 100 with large two year +scions and you could count 100 and not find one dead among them and some +of the scions were almost as big as my wrist. It's a job to cut them. +You see that scion, being large, has enough vitality to hold it until it +can make a union. + +A Member: You want one bud on this? + +Mr. Jones: We generally have two buds. + +A Member: Do you use the same method on the Persian walnut? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir; we got a little stingy one year and cut these all to +one bud and hardly got any out of them. You've got to have wood enough +to hold the scions dormant; of course there may be one or more buds on +the scion. + +The Chairman: And got to have food enough in them. + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir. Col. Sober grafts chestnuts that way, but I have +never been able to graft pecans and walnuts with very short scions. + +The Chairman: I have caught chestnuts with one bud, but most of the nut +trees want more food and you've got to have a lot in the scion. + +Prof. Smith: Have you used that with pecans in the North? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir, this will be our method of propagation. + +After Mr. Jones had given further illustrations of the process of +grafting, the convention adjourned. + + + + +SOME PERSIAN WALNUT OBSERVATIONS, EXPERIMENTS AND RESULTS FOR 1912 + +E. R. LAKE, WASHINGTON, D. C. + + +The Arlington work for 1912 in the propagation of the Persian walnut +consisted in top-grafting three and four year old nursery stock by +several methods, as ordinary cleft, side cleft, bark cleft, prong, whip +and modified forms of these. For wrapping we tried bicycle tape, waxed +cord and cloth, with wax and plasticine for covering. + +The work was done during the latter part of April and first part of May. +The stocks averaged from 3/4 to 1-1/4 inches diameter, and were cut off +from 16 to 30 inches above the surface of the ground. In a few cases +bark grafting by modified whip form was performed upon the branches at a +height of about 4 feet. + +Later in the season from June 12th to August 25th buds were placed by +varying methods. In the earlier instances the buds were taken from +left-over grafting stock. Of the scion wood received last year all the +wood from Eastern growers was frost bitten and wholly failed to take +with one or two exceptions. + +The Pacific Coast wood was received in excellent condition and +operations with it were gratifying, especially with the ordinary cleft +graft, and patch bud. + +Next year's work in grafting will be confined to the cleft, and the +bark-whip processes. This latter is very simple and under careful +treatment promises to be a convenient and successful process. + +In the budding operations we resorted to a number of methods largely for +the benefit of the information obtained from the practice, and not so +much for the returns in propagated trees. + +However, for 1913 in the work of propagating for stock results we shall +confine our practice to the patch method, though we may find from later +tests that the hinge method so favorably looked upon by Oregon is better +suited to the work. + +Various experiments with tying material were tried. Raffia, cotton cord, +waxed cloth and bicycle tape were used. The raffia and cord gave best +results. A tight tie is needed. + +June-budding from the left-over graft-wood gave a very low percentage of +"takes." Most of the buds appeared to be drowned. Buds from the current +year's growth inserted from early to middle of August are at present +apparently in good dormant condition. + +Some July buds from the left-over graft-wood placed in the younger +branches of a twelve year old American black took well and made from +three to six inches growth. The branches were cut back as soon as the +buds appeared to be set, a course that would not be advocated if one +were doing the work for re-topping. The young wood from these buds is +delicate and soft and in order to insure their living through the +winter, so far as our efforts may avail, they have been enclosed in +strong paper bags. In our budding and grafting operations we had no +success with the Japanese or Chinese stocks. We expect to try them +further as their rapid growth makes them much to be desired if a +permanent union can be effected. So far as we have been able to learn +from the southern propagators who have worked along this line, no +difficulty has been encountered in effecting a short-life union,--four +to six years on an average, though a few have kept alive for twelve +years. + +The growth of the successful grafts has been very variable. In several +instances in which both scions upon a stock grew, the growth was from +two to three feet. In other cases the young wood was scarcely a foot +long. + +The fact that the stocks and scion-wood varied widely in size and vigor +and the further fact that the scions were from several varieties of +western stock are quite sufficient causes for no uniform results in this +respect. + +The wood of all successful grafts appears to be in excellent condition +for the winter season and we are looking forward to an interesting +further growth of these next year, though the trees have just been +transplanted. In order to doubly insure ourselves against loss of the +varieties now growing one half, or even more in a few instances, of the +young wood has been removed and placed in a cold room so that further +grafting or budding of these varieties may be made next year. + +Nursery trees of the Franquette, Pomeroy, Parisienne and unidentified +others, on their own roots are making a pitiable effort at successful +growth, while all wood on the black stock is making excellent growth. + +In one instance the wood of Mayquette a cross between Mayette and +Franquette formed two nutlets. Lack of pollen was all that prevented the +fruiting of one-year-old grafted trees. A splendid point for the unit +orchard booster, but a point of no value to the real walnut grower. + + +CROSS FERTILIZATION + +Owing to the very vigorous weather of the past winter the catkins on the +older Persians at Arlington Farm were killed. In order to study the +conduct and product of these trees we sought pollen elsewhere to +fertilize their liberal display of pistils. We were successful in +obtaining some from the trees of Messrs. Killen and Rosa, and Miss Lea, +but though this and some pollen of black, butternut and the Japanese was +used no pollenation was successful. + +In the case of sieboldiana, however, we succeeded in securing what +appears to be fruit of certain definite cross-fertilization, as +sieboldiana x nigra; sieboldiana x cinerea and possibly sieboldiana x +regia. + +Only in one instance did the nuts appear to have other than the usual +characters of sieboldiana. + +The nuts of the cinerea cross were longer, more tubular and somewhat +deeper furrowed and darker. + +Unfortunately some conflicting results in the fruiting of the +sieboldiana places the possible cross-fruits under a cloud. + +A peculiarity of the blossoming of the sieboldiana at Arlington this +year was that the stamens and pistils of an individual tree opened at +dates of six to ten days apart, and with the tree used for crossing the +catkins were all off before the pistils opened. As no two trees are near +together, perhaps two to three hundred feet being the closest, +natural cross-pollenating was not expected. However, after the +cross-pollenations by hand were made and fruits set, and even matured, +it was found that some clusters had from one to three more nuts than +were hand treated. Many of the clusters had less nuts than the number of +pistils treated, which was to be expected. + +But how to account for the extra sets is a problem not clear for it is +possible that pollenation might have occurred in one of two ways--by +stray pollen grains from the hand operations by wind-carried grains from +the trees. In any event only the fruiting of the trees from the nuts +under consideration will settle it, and as these have been planted we +are on the way to the solution. + + + + +THE INDIANA PECANS + +R. L. MCCOY, INDIANA + + +The pecan is probably the best nut that grows. It belongs to the hickory +family which is indigenous to North America. Since water is its natural +distributing agent it is most generally found growing intermixed with +the large hickory nut or shagbark in creek and river bottoms. While the +hickory is hardy enough to thrive even into the Canadian provinces the +pecan is not so hardy and is seldom found in the northern tier of +states. It thrives well as far north as the northern boundary of +Illinois. The writer has seen a transplanted tree in bearing in Branch +County, Michigan, and native trees along the Mississippi River near the +mouth of the Wisconsin. + +The nuts in the extreme northern limit are not much larger than a hazel +nut. But the nuts that grow in Indiana and Illinois from the Ohio River +on the south to Rock Island on the northwest and Lafayette on the +northeast are much larger. Here are found many superior nuts worthy of +propagation. In fact, the writer has before him a great many nuts of +named and un-named varieties which he and Mr. Littlepage and others have +discovered in their search for worthy nuts in the native pecan woods. +There are many thousand acres of these groves on the Ohio, Green, Wabash +and Illinois rivers where many trees are found which bear nuts as large +as some of the varieties which are being propagated in the Gulf Coast +country. + +The nuts of the Evansville group are especially noted for their fine +flavor. The people of this section will not eat southern pecans if they +can get native nuts. This year several carloads of these native wild +nuts will be shipped to the Cleveland, Boston, and New York markets. +While the finer nuts seldom get into the markets at all but are bought +by wealthy men in the locality where they grow. Many men buy from a +special tree year after year--its flavor suiting their taste. + +The yield from some of these larger trees (and there are many of them +four feet in diameter and some as large as nineteen feet four inches in +circumference at shoulder height) is very good. The writer has seen a +number in the last few days which were estimated to have from four to +six hundred pounds, the most of the crop having not yet been gathered. +He knows of one tree which bore (17) seventeen bushels and Mr. Louis +Huber of Shawneetown gathered 718 pounds from another tree. Two hundred +and eighty-five pounds of nuts were gathered and weighted from the Luce +tree. These nuts were gathered green for fear of their being stolen and +it was estimated that fifteen pounds were left on the tree. Also that +the hail storm in early September destroyed fifty (50) pounds more. +Hence the Luce bore approximately eight bushels. The Kentucky tree had +four and one-half bushels by measurement. The Warrick tree had, the best +we can estimate, about 150 pounds. The Grayville, or Posey as Mr. +Littlepage wishes to call it, bore at least two hundred pounds by +weight. One hundred and sixty pounds were gathered from the Major and +two hundred and fifty pounds from the Green River tree. We do not think +the Hinton bore to exceed two pounds of nuts. We do not know the amount +of nuts gathered from the Indiana and the Busseron trees. The Buttrick +tree had some three or four bushels of nuts this year but as a dredge +ditch was recently constructed by it, destroying half of its root +system, it did not mature its crop. This tree has been in bearing since +1817 and it has not been known to miss a crop previous to this year. + +In our search for nuts worthy of being propagated we have found several +nuts as yet un-named that are in our opinion much superior to any +northern nut that has been brought to public notice. But as we know +little of their bearing record and do not wish to burden the nurserymen +with too many varieties we will keep these trees under observation for a +year or two before naming them. + +We have been trying to propagate some of the best varieties at our +nursery for about three years. Our first attempt was root-grafting in +which our success varied from 15 per cent to 75 per cent under the best +conditions. We found after some experience that it was not difficult to +root-graft. But last winter, 1911-12, was the coldest winter for some +years, the thermometer registering as low as 20 degrees below. Most of +our root-grafts were killed back to the ground but few if any of them +were killed outright. When spring came they started new growth and are +now about four feet high. The fall of 1911 was very warm and wet and +they were in vigorous growth until the first week in November when we +had a hard freeze which killed the wheat, causing the worst failure in +that crop ever known in this section. The winter then following being +very cold we had two conditions against spring root-grafted pecans. But +we failed to see any budded ones that were injured. However, we only had +pecans budded to hickory which was done by Mr. Paul White in May, 1911 +and, so far as we know, this was the first hickory top-worked to pecan +in Indiana. However, he now has quite a number top-worked last spring +that have made a growth of three or four feet. We also have both budded +and root-grafted pecans from last spring and summer so that in the +spring we will have a better opportunity to see what effect the winter +will have on them. + +So far as we are able to determine from our observation of a few +orchards all pecan trees bought from southern nurserymen and planted in +this section have either died out or made very feeble growth. Although +some large Texas nuts have been planted here and grown, yet they have +either not fruited at all or the nuts have proved no better than our +native nuts. + +The northern pecan timber is not brash like the southern pecan but is +very elastic and tough. An axe-handle made from northern pecan sells for +ten cents more than one made from hickory and pecan timber is much +sought after by axe-handle makers. + +The people in this section have in the last few years awakened to the +fact that their swamps studded with pecan trees are about the most +valuable lands they possess and many are the inquiries: "Where can we +get good budded or grafted pecans?" + +The idea of propagating the northern pecan is of very recent origin and +while the few attempts at propagation have not as yet met with any very +great success, yet we are hoping that the time will be when many acres +of our lands shall be set in valuable pecan orchards and our highways +lined with long rows of fine pecans, chestnuts, and English walnuts +which shall serve the three-fold purpose of beautifying Mother Earth, +yielding delicious food, and furnishing a place of rest for the weary +traveler. + + + + +APPENDIX + +REPORT OF THE SECRETARY AND TREASURER + + Bal. on hand, date of last report $ 48.73 + Annual dues and life membership 178.00 + Advertisements in Annual Report 25.00 + Sale of report 18.00 + Dr. Crocker, paid for list of names 2.00 + Prof. Collins, paid for reprints 8.00 + ________ + + Total receipts $279.73 + + Expenses: + + Expenses of Prof. Collins $ 20.85 + Printing report and reprints 195.16 + Other printing 38.00 + Postage 35.75 + Typewriting 16.24 + Stationery 4.50 + Miscellaneous 14.30 + _______ + + Total expenses $324.80 + + Bill receivable 1.00 + Bill payable 22.00 + _______ _______ + $346.80 $280.73 + Deficit $66.07 + + Our first annual report, embodying the transactions at the first + and second annual meetings, was issued in May, and copies were sent + to all members, to the principal libraries of the country, to + officials of the Agricultural Department at Washington, and to some + state agricultural officials, to several agricultural and other + periodicals for notice and review, and to various persons + especially interested. Eighteen copies have been sold. + + About 1,000 copies of each of the two circulars, "Why Nut Culture + is Important" and "The Northern Nut Growers Association and Why You + Should Join It", have been sent to members and correspondents, and + also revised circulars on the literature of nut growing and on + seedsmen and nurserymen. + + An illustrated article about nut growing and the association + appeared in the Literary Digest and many agricultural and other + periodicals have had notices of our association and our meeting. + + * * * * * + + Besides the regular notices sent to members and papers, different + notices and brief statements about nut growing, were sent weekly + for five weeks before the meeting to 80 different newspapers + published in the country about Lancaster in the hope of getting a + good local attendance. The Pennsylvania Chestnut Blight Commission + assisted in this publicity campaign by sending postal card notices + to about a hundred persons in the eastern part of Pennsylvania who + were known to have from a few to thousands of cultivated chestnut + trees. + + The secretary's correspondence has increased so as to become, if it + were not for enthusiasm, burdensome. Often several inquiries a day + are received and they come from all parts of the United States and + Canada. + + The following figures are brought up to date of going to press. + + Our membership has nearly doubled since the last report was issued, + increasing from 60 to 113. We have lost 1 member by death and 2 by + resignation. Our present membership standing at 110. + + We have members in 27 states, the District of Columbia, Panama, and + Canada. New York heads the list with 37 members and Pennsylvania + comes next with 12. + + + + +REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS + +READ BY PROFESSOR SMITH + + +RESOLVED: + +1. That we extend our thanks to the Mayor and citizens of Lancaster for +the welcome and entertainment they have afforded us while here and for +the excellent auditorium they have placed at our disposal. + +2. That we extend our thanks to Messrs. Rush and Jones and their +entertainment committee. + +3. That we extend our thanks to the Pennsylvania Chestnut Tree Blight +Commission for the attendance of their representatives. We note with +keen interest their expressions of hope for the control of this +cyclopean menace. + +4. That we express our deep appreciation of the great interest and +valuable services of Dr. Morris, the retiring President, and Dr. Deming, +the Secretary and Treasurer, two officers to whose untiring efforts this +Association is largely due. + +5. That we express the thanks of the Association to those members and +others who have enriched this meeting by their interesting exhibits. + +6. That the following letter be sent from this Association to the,-- + + Secretary of Agriculture, + Persons in authority in the United States Bureau of Plant Industry, + The Presidents of Agricultural Colleges, + The Directors of Agricultural Experiment Stations, + And leading Teachers in Agriculture Colleges. + +The Northern Nut Growers' Association, by resolution passed at its third +annual meeting, held at Lancaster, Pa., in December 1912, calls your +attention to the importance of, and need for, the breeding of new types +of crop yielding trees. We now have the possibility of a new, but as yet +little developed, agriculture which may (A) nearly double our food +supply and also (B) serve as the greatest factor in the conservation of +our resources. + +(A) Our agriculture at the present time depends chiefly upon the grains +which were improved by selection in pre-historic times, because they +were annuals and quick yielders. The heavy yielding plants, the engines +of nature, are the trees, which have in most cases remained unimproved +and largely unused until the present time because of the slowness of +their generations and the absence of knowledge concerning plant +breeding. + +We now know something about plant breeding, and its possibilities as +applied to the crop yielding trees seem to be enormous. They certainly +warrant immediate and widespread effort at plant breeding. A member of +this Association has shown that the chinquapin can be crossed with the +oak; that all the walnuts freely hybridize with each other and with the +open bud hickories, a class which includes the toothsome and profitable +pecan. There is in California a tree which is considered to be a cross +between the native walnut and the live oak. The Mendelian Law in +connection with past achievements in plant breeding, and the experiments +of Loeb in crossing the sea urchin and the star fish are profoundly +suggestive. + +The possibilities of plant breeding as applied to crop yielding trees +seem to be enormous. They certainly warrant immediate and widespread +effort toward the creation of useful strains which may become the basis +of a new agriculture yielding food for both man and the domestic +animals. + +(B) The time for constructive conservation has come. Our most vital +resource is the soil. It is possibly the only resource for which there +is no substitute. Its destruction is the most irreparable waste. So long +as the earth remains in place the burnt forest may return and the +exhausted field may be restored by scientific agriculture. But once the +gully removes this soil, it is the end so far as our civilization is +concerned--forest, field and food are impossible and even water power is +greatly impaired. Our present system of agriculture, depending upon the +grains, demands the plowing of hillsides and the hillsides wash away. +This present dependence upon the plow means that one-third of our soil +resources is used only for forest, one-third is being injured by +hillside erosion, and only one-third, the levelest, is being properly +used for plow crops. + +The present alternative of Forestry for hillsides is often impossible +because the yields are too meagre. Almost any land that can produce a +forest, and much that has been considered too dry for forest, can +produce an annual harvest of value to man or his animals when we have +devoted sufficient attention to the breeding of walnuts, chestnuts, +pecans, shellbarks, acorn yielding oaks, beech nuts, pine nuts, hazel +nuts, almonds, honey locust, mesquite, screw bean, carob, mulberry, +persimmon, pawpaw, and many other fruit and nut trees of this and other +lands. + +The slowness and expense of the process of plant introduction and tree +breeding limits this work to a few individuals with patience and +scientific tastes and to governmental and other institutions of a +permanent nature. The United States Government and each state experiment +station should push this work vigorously and we appeal to you to use +your influence in that direction. You may find material of interest in +our published proceedings and in the Fruit and Nut Journal, the organ of +the industry, published at Petersburg, Virginia. + + + + +REPORT OF COMMITTEE + +ON THE DEATH OF PROFESSOR JOHN CRAIG + +Read by Dr. Morris + + +"The Northern Nut Growers' Association suffered very great loss in the +death of Professor John Craig, at Siasconset, Massachusetts, on August +10, 1912. + +"Professor Craig, from his many responsible positions in the +horticultural world, had acquired a wealth of information which was +always at the disposal of his friends and students. His training as a +teacher gave such facility in expression of view, that his part in our +discussions inspired the audience and called forth the best that others +had to offer. + +"His type of mind was essentially scientific, and combined with this +type of mind there was a rare quality of critical faculty in relation to +the relative practical values of horticultural ideas and methods. His +interest in the Northern Nut Growers Association belonged to a natural +fondness for everything that promised new development, and he +established at Cornell University the first course in nuciculture,--so +far as we are aware,--that has ever been formulated at an educational +institution. + +"The personality of Professor Craig, characteristic of that of the +scientist, was marked by simplicity and directness of manner, impatience +with error due to carelessness or intent, but unlimited benign tolerance +of all men who honestly expressed views opposing his own or who made +conscientious mistakes. Professor Craig possessed that broad humanity +which found quite as large interest in his fellow man as it found in his +special study of plants, and his charming personality, strong manly +bearing, scholarship, and active interest in whatever engaged his +attention at all, will be ever remembered by those of us who had the +pleasure and the profit of his acquaintance." + +Mr. Littlepage: I would just like to say, in connection with the very +appropriate and excellent words which the President used in reference to +Prof. Craig, that it certainly meets the most hearty approval of all of +us who knew Prof. Craig, that this association go on record in this +manner. At the first meeting that was held, by the few of us who met in +Bronx Park Museum at New York, to start this organization, you will +remember the enthusiasm and the words of encouragement that Prof. Craig +gave us at that time. He was there among the first and there was always +intermingled with the scientific phase of the subjects that he +discussed, the practical, genial good fellowship that made everyone like +him; and after all, it is but proper that we stop for a moment and +express our deep appreciation. In this life of turmoil and business +hustle, I think that we sometimes do not quite realize the shortness of +life, the shortness of the time that we have to accomplish any of those +things in which we are interested; and it is the men who are giving +their time to these scientific subjects, the results of which will inure +to all humanity, who are certainly entitled to consideration and a +kindly remembrance. That is why it was that I heard with such +gratification the words of the President about Prof. Craig. + + + + +REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EXHIBITS + +Read by Professor Hutt + +By J. G. Rush, West Willow, Pa. + + Persian walnuts, four varieties: Hall, Burlington, Nebo, Rush; + plate of mixed, imported varieties; Seedling walnuts, Paradox + walnut, black walnuts and rupestris, (Texas); two plates + Chinquapins; chestnuts, Giant Japanese; shellbarks: LaFeuore, very + good, large, Weiker, fair; two seedlings: Paradise nut; two plates + filberts; Lancaster Co. pecans; budding knives. + +By Wilmer P. Hooper, Forest Hill, Md. + + Seedling Persian Walnut; Sir Clair; tree probably fifty years old, + vigorous, hardy, annual bearer. On farms of L. J. Onion, + Cooperstown, Md. P. O. Sharon, Md. 1911 crop one bushel; 1912 crop + one and one half bushels. + + Alexis; tree twenty-eight years old; vigorous, hardy, annual + bearer, flavor good. Farm of Alexis Smith, Churchville, Md. Crop + 1911 one bushel; crop 1912 one bushel. + + Sheffield; tree six years old; bought of Hoopes Brothers & Thomas; + hardy, vigorous; 6 to 18 feet high; on farm of Mrs. S. T. Poleet, + Cooperton, Md., P. O. Sharon, Md. + + Smith; tree forty to forty-five years old; large, hardy; on farm of + J. T. Smith, Berkeley, Md. + + Beder; fifty to fifty-five years old; large, annual bearer; grown + from nut on farm of David Hildt, Janettsville, Md. + + Hooker; tree twenty-two years old; origin Franklin Davis; vigorous, + hardy, annual bearer, hard shell, fine butternut flavor; from farm + of Mrs. Kate Hooker, Vale, Md. + +By Mr. Knaub. + + Shellbarks, five varieties: three black walnuts, two butternuts; + one chestnut. + +By Mrs. J. L. Lovett, Emilie, Pa. + + Six varieties of Persian walnuts. + +By E. B. Holden, Hilton, N. Y. + + Holden walnut. + +Stock Seed Nuts from J. M. Thorborn & Co., 33 Barclay St., New York +City. + + Juglans Californica, Juglans cordiformis, Juglans Sieboldi, Juglans + nigra, Juglans cinerea, Juglans sinensis, Carya alba (shellbark), + Carya porcina (pignut), Carya tomentosa (mockernut), Carya sulcata, + Corylus rostrata, Corylus amara, Castanea Americana. + +By E. A. Riehl, Alton, Ill. + + A plate of Rochester nuts and thirty seedlings of it, showing + tendency to reversion; eight varieties of shagbark; eight varieties + of shellbark; eight plates of Sieboldi; eight plates black walnuts + (Thomas); Rush Chinquapin. + +Collection of walnuts by Professor Lake, of Washington, D. C. + + Royal Hybrid, California x nigra; Paradox, California x regia; + Meylan, Glady, Sypherd, Stabler, Milbank, St. Clair. + +By A. C. Pomeroy, Lockport, N. Y. + + Pomeroy walnuts and seedlings of the original tree. + +By T. P. Littlepage, Washington, D. C. + + Indiana pecans, six varieties: Warwick, Posey, Major, Kentucky, + Indiana, Hodge; Hinton, McCallister hican, Barnes walnut from + Washington, D. C., four varieties shagbark. + +By W. C. Reed, Vincennes, Ind. + + Indiana pecans, thirteen varieties: Luce, Beard, Busseron, Porter, + Squires, Kentucky, Hall, Sullivan (2), Warwick, Indiana, Wilson. + +By Col. C. K. Sober, Lewisburg, Pa. + + Photograph of his chestnut orchard and nursery. + +By C. A. Reed, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. + + Exhibition jars of Holden walnut, Warwick pecan, Kentucky pecan, + Luce pecan, Hales shagbark, Kirtland shagbark, Weiker shagbark. + Exhibition of Squirrel, Perfection and Great Grip nut crackers; + White, Jones and Galbreath budding tools. + +By Arrowfield Nurseries, Petersburg, Va. + + Seedling pecan trees. + + +THE HICKORY BARK BORER + +That our correspondence with the New York State Commissioner of +Agriculture, as published in the annual report, has borne fruit is shown +by the calling of a conference at the office of the Commissioner at +Albany on February 24th, "to consider methods of control of the hickory +bark borer". + +Among those present were the following: + + Frederick Allien, representing Riverdale Park Association. + + H. W. Merkel, Forester, New York Zoological Park; representing Bronx, + Valley Parkway Commission. + + Dr. W. A. Murrill, Acting Director, New York Botanical Garden. + + J. J. Levison, Forester, Department of Parks, Brooklyn. + + Wesley B. Leach, Consulting Arboriculturist, Boro of Queens. + + Clifford R. Pettis, Superintendent of State Forests, Albany. + + Dr. E. P. Felt, State Entomologist, Albany. + + Dr. W. C. Deming, Sec., Northern Nut Growers' Ass'n, Westchester. + + George G. Atwood, Chief, Bureau of Horticulture, State Dept. of + Agriculture, Albany. + + B. D. Van Buren, Assistant Chief. + + Dr. W. H. Jordan, Director, State Experiment Station, Geneva. + + George L. Barrus, Conservation Commission, Albany. + + S. H. Burnham, Assistant State Botanist, Albany. + + Dr. Donald Reddick, Professor of Plant Pathology, College of + Agriculture, Ithaca. + + Glenn W. Herrick, Professor of Entomology, College of + Agriculture, Ithaca. + + W. H. Rankin, Conservation Commission, Albany. + + P. J. Parrott, Entomologist, State Experiment Station, Geneva. + + F. C. Stewart, Botanist, State Experiment Station, Geneva. + +After a prolonged discussion the following resolution was unanimously +adopted: + +WHEREAS, the hickory bark borer is at present extremely injurious and +destructive to hickory trees in and around New York City, and has +already destroyed and is threatening the destruction of thousands of +valuable trees; and + +WHEREAS, it has been demonstrated in several instances, on a large +scale, that the hickory bark borer can be practically controlled; +therefore, be it RESOLVED, that we hereby respectfully request the +commissioner of agriculture to take such steps as may be necessary to +bring about the enforcement of the provisions of the agricultural law +relative to insect pests and diseases with particular reference to +control of the hickory bark borer; and be it further + +RESOLVED, that the thanks of the conference are hereby tendered to +Commissioner of Agriculture Huson for his courtesies and the calling of +the conference. + +The following "News Items" of no date, but received in the early part of +June, shows what action has so far been taken: + + +STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE + +News Items + +Commissioner Huson of the State Department of Agriculture is receiving +considerable information relative to a serious outbreak of the hickory +bark borer in the vicinity of New York and on Long Island. This borer is +the principal cause of the death of thousands of hickory trees. The +greatest infested area is in the northern part of New York City, in +Westchester County, in Queens and Nassau Counties, though much injury +has been observed throughout Suffolk County, particularly along the +northern shore of the island. The area of infested hickories is about +the same as the territory where the chestnut trees have succumbed to the +attacks of the chestnut bark disease. Now that the chestnuts have so +nearly disappeared and the fact that the hickory trees are also +threatened with entire extermination because of the hickory borer, +requests have been made by many citizens, that the Commissioner of +Agriculture should exercise such authority as the law gives him in the +control of this pest. That the hickory trees that have not been attacked +may be saved, or in a very large measure protected has been proven in +the Zoological Park and in the parks of Brooklyn. The able +superintendents of these two parks have for the last two or three years, +been cutting out every infested hickory tree and in that way the other +trees are found at this time to be free from insects and they have been +saved from certain destruction. + +The hickory borer eats its way into the bark of the hickory trees in +mid-summer. Eggs are laid which hatch and the grubs feed in peculiar +galleries in the bark and between the wood and the bark is such a way as +to cut off the flow of the sap, thus causing the death of the trees. +These grubs are in these galleries at this time of the year and will +remain so until about the middle of June. It is, therefore, necessary +that the infested trees be cut and destroyed before that time in order +to prevent further widespread of the insects. The Commissioner has been +promised the hearty cooperation of many influential and interested +citizens in this movement and agents of this Department are on the +ground with authority to inspect trees to ascertain the limit of +infestation and they have been directed to mark such trees as should be +removed and destroyed at once. + +All persons are requested to inform the Department of the location of +infested hickory trees and to extend to the inspectors such assistance +as may be desired. + +Department Circular Number 64 on "Dying Hickory Trees" will be sent to +all applicants. + + CALVIN J. HUSON, + Commissioner of Agriculture + + Albany, N. Y. + + +MISCELLANEOUS NOTES + +Members present: + + Dr. R. T. Morris + Mr. T. P. Littlepage + Dr. W. C. Deming + Mr. C. A. Reed + Mr. W. N. Roper + Prof. E. R. Lake + Mr. E. S. Mayo + Mr. A. C. Pomeroy + Mr. J. F. Jones + Mr. J. G. Rush + Col. C. A. Van Duzee + Prof. J. Russell Smith + Prof. W. N. Hutt + Mr. G. H. Corsan + Mr. C. S. Ridgway + Mr. H. N. Gowing + Mr. W. C. Reed + Mr. W. F. McSparren. + +Others present: + + Mrs. C. A. Reed + Mrs. A. C. Pomeroy + Mrs. J. F. Jones + Mrs. C. S. Ridgway + Prof. F. N. Fagan, Dept. of Horticulture, State College of Pennsylvania + Mrs. Fagan + Mr. Roy G. Pierce, Tree Surgeon, Penn. Chestnut Blight Commission + Mr. Keller E. Rockey, Forester in Charge of Demonstration Work, Penn. + Chestnut Blight Commission + Col. C. K. Sober, Lewisburg, Pa. + Mr. S. V. Wilcox, Rep. Thos. Meehan & Sons, Germantown + Mr. H. Brown, Rep. Thos. Meehan & Sons, Germantown + Mr. Wilmer P. Hoopes, Forest Hill, Md. + Dr. A. H. Metzger, Millersville, Pa. + Mr. Amos M. Landis, Lancaster, Pa. + Mr. Blair Funk, Pequea Creek, Pa. + Mr. David S. Herr, Lancaster, Pa. + Mr. Edward Harris, Sr., Cumberland, Md. + Mr. Edgar A. Weimer, Lebanon, Pa. + Mr. Benj. H. Gochnauer, Lancaster, Pa. + Mr. C. G. Reese, Elizabethtown, Pa. + And others. + + +CORRESPONDENTS AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN NUT CULTURE + + +ALABAMA + + Williams, P. F., Prof. of Horticulture, Ala. Polytechnic Institute, + Auburn + Alabama Farm Journal, Montgomery, Ala. + +ARIZONA + + Biederman, C. R., Garces, Cochise Co. + Huntzinger, H. G., Teviston + Rodgers, Robt. A., Forest Service, U. S. Dept, of Agric, Canille + +ARKANSAS + + Wilson, B. N., Prof. of Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of Ark., + Fayetteville + Powers, R. C, 414 So. Trust Bldg., Little Rock, Ark. + +CALIFORNIA + + McNeil, Anna, 2154 Center St., Berkeley + Baker, W. A., Greenfield + Leonard Coates Nursery Co., Morgan Hill + Smith, R. E., Agric Exp. Sta., Whittier + Burbank, Luther, Santa Rosa + +CANADA + + Cleugh, H. H., Castlegar, British Columbia + Secord, Harper, St. Catherin's, Ontario + Porter, W. T., 1520 St. Clair Ave., Toronto + Sager, D. S., Dr., Brantford + Moyle, Henry, 84 Bedford Road, Toronto + Ross, Malcolm N., Dept. Public Works, Regina, Saskatchewan + Saunders & Co., W. E., London, Ontario + Hubbell, W. S., Spanish River Lumber Co., Little Current, Ontario + Peters, E. W., 742 Somerset Bldg., Winnepeg + Graham, Wm., Hagensburg, British Columbia + +COLORADO + + Bell, Bessie, Miss, 156 S. Sherman, Denver + Morgan, J. W., Dr., 85 S. Penn. Ave., Denver + +CONNECTICUT + + Cleveland, E. S., Hampton + Buttner, J. L., Dr., 763 Orange Street, New Haven + Jewell, Harvey, Cromwell + Gorham, Frederick S., 48 Holmes Ave., Waterbury + Jenkins, E. H., Agric. Exp. Sta., New Haven + Spring, Sam. N., State Forester, New Haven + Pratt, C. M., Newtown + Hale, Geo. H., Mrs., Glastonbury + Miles, H. S., Dr., 417 State St., Bridgeport + Ives, E. M., Sterling Orchards, Meriden + Cook, Harry B., Orange, Ct. + Allen, G. Wilford, M.D., Boardman, Ct. + Smith, Geo. W., Elm Fruit Farm, Hartford + Lane, W. S., Norfolk + Werle, Jos. A., Merwin's Beach, Milford + Williamson, Robert, Greenwich + Stauffer, W. F., No. 81 S. Burritt St., New Britain + Boyd, Wm. A. Dr., Westport + Lewis, Elmer H., Central Village + Frothingham, Channing, New Canaan + Fletcher, Albert E., Box 67, Farmington + Morre, R. D., Colchester + Wolcott, C. B., P. O. Box 39, Plantsville + +DELAWARE + + Killen, J. W., Felton + McCue, C. A., Prof., Newark + Cowgill, L. P., Dover + Cannon, Miss Lida, Dover + Kosa, J. J., Milford + Sypherd, C. D., Dover + Whitehead, F. Houston, Lincoln + Studte, M. H., Houston + Knipe, T. E., Delaware City + Dunn, Thos. F., Dover + Webb, Wesley, Dover + +FLORIDA + + Simpson Bros. Nurseries, Monticello + Curtis, J. B., Orange Heights + Floyd, W. L., Prof. of Horticulture, University of Florida, Gainesville + Baldwin, Ed. S., DeLand + +GEORGIA + + Wight, J. B., Cairo + Wilson, J. F., Dr., Waycross + McHatton, T. H., Prof. of Horticulture, Athens + Edwards, B. H., Macon, Ga. + Southern Ruralist, Atlanta + +IDAHO + + Vincent, C. C., Prof., College of Agriculture, Moscow + Ackerman, W. B., P. O. Box 184, Twin Falls + Hays, L. H., Mace + +ILLINOIS + + Lindholm, E., 9139 Commercial Ave., Chicago + Stoll, Wm. Paul, 1264 Glenlake Ave., Chicago + Schafer, J. F., Mt. Pulaski + Koonce, Geo. W., Greenville + Watson, Bloomington + Banning, Thos. A., Mrs., Chicago + Graham, R. O., Bloomington + Karstens, Peter J., Chicago + Leslie, A. M., 201 Main Street, Evanston + Fisher, Mr., "Cairo Citizen", Cairo + Endicott, H. W., Villa Ridge + Hektoen, H., Memo. Inst. for Infectious Diseases, Chicago + McVeigh, Scott, 1208 Wrightwood Ave., Chicago + Evans, Homer W., R. F. D. 6, Plainfield + Buckman, Benjamin, Farmingdale + Horner, H. Clay, Chester + Burt, Frank A., 115 1-2 So. Race St., Urbana + Somer, George W., No. 106 N. La Salle St., Chicago + Spalding, C. W., No. 1851 Byron St., Chicago + Strawbridge, A. N., No. 533 E. 33rd St., Chicago + Remley, Mrs. Grace, Franklin Grove + Prochnow, I. W., No. 1127 Second Ave., Rock Island + McFarlane, H. W., Chicago + Graham, W. H., Fort Gage + Fink, Wm. H., No. 4030 N. Pauline St., Chicago + Crandall, C. S., Urbana + Campbell, T. W., Elgin + Badgley, B. H., No. 2241 Greenleaf Ave., Chicago + Millroy, W. L., Quincy + Sweeney, Jno. M., No. 1636 Manadnock Block, Chicago + Krossell, C. F. P., Dr., No. 5502 Indiana Ave., Chicago + Weeks, E. F., No. 143 N. Dearborn St., Chicago + Heald, Prescott, No. 107 So. Glen Oak Ave., Peoria + Riddle, F. A., Mrs., No. 1441 Jackson Boulevard, Chicago + Kennish, F. H., No. 124 East Oak St., Kewanee + Finley, J. B., Care of Moline Polo and Shaft Co., Moline + Braden, E. S., No. 10 S. LaSalle St., Chicago + Kemp, E. F., No. 108 S. LaSalle St., Chicago + Peterson, Albert J., No. 3448 Hayes St., Chicago + Hewitt, R., No. 149 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago + Hopkins, A. M., R. 710, 167 W. Washington St., Chicago + Hemingway, Geo. R., Oak Park + Rut, Z. D., Park Ridge + Dietrich, J. J., Arlington Heights + Hansell, E. F., No. 5654 W. Lake St., Chicago + +INDIANA + + Leiber, Richard, Indianapolis + Garden, Daniel A., Elnora + Cathcart, Alva Y., Bristol + Strassell, J. W., Supt. of Schools, Rockport + Howard, W. T., R. F. D. 19, Indianapolis + Boos, E. M., R. F. D. 2, Milan + Boss Co., John C, Elkhart + Green, Frank, No. 811 So. St., Newcastle + House, M. M., 1664 College Ave., Indianapolis + Simpson & Sons, H. M., Vincennes + Woodbury, C. G., Lafayette + Ray, Elgin H., Winamac, R. F. D. 1 + Fellwock, P. B., 3 Up. Fourth St., Evansville + Hooke, Ora G., Albany, Delaware Co. + Smith, Oren E., Dr., Traction Terminal Bldg., Indianapolis + Whetsell, Edward, 107 Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington + Swain, W. H., South Bend + Knapp, Dr., Evansville + Yoder, A. C., Dr., Goshen + Knaub, Ben., R. 1, Box 99, North Vernon + Lukens, B., Mrs., Anderson + +IOWA + + Dennis, A. B., Dr., Cedar Rapids + Ruppersberg, E. A., Miss, Charles City College, Charles City + Patten, C. G., Charles City + Sawyer, L. H., Des Moines + Thompson, Harry French, Forrest City + "Successful Farming" Des Moines + "Kimball's Dairy Farmer" Waterloo + +KANSAS + + Godfrey, F. M., Holton + Skinner & Co., J. H., Topeka + +KENTUCKY + + Matthews, Clarence W., State University, Lexington + Horine, E. F., M.D., 1036 Bardstown Rd., Louisville + "Inland Farming", Louisville + Brislin, John A., Cash. Farmers' Bank of Ky., Frankfort + Kiefer, Louis W., 901 N. Elm St., Henderson + +LOUISIANA + + Hinton, E. G., Weeks + +MAINE + + Soule, Sidney S., Mrs., South Freeport + Hitchings, Edson F., College of Agriculture, Orono + Peardon, J. H., Matinicus + Stryker, D. J., Rockland + Chase, Dr. Walter G., Wiscasset + +MARYLAND + + Michael, Jesse J., Frederick + Little, William E., Westminister + Bunting, J. T., Box 137, Marion Station + Benkert, George, Baltimore + Heron, Benj. F. L., Box 58, Mt. Ranier + Coad, J. Edwin, Drayden, St. Mary's Co. + Munter, D. M., No. 22 Virginia Ave., Cumberland + Daingerfield, P. B. K., Maryland Club, Baltimore + Bachrach, Walter K., No. 16 W. Lexington St., Baltimore + Hewell, John, No. 2028 W. Lexington St., Baltimore + Hays, Amos H., Parkton + Stem, C. W., Sabillasville + Tyler, John Paul, No. 344 W. Preston St., Baltimore + Munter, D. W., No. 1642 Runton Ave., Baltimore + Kerr, J. W., Denton + Overton, W. S., R. F. D. 2, Silver Spring + Harris, Edward, Sr., 31 S. Liberty St., Cumberland + Strite, S. M., 52 Broadway, Hagerstown + Harrison's Nurseries, Berlin + Hoopes, Wilmer P., Forest Hill + Irwin, Arthur J., 226 E. Main St., Frostburg + McDaniel, Alex H., North East P. O., Cecil Co. + +MASSACHUSETTS + + Blood, W. H., Mrs., Jr., 147 Grove Street, Wellesley + Reed, Orville, Rev., Granville, Centre + Deroo, Frank B., Box 363, Needham + Fox, Jabez, 99 Irving Street, Cambridge + Hall, James L., Kingston, Box 31 + Adams, Norris W., Box 323, Worcester + Mass. Agric. Coll., Amherst + Crosby, Fred, Bolton + Bailey, Thos. W., Kingston + Griffin, W. E., Cor. Central St. & B. & M. R. R., Worcester + Dawson, Jackson, Mr., Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain + Dowse, Granton H., Wrentham + Ellsworth, J. Lewis, Sec'y Mass. State Bd. of Agric., Boston + Fleming, Charles B., Norwood + Brounell, Lewis, 1030 High Street, Fall River + Portmore, J. M., 7 Denison Av., So. Framingham + Humphrey, F. A., Worcester + Waugh, F. A., Prof., Amherst + Beebe, E. Pierson, Boston + Mead, H. O., Lunenburg + Torrey, John P., Dr., Andover + Affleck, G. B., 287 Hickory St., Springfield + Deming, Grove W., Mt. Hermon School + Elder, David, Harwich, Mass. + James, Gorton, 492 So. Station, Boston + Sturtevant, E. L., Brookline + Brown, J. Frank, The Corey Hill Hospital, Brookline + Willwerth, A. H., No. 21 Greenwich Park, Boston + Day, W. Taylor, No. 313 Main St., Great Barrington + Coney, Harriet M., Miss, No. 106 Church St., Ware + +MICHIGAN + + Brauer, H. A., 810 W. Huron St., Ann Arbor + Cobb, Myron A., Central State Normal School, Mt. Pleasant + Ilgenfritz's Sons Co., T. E., Nursery, Monroe + Haines, Peter S., Detroit + Kidder, Samuel, Ann Arbor + Paul, Irwin, Muskegon, R. F. D. 7 + Garfield, Chas. W., Hon., Grand Rapids + Wermuth, Burt, Assoc. Ed. "Michigan Farmer", Detroit + Eustace, H. J., Prof., State Horticulturist, E. Lansing + Carmichael, Milton, 281 Yard Bldg., Detroit + Richardson, A. H., Dr., The Martha Washington, Mt. Clemens + Baker, N. I., Dr., + Himebaugh, Clayton D., Sheffield Mfg. Co., Burr Oak + Spring, O. L., 728 Wabash Ave., Detroit + Reshore, L. T., Dowagiac + Adams, Rollo K., Middleville + Montgomery, R. H., 46 Jefferson Ave., Detroit + "The Gleaner", Detroit + Davis, R. J., Lock Box 753, Buchanan + Simpson, Wallace N., No. 379 W. Main St., Battle Creek + Palmer, A. C., Ellsworth + Faurote, Fay L., Lord Bldg., Detroit + Andrus, F. P., Almont, Lapeer Co. + Gamble, M. D., E. F., Coldwater + Horner, E. E., Eaton Rapids Woolen Mills, Eaton Rapids + Stryker, F. A., Buchanan + Lake, Geo., Northville + Hanes, P. S., No. 730 Sheridan Ave., Detroit + Handy, J. W., M.D., No. 105 West 1st St., Flint + +MINNESOTA + + Fairchild, D. H., St. Paul + Husser, Henry, Minneiska + Wedge, Clarence, Albert Lea + Cutting, Fred, Byron + Underwood, Roy, Lake City + Alford, E. F., 2390 Woodland Ave., Duluth + Latham, A. W., Sec'y State Hortic. Soc'y, 207 Kasota Bldg., Minneapolis + Woodbridge, Dwight E., U. S. Bureau of Mines, Duluth + Tillinghast, E. G., Leetonia Mining Co., Hibbing + Lake Sarah Specialty Farm, Rockford + Farm Stock & Home, Minneapolis + +MISSOURI + + Bostwick, Arthur E., 70 Vandeventer St., St. Louis + Stark Bros.' Nurseries and Orchards Co., Louisiana + Williams, F. V., D.D.S., 3720 Virginia, Kansas City + Born, H. H. Dr., Park & Compton Sts., St. Louis + Bailey, B. A., Versailles + Wallace, E. S., Office of City Chemist, Kansas City + Cummings, C. C., Dr., Joplin + Wilcox, Walter H., 433 Forth Ave., Webster Groves + Mosher, H. G., Schell City + +NEW HAMPSHIRE + + Dillingham, Thos. M., Dr., Marlboro + Clement, Ruth E., Miss, E. Deering + +NEBRASKA + + Rolder, C. A., Dr., Hedde Bldg., Grand Rapids + +NEVADA + + Swingle, C. G., Hazen + Gregory, E. R., Dr., Reno + +NEW JERSEY + + Lovett, J. T., Little Silver + Pomona Nurseries, Palmyra + Bobbink & Atkins, Rutherford + Speer, Lester W., 401 Passaic Ave., Nutley + Black, Son & Co., Jos. H., Hightstown + Chevrier, Chas. S., P. O. Box 579, Trenton + Rice, John J., Almonnesson + Parry, John R., Parry + Totten, A. B., Middlebush + Hartt, Wm. S., Box 366 Toms River + Dantun, A. P., Walsted Farm, Freehold + Shoemaker, Wm. E., Bridgeton + Miller, Jessie E., Miss, 204 W. Passaic Ave., Rutherford + Hall & Robert Tubbs, Willowwood Farm, Pottersville P.O. + Mount, T. S., Hamilton Sq. + Schulze, Edward H., Elizabeth + Spindler, M., No. 316 Halsey St., Newark + Sonders, Geo. B., P. O. Box 204, Mays Landing + Palmer, H. C. H., Main Road, Vineland + Putnam, G. H., Vineland + Parkin, J. W., No. 576 E. 23rd St., Paterson + Martin, Geo. W. R., No. 47 Chestnut St., Newark + Lintner, Geo A., Summit, New Jersey + Kirkpatrick, F. L., No. 35 E. Chestnut St., Merchantville + Gilmore, Jr., Thos. J., No. 219 Montgonery St., Jersey City + Haddon, Chas. K., Camden + Black, Walter C, Hightstown + Parkin, John M., No. 576 E. 23rd St., Paterson + Bailey, G. W., Kenilworth + Eyferth, Adolph, No. 554 Tenth St., N.E., West New York, N. Y. + Matlack, C. L., No. 47 Potter St., Haddenfield + Wellborn, C. E., Weston + Somers, A. F., No. 187 Warren St., Jersey City + Turner, H. J., Box 356, Montclair + Woodruff, Leon, No. 27 Jefferson St., Bridgeton + Davis, H. H., No. 113 Chestnut St., East Orange + Butler, F. W., Mrs., Plainfield + Kevitt, T. C, Anthonia + Maurer, E. H., No. 309 S. Broad St., Elizabeth + +NEW MEXICO + + Thompson, W. M., Dr. Logan + +NEW YORK + + Hedrick, U. P., Prof., Experiment Station, Geneva + Murrill, W. H., Botanical Museum, Bronx Park, New York City + Bailey, Liberty H., Cornell Agric. Coll., Ithaca + The Rochester Nurseries, Rochester + L'Amoreaux Nursery Co., Schoharie + Green's Nursery Co., Rochester + Lewis, Roesch & Son, Nurserymen, Fredonia + Burnette, F. H., Phelps + Wheatcroft, S. F., Brooklyn + Irwin, Chas., 116 Rosedale St., Rochester + Garrison, H. F., Westfield + Benney, Wm. H., 30 Church St., N. Y. City + Harris, C. F., 211 Blandina St., Utica + Thew, Gilmore E., 2006 Fifth Ave., N. Y. City + Yoakum, B. F., 71 Broadway, N. Y. City + Trimble, J. H., 1255 St. Paul St., Rochester + McNair, E. O., Erie Co., Bank Bldg., Buffalo + Baruch, H. B., 55 New Street + Studley, Frank P., Matteawan + Bostwick, Henry J., Clifton Springs Sanitarium, Clifton Springs + Wyckoff, C. H., Aurora + Slocum, J. F., 29 Park Street, Buffalo + Sunnyfield Nursery Co., Poughkeepsie + Morgan, H. E., Pittsford + Williams & Co., Rose, Miss, Newark + Hechler, C. H., Harbor Hill, Roslyn + Piccard, L. M., 705 Fulton St., Brooklyn + Bardin, A. G., Mr., 29 Brevoort Pl., Brooklyn + Townsend, 257 Broadway, N. Y. City, Room 703 + Hunter, Wm. T., Jr., 32 Rose St., N. Y. City + Gage, Stanley A., 72 Mahlstedt Place, New Rochelle + Robertson, C. G., 39 Ormond Pl., Brooklyn + Sackman, Karl Bever, 92 Williams Street + Younkheere, D., 3320 Bailey Ave., Kingsbridge, N. Y. City + Foster, E. W., Central Park, L. I. + Hemming, H., Mrs., 59 Walworth St., Brooklyn + Powell, E. P., Clinton, Otsego Co. + Merkel, Herman W., Forester, Bronx Zoological Park + Powell, Geo. T., Pres. Agric. Experts Assoc, 5 E. 42 St., N. Y. City + Britton, N. L., Dr., Director Botanical Gardens, Bronx Park, N. Y. City + Walker, Roberts, 115 Broadway, N. Y. City + Sullivan, W. F., 154 E. 74th St., N. Y. City + Rosenberg, Max, Pleasantville, Box 91 + Bridgman, A. C., The Standard Union, Brooklyn + Voorhis, Ernest, Rev., 1047 Amsterdam Ave., N. Y. City + Buckbie, Annie, Miss, Wisner, Orange Co. + Knight, Geo. W., Mrs., 28 Cambridge Pl., Brooklyn + Hickox, Ralph, Williamsbridge, N. Y. City + Armstrong, M. E., Miss, 10 St. Francis Place, Brooklyn + Perry, C. J., 18 Fulton St., Auburn + Holden, E. R., Jr., 34 W. 33 Street, N. Y. City + Charlton Nursery Co., Rochester + Jones, L. V., Miss, St. Luke's Hospital, Newburgh + Hichcock, F. H., 105 W. 40th St., N. Y. City + Vickers, H. W., Dr., Little Falls + Shepard, W. E., New Paltz, Ulster Co. + Mendelson, D., 1825 Pilkin Ave., Brooklyn + Hopkins, W., 15 Dey St., City + Smith, H. P., Center Moricrifs, Suffolk, Co. + West, Dr., 51 E. 25th St., N. Y. City + Grimmer, John W., Armour Villa Park, Bronxville + Leipziger, H. A., Dr., Hotel Empire, Broadway & 63rd St., N. Y. City + Engesser, Jas., 513 N. Washington St., Tarrytown + Kepke, John, Dr., 488 Nostrand Ave., Brooklyn + Manning-Spoerl, J. O. O., Dr., 151 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn + Langdon, H. P., Maple Ridge, Farm, Constable + Wainwright, John W., Dr., 80 Wash. Sq., E., N. Y. City + Teele, A. W., 30 Broad St., N. Y. City + Grot, Henry, 201 E. 116th St., N. Y. City + Graham, S. H., Ithaca + Teter, Walter C., 10 Wall St., N. Y. City + Jewett, Asabel, Berkshire + Thompson, Adelbert, East Avon + Wiggin, Thos. H., Scarsdale + "Ridgewood Times", Myrtle & Cypress Aves., Brooklyn + Schubel, Geo., Lit. Ed., Myrtle & Cypress Aves., Brooklyn + Kelly, Julia Z., Miss, College of Agriculture, Ithaca + Caldwell, R. J., 374 Broadway, N. Y. City + Lincoln, Egbert P., 429 Lincoln Pl., Brooklyn + Reynolds, Walter S., Dr., 66 W. 71st St., N. Y. City + Davidson, Charles Stewart, 60 Wall St., N. Y. City + Slosson, Richard S., 140 Carolina St., Buffalo + Leutsch, Nina, Clinton Corners + Armstrong, Rob. P., N. Y. State School of Agric., Canton + Manning, J. M., 1002 Third Ave., N. Y. City + Righter, J. Walter, 156 Fifth Ave., N. Y. City + Reynolds, H. L., 50 Palace Arcade, Buffalo + Spencer, W. F., No. 106 Bond St., Brooklyn + Sauer, Arthur W., Broadway & Driggs Ave., Brooklyn + Mezger, L. K., M.D., No. 186 Clinton Ave., North Rochester + Williams, Olive G., Miss, No. 341 Garfield Ave., Troy + Austin, Nichols & Co., New York + Bearns, J. H., Jr., No. 198 Broadway + Dupree, Wm., No. 83 Halsey St., Brooklyn + Thomas, A. E., No. 105 Windsor Place, Brooklyn + Holt, Frank L., No. 220 Broadway + Greffe, Joseph A., Box 105, Boonton + Holden, E. R., Jr., No. 34 W. 33rd St + Hendrickson, B. W., Care of J. K. Armsby Co., No. 87 Hudson St. + Hoyle, Louis C., Middletown + Hall, John, Sec'y, Rochester + Miller, Francher, L., No. 605 Kirk Block, Syracuse + Mitchell, F. J., No. 44 W. 98th St. + Leggett & Co., Francis H., Franklin, Hudson & Leonard Sts. + Krizan, Jos., No. 521 E. 72nd Street + Jaburg Bros., No. 10-12 Leonard St. + Mathans, J. A., White Plains + Nicholson, J. E., Care of Messrs. Wassermass, No. 42 Broadway + Nicholson, J. E., No. 83rd St. & 24th Ave., Bensonhurst + Mills, W. M., No. 397 Goundry St., N. Towanda + Sullivan, Warren, No. 44 Morningside Drive + Sweizer, Karl, No. 40 Exchange Place + Shook, F. M., Dept. of Tropical Medicine + Randolph, Lewis C., No. 357 Delaware Ave. + Riley, R. M., Garden City + Rogers, G. M., Apt. 44. No. 605 144th St. + Williams & Co., R. C., Fulton & South Sts. + Turner, Fred. C., R.F.D. No. 7, Box 115, Schenectady + Tuthill, W. C., No. 245 Water St. + Sanford, A. E., No. 18 Bowman St., Rochester + Smith, Howard K., No. 323 Webster Ave., Brooklyn + Hewitt, R., Ardsley on Hudson + Evans, J. C., Lockport + Hessinger, M. A., No. 102 West 102d St. + Wetbeck, J. B., Care of Worcester Salt Co., No. 71 & No. 73 Murray St. + Scott, Thomas C., No. 372 Chenango St., Binghamton + Dye, Walter A., Garden City + Ellison, E. T., No. 1272 Jefferson Ave., Brooklyn + Brown, Carl W., Ripley, Chautauqua Co. + Teran, T. Mrs., Hotel Calvert, New York City + Power, Alice B., Miss, No. 203 St. Paul St., Rochester + Banks, E. M., No. 342 West 45th St., New York City + Anderson, Bryon Wall, No. 79 Franklin Ave., New Rochelle + Mesner, E. D., No. 34 Carlton St., Buffalo + Gawey, Gerald, No. 347 W. 19th St. + Maynard, A. R., Waterloo + Johnson, M., No. 540 W. 146th St. + Strawn, T. C., No. 355 W. 55th St. + Bruce, W. Robert, Brick Church Institute, Rochester + Broughton, L. D., No. 304 Lewis Ave., Brooklyn + Ouilshan, H. W., N. E. Cor. 125th St. and 8th Ave., Bishop Building, + Rooms 207-210, New York City + Wadsworth, M. A., No. 423 E. 4th St., Brooklyn + +NORTH CAROLINA + + Blair, Wm. A., V. P. People's Nat. Bank, Winston-Salem + +OHIO + + Wise, P., Maumee + Schuh, L. H., Columbus + Rich, E. L., No. 3063 Edgehill Road, Cleveland Heights, Cleveland + Neff, W. N., Martel + McEwen, Will J., No. 755 Wilson Ave., Columbus + Miller, Wm., Gypsum + Marshall, Robert, No. 23 Hollister St., Cincinnati + Longsworth, I. R., Lima + Kiser, Frank A., Fremont + Goetz, C. H., Columbus + Draine, F. J., 2411 Detroit Ave., Toledo + Cochran, J. H., Napoleon + Bundy, C. C., No. 1356 Mt. Vernon Ave., Columbus + Penrod, A. M., Camp Chase + Poston, E. M., President, New York Coal Co., Columbus + Rodgers, A. S., Springfield Gas Engine Co., Springfield + Jeffers, F. A., Monroe Bank Building, Woodsfield + Kennedy, C. S., No. 412 Monroe St., East Liverpool + Crawford Co., M., Cuyahoga Falls + Hoyt, C. H., Cleveland + Ashbrook, Wm. A., Hon., Johnstown + Johnston, I. B., Station K., Cincinnati + Stasel, A. A., No. 25-1/2 S. Third St., Newark + Book, G. M., Bloomdale + Smith, E. R., No. 132 S. Collett St., Lima + Rader, Hal, No. 125 Chestnut St., Nilec + Watt, Frank E., No. 116 Show Ave., Dayton + Anderson, A. J., "Ohio Farmer", Cleveland + Scarff, W. U., New Carlisle + Durant, A. T., German-American Ins. Co., Akron + Daugherty, U. G., R. D. 13, Dayton + Miller, Chas. D., 60 N. Garfield Ave., Columbus + Doren, Jane M., Bexley, Columbus + Prickett, J. D., 727 Plymouth St., Toledo + Zerkey, M. Allen, Justus, R. D. 1 + Lohman, E., Greenville + Ewart, Mortimer, Mogadore + Schumacher, Arlin, Pandora + Yunck, Ed. G., 710 Central Ave., Sandusky + Nellis, A. S. Byrne, Dr., Cor. Third & Webb Sts., Dayton + Rogers, W. B., St. Stanislaus' House of Retreat, Cleveland + Parrott, Frances, Miss, R. D. 12, Dayton + Rector, J. M., Dr., Columbus + Lauder, Ed., Dr., 1012 Prospect Ave., S. E., Cleveland + +OREGON + + Robinson, C. A., R.F.D. 1, Carlton, Yamhill Co. + Oregon R. R. & Navigation Co., Portland + Power, Frank W., Sec'y State Horticultural Society, Orenco + Gardener, V. R., Associate Prof, of Horticulture, Corvallis + McDonald, M., Oregon Nursery Co., Orenco + Magruder, G. M., Medical Building, Portland + Fishback, P. L., Monmouth + +PANAMA + + Deer, G. N., Ancon, C. Z. + +PENNSYLVANIA + + Le Fevre, B. W., 251 Elm St., Lancaster + Harris, D. S., Williamsburg, P.O. Box 416 + Wright, M. H., Penn. Shafting Co., Spring City + Hutchinson, Mahlon, 138 South 15th Street, Philadelphia + Taylor, C. B., Philadelphia + Townsend, C. W., Pittsburg + Allen, Carl G., Williamsport + Hall, L. C., Avonia + Sober, C. K., Lewisburg + Foley, John, Forester Penn. R. R. Co., Broad St. Sta., Philadelphia + Mann, Chas. S., Hatboro, Montgomery Co., R. D. 1 + Springer, Willard, Jr., Forest Asst. Pa. R. R. Broad St. Sta. + Philadelphia + Peck, Wm. H., Care of Third Nat. Bank, Scranton + Riehl, H. F., Manheim + Hildebrand, F. B., Duquesne + Wolford, C. H., Prin. Duquesne Public Schools, Duquesne + Motts, Sarah E., 533 S. Hanover St., Carlisle + Watts, R. L., Prof. of Horticulture, State College + Hebbin, T. T., McKeesport + Ballou, C. S., Potter Co. + Marsden, Biddle R., Dr., Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia + Fenstermacher, P. S., Care of Harry C. Tripler, Young Bldg., Allentown + Keeler, Asa S., Tunckhannock + Hess, Frank P., Jr., 31 N. Walnut St., Mt. Carmel + George, W. H., Edgewood, Bucks Co. + Scott & Hill, Erie + St. Francis, J., 21 Scott Block, Erie + Wilt, Edwin M., No. 816 Brooklyn St., Philadelphia + Wright, W. J., State College + Scott, W. M., No. 824 Centennial Ave., Sewickley + Small, Norbert, Edgegrove + Schotte, T. B., Kittanning + Kirkpatrick, F. L., No. 273 Eleventh St., Philadelphia + Gochnauer, Benj. H., Lancaster, R. F. D. No. 7 + Engle, E. B., Marietta + Cook, Dr., George R., Johnston + Chalmers, W. J., Vanport, Beaver Co. + Cahalan, Jno. A., No. 1524 Chestnut St., Philadelphia + DeWeese, D. M., No. 51 Logan Ave., Sharon + Doan, J. L., School of Horticulture, Ambler. + Keystone Wood Co., Williamsport + Fleming, H. N., No. 410 Downing Bldg., Erie + Hassell, H. W., Dr., Medical Department, Eastern State Penitentiary, + Philadelphia + Pease, H. E., No. 1111 Lamont St., Pittsburgh + Palmer, C. L., Dr., P. O. Box, Mt. Lebanon + Spear, James, Jr., Wallingford + Hoerner, William S., Chambersburg + Hazel, Boyd E., Box No. 57, Madisonburg + Stover, C. J., Ambler + Davis, Thos. D., No. 267 Shady Ave., Pittsburgh + Hill, V. J., No. 4215 Chestnut St., Philadelphia + Richards, A. C., Schellsburg + Stocks, George, No. 1128 Heberton, Pittsburgh + Rhoads, Dr., J. N., No. 1635 S. Broad St., Philadelphia + Quimby, C. S., R. F. D. 3, Phoenixville + +RHODE ISLAND + + Peckham, F. H., Dr., 6 Thomas St., Providence + Collins, Franklin J., Prof., 468 Hope St., Providence + Heaton, H. W., M.D., No. 2 Iron's Block, Providence + Winslow, Ernest L., Providence + Bronsdon, M. H., Chief Engineer, The Rhode Island Co., Providence + Pleger, John J., Box 686, Manila + +TEXAS + + Blair, R. E., U. S. Exper. Farm, San Antonio + Edward, Chas. L., Dallas + Kyle, E. J., Prof, of Horticulture, College Station + Anderson, J. H., Brighton + Canada, J. W., Houston + +UTAH + + Hansen, O. K., Dr., Provo + Hughes, M. A., Dr., Judge Bldg., Salt Lake City + +VERMONT + + Woodman, J. S., So. Royalton + Cummings, M. B., Sec'y State Horticultural Society, Burlington + Parrish, John S., Eastham, Albermarle Co. + Blue, C. E., Ridgeway, Charlottsville + Haynes, I. J., Manakin + +VIRGINIA + + Emerson, J. S., Dr., Red Hill + Catlett, Carter, Gloucester + +WASHINGTON + + Washington Nursery Co., Toppenish + Shomaker, Joel, Nellita + Moody, Robert, Everett + Stuart, John A., Christopher Nurseries, Christopher + Davis, Pauline, Miss, Box 415, Pullman + May, Walter, 456 Empire Bldg., Okanogan + Western Farmer, Spokane + March, G. L., Kennewick + +WEST VIRGINIA + + Bennett, Louis, Mrs., 148 Court Ave., Weston + +WISCONSIN + + Kirr, A. R., Box C, R. D. 6, Fond du Lac + Harold, Geo. E., Maiden Rock, R. D. 3 + +DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA + + Van Deman, H. E., Washington + Swingle, Walter, Prof., Bur. Plant Industry, Washington + Coville, Fred. V., Prof., Bur. Plant Industry, Washington + Clinton, L. A., Prof., Dept, of Agric., Washington + Stabler, Albert, Ins. Agt., Washington + Bick, Wm. H., 1403 H. St., Washington + Hendrick, A. J., 609, 3rd St., Washington + Life & Health, Takoma Park Sta., Washington + + + +EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS FROM STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS AND OTHERS + + +A well-known nut grower in Delaware writes: "We have given the filberts +a thorough test and found them one of the most unprofitable nuts ever +tested. At one time we had under test about 15 distinct varieties. After +several years tests they all succumbed to the blight; a blight that +attacked the old wood and killed it. Some of our bushes or trees got as +much as six inches in diameter before they were entirely killed back. +Possibly by thorough spraying from the setting of trees a success might +be made. Some varieties tested were very prolific and of fine quality. +We succeeded in getting a fine lot of walnuts from the tree southeast of +the potato house by applying pollen. They are as fine and as well filled +and as large as any I have ever seen. Several of our crosses had a few +nuts this year, most of them are rather thick shelled. The trees though +seem to be perfectly hardy. We have several Japan walnut trees bearing +this year some of which I consider first class, equal to the best +shellbarks or pecans in cracking quality; besides they are so very +prolific, producing as many as a dozen in a cluster. We can show +specimens from several distinct varieties or types. The Cordiformis +seems to be one of the best. We also have some very fine black walnuts. +One of our seedlings from the select nuts produces the largest walnuts +that I have ever seen. The tree did not have very many on it this year. +Several of the other seedlings from the same planting produced fine nuts +with good cracking qualities. We also had several pecan trees to bear a +few nuts this year; most of the nuts were rather small but of fine +quality, very thin shells and well filled. Our Japan chestnuts bore +quite full. + +I think it possible to produce Persian walnuts successfully in our +locality. I also think the Japan walnut offers a good field for +investigation." + + +FROM THE STATE VICE-PRESIDENT FOR COLORADO + +Dec. 11, 1912. + +So far as I can learn only two attempts have been made in this state to +grow nuts. The first one consists in the setting out of about one +hundred Japanese walnuts by the Antlers Orchard Co. Their place is on +the western slope in the fruit district and I am informed that the first +winter the tops were killed but new shoots put out from the roots and +the trees did well this year. + +The other attempt is one I made last spring. I set out a few pecan trees +as an experiment near Colorado Springs. Six of the seven trees lived and +put out some leaves but did not make much growth. If they survive the +winter I purpose planting more pecans and some other nuts,--chestnuts, +black walnuts and possibly Persian walnuts. + + * * * * * + + Hilton, N. Y. + Nov. 29, 1912. + +Dear Sir: + +In reply to your inquiry I am inclosing notes on walnut culture in this +locality. This noble fruit is not generally known here. I do not know of +more than twelve or fifteen bearing trees in my county. Of these all are +without doubt seedlings, and are located in places where the peach will +thrive. The soil in which they grow is varied: Dunkirk fine sand, +Dunkirk silt loam, Ontario fine sand loam, and Ontario loam. (See soil +survey of _Monroe county_, N. Y. U. S. Dept. Agriculture.) The altitude +is comparatively low. The highest point in the county is only 682 ft. +above lake Ontario, and the average elevation is not more than 300 ft. +The "Holden" walnuts are growing at a still lower level. This tree, +considering its surroundings and location, had a good crop this year. +Standing on the lawn uncultivated and unfertilized, hemmed in on three +sides by other trees, it gave us at least three bushels of fine nuts. + +The wood showed no injury after last winter's intense cold. Growth +started in the spring just as the apple blossoms came out. The catkins +are very large, at least much larger than those on the other trees we +have, and hang on longer. One of our trees loses its male blossoms +before the female bloom appears, but the "Holden" is the last to lose +them. About half of the clusters of fruit have two or three nuts in +them. We began harvesting the nuts Sept. 15th, just four months from the +blossom. The dropping continued for a month, prolonged on account of +lack of frost. + +Last week the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported the appearance +of the first load of English walnuts ever brought on the local market. +They were grown on fifteen year old seedlings, at East Avon, N. Y., by +Adelbert Thompson. His orchard is said to contain 200 trees. It seems +very probable that the next twenty-five years will see the development +of Persian walnut growing, to commercial proportions, in those +localities in the state where the peach will grow. + +I had a little experience last spring with southern grown walnut trees. +Last spring I received from Louisiana eleven trees of the "Holden" +variety grafted on black walnut stocks. They were fine trees, the +largest at least eight feet tall. Six of these I set out in my own +orchards and gave them intensive care and cultivation, but alas, growth +was weak and at last they died. If I were to deduce any conclusions it +would be that there is too great a difference between Louisiana and New +York conditions. + + +FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY + +Dear Sir:-- + +I am addressing you as secretary of the Northern Nut Growers' +Association in hopes that you can refer me to some one, perhaps a member +of your society, in this part of the country to whom we can appeal to +take part at the coming annual meeting of this society as champion of +nut growing. While in our state we cannot successfully grow pecans, nor +perhaps the sweet chestnut and some other nuts, yet some varieties do +well with us and a larger interest in their growing should be +stimulated. + + Yours very truly, + + A. W. Latham, Sec'y. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Northern Nut Growers Association, +Report of the Proceedings at the Third Annual Meeting, by Northern Nut Growers Association + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NNGA REPORT, 1912 *** + +***** This file should be named 23656-8.txt or 23656-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/6/5/23656/ + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Janet Blenkinship +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://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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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 Third Annual Meeting + Lancaster, Pennsylvania, December 18 and 19, 1912 + +Author: Northern Nut Growers Association + +Release Date: November 28, 2007 [EBook #23656] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NNGA REPORT, 1912 *** + + + + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Janet Blenkinship +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://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> + +<h1> NORTHERN</h1> + <h1>NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION</h1> + + + <h2>REPORT</h2> + <h2>OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE</h2> + <h2>THIRD ANNUAL MEETING</h2> + + + <h3>LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA</h3> + <h3>DECEMBER 18 AND 19,</h3> + <h3>1912</h3> + +<p class="center">THE CAYUGA PRESS ITHACA, N. Y.<br /> +1913</p> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 351px;"> +<img src="images/illus_004.jpg" width="351" height="500" alt="" title="PROFESSOR JOHN CRAIG" /> +</div> + +<h4>PROFESSOR JOHN CRAIG<br /> + +A FOUNDER OF THE ASSOCIATION<br /> + +<i>Died 1912</i></h4> + + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="TABLE_OF_CONTENTS" id="TABLE_OF_CONTENTS"></a>TABLE OF CONTENTS</h2> + + + +<div class='centered'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" width="90%" cellspacing="0" summary="CONTENTS"> +<tr><td align='left'>Officers and Committees of the Association</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_3'><b>3</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Members of the Association</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_4'><b>4</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Constitution and Rules of the Association</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_8'><b>8</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Proceedings of the Meeting held at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, December 18 and 19, 1912</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_9'><b>9</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Address of Welcome by the Mayor of Lancaster</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_9'><b>9</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Response by Mr. Littlepage</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_11'><b>11</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>President's Address. The Practical Aspects of Hybridizing Nut Trees. Robert T. Morris, New York</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_12'><b>12</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Fraudulent and Uninformed Promoters. T. P. Littlepage, Indiana</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_22'><b>22</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Recent Work on the Chestnut Blight. Keller E. Rockey, Pennsylvania</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_37'><b>37</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Some Problems in the Treatment of Diseased Chestnut Trees. Roy G. Pierce, Pennsylvania</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_44'><b>44</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Nut Growing and Tree Breeding and their Relation to Conservation. J. Russell Smith, Pennsylvania</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_59'><b>59</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Beginning with Nuts. W. C. Deming, New York</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_64'><b>64</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Persian Walnut, Its Disaster and Lessons for 1912. J. G. Rush, Pennsylvania</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_85'><b>85</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A 1912 Review of the Nut Situation in the North. C. A. Reed, Washington, D. C</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_91'><b>91</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Demonstration in Grafting. J. F. Jones, Pennsylvania</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_105'><b>105</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Some Persian Walnut Observations, Experiments and Results for 1912. E. R. Lake, Washington, D. C</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_110'><b>110</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Indiana Pecans. R. L. McCoy, Indiana</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_113'><b>113</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Appendix:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Report of Secretary and Treasurer</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_116'><b>116</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Report of Committee on Resolutions</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_117'><b>117</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Report of Committee on the Death of Professor John Craig</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_119'><b>119</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Report of Committee on Exhibits</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_120'><b>120</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">The Hickory Bark Borer</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_122'><b>122</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Miscellaneous Notes:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Members Present</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_124'><b>124</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">List of Correspondents and Others Interested in Nut Culture</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_124'><b>124</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Extracts from Letters from State Vice-Presidents and Others</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_138'><b>138</b></a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> + + <h2>OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION</h2> + + +<div class='centered'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" width="65%" cellspacing="0" summary="OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION"> +<tr><td align='left'>President</td><td align='left'>T. P. Littlepage</td><td align='left'>Indiana</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Secretary and Treasurer</td><td align='left'>W. C. Deming</td><td align='left'>Georgetown, Conn.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3>COMMITTEES</h3> + + +<div class='centered'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" width="50%" cellspacing="0" summary="COMMITTEES"> +<tr> +<td><i>Executive</i></td> +<td><i>Membership</i></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Robert T. Morris<br />W. N. Roper<br />And the Officers</td> +<td>W. C. Deming<br />G. H. Corsan<br />W. N. Roper</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><i>Promising Seedlings</i></td> +<td><i>Nomenclature</i></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>T. P. Littlepage<br />C. A. Reed<br />W. C. Deming</td> +<td>W. C. Reed<br />R. T. Morris<br />W. C. Deming</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><i>Hybrids</i></td> +<td><i>Press and Publication</i></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>R. T. Morris<br />J. R. Smith<br />C. P. Close</td> +<td>W. N. Roper<br />T. P. Littlepage<br />W. C. Deming</td> +</tr> + +</table></div> + + + + + + +<h3>STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS</h3> + + + +<div class='centered'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" width="60%" cellspacing="0" summary="STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS"> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Canada</td><td align='left'>Goldwin Smith</td><td align='left'>Highland Creek</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Colorado</td><td align='left'>Dr. Frank L. Dennis</td><td align='left'>Colorado Springs</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Connecticut</td><td align='left'>Charles H. Plump</td><td align='left'>West Redding</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Delaware</td><td align='left'>H. P. Layton</td><td align='left'>Georgetown</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Florida</td><td align='left'>H. Harold Hume</td><td align='left'>Glen St. Mary</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Georgia</td><td align='left'>G. C. Schempp, Jr.</td><td align='left'>Albany</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Illinois</td><td align='left'>Dr. F. S. Crocker</td><td align='left'>Chicago</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Indiana</td><td align='left'>R. L. McCoy</td><td align='left'>Lake</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Iowa</td><td align='left'>Alson Secor</td><td align='left'>Des Moines</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Kentucky</td><td align='left'>A. L. Moseley</td><td align='left'>Calhoun</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Louisiana</td><td align='left'>J. F. Jones</td><td align='left'>Jeanerette</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Maryland</td><td align='left'>C. P. Close</td><td align='left'>Washington, D. C.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Massachusetts</td><td align='left'>Bernhard Hoffmann</td><td align='left'>Stockbridge</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Michigan</td><td align='left'>Miss Maud M. Jessup</td><td align='left'>Grand Rapids</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Minnesota</td><td align='left'>C. A. Van Duzee</td><td align='left'>St. Paul</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>New Hampshire</td><td align='left'>Henry N. Gowing</td><td align='left'>Dublin</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>New Jersey</td><td align='left'>Henry Hales</td><td align='left'>Ridgewood</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>New York</td><td align='left'>A. C. Pomeroy</td><td align='left'>Lockport</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>North Carolina</td><td align='left'>W. N. Hutt</td><td align='left'>Raleigh</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Ohio</td><td align='left'>J. H. Dayton</td><td align='left'>Painesville</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Oklahoma</td><td align='left'>Mrs. E. B. Miller</td><td align='left'>Enid</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Oregon</td><td align='left'>F. A. Wiggins</td><td align='left'>Toppenish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Panama</td><td align='left'>B. F. Womack</td><td align='left'>Canal Zone</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Pennsylvania</td><td align='left'>J. G. Rush</td><td align='left'>West Willow</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Texas</td><td align='left'>C. T. Hogan</td><td align='left'>Ennis</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Vermont</td><td align='left'>Clarence J. Ferguson</td><td align='left'>Burlington</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Virginia</td><td align='left'>W. N. Roper</td><td align='left'>Petersburg</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>West Virginia</td><td align='left'>B. F. Hartzell</td><td align='left'>Shepherdstown</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>MEMBERS OF THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION</h3> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Abbott, Frederick B., 419 9th St., Brooklyn, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Armstrong, A. H., General Electric Co., Schenectady, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Arnott, Dr. H. G., 26 Emerald St., South, Hamilton, Canada.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Barron, Leonard, Editor The Garden Magazine, Garden City, L. I.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Barry, W. C., Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Benner, Charles, 100 Broadway, N. Y. City.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">**Bowditch, James H., 903 Tremont Bldg., Boston, Mass.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Button, Herbert, Bonnie Brook Farm, Cazenovia, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Browne, Louis L., Bodsbeck Farm, New Canaan, Conn.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Butler, Henry L., Gwynedd Valley, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Casper, Norman W., Fairlawn, New Burnside, Ill.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Chalmers, W. J., Vanport, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Chamberlain, W. O., 300 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis, Minn.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Clendenin, Rev. Dr. F. M., Westchester, N. Y. City.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Close, Prof. C. P., Expert in Fruit Identification, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cole, Dr. Chas. K., 32 Rose St., Chelsea-on-Hudson, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Coleman, H. H., The Northwestern Mutual Life Ins. Co., Newark, N. J.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Corsan, G. H., University Gymnasium, Univ. of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Crocker, Dr. F. S., Columbus Memorial Bldg., Chicago, Ill.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dayton, J. H., Painesville, Ohio. Rep. Storrs & Harrison Co.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Decker, Loyd H., Greeley, Col., R. 5, Box 11.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Deming, Dr. N. L., Litchfield, Conn.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Deming, Dr. W. C. Georgetown, Conn.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Deming, Mrs. W. C. Georgetown, Conn.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dennis, Dr. Frank L., The Colchester, Colorado Springs, Col.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ellwanger, W. D., 510 E. Ave., Rochester, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ferguson, Clarence J., Rep. Eastern Fruit & Nut Orchard Co., 144 College St., Burlington, Vt.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fischer, J., Rep. Keystone Wood Co., Williamsport, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fullerton, H. B., Medford, L. I.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gowing, Henry N., Dublin, N. H.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gschwind, Geo. W., 282 Humboldt St., Brooklyn, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Haberstroh, Arthur L., Sharon, Mass.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hale, Mrs. Geo. H., Glastonbury, Conn.</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hall, L. C. Avonia, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">*Hales, Henry, Ridgewood, N. J.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hans, Amedée, Supt. Hodenpyl Est., Locust Valley, L. I., N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Harrison, J. G., Rep. Harrison's Nurseries, Berlin, Md.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hartzell, B. F., Shepherdstown, W. Va.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Haywood, Albert, Flushing, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hicks, Henry, Westbury Station, L. I., N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hildebrand, F. B., 5551 Monroe Ave., Chicago, Ill.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hoffman, Bernhard, Stockbridge, Mass.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hogan, C. T., Ennis, Texas.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Holden, E. B., Hilton, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Holmes, J. A., 127 Eddy St., Ithaca, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hopper, I. B., Chemical National Bank, N. Y. City.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hume, H. Harold, Glen Saint Mary, Fla.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hungerford, Newman, 45 Prospect St., Hartford, Conn.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">**Huntington, A. M., 15 W. 81st St., N. Y. City.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hutt, W. N., Raleigh, N. C.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">James, Dr. W. B., 17 W. 54th St., N. Y. City.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Jaques, Lee W., 74 Waverly St., Jersey City Heights, N. J.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">**Jones, J. F., Jeanerette, La., & Willow St., Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Jessup, Miss Maud M., 440 Thomas St., Grand Rapids, Mich.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Keely, Royal R., 1702 Mt. Vernon St., Philadelphia, Pa. Walpole, Mass., Box 485.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Koch, Alphonse, 510 E. 77th St., N. Y. City.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lake, Prof. E. R., Asst. Pomologist, Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Layton, H. P., Georgetown, Del.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Leas, F. C, 400 So. 40th St., Philadelphia, Pa., and Bala, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Littlepage, T. P., Union Trust Bldg., Washington, D. C, and Boonville, Ind.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Loomis, Charles B., E. Greenbush, N. Y. R. D. 1.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lovett, Mrs. Joseph L., Emilie, Bucks Co., Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Malcomson, A. B., 132 Nassau St., N. Y. City.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mayo, E. S., Rochester, N. Y. Rep. Glen Brothers.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">McCoy, R. L., Ohio Valley Forest Nursery, Lake, Spencer Co., Ind.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Meehan, S. Mendelson, Germantown, Phila., Pa. Rep. Thos. Meehan & Sons.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Miller, Mrs. E. B., Enid, Oklahoma, R. Box 47 1-2.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Miller, Mrs. Seaman, Care of Mr. Seaman Miller, 2 Rector St., N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">McSparren, W. F., Furnice, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Magruder, G. M., Medical Bldg., Portland, Oregon.</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Morris, Dr. Robert T., 616 Madison Ave., N. Y. City.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Moseley, A. L., Bank of Calhoun, Calhoun, Ky.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Moses, Theodore W., Harvard Club, 27 W. 44th St., N. Y. City.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Niblack, Mason J., Vincennes, Ind.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Nichols, Mrs. F. Gillette, 129 E. 76th St., N. Y. City, and E. Haddam, Conn.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Patterson & Taylor, 343 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, Ill.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Pierson, Miss A. Elizabeth, Cromwell, Conn.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Plump, Chas. H., West Redding, Conn.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Pomeroy, A. C., Lockport, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Potter, Hon. W. O., Marion, Ill.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Reed, C. A., Div. of Pomology, U. S. Dept, of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Reed, W. C., Vincennes, Ind.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rice, Mrs. Lilian McKee, Barnes Cottage, Carmel, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rich, William P., Sec'y Mass Horticultural Society, 300 Mass. Ave., Boston.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ridgway, C. S., "Floralia," Lumberton, N. J.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Riehl, E. A., Alton, Ill.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Roper, Wm. N., Arrowfield Nursery Co., Petersburg, Va.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rose, Wm. J., 413 Market St., Harrisburg, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rush, J. G., West Willow, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Schempp, G. C., Jr., Albany, Ga. Route 3.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secor, Alson, Editor Successful Farming, Des Moines, Iowa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sensenig, Wayne, State College, Center Co., Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shellenberger, H. H., 610 Broadhead St., Easton, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shoemaker, Seth W., Agric. Ed. Int. Corresp. Schools, Scranton, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Smith, E. K., 213 Phoenix Bldg., Minneapolis, Minn.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Smith, Goldwin, Highland Creek, Ontario, Canada.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Smith, J. Russell, Roundhill, Va.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Smith, Percival P., 108 S. LaSalle St., Chicago, Ill.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tuckerman, Bayard, 118 E. 37th St., N. Y. City.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Turner, K. M., 1265 Broadway, N. Y. City.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ulman, Dr. Ira, 213 W. 147th St., N. Y. City. Farm, So. Monsey, Rockland Co., P. O., Address, Spring Valley, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Van Duzee, Col. C. A., St. Paul, Minn, and Viking, Fla.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Walter, Dr. Harry, Hotel Chalfonte, Atlantic City, N. J.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wentink, Frank, 75 Grove St., Passaic, N. J.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">White, H. C., DeWitt, Ga.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wiggins, F. A., Rep. Washington Nursery Co., Toppenish, Wash.</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wile, Th. E., 1012 Park Avenue, Rochester, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Williams, Dr. Charles Mallory, 48 E. 49th St., N. Y. City, and Stonington, Conn.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Williams, Harrison, Gen. Land & Tax Agt., Erie R. R. Co., 50 Church St., N. Y. City.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">**Wissmann, Mrs. F. DeR., 707 Fifth Ave., N. Y. City.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Womack, B. F., Ancon, Canal Zone, Panama.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wyman, Willis L., Park Rapids, Minn.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">* Honorary Member.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">** Life Member</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Constitution_and_Rules_of_the_Northern_nut_Growers_Association" id="Constitution_and_Rules_of_the_Northern_nut_Growers_Association"></a><span class="smcap">Constitution and Rules of the Northern nut Growers Association.</span></h2> + + +<blockquote><p style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><i>Name.</i> The society shall be known as the <span class="smcap">Northern nut Growers +Association.</span></p> + +<p style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><i>Object.</i> The promotion of interest in nut-producing plants, their +products and their culture.</p> + +<p style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><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 approval of the committee on membership.</p> + +<p style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><i>Officers.</i> There shall be a president, a vice-president, and a +secretary-treasurer; an executive committee of five persons, of which +the president, vice-president and secretary shall be members; and a +state vice-president from each state represented in the membership of +the association.</p> + +<p style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><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 +subsequent year.</p> + +<p style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><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> + +<p style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><i>Fees.</i> The fees shall be of two kinds, annual and life. The former +shall be two dollars, the latter twenty dollars.</p> + +<p style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><i>Discipline.</i> The committee on membership may make recommendations to +the association as to the discipline or expulsion of any member.</p> + +<p style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><i>Committees.</i> The association shall appoint standing committees of three +members each to consider and report on the following topics at each +annual meeting: first, on promising seedlings; second, on nomenclature; +third, on hybrids; fourth, on membership; fifth, on press and +publication.</p> +</blockquote> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1><span class="smcap">Northern Nut Growers Association</span></h1> + +<h2>THIRD ANNUAL MEETING</h2> + +<h3>DECEMBER 18 AND 19, 1912</h3> + +<h3>AT LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA</h3> + + +<p>The third annual meeting of the Northern Nut Growers Association was +held in the Court House at Lancaster, Pa., beginning December 18, 1912, +at 10 A. M.; President Morris presiding.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: The meeting will be called to order. We have first an +address by the Mayor of Lancaster, Mayor McClean. (Applause.)</p> + +<p>Mayor McClean: Ladies and gentlemen of the Northern Nut Growers +Association:</p> + +<p>The Mayor of a city of the size of this, in which conventions meet so +frequently, is so often called upon to make a speech that the prospect +of having to do so causes him some disturbance of mind, not only on the +day of the delivery of the speech but for many days preceding; but I +confess that the invitation to come here today has had no such effect on +me. I am very glad to meet and mix up with the members of this +organization. The evolutionists tell us where we came from; the +theologians, where we are going to; but no matter how much we may differ +as to the theories of these respective leaders of thought, upon one +thing we can all agree and that is that we are here. You ladies and +gentlemen representing the Northern Nut Growers Association are here to +interchange opinions and discuss questions which have to do with the +greater success of the very useful industry, the youthful and useful +industry, in which you are engaged. I am here as the Mayor of this +goodly town to tell you that you are not looked upon as intruders; that +we will be blind when you help yourselves to our wine flasks, but that +we will not be deaf should you ask for more. I am thoroughly in sympathy +with the purpose of this organization, understanding it to be the +encouragement of the planting of nut bearing trees in order that an +addition to our present food supply may be provided; and that much waste +land, now profitless, may be taken up and converted to practical and +profitable uses; and further that through the medium of such tree +planting and tree care as you propose, landscape embellishment in +greater<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> degree than that which now exists may be provided. We hear very +much about conservation these days and it seems to me that the +proposition which you advance is conservation in a very worthy and very +high degree. The soil and climate of Lancaster County seem to be +peculiarly adapted to the growing of trees bearing nuts and fruits, and +I am sure that the result of this convention will be to stimulate +locally a very great interest in this worthy undertaking. You have +chosen wisely in selecting Lancaster as the place for this meeting, +because we feel and we are satisfied that you will agree, after you have +been here a few days, that this was the town that Kipling had in mind +when he wrote of the town that was born lucky. (Laughter.) Here you will +find all the creature comforts, everything that makes for the pleasure +of existence, good food and good water, and if there be any of you who +have a liking for beverages other than water, it may be some consolation +to you to know that in this vicinity the mint beds are not used for +pasture, the punch bowls are not permanently filled with carnations, the +cock-tail glasses show no signs of disuse and the corkscrew hangs within +reach of your shortest member. (Laughter.) We are a great people over +this way. Perhaps you are not aware of that, but we bear prosperity with +meekness and adversity with patience. We feel that we can say to you, +without boasting, if you seek a pleasant country, look about you. You +may not know it, but it is a fact and the United States census reports +ever since census reports have been made will prove it, that the annual +valuation of the agricultural products of the county in which you now +sit exceeds that of any other county in all this great nation. +(Applause.) Another bit of local history may surprise you when I tell +you that the combined deposits of the banks of Lancaster County +approximate the enormous amount of fifty million dollars, that they are +larger than the total deposits of any one of seven states in the Union +that I can name and that they exceed the combined deposits of two of +those seven states. But I don't want to take up your time with a +recitation of local history, because I feel that your Lancaster +colleagues will give you all the information, and I don't want to spoil +their pleasure in giving it by anticipating them. I congratulate you +upon the success of this convention. I applaud the purpose for which you +are united. I felicitate you upon your achievements up to this time, and +predict for you a greater measure of usefulness and advantage in the +time to come, which usefulness and advantage, let me suggest, can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> be +made yours more promptly, certainly more surely, by your proceeding upon +the principle that whatever is of benefit to the organization as a whole +must be of benefit to each of its members, either directly or +indirectly. I trust that you will go on with this good work and +stimulate enthusiasm in your purpose in a nation wide way, working +together with one common object, proceeding under the motto of the Three +Guardsmen of France, "One For All and All For One." I now extend to you +the freedom of the city. Roam where you will. Just one bit of advice I +have to give. Contrary, perhaps, to general report, this is not a slow +town and therefore you are in more danger of being run down than run in. +(Laughter.) I will not follow the time honored practice of handing you +the keys of the city, for the reason that when I heard you were on the +way, I had the old gates taken off the hinges in order that your +incoming might be in no way impeded. (Laughter.) And now, in the name of +the city of Lancaster, its heart filled with the sunny warmth of July, I +bid you welcome and promise that we will try to extend to you a +hospitality as generous as golden October. (Applause.)</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Will Mr. Littlepage please respond to the Mayor's kindly +address of welcome?</p> + +<p>Hon. T. P. Littlepage: Mr. President: On behalf of the members of the +Northern Nut Growers Association, I desire to thank the Mayor very +cordially for his delightful words of welcome to this city. We feel that +the words haven't any strings to them, such as were indicated in a +little poem I noticed the other day, which said that a young man took +his girl to an ice cream parlor and she ate and she ate and she ate +until at last she gave him her heart to make room for another plate. +(Laughter.) There apparently isn't anything of that in the cordial +welcome which we have received here to this great County of Lancaster. I +know now after hearing the Mayor's discourse upon the great resources of +this county, why it was that a young fellow who had rambled out into the +West and happened to drop into an old fashioned protracted meeting, when +asked to come up to the mourners' bench, objected somewhat, and finally +when they said, "Well, young man, you've got to be born again;" replied, +"No, it isn't necessary, I was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania." +(Laughter and applause.) I understand now why the young man was so +sanguine, why it wasn't necessary to be born again, even under the +auspices of the Great Spirit. It is very gratifying indeed to be in the +midst of a great county<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> of this kind that has made one of the great +basic industries so successful. It takes three things to make a really +great nation; it takes great natural resources, it takes great policies +and it takes great people. We have nations in this world where the +resources, the possibilities of agriculture and all lines of human +endeavor are as unlimited, almost, as ours, but they haven't the people +and in the cases where they have people of the right kind, they haven't +adopted the policies. It takes those three things for any county, any +state or any nation to be really great, and it is indeed gratifying to +those of us who believe in the highest development, the best for +humanity, to come into a county where the people, through their +industry, their policies of advancement, have made that county one of +the best farmed agricultural counties in the United States; and that is +saying a great deal when you consider the greatness of this nation and +her immense wealth and resources. It is indeed gratifying to all of us +who are spending some time and some effort to further somewhat the +advancement of the country along horticultural lines, to be met with a +cordial welcome and to come into this community that has so highly +developed her various resources: so, on behalf of this Association and +all its members, even the members that are not here, those of them who +might, if they desired, take advantage of the Mayor's corkscrew and +carnation bowl, I thank the Mayor and thank the citizens of this County +and say that we are delighted to be among you. (Applause.)</p> + +<p>The Chairman: We will now proceed with the regular order of business. As +my paper happens to be placed first on the list, through the methods of +the Secretary, I will ask Mr. Littlepage to kindly take the chair while +I present notes on the subject of hybridizing nut trees.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_PRACTICAL_ASPECTS_OF_HYBRIDIZING_NUT_TREES" id="THE_PRACTICAL_ASPECTS_OF_HYBRIDIZING_NUT_TREES"></a>THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF HYBRIDIZING NUT TREES</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Dr. Robert T. Morris, New York</span></h4> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 348px;"> +<img src="images/illus_017.jpg" width="348" height="500" alt="" title="DR. ROBERT T. MORRIS" /> +</div> +<h4>DR. ROBERT T. MORRIS OF NEW YORK<br /> + +<i>First President of the Association, 1911 and 1912</i></h4> + + +<p>In the experimental work of hybridizing nut trees, we soon come to learn +that a number of practical points need to be acquired before successful +hybridizing can be done. This is a special field in which few have taken +part as yet, and consequently any notes upon the subject will add to +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> sum total of the knowledge which we wish to acquire as rapidly as +possible. First, in collecting pollen; it is important to shake our +pollen into dry paper boxes. If we try to preserve the pollen in glass +or in metal, it is attacked by various mould fungi and is rapidly +destroyed. We have to remember that pollen consists of live cells which +have quite as active a place in the organic world as a red squirrel, and +the pollen grains need to breathe quite as much as a red squirrel needs +to breathe. Therefore they must not be placed in glass or metal or +tightly sealed. Further, the pollen grains need to be kept cool in order +to avoid attacks from the greatest enemy of all organic life, the +microbes or the lower fungi. Probably we may keep pollen for a longer +time than it could ordinarily be kept, if it is placed in cold storage, +but practically I have tried the experiment on only one occasion. Last +year I wished to cross the chinkapin with the white oak. The white oak +blossoms more than a month in advance of the chinkapin in Connecticut, +and the question was how we could keep the white oak pollen. Some of it +was placed in paper boxes in cold storage; some in paper boxes in the +cellar in a dry place. Pollen which had been kept in the cellar and +pollen which had been kept in cold storage were about equally viable. It +is quite remarkable to know that pollen can be kept for more than a +month under any circumstances. Hybridization occurred in my chinkapins +from this white oak pollen. Sometimes, where the flowering time of such +trees is far apart, it is important to know how we may secure pollen of +one kind for the female flowers of the other. Two methods are possible. +In the first place, we may secure pollen from the northern or southern +range of a species for application upon pistillate flowers at the other +end of the range of that species. Another way is to collect branches +carrying male flowers before the flowers have developed, place them in +the ice house or in a dark, cold room without light until the proper +time for forcing the flowers, and if these branches are then placed in +water, the water changed frequently as when we are keeping flowers +carefully, the catkins or other male flowers will develop pollen +satisfactorily a long time after their natural time of furnishing +pollen, when they are brought out into the light. In protecting +pistillate flowers from the pollen of their own trees, with the nut tree +group where pollen is wind-borne rather than insect borne, I find that +the better way is to cover the pistillate flowers with paper bags, the +thinner the better, the kind that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> we get at the grocery store. It is +best to pull off the undeveloped male flowers if they happen to be on +the same branch with the female flowers, and then place the bags over +the female flowers at about the time when they blossom, in advance of +pollination of the male flowers. It is not safe to depend upon pulling +off the male flowers of an isolated tree and leaving the female flowers +without bags to protect them from pollen of the same species or of +allied species, for the reason that wind may carry pollen to a great +distance. One of Mr. Burbank's critics—I am sorry he has so many, for +they are not all honest or serious—one of his critics, in relation to +the crossing of walnuts, said that it was due to no particular skill on +the part of Mr. Burbank, for, whenever the wind blew from the east, he +regretted to say that his entire orchard of Persian walnuts became +pollinized from the California black walnuts nearly half a mile away. +This is an exaggeration, because the chances are that most of the +Persian walnuts were pollenized from their own pollen, but in the case +of some Persian walnuts blossoming early, and developing female flowers +in advance of male flowers, pollen might be carried to them from half a +mile away in a high wind from California black walnut trees. Black +walnut pollen would then fertilize pistillate flowers of the Persian +walnut. I have found this a real danger, this danger of wind-pollination +at a distance, much to my surprise. Last year I pollinized one or two +lower branches of female flowers of a butternut tree which had no other +butternut tree within a distance of a good many rods, so far away that I +had no idea that the pollen would be carried from the tree with male +flowers to the one which happened to have female flowers only that year; +consequently I placed pecan pollen on the female flowers of the lower +branches of this butternut tree without protecting them with bags, and +left the rest of the tree unguarded. There were no male flowers on that +butternut tree that year. Much to my surprise, not only my pollinized +flowers but the whole tree bore a good crop of butternuts. This year, on +account of the drought, many of the hickory trees bore female flowers +only. I do not know that it was on account of the drought, but I have +noted that after seasons of drought, trees are apt to bear flowers of +one sex or the other, trees which normally bear flowers of both sexes. +This year a number of hickory trees bore flowers of one sex only, and I +noted that some shagbark trees which had no male flowers had fairly good +crops of nuts from pollen blown from a distance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> from other trees. I had +one pignut tree (H. Glabra) full of female flowers which contained only +one male flower, so far as I could discover and which I removed. On one +side of this tree was a bitternut; on the other side a shagbark. This +tree bore a full crop of pignuts, (Hicoria glabra) evidently pollinized +on one side by the bitternut and on the other side by the shagbark These +points are made for the purpose of showing the necessity of covering the +female flowers with bags in our nut tree hybridizations. We must +sprinkle Persian insect powder inside the bags or insects will increase +under protection. When we have placed bags over female flowers, it is +necessary to mark the limb; otherwise, other nuts borne on neighboring +limbs will be mistaken for the hybridized nuts unless we carefully place +a mark about the limb. Copper wire twisted loosely is, I find, the best. +Copper wire carrying a copper tag with the names of the trees which are +crossed is best. If I mark the limb with string or with strong cord I +find there are many ways for its disappearance. Early in the spring the +birds like it so well that they will untie square knots in order to put +it into their nests. Later in the season the squirrels will bite off +these marks made with cords for no other purpose, so far as I know, +except satisfying a love of mischief. Now I am not psychologist enough +to state that this is the reason for the action of the red squirrel, and +can only remember that when I was a boy I used to do things that the red +squirrel now does. (Laughter.) Consequently, on that basis, I traced the +psychology back to plain pure mischief. Red squirrels and white footed +mice must be looked after with great care in our hybridized trees. If +the squirrels cannot get at a nut that is surrounded by wire cloth, they +will cut off the branch and allow it to fall to the ground and then +manage to get it out. White footed mice will make their way through +wire, and mice and squirrels will both manage to bite through wire cloth +unless it is very strong in order to get at the nut. The mere fact of +nuts being protected by wire cloth or in other ways seems to attract the +attention of squirrels. One of my men, a Russian, said, in rather broken +English, "Me try remember which nuts pollinized; no put on wire, no put +on tag, no put on nothing; squirrel see that, see right straight, bite +off one where you put sign for him." (Laughter.) The best way for +keeping squirrels and white footed mice from ascending a tree, I find is +by tacking common tin, slippery smooth tin, around the trunk of the tree +and this may be left on only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> during the time when squirrels are likely +to ascend the tree. They will begin long before the nuts are ripe. In +the case of hazel nuts, I have surrounded the bushes with a wire fence +or wire mesh, leaving a little opening on one side, and have placed +steel traps in the opening. Now here enters a danger which one does not +learn about excepting from practical experience. I went out one morning +shortly after having thought of this bright idea and found two gray +squirrels in the traps. They had followed their natural instinct of +climbing when they got into the steel traps, and climbing wildly had +broken off every single branch from those hazels which carried +hybridized nuts. There wasn't one left, because the squirrels when +caught had climbed into the trees and had so violently torn about with +trap and chain that they had broken off every single branch with a nut +on it. So many things happen in our experiments that appeal to one's +sense of the ludicrous, if he has a sense of humor, that I assure you +nut raising is a source of great delight to those who are fond of the +drama.</p> + +<p>The field of hybridizing nut trees offers enormous prospects. We are +only just upon the margin of this field, just beginning to look into the +vista. It has been done only in a limited way, so far, by crossing +pollen and flowers under quite normal conditions. We may look forward to +extending the range now of pollinization from knowledge based upon the +experiments of Loeb and his followers in biology. They have succeeded in +developing embryos from the eggs of the sea urchin, of the nereis, and +of mollusks, without spermatozoa. Their work has shown that each egg is +a single cell with a cell membrane and it is only necessary to destroy +this cell membrane according to a definite plan to start that egg to +growing. Life may be started from the egg in certain species without the +presence of the other sex. This may lead us into a tremendous new field +in our horticultural work. We may be able to treat germ cells with acids +or other substances which destroy the cell membrane so as to allow +crossing between very widely separated species and genera. Loeb, by +destroying the cell membrane of the sea urchin, was enabled to cross the +sea urchin with the star fish, and no one knows but we may be able, +following this line of experimentation, eventually to cross the shagbark +hickory with a pumpkin and get a shagbark hickory nut half the size of +the pumpkin. That is all! (Applause.)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>(President Morris then took the chair.)</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Please let me add that the hickory pumpkin idea is not to +be taken seriously. That is a highly speculative proposition. I have +found some times that, in a very scientific audience, men who were +trained in methods of science, had very little selvage of humor,—little +margin for any pleasantry, but this highly speculative suggestion, +curiously enough, is not in fact more speculative than would have been +the idea twelve years ago that you could hatch an egg, start an egg to +development—without fertilization.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutt: I would like to ask how widely you have been able to cross +species?</p> + +<p>The Chairman: It has been possible to cross species of hazels freely +with the four species that I have used, the American hazel, Corylus +Americana; the beak hazel, Corylus rostrata; the Asiatic, Corylus +colurna, and Corylus pontica. These apparently cross readily back and +forth. With the hickories I think rather free hybridization occurs back +and forth among all, but particularly in relation to groups. The +open-bud hickories, comprising the pecan, the bitternut, the water +hickory, and the nutmeg hickory, apparently, from my experiments, cross +much more readily among each other than they cross with the scale-bud +hickories. The scale-bud hickories appear to cross much more freely +among each other than they cross with the open-bud hickories; not only +species but genera may be crossed, and I find that the walnuts +apparently cross freely with the open-bud hickories and the open-bud +hickories cross with the walnuts. I have thirty-two crosses between the +bitternut hickory and our common butternut, growing. All of the walnuts +apparently cross rather freely back and forth with each other. I have +not secured fertile nuts between the oaks and chestnuts, but I believe +that we may get fertile nuts eventually. The nuts fill well upon these +two trees fertilized with each others' pollen respectively, but I have +not as yet secured fertile ones. We shall find some fertile crosses I +think between oaks and chestnuts, when enough species have been tried.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutt: Do you notice any difference in the shapes of any of those +hybrids, the nuts, when you get them matured and harvested? Do they look +any different from the other nuts on the tree?</p> + +<p>The Chairman: There isn't very much difference, but I seem to think that +sometimes the pollen has exercised an influ<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>ence upon the nuts of the +year. Theoretically it should not do so, but I noticed one case +apparently in which I crossed a chinkapin with a Chinese chestnut, and +the nuts of that year seemed to me to present some of the Chinese +chestnuts' characteristics.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutt: This year I crossed a number of varieties of pecans and in +nearly all those crosses there was to me quite an evident difference in +the nuts. For instance those gathered off certain parts of a pecan tree +of certain varieties, Schley or Curtis or Frotscher, would be typical +nuts, but those hybrids or crosses that I produced were distorted, more +or less misshapen and seemed to have peculiarities; so that when we came +to look over the colony we were in doubt whether they were hand +pollinated hybrids or had been pollinated before we got the blossoms +covered. Many of them evidenced a great number of distortions, and one +of them I remember particularly whose shell was so thin it was just like +a piece of brown paper; and there were several peculiarities that were +quite noticeable in those hand pollinated nuts.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: That is a very interesting point. When we come to consider +deformities of nuts we shall find very many cases due to the character +of the pollinization. I crossed the Persian walnut with the shagbark +hickory and had nuts that year of just the sort of which Mr. Hunt +speaks, with shells as thin as paper. One could crush them with the very +slightest pressure of the finger. The shells were not well developed. +Unfortunately the mice happened to get at all of those nuts. I don't +know if they were fertile or not. The kernels were only about half +developed. I should look for deformity in these nuts rather than a +taking on of the type of one parent over the other, the idea being based +on theoretical biological considerations. We had last year a photograph +of a tree in California which apparently was a cross, a very odd +cross—does any one remember about that California tree?</p> + +<p>Mr. Wilcox: It was a cross between Juglans Californica and the live oak.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Both the foliage and the nuts were very remarkable and +pertained to characters of these two trees. Such a cross to my mind +would be wholly unexplainable excepting on the ground recently brought +out by Loeb and his followers in crossing the lower forms of animal life +and finding that the cell membrane of the egg, if destroyed, will allow +of very wide fertilization subsequently with other species. It occurs to +me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> now—I had no explanation last year, but it occurs to me now, +knowing of Loeb's experiments—that it is possible that one of the +parents, the parent California oak tree carrying the female flowers, +might have had its sex cells subjected to some peculiar influence like +acid, sulphurous acid, for instance, from some nearby chimney. +Sulphurous acid perhaps from someone merely lighting a match to light a +cigar under the tree; he might have so sensitized a few female flowers, +may have so injured the cell membrane of a few female germ cells that +cross pollinization then took place from a walnut tree. It is only on +some such ground as the findings of Loeb that we can explain such a very +unusual hybridization as that, which appeared to me a valid one, of a +cross between an oak and a walnut.</p> + +<p>(Secretary Deming then called attention to hybrids in the various +exhibits.)</p> + +<p>Professor Smith: I should like to ask why, if this free hybridization +takes place in nature among the hickories, you do not have a perfect +complex of trees showing all possible variations in the forest.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: In answer to Professor Smith's question I will start from +his premises and remark that we do have such complexities. The hickories +are so crossed at the present time, like our apples, that even crossing +the pollen of various hickory trees of any one species does not promise +interesting results unless we cross an enormous number. They are already +so widely crossed that it is very difficult sometimes to determine if a +certain tree is shagbark or pignut or shellbark or mockernut. For the +most part the various species and varieties of hickories retain their +identity because their own pollen is handiest, and different species do +not all flower at the same time. Their own pollen from the male flowers +is apt to fall at the time when their own female flowers are ripe and +under these circumstances the chances are very much in favor of the tree +pollinizing its female flowers with its own pollen. On the other hand, +there is hardly one chance in many hundred thousand for any crossed nut +to grow, for the reason that most nuts are destroyed by mice, squirrels, +rats and boys. If you have a hickory nut tree growing in a lot, and +which has produced a bushel of hickory nuts year after year, do you know +of one single nut from that tree which has grown? In this plan of +Nature, this plan of enormous waste of Nature in order to get one seed +to grow, the chance for a hybridized hickory nut to grow under normal +con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>ditions, is so small that we should have relatively few crossed +trees growing wild in Nature, though we do find quite a good many of +them.</p> + +<p>Professor Smith: If I am not taking up too much time, I would like to +put some more questions to you.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: That's what we are here for.</p> + +<p>Professor Smith: Have you ever tried the plan of serving collations to +squirrels? Why wouldn't it pay to give them portions of wheat and corn? +Second, what percentage of the oak pollen kept in cold storage a month +was alive? Third, what is the range of time that the hybridizer has to +make the pollinization? Must we go on the dot or have we two days or +four days or a week, in the case of hickories and walnuts?</p> + +<p>The Chairman: I think possibly as these are three direct questions, I +might answer them now. No, I think it would be better to have all +questions bearing on this subject brought out and then I will answer all +together. So if you will kindly ask all the questions, I will then +endeavor to answer them.</p> + +<p>Mr. Corsan: The squirrels bothered me last year. I've got forty acres of +land for experimental purposes only and I started planting and the +little beggars would dig down exactly where I planted the nuts, so I +went into town and got a rat trap with a double section so I could catch +them alive; and I caught so many by feeding them cheap pignuts, the +sweet pignuts from Michigan, that I brought them in and my boys sold +them for twenty-five cents apiece. Since then we have never been +bothered with red squirrels. For the white footed mice I laid down large +doors over some hay or long grass and they gathered underneath and then +I lifted the doors up every day and with a stick I smashed hundreds of +them. I have posted a notice to leave the skunk and mink alone; I don't +want anybody on the place shooting them.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: I will first answer Professor Smith's questions. This +matter of serving collations for squirrels had best be done as +collations are served at political meetings—with a trap attached. You +don't know how many squirrels there are in the vicinity or how many +white footed mice. You will be surprised at the numbers of the little +rascals, and not only that, but the field mice, the common field mouse +and pine mouse run in mole holes under the ground and can smell a nut a +long way off. They are extremely destructive. What percentage of pollen +grains of the white oak were alive? I do not know. Enough<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> to fertilize +a number of flowers. The sooner pollen is used the better. I cannot +answer the question exactly because I did not make an experiment in the +laboratory to know what part of the pollen was viable. I put on a good +deal of it and there were at least some viable grains in the lot. That, +however, is a matter which can be subjected to exact laboratory tests +without any difficulty. I am so busy with so many things that I can only +follow the plan of the guinea hen that lays forty eggs and sits in the +middle of the nest and hatches out all she can. Now the range of time +for pollinizing is a thing of very great importance and we have to learn +about it. We must all furnish notes on this question. With some species +I presume the duration of life of pollen, even under the best +conditions, might be only a few days. Under other conditions it may be +several weeks; but we have to remember that, in dealing with pollen, we +are dealing with a living, breathing organism.</p> + +<p>The Secretary: I believe the experiment has been carried to completion +of fruiting a thousand trees from nuts grown on one pecan tree without +two of the resulting nuts being like one another or like the parent nut. +Is that true, Mr. Reed.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: Yes, you might say ten thousand.</p> + +<p>The Secretary: We have an illustration of the variability of the progeny +of a nut in this collection of chestnuts by Mr. Riehl out in Illinois. +This is a parent nut, the Rochester, and these others are seedlings from +the Rochester, except where marked otherwise, some showing a tendency to +revert to the parent, and some promising to be improvements on the +parents.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Mr. Secretary, I think we'd better confine ourselves to +the hybrid question at the present time.</p> + +<p>The Secretary: Are not those all hybrids?</p> + +<p>The Chairman: I don't believe any man can tell, unless you get the +flowers, because you have the American and European types merging +together so perfectly. Some of them show distinctly the European type; +others show distinctly the American type. That is what I would expect, +however. The practical point is the question of quality. Which one keeps +the American quality and which one retains the coarseness of the +European type?</p> + +<p>Mr. Harris: Speaking of variations of nuts I think it is well known that +there is quite a variation in the nuts of the oak. I noticed in one +species, michauxii, which is an oak in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> South, that its nuts varied +a great deal. It is something of the type of the chestnut, the white oak +or the rock oaks and it varies a great deal.</p> + +<p>I found one on my father's range in New Jersey and also one on the +Potomac. The variations extend to the trees as well as the nuts.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: The oak tree properly belongs in another tree group and +some of the acorns are not only edible, but first-rate. In China there +are at least three species found in the markets to be eaten out of hand +or roasted. Our white oaks here, some of them, bear very good fruit, +from the standpoint of the boy and the pig, anyway, and it seems to me +that we may properly include the oaks in our discussion. There would be +great range in variation of type from hybridization between oak trees +and I have seen a number of oak trees that were evidently hybrids, where +the parentage could be traced on both sides, that were held at very high +prices by the nurserymen. I asked one nurseryman, who wanted an enormous +price for one hybrid oak, why he didn't make ten thousand of those for +himself next year? It hadn't occurred to him.</p> + +<p>If there is no further discussion in connection with my paper we will +have Mr. Littlepage's paper on Nut Promotions.</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: Dr. Deming said that he thought it might be time that we +have something just a little lighter—that either he should read a paper +or I. (Laughter.) Inasmuch as he included himself, I took no offense +whatever. The subject I have written on, roughly and hurriedly, is +Fraudulent and Uninformed Promoters.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="FRAUDULENT_AND_UNINFORMED_PROMOTERS" id="FRAUDULENT_AND_UNINFORMED_PROMOTERS"></a>FRAUDULENT AND UNINFORMED PROMOTERS</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">T. P. Littlepage, Washington, D. C.</span></h4> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 362px;"> +<img src="images/illus_029.jpg" width="362" height="500" alt="" title="MR. T. P. LITTLEPAGE" /> +</div> +<h4>MR. T. P. LITTLEPAGE OF INDIANA<br /> + +<i>President of the Association</i></h4> + +<p>In the beginning, let me assert my confidence and interest in +agriculture in general. This is one of the basic industries, upon the +proper understanding and growth of which depends the food supply of the +nation. It is admitted by scientists that, other conditions being equal, +an adequacy or inadequacy in the supply of proper food makes the +difference between great people and undesirable people. This being true, +the various operations of agriculture must always be of the greatest +concern to those who are interested in the nation's welfare.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + +<p>The "back-to-the-farm" movement is being discussed today in various +periodicals, but back of the "back-to-the-farm" movement is a philosophy +that has not been generally understood. It is not proper here to take +time to discuss the reasons why the man in the "steenth" story of some +magnificent office building, with telephones, electric lights, +elevators, and all modern conveniences, longs for the time when he can +roam again amidst the green fields in the sunshine and fresh air, but +suffice it to say that in my judgment a majority of the professional +men, and men in other walks of life, would, if they could, abandon their +various employments and turn again to the soil. The boy on the farm +dreams of the days when he can be the president of a bank, have a home +in the city, own an automobile, smoke good cigars and go to the show +every night. The bank president dreams of the day when he can turn again +to the farm and walk in the green fields, where he can shun the various +artificial activities of life, drink buttermilk and retire with the +chickens.</p> + +<p>It may be asked what connection these statements have with the subject, +and the answer is this—that in the minds of many thousands of people +there is this supreme desire to some day own a portion of God's +footstool to which they can retire from artificial and vainglorious +environments to those under which they can be their real selves and +follow pursuits to their liking. It is this that makes it possible for +the promoter of various horticultural enterprises to succeed in +interesting in his schemes the clerk, the merchant, the doctor, the +lawyer, the school teacher, the preacher, and all others whose +occupations confine them within the limits of the great cities.</p> + +<p>In the beginning, let us distinguish between the fraudulent promoter and +the uninformed promoter. The fraudulent promoter is he who recognizes +this great and worthy ambition of many people to buy a spot to which +they can some day retire and work and rest and dream and enjoy the +coming and going of the seasons, and the sunshine and the shadows, and +who capitalizes this ambition, with that industry as his stock in trade +which, at the particular moment, happens to offer the most attractive +inducements. Those familiar with the industry he is exploiting, can tell +him by his actions, by his words, by his nods and winks. It is hard for +the crook to disguise himself to the informed.</p> + +<p>Distinguished from the fraudulent promoter is the uninformed promoter, +but, so far as results are concerned, there is not much difference +between them for the innocent investor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> They both lead him to failure. +They are unlike only in this, that the pathway of the one is lined with +deception, crookedness and chicanery; of the other, with blasted hopes +based upon good intentions but bad information. Both lead to the +self-same sepulcher which in the distance looks white and beautiful but +when reached is filled with the bones of dead men.</p> + +<p>There is not much difference after all, when one comes right down to the +facts, between the crook who starts out deliberately to get one's money +and the fellow who starts out in ignorance and makes great promises of +returns that he knows nothing about. Both succeed in getting one's money +and both succeed in misleading those who have a desire to lay aside +something for their old days. We naturally feel more charity for him who +has good intentions, but who fails, than for him who starts out with bad +intentions. But, after all, only results count.</p> + +<p>Did you ever receive the literature of one of these various concerns +that has pecan or apple orchards to sell? How beautiful their schemes +look on paper! With what exquisite care they have worked out the +pictures and the language and the columns of figures showing the +profits! While writing this article I have before me a prospectus of a +certain pecan company that prints columns of attractive figures. +Fearful, however, that the figures would not convince, it has resorted +to all the various schemes of the printers' art in its portrayal of the +prospective profits from a grove set to pecans and Satsuma oranges, and +it tells you in conclusion that it guarantees by a bond, underwritten by +a responsible trust company, the fulfillment of all its representations. +Yet what are the facts? Their lands are located in a section where the +thermometer falls to a point that makes highly improbable the profitable +growing of Satsuma oranges. And all their figures are merely estimates +of the wildest character, printed in attractive columns, based upon +nothing.</p> + +<p>As a member of the National Nut Growers Association I was this year +chairman of the committee on orchard records. I sent out blanks, with +lists of questions, to many prominent nut growers to see if I could +secure data upon which to base a report to the association. The replies +I received showed the existence of some very promising young orchards of +small size, well cared for, but they also showed that there was no such +thing as an intelligent report upon which reliable data as to the +bearing records of orchards could be based for any future calculations. +There are two reasons for this. First, most of the figures we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> have are +based upon the records of a few pet trees around the dooryard or garden, +grown under favorable conditions. Second, the young groves are not yet +old enough for anyone to say, with any degree of accuracy, what the +results will be. Therefore, the alluring figures printed in these +pamphlets are only guesses.</p> + +<p>Furthermore, what of the contract of these concerns? What does it +specify? You would be surprised to know the legal construction of one of +these contracts, together with their guaranty bond. In most cases they +advertise to plant, and properly cultivate for a period of five to seven +years, orchards of the finest varieties of budded or grafted pecan +trees, with Satsuma oranges or figs set between. But the guaranty +company is usually wise enough to have lawyers who are able to advise +them of their liabilities, and about all they actually guarantee is +that, after a period of five years, provided all payments have been +promptly met, there will be turned over to the purchaser five acres of +ground with trees upon it. Five years old? No, they may not be one year +old. Budded or grafted? No, they may be mere seedlings. Oranges set +between them? No, the orange has passed out of the proposition before +the bond stage. The companies generally print a copy of the bond, but +usually in such small type that the victim does not read it, though the +heading is always prominent. It thunders in the index and fizzles in the +context.</p> + +<p>Moreover, suppose suit is brought on one of these contracts and bonds? +What is the measure of damages? What basis has any court or jury for +fixing damages? And be it remembered that courts do not exist for the +protection of fools against their folly. The principle "caveat emptor" +is as old as the common law itself, and it means that the buyer must +beware, or in other words, that he should inform himself, and that he +cannot expect the courts to protect him where he has failed to exercise +due caution and diligence. Therefore, as a lawyer, I should very much +hesitate to take on a contingent fee the suit of one of these various +victims against a promoting orchard corporation.</p> + +<p>However, in any jurisdiction where there is a criminal statute against +fraudulent representation and obtaining money under false pretenses, I +should not hesitate, if I were the prosecuting attorney, to indict every +member of such a corporation, and, to sustain the case, I would simply +present to a jury of honest men the representations in their advertising +literature, and then have the court instruct the same jury as to the +validity and limitations of their contract. Their advertising is +brilliant enough to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> dazzle the sun. Their contract is as dull as a mud +pie.</p> + +<p>In addition to all of this comes the question of orcharding by proxy, +and the success of the unit or acreage system, and many other similar +questions; and let me say that I doubt if there is today in the United +States one large development scheme, either in pecan or apple orchards, +that will prove of ultimate financial profit and success to the +purchaser. The promoter may get rich—he has nothing at stake. In most +instances he has the price of the land in his pocket before there is a +lick of work done on it, and the payments come in regularly and promptly +to take care of his salary and the meager and unscientific development.</p> + +<p>Of course I would not be understood as saying that pecan or apple +orchards cannot be made profitable. I am of the opinion that reasonable +sized orchards in proper locations and proper soil, of proper varieties, +with proper care in handling, are good investments, and, as proof of my +confidence, I am planting orchards both in the north and south. The +adjective "proper" which I have used here may seem insignificant at the +start but, believe me, before you have begun to clip the coupons off +your orchard bonds this adjective will loom up as important as Webster's +Unabridged Dictionary. In fact you will wonder how it has been possible +for anyone to forecast in one word such comprehensive knowledge. Think +of a man a thousand miles away putting money into the hands of some +unknown concern, for five acres of unknown land, to be set in unknown +varieties of trees, to be cared for by unknown individuals. Can he not +see that, in keeping with all the other unknown factors, his profits +must also be unknown?</p> + +<p>We look at a great industrial enterprise, such as the steel trust, and +marvel at its success. But it must be remembered that this industry +started many years ago, and step by step built furnace after furnace and +mill after mill, after the owners had tried out and become familiar with +all the factors of that industry, and after great corps of trained +experts had been developed, and after science had given to this industry +many of the most marvelous mechanical inventions of the age. These facts +are overlooked, however, when some fellow steps up and proposes to put a +steel-trust-orchard on the market in twelve months. In most industrial +enterprises there are well-known and established factors to be +considered. In horticultural enterprises, however, no man knows what +twelve months hence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> will bring. I read the other day with great +interest the prospectus of a great pecan orchard started several years +ago by a very honorable and high-minded man, and the promises of success +were most alluring. What are the facts? The boll weevil came along and +wiped out his intermediate cotton crops. The floods came later and +destroyed acres of his orchards, and, if he were to write a prospectus +today, it would no doubt be a statement of hope rather than a statement +of facts. He would no doubt turn from the Book of Revelations, where at +that time he saw "a new heaven and a new earth," and write from the Book +of Genesis, where "the earth was without form and void."</p> + +<p>How many people have been defrauded by these various schemes, no one +knows. How many clerks, barbers, bookkeepers, stenographers, students, +preachers, doctors, lawyers, have contributed funds for farms and future +homes in sections where they would not live if they owned half of the +county. How many people have been separated from their cash by +literature advertising rich, fertile lands in sections where the +alligator will bask unmolested in miasma for the next fifty years, and +where projects should be sold by the gallon instead of by the acre.</p> + +<p>Some time ago it was reported that inquiries in reference to the +feasibility and profits of various orchard schemes had come in to the +Bureau of Plant Industry of the Agricultural Department, at Washington, +in such numbers that the officials of that Bureau had considered the +advisability of printing a general circular, which they could send to +the inquirers, advising them to make due investigation, and giving a few +general suggestions about proxy farming and orchard schemes. I was +advised by a friend in the middle west that the contemplated issuance of +this circular by the Bureau of Plant Industry had aroused a number of +protests throughout the country, and that various Senators and Members +of the House of Representatives had entered strong protests with the +Secretary of Agriculture against it. A number of these protests have +come to my notice, and they take various forms of opposition, but are +all unanimous against the Department of Agriculture offering to the +prospective purchaser any information. Various reasons for their stand +were given by the protestants, but how flimsy and ridiculous they are +when analyzed. Congress for a number of years has been appropriating +money and authorizing certain work by the Department of Agriculture. It +is the people's money, and the people's Department, and the information +gathered by the ex<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>perts in this Department ought to be the people's +information, and it ought to be possible for any citizen to write the +Department a letter about any proposition that he has received from any +of these various promoters, and have the advice of those who know most +about it.</p> + +<p>I suppose the Department of Agriculture has entirely too many duties to +perform to undertake a work of this kind, but what an inconsistent +position it is for a Member of Congress, who has been voting for +appropriations to carry on this work, to appeal to the Secretary of +Agriculture to suppress such information in order that some exploiter +may get somebody's money under false representations. I think if it were +possible today to know the list of concerns and companies who +registered, directly or through agents, their opposition to this +proposed warning circular, you would have a correct index of the +concerns good to let alone. For no honest, reputable individual or +company need be afraid of the work or suggestions of that great +Department. I have the pleasure of knowing many of the officials in the +Bureau of Plant Industry, and never anywhere have I seen a body of men +so conscientiously engaged in the work of promoting legitimate +horticultural and agricultural knowledge. It is the very life of that +great Department, and its officers and employees above everyone else are +most interested in seeing the land produce the most and best that it can +be made to produce, and they are best qualified to pass upon these +matters.</p> + +<p>Most of the questions in these various schemes are questions of soil and +horticulture. One letter in opposition to the Agricultural Department's +attitude, that was brought to my attention, stated that crops varied +under different conditions, and that no one was able to tell what a +certain soil would or would not produce throughout a period of years, +and intimated that the Department of Agriculture might mislead the +public; and yet the concern that sent it printed columns of figures +guaranteeing returns from pecans and Satsuma oranges in a section where +orange growing is of very doubtful possibility. Boiling down these +objections by the promoters, they come to simply this: That the +Agricultural Department, with no motive but to tell the truth, and with +its corps of trained experts, might mislead the public, but they (the +promoters) could not possibly be mistaken in their fabulous figures +compiled for the purpose of getting money from some misinformed victim.</p> + +<p>Proxy farming never was a success and I do not think it ever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> will be. +One of my friends told me a short time ago of a very successful young +pecan orchard on the gulf coast. Upon inquiry I found that it was of +reasonable size, nine years old, and that the owner had lived in it nine +years. It was not 500 acres in extent, or 1,000 acres, or 2,000 acres, +but about 20 acres. Last summer I went into a beautiful apple orchard in +Southern Indiana and saw about forty acres of trees bending to the +ground with delicious Grimes Golden apples. On that particular day there +were great crowds of people walking among the trees and admiring the +fruit. I too walked among the trees a short time, but of greater +interest to me than the trees was the old, gray-haired man who had made +the orchard. The trees could not talk, but he could, and he told the +story of the years of care, and diligence, and work, and thought, and +patience, that showed why it is not possible to cover the mountains of a +state with orchards bringing almost immediate and fabulous incomes.</p> + +<p>Some time ago I stood talking to the old superintendent of the Botanical +Garden in Washington—William R. Smith, now deceased—and while +discussing with him the requisites for tree culture, he said "Young man, +you have left out the most important one of them all," When I asked him +what I had left out, he said "above all things it takes the eye of the +master." So it does, and the master is he whose vigilance is continual, +who watches each tree as if it were a growing child—as indeed it is, a +child of the forests—who has the care and the patience, and who is not +dazzled by the glitter of the dollar, but who loves trees because they +are trees.</p> + +<p>Theoretically, one can figure great successes in big horticultural +development propositions, but these figures rest upon theory and not +fact. It would be difficult to state all the reasons why I have a firm +conviction that such big schemes of every kind will fall, but I believe +this conviction is shared by the foremost thinkers in the horticultural +world. A four-year-old boy was once taken to see the animals in a +circus. He was very much interested, but, when shown the tremendous +elephant, shook his head and said "he is too big."</p> + +<p>A small grove properly handled ought to be an excellent investment. The +various uncertainties and vicissitudes involved can, in a degree, be +compensated for by great care; and I suppose it would be possible even +with some of these big schemes—by placing enough money behind them—to +insure a fair degree of success. It must be borne in mind, however, that +these pro<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>moters, of whom we have been speaking, are not so much +concerned in the successful orchard as they are in big salaries and +profits, and, if one has money enough to pay big salaries and profits, +and still pay for the proper care of the orchard, then he does not need +an orchard. Most of these promoters charge too much for a proper and +honest development alone, and too little for the proper development plus +the profits and salaries of the promoters. I wish it were not so. I wish +the old earth could be made to smile bountiful crops without such +expensive tickling, but this is one of the checks and balances that +nature places upon her great storehouse of wealth.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The Chairman: This is a matter of very great importance and I hope we +shall have a good discussion, from a practical point of view, by men who +know about fraudulent promotions and their effect. We ought to go on +record in this matter right now. I know of numbers of teachers, doctors +and other poor people who have put money into nut promotion schemes +without knowing anything about the ultimate prospect of profit.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutt: One noticeable thing about the promoter's literature is that +he never knows anything about crop failure, and in the agricultural and +horticultural world that is a thing that is painfully evident to a man +who has been in business a great length of time. In the promoter's +literature it is just a matter of multiplication; if one tree will +produce so much in a year, a hundred trees will produce a hundred times +as much. I got a letter the other day from Mr. S. H. James, of Beaumont, +Louisiana, and he said, "I have been very fortunate, I have actually had +two good crops in succession," and when you come to compare that with +the promoter's literature—why he knows no such thing as crop failure. +Anybody who knows anything about agricultural or horticultural work +knows that we have winter and floods and everything else to contend +with.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Someone might tell us about failures they happen to know +of in promotion schemes.</p> + +<p>Mr. Smith: I would like to ask if Mr. Littlepage isn't going to open up +that barrel of actual facts that he has about yields?</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: Mr. President, I didn't know that I had a whole barrel +of actual facts. When I started in several years ago a barrel wouldn't +have held all of them, but I think that now I could put the actual facts +in a thimble. I've got several barrels of good pecans, however, I'd like +to open up and let Mr. Smith sample if he wants to.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Chairman: Let's hear about frauds from someone who knows how the +land was managed and how the trees were managed and how it actually +occurred.</p> + +<p>Mr. Van Duzee: Mr. President, I feel that I ought to say something, +first in commendation of the paper itself. It is a question how far we, +as an Association, are responsible for the care of our fellowmen, but at +this period when the industry is new, I feel that it is a very +legitimate thing for us to do a little work to try and prevent these +people from preying upon our fellowmen. The president remarked this +morning that something was an evidence of the tremendous waste in +Nature. It is true, Nature, in building a forest, wastes a vast amount +of time and energy. These people who are preying upon the nut industry +today find as their victims the weaklings which Nature buries in the +forest. Those things are incidental and we must expect them, but I feel +that a paper of this kind, at this time, is a very valuable thing and I +hope it will receive wide publication. We cannot say too much to +discourage this sort of thing. Now, to respond, in a measure, to the +President's request for actual facts, I am confronted with this +proposition, that some of the men who have made the greatest failures +are men who have done so through ignorance. They are honest men, they +are personal friends of mine. I don't care to go too much into details, +because they are just as sorry today as I am, but I have seen this done. +I have seen hundreds of acres of nut orchards in the South planted with +the culls from nurseries bought at a very low figure. I have seen these +trees neglected absolutely, not in one case but in many cases. I have +seen the weeds as high as the trees at the time when a telegram was +received by the the local agent that a carload of the purchasers of +these tracts was about to leave to look over their property. I have seen +the local manager hustle out, when he got that telegram, and hire every +mule in the community to come in and, with a plow, throw a furrow or two +to the rows of trees so that they could be distinguished from the weeds +they were growing among. As Mr. Littlepage has said, there can be no +success in such operations; and I feel, looking at it in a very broad +way, that this is a very good time to emphasize the point that those of +us who have the greatest experience in the growing of nut trees do not +feel that these enterprises are legitimate, or that they promise very +much success. (Applause.)</p> + +<p>Mr. Pomeroy: I live just a short distance from Buffalo.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> A few months +ago—I got it on the very best authority—there was some salesman in +Buffalo who didn't have time to call on all those who wanted to give him +money for pecan propositions. He didn't have time, Doctor, he just had +to skip hundreds of them, he said; he was just going from one place to +another, making his collections. Buffalo is a city of only about 450,000 +people and there must be some money being collected and sent in to +somebody.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Very glad to hear of that instance; let's hear of others.</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: I would like, if possible, to answer Mr. Smith's +question. I didn't know that he referred to facts about these +promotions, I thought perhaps he meant facts about nut growing.</p> + +<p>Mr. Smith: You said you had made inquiries as to nuts, harvest yields, +orchard yields; it was those, particularly, that I had in mind.</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: Oh well, I could give those to you readily. There are +some very promising orchards, making a good showing under investigation, +handled under proper conditions and of proper size. I would not want to +say that those things are not possible. Talking specifically of these +overgrown schemes, one of them is recalled to my mind, a development +company in southern Georgia, that advertises very alluringly. It set out +one year a lot of culls; they all died. I am told that they went out the +second year and, without any further preparation, dug holes and set out +another lot of culls. They too died; and then they went out the third +year and planted nuts, and those trees, at the end of a year's growth, +were perhaps six or seven inches high, and the salesman from that +company, I understood, took one of the prospective purchasers over into +a fine grove owned by another man on the opposite side of the road, and +let him pick out his five acres from the orchard across the road. That's +one type I could multiply indefinitely.</p> + +<p>Mr. W. C. Reed: I think this is a very important matter. As a nursery +man who has sold a great many trees to promoting companies, I want to +say that I have never, with one exception, seen an orchard that has been +a success, but I have seen hundreds of failures, some of them where they +have set out orchards of 150,000 trees and sold them off in one and ten +acre tracts, and in only one case have I seen a success. I think these +promotions should be avoided by the nut growers of the North.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Chairman: This is very valuable information, coming from a dealer.</p> + +<p>Mr. Van Duzee: I have found this in the yields of my orchards. Six or +seven or eight years ago, I discounted every source of information that +I could have access to, as to yields, brought them to a conservative +point, submitted them to the best informed men in the United States, and +then divided those figures by five as my estimate of what I might hope +to accomplish as my orchards came into bearing. I have since been +obliged to find some excuses for failing to even approximate those +conservative figures. I had this year in our orchard, a 35 acre plot of +Frotscher trees which is one of the most promising varieties, six years +of age, and there were not five pounds of nuts in the whole plot. I have +had an orchard of 36 acres, mostly Frotscher and Stewart, go through its +sixth year with less than 200 pounds of nuts to the entire orchard. I +have another orchard of 30 acres which in its sixth year has produced +less than 100 pounds of nuts. Now many of these promoters guarantee to +take care of these orchards, which they are selling, for 10 per cent or +20 per cent, or even half the proceeds of those orchards, from the fifth +year. You can see readily that the entire crop of such orchards as I +have been able to produce, would not begin to pay their running expenses +the sixth and seventh year.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: You took good care of yours?</p> + +<p>Mr. Van Duzee: I think so. I think there are many gentlemen in the +audience who have been through them, and it is conceded that my orchards +are at least fairly good representatives of what can be done under +normal conditions.</p> + +<p>Mr. Corsan: Are yours southern orchards?</p> + +<p>Mr. Van Duzee: These pecan orchards are in south-western Georgia.</p> + +<p>Mr. Corsan: The Northern Nut Growers Association, as I understand, is a +collection of men who are interested in finding out what we can do in +the way of growing nuts for the North. We go to the markets and see +baskets of cocoanuts, Brazil nuts, California walnuts, but no nuts +growing for the market around our neighborhood. In my own city, Toronto, +I can see some nut trees because I look very closely at everything, but +the average person cannot see them because they are very few. I have a +number of experiments on hand. If I succeed in even one of these +experiments, I am satisfied to spend my whole life at it. I am not +nervous, I can watch a hickory tree grow. (Laugh<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>ter.) I want to grow +some nuts for the next generation. I haven't the slightest thought of +making a copper of money out of it but I am going to enjoy the thing, +and that's the idea of the Northern Nut Growers Association, or else I +have made a mistake.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Is there any further discussion on the matter of frauds? +Does anyone else wish to speak on this subject?</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: It is indeed very gratifying to hear the President of +the National Nut Growers' Association, Col. Van Duzee, speak on this +subject and to have the honor of having him with us as a member of our +Association. It is gratifying to have him come out in such strong terms +on this question. It has always been his policy and his reputation, so +far as I have heard, to stand for what is best and squarest in nut +culture.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: The paper of Mr. Littlepage is one of very great +importance, because the number of frauds associated with an enterprise +is an indication of the fundamental value of the cause. These fraudulent +nut promoters capitalize the enthusiasm of people who want to get back +to the land, just as porters at the hotels capitalize the joy of a newly +married couple. (Laughter.) We have in this "back-to-the-land" movement, +a bit of philosophy of fundamental character which includes the idea of +preservation of the race. Preservation of the race!—why so? Nature made +man a gregarious species and, being gregarious, he has a tendency to +develop the urban habit. Developing the urban habit, he fails to oxidize +his proteins and toxins. Failing to oxidize his proteins and toxins, he +degenerates. Recognizing the degenerating influence of urban life, by +means of his intelligence he has placed within his consciousness that +automatic arrangement, as good as the automatic arrangement which turns +water on to a boiler, which says to him, "go out and oxidize your +proteins and toxins." That is what "back-to-the-land" means. You've got +to begin from this fundamental point. Now then, if this represents a +fundamental trait in the character of our species and we are acting in +response to a natural law, then must we be doubly careful about having +our good intentions, our good methods, halted by unwisdom. That brings +to mind the point made about our present Secretary of Agriculture. I am +very glad this has been made a matter of record here, for I am sorry to +say that in connection with another subject—(health matters)—wherever +there has been opportunity for the Secretary to act, he has decided as a +matter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> of policy on the side of capital and against the side of public +interest. Almost every time, so far as we have a record of the action of +the present Secretary of Agriculture and of Dunlap and McCabe, his +assistants. We ought to state here, in connection with fraudulent nut +promotions, that he has acted in favor of capital and against the public +interest if it is true. It ought to go as a matter of record from this +Association. We may be bold in this matter, but we should be righteously +bold because we are speaking for the public interest ourselves. We have +nothing to gain; there is nothing selfish about this organization. We +may be kindly and say that the Secretary is at the mercy of shrewder +men.</p> + +<p>Mr. Corsan says that we are interested in scientific work only. That is +true at the present time, because all progress must be from a scientific +basis. If our care in managing experiments is such that we cannot avoid +getting rich, we will accept the result. (Laughter.) I am glad that in +connection with this discussion Mr. Corsan made one epigrammatic +remark,—that he was not nervous and could watch a hickory tree grow. I +tell you there's a lot of wit in that.</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: He has good eyesight, Mr. President.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: The reason why we have so many fraudulent promotions is +largely because of our American temperament; we are so nervous that we +can't watch a hickory tree grow. In matters of public health, our +Secretary of Agriculture has prevented actual criminals from being +brought to justice—he made that his policy.</p> + +<p>I think those are the points that I wish to make in commenting upon Mr. +Littlepage's paper and if he will make any concluding remarks we will be +very glad to hear them. In regard to Mr. Hutt's suggestion that we +cannot count on crop success or crop failure mathematically—now, there +are fortunes to be made from the proper management of good nut orchards. +We know of orchards where very large incomes are at present being made, +and I am very glad that the sense and sentiment of this meeting is +against quotation of that feature. I have not heard here one word in +quotation of orchards which bring incomes of $10,000 a year or more from +various kinds of nuts, and we know there are many such orchards. It is +the failures upon which we should concentrate our attentions right now, +and the reason for failure is not that nut growing is not going to make +progress but that we cannot count on our nuts from a mathematical basis. +One<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> of my friends, an old Frenchman, became very enthusiastic about +raising poultry. He sent out requests for circulars to every poultry +fancier who published circulars, and I will wager that he got 50 per +cent of answers to his requests for circulars about fancy poultry. He +began to raise chickens, and my father-in-law met him on the street one +day and asked how he was getting on with his pullets that were going to +lay so many eggs. "Oh," he said, "Ze trouble is with ze pullet; she no +understand mathematique like ze fancier. If I have one pullet, she lay +one egg every day; if I have two pullet, <i>perhaps</i> she lay two egg every +day, and if I have three pullet, she <i>nevaire</i> lay three egg every day." +(Laughter.) Now I think that the remaining time this morning we had +better devote to the executive session, then we had better meet at two +o'clock for the election of our committee. The meeting then is at +present adjourned, with the exception of those who will take part in the +executive session, and we will meet again at two P. M. There is one +point I wanted to make in connection with Col. Van Duzee's remarks that +a certain number of really honest men have allowed their names to be +used in connection with promotion propositions. Men who are quite +skillful at learning the use of names, have gotten men of good +intentions and kindly interest, I know, to lend their names as even +officials of nut promotion companies. Besides that, a good deal of +garbled literature of recommendation has gone out in their circulars. I +have had a number of circulars sent to me quoting abstract remarks that +I had made relative to nut culture in general, and this has been applied +concretely in circulars; the context did not go with it. I asked a +lawyer what I could do about it, and after going over the question he +said that I probably was powerless.</p> + +<p>After announcements by the Secretary, the convention took a recess until +2 <span class="smcap">P. M.</span>, at which time it was called to order by President Morris and +the regular program was resumed as follows:</p> + +<p>The Chairman: The executive session will be held after the meeting, as +many are here to hear the paper on the chestnut blight, so we will +proceed at once to the order of business and listen to the first paper +by Mr. Rockey.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rockey: This paper deals more particularly with the work that has +been done in Pennsylvania. But what has been done here may be considered +to be typical of what has been done elsewhere.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="RECENT_WORK_ON_THE_CHESTNUT_BLIGHT" id="RECENT_WORK_ON_THE_CHESTNUT_BLIGHT"></a>RECENT WORK ON THE CHESTNUT BLIGHT</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Keller E. Rockey</span></h4> + +<p class="center">Forester in charge of Demonstration Work, Pennsylvania Chestnut Tree +Blight Commission</p> + + +<p>The history of the blight, briefly outlined, is as follows:</p> + +<p>In 1904 the diseased condition of the chestnut trees around New York +City was noted and an examination of them showed that they were being +attacked by a disease at that time unknown. Investigations since then +have shown that the blight had been at work there and elsewhere for a +number of years before that time, but it has been impossible to +determine just when it first appeared or where. The disease was studied +and described at that time.</p> + +<p>On display here are specimens and photographs showing the appearance of +the blight so that I will not go into that part of the subject in +detail. I hope that you will notice, however, the symptoms by which the +disease is recognized: 1st. The small red pustules which produce the +spores and, on rough barked trees, appear only in the crevices. 2nd. The +peculiar mottled appearance of the inner bark of the canker. 3rd. The +discoloration of the outer bark. 4th. The danger signals, such as +withered leaves in summer or persistent leaves or burrs in winter, +suckers which develop at the base of cankers, and the yellowish cracks +which soon appear in the bark over the cankers.</p> + +<p>Workers in the Bureau of Plant Industry, Washington, D. C., have been +studying the blight since 1908. In the Spring of 1911, a bill creating +the commission for the investigation and control of the blight in +Pennsylvania was passed, and the active work began in August 1911. The +method upon which the Commission is working is outlined in Farmers' +Bulletin No. 467, of the Department of Agriculture, and consists briefly +of determining the area of blight infection and in removing diseased +trees west of a certain line, with the purpose of preventing the western +spread of the blight.</p> + +<p>This Commission has ascertained as accurately as possible the amount of +infection in the various parts of the state and the results are given in +a map on display here. The state is divided into two districts by a line +drawn along the western edge of Susquehanna, Wyoming, Columbia, Union, +Snyder, Juniata and Franklin Counties, which is approximately the +western line<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> of serious blight infection. West of this line a large +portion of the state has been scouted, and the remainder will be +finished early in 1913. We have learned by experience that in the +winter, after the fall of the leaves, the best scouting work can be +done. Persistent leaves and cankers along the trunk are readily seen, +and more and better work can be accomplished than in the summer, except +when the snow is very deep.</p> + +<p>Blight infections have been found in counties adjacent to this line: +also in Fayette County, near Connellsville, in Warren County, near +Warren, and in Elk County, near St. Mary's. These three infections were +directly traceable to infected nursery stock, and in one case the blight +had spread to adjacent trees. A large area of diseased chestnut in +Somerset County illustrates the harm done by shipping infected nursery +stock. The centre of this infection is a chestnut orchard where about +100 scions from an infected eastern orchard were grafted to native +sprouts in 1908. The percentage of infected trees in the orchard from +which the scions were obtained, according to a count made this Fall, +averages 80 per cent. Evidently these scions brought the disease into +this region, for the grafts have all been killed by the blight and every +tree in the orchard is killed or infected by disease. On adjoining +tracts over 5,400 infected trees have been cut, and there are a number +of others in process of removal, radiating in all directions from the +orchard as a center to a distance of three miles. Another infection of +143 trees was found in Elk County. It is thought that three trees at the +centre of infection were diseased in 1909, although it is possible that +one of these trees was already infected in 1908. In 1910, 27 additional +trees were infected; in 1911, 50 additional trees, and in 1912, 228 +additional trees. The disease spread in all directions from the center +of infection to a distance of 700 feet.</p> + +<p>These infections are interesting in showing the rate at which the blight +may travel in healthy timber.</p> + +<p>These infections have all been removed and it is the expectation that by +the end of January 1913 all scattered spot infections will be removed +from the territory west of the line previously mentioned, and that, to +the best of our knowledge, these western counties will be free from +blight. In 1913 the field force will be concentrated on the advance line +and the work will be carried eastward. The Commission has the power to +compel the removal of infected trees. In the western part<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> of the state +this power has been exercised in the few cases where it was necessary. +As a rule, however, the owners are not only willing but anxious to get +rid of the infected trees, and our field men are given hearty support by +individuals, granges and other organizations. The timber owners of Elk +County had printed and posted an announcement that the chestnut blight +had been found in the locality and warned the people to be on the +look-out for it. In addition the Commission has had a man, for a short +time at least, in each of the eastern counties of the state, and their +time has been taken up principally by those who requested inspections of +timber with the view of determining the percentage of blight infection +and the best method to be pursued in combating it and realizing on their +timber. Our men are all deputy wardens, with the authority which is +attached to this office, and are instructed to do their utmost to +prevent fire damage.</p> + +<p>An exhibit which consists of specimens showing the blight in various +stages together with photographs, literature, etc., was placed in about +30 of the county fairs throughout the state. The appreciation of the +public has been so clearly shown that next year it is the intention of +the Commission to continue and perhaps increase this phase of the work, +and to place large permanent displays at the Commercial Museum, +Philadelphia, the State Capitol, Harrisburg, and other places.</p> + +<p>Many of the Annual Teachers' Institutes have been reached with a display +and lecture. We have arranged also to have a speaker at fully one +hundred of the Farmers' Institutes this winter. We are also arranging to +have a permanent display at many of the public schools, normal schools +and colleges, where instruction on the blight is given. An effort was +made last winter to enlist the service of the boy scouts and we are +indebted to them for considerable work, chiefly in an educational way. +The successful outcome of all our work will depend in a large measure +upon the owners themselves, and it is our purpose to give them all the +information possible upon the whole subject.</p> + +<p>The Commission established a Department of Utilization which is +collecting information on the various industries which use or might use +chestnut wood, listing the buyers and owners of chestnut wood, thus +assisting owners of blighted chestnut trees in marketing their timber to +the best advantage. The Department is trying to increase the use of +chestnut wood by calling attention to its many good qualities, and thus +utilize<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> the large quantity which must necessarily be thrown upon the +market. There has been more or less discrimination against blighted +chestnut timber. This has been in many cases unjust, since the blight +does not injure the value of the wood for most purposes for which it is +used. However, the owners sometimes fail to realize that the blight +cankers are the most favorable places for the entrance of the borers, +and that where a large number of trees are being considered, a +percentage of them will be materially injured by insects which follow +blight infection. Where telegraph poles are barked, it is often seen +that borers have attacked the wood under blight cankers, and have not +touched any other part of the tree. All blighted timber should be cut +before death to realize its best value, since insects and +wood-destroying fungi cause the very rapid deterioration of dead, +standing timber. There has been a good market in almost every locality +for poles, ties and the better grades of lumber. Cordwood presents the +difficult problem of disposal. The best market for this is in the +central part of the state, at the extract plants. The Commission has +secured from the Pennsylvania R. R. a special tariff on blighted +chestnut cordwood so that this product may be profitably shipped from +greater distances than before.</p> + +<p>The Commission has inspected all chestnut nursery stock shipped from +nurseries within the state and has also provided for inspection of all +chestnut stock entering the state. This should prevent a repetition of +infections in the western part of the state which might destroy millions +of dollars worth of timber.</p> + +<p>From time to time publications have been and will be issued by the +Commission, which are obtained free of charge upon request, or they may +be consulted in the leading libraries throughout the state.</p> + +<p>An appropriation for $80,000 was given by the last Congress for +scientific research work upon the blight disease and work is being +carried out in cooperation with the various states. Several of the +Government investigators are now at work upon our force. Some of the +most important unsolved scientific problems of the blight, as given by +Secretary Wilson, in his message, to Congress, are as follows:—</p> + +<p>First, the relation of the disease to climate.</p> + +<p>Second, the relation of the parasite to the varying tannin content of +the tree.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + +<p>Third, the origin of the disease.</p> + +<p>Fourth, relation of birds and insects to the dissemination of the +disease.</p> + +<p>Fifth, the nature and degree of resistance of the Asiatic species. +Another problem in relation to tree treatment may be added, that is, the +relation of spores and mycelium to toxic agents.</p> + +<p>The Pennsylvania Commission maintained laboratories during the summer at +Charter Oak, Centre County, and at Mt. Gretna, Lebanon County. The +latter has been moved to Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, for +the winter. We have also had a laboratory at the University of +Pennsylvania, which has been greatly enlarged this fall.</p> + +<p>The number of people who informed us that they had discovered a sure +"cure" for the blight made it necessary to obtain an orchard near +Philadelphia where all such discoverers were given an opportunity to +demonstrate the efficacy of their remedies. It might be noted that in +every case the blight is thriving as usual. These cures consisted +largely of an injection of a toxic principle by some means into the +circulation of the tree. In some cases this was accompanied by a +fertilizer of some kind, and this fertilizer may account for the +apparently improved condition of the tree in some cases, after such +remedies were used, since the growth was increased and the leaves and +branches had a healthier appearance. This increased growth has not had +any appreciable effect upon the rapidity of spread of the blight +mycelium. As the experiments are not officially finished and recorded it +is too early to give any further data. Our pathologists have also +conducted experiments in this same line but no medicinal remedy or +fertilizer has yet been found.</p> + +<p>The varying chemical constituents of chestnut trees, principally tannic +acid, have often been suggested in regard to the origin and spread of +the blight. Investigators are now working along this line and we hope, +for valuable results before long.</p> + +<p>The origin of the disease, as already stated, is something of a mystery, +and there is as yet no generally accepted theory, although many people +have very pronounced views on the subject. Many puzzling facts have been +noted since investigating the disease in Pennsylvania, among them being +the large percentage of infection in eastern York and southern Lancaster +counties, the relative small percentage in certain localities around +which the blight is generally prevalent, and recent infections found in +Warren and other western counties, a great distance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> from what is known +as the western advance line of the disease.</p> + +<p>Our pathologists have reported some very interesting facts in regard to +the dissemination of the blight. In the preliminary report of the +summer's work at our field laboratories the results tend to show:</p> + +<p>First, the prolific ascospore stage is very important in causing the +spread of the blight, the spores at this stage being forcibly ejected +from the pustules and borne through the air for some distance. This +ejection of spores takes place under natural field conditions only when +the bark has been soaked by rain, but the expulsion of spores is also +dependent upon temperature conditions and ceases entirely at +temperatures from 42 to 46 degrees F. and below.</p> + +<p>Second, the wind plays a large part in local ascospore dissemination.</p> + +<p>Third, birds and insects (except ants) are apparently of very little +importance in the dissemination of the blight except in providing +wounds. Further investigations of the importance of ants is being made +during the present winter.</p> + +<p>Several kinds of beetles have been observed eating the pustules and are +in this way beneficial, since tests show that they digest and destroy +the spores. It has also been suggested by workers in the Bureau of +Entomology that such beetles, which are of several kinds, may be of +value in the attempt to control the disease. These are perhaps the only +natural enemies discovered to date.</p> + +<p>The proper classification of the chestnut blight fungus has also been +the subject of much discussion. Last winter specimens of what in +external characteristics appeared to be Diaporthe parasitica were found +in western Pennsylvania, Virginia and elsewhere, growing upon chestnut, +oak and other species. This condition was puzzling and the subject of +some controversy. It has been found, however, that this fungus, called +the "Connellsville fungus," is a distinct species closely related to the +true blight fungus, being, however, entirely saprophytic. Cultural +distinctions are apparent and the ascospores differ in size and shape so +that no further confusion need occur.</p> + +<p>Upon the question of immunity of certain kinds of Asiatic stock, there +is very little to report beyond what was known one year ago. In the +investigations made the work has been hampered by the fact that much of +the so-called Japanese stock is in reality a hybrid of European or +American species. In<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> 1909, 45 Japanese seedling trees were set out at +Gap, Lancaster Co., for experimentation along this line. A recent +examination showed that 90 per cent are infected. Concerning the variety +or purity of this stock, I have not been informed. Our force as well as +others are at work upon the problem which will require many years' +study.</p> + +<p>Previous investigations seem to show that certain pure strains of +Japanese and Korean chestnut are resistant to the blight. Blight cankers +may be found upon them but they are less easily infected and suffer less +than the more susceptible varieties. With this as a working basis, +considering the results that have been attained in other fruit by +selection and hybridization, the situation is hopeful. Prof. Collins +said at the Harrisburg Conference in February that "There is no reason +to doubt that we may eventually see an immune hybrid chestnut that will +rival the American chestnut in flavor and the Paragon in size".</p> + +<p>In southern Europe chestnut orcharding is a well established and +profitable industry. In the United States chestnuts have been considered +a marketable commodity ever since the Indians carried them to the +settlements and traded them for knives and trinkets. The demand has +always exceeded the supply and at the present time about $2,000,000 +worth of nuts are imported from Europe annually. With the development of +the better varieties of the American nut has come an increased activity +in the United States and the chestnut orchard industry promises to +become one of very large importance. It has an added advantage that the +trees can be grown upon the poorer types of soil which are not adaptable +for farming or the raising of other fruit.</p> + +<p>At the present time there are in what is known as the blight area of +Pennsylvania, or eastern half of the State, about 100 orchards ranging +from 12 trees up to 400 acres in extent. These orchards are in varying +stages of blight infection, some of them being almost entirely free, due +to the attention which has been given them. In order to protect such +orchards the Commission is compelling the removal of infected trees +within a certain radius of them.</p> + +<p>As you know the blight has been a very serious factor in this industry. +Some of the orchards have been completely annihilated and the income +reduced from several thousand or more dollars per year to nothing. +Whether or not the blight will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> completely wipe out the orcharding +industry is a subject of large importance. Personally I believe that +chestnuts will be raised commercially in Pennsylvania in increased +abundance, and as the various phases of the blight subject are brought +to light, keeping the disease under control can be more easily +accomplished. At the present time this is being done in certain orchards +by the present methods of examining the trees often, treating each +infection, or removing the tree. If this policy is successfully pursued +for several more years it will demonstrate conclusively that chestnuts +can be grown in spite of the blight and this will mean an opportunity to +use vast areas of waste land in Pennsylvania and in the other states, in +a highly profitable manner.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The Chairman: The subject of the next paper is Some Problems in the +Treatment of the Chestnut. It will be presented by Mr. Pierce, after +which we will have a general discussion of the entire subject.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pierce: Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen: I see that, as we wrote +our papers separately, some of the things I had in mind will be similar +to those Mr. Rockey had.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="SOME_PROBLEMS_IN_THE_TREATMENT_OF_DISEASED_CHESTNUT_TREES" id="SOME_PROBLEMS_IN_THE_TREATMENT_OF_DISEASED_CHESTNUT_TREES"></a>SOME PROBLEMS IN THE TREATMENT OF DISEASED CHESTNUT TREES</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">By Roy G. Pierce</span></h4> + +<p class="center">Tree Surgeon, Pennsylvania Chestnut Tree Blight Commission</p> + + +<p>The problems that present themselves to the growers of chestnut trees +concerning the present disease may be summed up under three heads: +first, what the disease is, how it is caused, and how it may be +recognized; second, what is to be done with diseased trees to bring them +to health or to prevent them from infecting other healthy trees nearby; +third, what means in the future can be undertaken to keep a tree +healthy, that is, to prevent reinfection.</p> + +<p>First, what the disease is, how it is caused, and how it may be +recognized. The disease known as the chestnut tree blight is caused by +the fungus, <i>Diaporthe parasitica</i>, which usually finds entrance to the +tree through wounds in the bark. The mycelium or mass of fungous +filaments gradually spreads through the bark<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> in much the same manner as +mold spreads over and through a piece of bread, even penetrating the +wood to a depth of sometimes five annual rings. The spread of the +fungus, resulting in the cutting off of the sap flow, is the immediate +cause of the wilting and dying of the leaves and branch above the point +of girdling. This wilting of the leaves, followed later by the death of +one branch after another as the fungus spreads, has given rise to the +term "blight" of the chestnut trees.</p> + +<p>The danger signals which the chestnut tree displays when diseased are +not a few. In summer, when the tree is first affected, the leaves turn +yellow-green and wilt, later turning brown. Small burs and withered +leaves retained in winter are some signs of the diseased condition of +the tree. At the base of the blighted part a lesion, or reddish brown +canker, is usually found. This lesion may be a sunken area or, as is +frequently the case, a greatly enlarged swelling, known as a +hypertrophy. After a branch has become completely girdled sprouts or +suckers are very apt to be found below the point of girdling. In old +furrowed bark on the main trunk of the tree the presence of the disease +is seen in the reddish brown spore-bearing pustules in the fissures. In +determining the presence of the fungus in the furrowed bark of old +trees, one must learn to recognize the difference between the light +brown color characteristic of fissures in healthy growing bark, and the +reddish brown color of the fungus. When the disease has been present +several years the bark completely rots and shrinks away from the wood, +and when the bark is struck with an axe a hollow sound is produced.</p> + +<p>Many of the owners of chestnut trees throughout Pennsylvania do not +acknowledge that a fungus is causing the death of the trees. They state +that since they have found white grubs or the larvae of beetles in +nearly every tree that dies, that it has been the larvae that killed the +tree. It is acknowledged that generally white grubs are found in dying +chestnut trees, and that in nearly all of the large cankers or lesions +these grubs are present. However, if one will take the pains to examine +the small twigs and branches or the new shoots rising from the stumps, +that are diseased, he will not find the grubs present.</p> + +<p>Second, what is to be done with diseased trees to bring them back to +health or to prevent them from infecting other healthy trees nearby. To +bring the trees back to health implies that the disease can be cured. +This is not always true for the tree may be already nearly girdled, when +the disease is first noticed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> A tree taken in time, however, may have +its life prolonged indefinitely though it may have the blight in some +portion of it every year. More particularly does this apply to valuable +ornamental and orchard trees.</p> + +<p>Prof. J. Franklin Collins, Forest Pathologist in the Department of +Agriculture in Farmer's Bulletin No. 467 on "The Control of the Chestnut +Bark Disease" gives the following: "The essentials for the work are a +gouge, a mallet, a pruning knife, a pot of coal tar, and a paint brush. +In the case of a tall tree a ladder or rope, or both may be necessary +but under no circumstances should tree climbers be used, as they cause +wounds which are very favorable places for infection. Sometimes an axe, +a saw, and a long-handled tree pruner are convenient auxiliary +instruments, though practically all the cutting recommended can be done +with a gouge with a cutting edge of 1 or 1½ inches. All cutting +instruments should be kept very sharp, so that a clean smooth cut may be +made at all times."</p> + +<p>All of the discolored diseased areas in the tree should be removed. +Small branches or twigs nearly girdled are best cut off. Cankers in the +main trunk or on limbs should be gouged out. Carefulness is the prime +requisite in this work. If the disease has completely killed the +cambium, the bark should be entirely removed as well as several layers +of wood beneath the canker. By frequent examination, however, diseased +spots may be found on the tree where the mycelium of the fungus is still +in the upper layers of the bark. It is not necessary then to cut clear +to the wood, but the discolored outer bark may be removed and a layer of +healthy inner bark left beneath the cut. The sap may still flow through +this layer. The border of the diseased area is quite distinct, but +cutting should not stop here but should be continued beyond the +discolored portion into healthy bark, at least an inch. The tools should +be thoroughly sterilized by immersion in a solution of 1.1000 bichloride +of mercury, or 5 per cent solution of formaldehyde, before cutting into +the bark outside of the diseased area. Experiments have shown that a +gouge or knife may carry the spores into healthy bark and new infection +take place. Experiments are being carried on in the laboratory to +determine the length of time which spores will live in solutions of +different strengths of fungicides.</p> + +<p>It has been shown that a cut made pointed at the top and bottom heals +much faster than one rounded. The edges of the cut should be made with +care so as not to injure the cambium. The chips<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> of diseased bark and +wood should not be allowed to fall on the ground then to be forgotten. A +bag fastened just below the canker will collect most of this material as +it is gouged out and prevent possible reinfection, which might take +place if the material were allowed to scatter down the bark. Canvas or +burlap spread around under a small orchard tree might be sufficient to +catch all of the diseased chips of bark and wood cut out of the lower +infections. This diseased material should be burned together with +blighted branches. After completely cutting out all of the diseased +parts the cut surfaces should be either sterilized or covered with a +waterproofing which combines a fungicide with a covering. Among these +might be mentioned coal tar and creosote, or a mixture of pine tar, +linseed oil, lamp black and creosote.</p> + +<p>The trees which have been killed by blight, or nearly girdled, have been +overlooked. These should be cut off close to the ground, the stump +peeled and the bark and unused portions of the tree burned over the +stump. The merchantable parts of the trees should be removed from the +woods promptly, as all dead unbarked wood furnishes an excellent +breeding place for the blight fungus.</p> + +<p>Third, what means in the future can be undertaken to keep a tree +healthy, that is, to prevent reinfection. The spores may be carried by +so many agents that it is difficult to prevent reinfection. However it +is clear that the farther infected products or trees are removed from +healthy trees the less liable they are to have spores carried to them. +Cooperation with nearby owners of diseased trees will help solve this +problem.</p> + +<p>Spraying on a large scale has only been carried on, so far as I know, on +the estate of Pierre DuPont, Jr., at Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. At +this place there are many large chestnut trees ranging from sixty to +ninety feet in height, many of which were planted some sixty-five years +ago. Mr. R. E. Wheeler started the work of cutting out diseased limbs +and cankers in October 1911, and began spraying with Bordeaux mixture in +April 1912. The formula 5-5-50, five pounds of copper sulphate and five +pounds of lime in 50 gallons of water was found to be injurious to the +foliage in the Spring. This was changed therefore, to 4-5-50, which had +one pound less of copper sulphate. This did not seem to injure the +foliage.</p> + +<p>About 70 trees were sprayed twenty times during the season. Nearly all +of these were gone over four times to remove diseased<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> branches and +cankers, once in October 1911, then in early summer and again in +September and November 1912. As an example take tree No. 6 which was +studied, December 14, 1912. It is 39 inches in diameter at breast +height, and approximately 70 feet in height. On this one tree six +diseased limbs were removed, and sixteen cankers were cut out. Of these +sixteen, two infections continued, that is, were not completely cut out, +and had spread; three had infections below old limbs which had been +removed, and eleven were healing over. This tree was about 1000 feet +away from other badly infected trees, though but 25 feet away from other +chestnut trees in the same row. The experiment of Mr. DuPont in spraying +shows what can be done on valuable lawn trees. On the whole, these trees +look well and healthy. Trees which were not sprayed over three times and +were within 50-100 feet from badly blighted trees, became infected in so +many different places that it will be necessary to remove them.</p> + +<p>One of the problems to be solved next year will be that of the least +number of sprayings which will be effective in preventing new infection.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The Chairman: The question of the chestnut blight is now open for +discussion.</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: I should like to ask these gentlemen how far west they +have heard of chestnut blight—that is, heard of it with any degree of +authenticity, and also whether or not they care to express an opinion as +to what the prospects are in the middle west, say out in Indiana, +Illinois and Ohio?</p> + +<p>Mr. Pierce: In answer to that question, I will say that in Pennsylvania +we have found infections in Wayne County and also in Fayette County, +both near the western extreme of the state, but those have been attended +to, very largely, and the boundaries closely determined. In Ohio there +have been several reports of the blight being found, but I don't think +either of the reports have been proven. There has been a fungus that I +have spoken of as the Connellsville fungus, that has been all around in +that neighborhood, south-western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Is the Connellsville fungus also <i>diaporthe parasitica</i>?</p> + +<p>Mr. Pierce: Yes, sir. It was placed by Mr. Anderson, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> did the work +on that, in the same genus as diaporthe, but he preferred the name +<i>endothia parasitica</i>.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: The question is of changing the generic name, from +<i>diaporthe</i>, on the basis of the previously established species?</p> + +<p>Mr. Pierce: Yes, sir, previously established species of <i>endothia</i>. It +is only a suggestion of Mr. Anderson; it was made by him. This was very +similar to the true blight fungus and when our men first went out into +the western part of the State, they reported these various cases that +came up there as chestnut blight, and none of the pathologists of our +force then were competent to determine the difference, except that the +fact was noted even then that it was not growing as a parasite in the +sense that the true blight fungus has been growing in the east.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: That may be due to varietal differences, though, rather +than specific?</p> + +<p>Mr. Pierce: Yes, although Mr. Anderson seemed to think it was specific.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Is there any further discussion? The subject is worthy of +a good deal of comment.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pomeroy: I want to ask the speaker what the approximate cost would +be for one spraying of a tree about that size, 70 feet in height?</p> + +<p>Mr. Pierce: We have photographs on the table there showing our eight +hundred dollar spraying machine, the same kind used in Massachusetts in +gypsy moth work. With this two men can spray about ten such trees in a +day. I haven't got it down in black and white but I figured that, on +those chestnuts at DuPont's, they sprayed about 600 gallons a day. Ten +trees a day would make it, say, with a $2.50 man, not very high for a +tree. I think it costs in all something like four dollars a tree during +the whole season, but that is a very rough estimate and the materials +are not included.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: The cost will have to be calculated on a sentimental basis +for the ornamental trees, and on a commercial basis for the commercial +trees. The actual value of the spraying has not yet been determined. +This spraying cannot reach the mycelium in the cambium layer; if the +disease has been carried in by a beetle or woodpecker your spraying +would be ineffective.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pierce: Yes indeed, that was just the thought Mr. Galena had, +notwithstanding the fact that they cut out all visi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>ble infections and +the trees were so blue with spray that you could see them for half a +mile.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: But, later on, cracks and squirrel scratches and all sorts +of injuries would allow new spores to be carried in?</p> + +<p>Mr. Pierce: Yes, sir.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: The future of the chestnut depends so largely on the +conquering of this disease that no other horticultural problem of this +nut is, just at present, imperative. So far as we know, all of the +European and American varieties are highly subject to this disease, so +much so that there is no inducement to plant them, and we are waiting +for Dr. Morris and a few other hybridizers to find some hybrids, or +straight Japanese varieties, that are of sufficient merit, and of +sufficient degree of resistance to this disease, for us to have a basis +for building up the future industry. On the tables there are quite a +number of exhibits from Mr. Riehl and Mr. Endicott of Illinois. Most of +them are hybrids between the American and the Japanese species, but, so +far as we know, they have not been tried in communities where the +disease prevails. We don't know whether they are resistant or not, as +they are being grown in a section entirely outside of the area where the +blight exists. I think I am right in that, am I not, Mr. Pierce? Is +there any chestnut blight in southern Illinois?</p> + +<p>Mr. Pierce: There has been none reported.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: I think that the varieties that these men in Indiana have +originated are the most promising we know of. I think that in examining +these specimens you will agree that they are of fairly high quality and +good size, and if they prove to be resistant to the disease much may be +expected from them.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutt: I have not seen the chestnut blight at all. I hope that it +isn't in our section. I have heard it was brought in from some point but +I do not know whether it was identified exactly as the chestnut blight.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pierce: I saw a specimen sent from North Carolina and it proved to +be the Collinsville fungus.</p> + +<p>Mr. Corsan: If you remember reading Fuller's book on nuts, he reported +that the chestnut blight extended through the Carolinas but said that +chestnuts were still coming from that direction in great abundance. Up +in Canada we haven't the chestnut blight. The chestnut tree runs from +the Ohio River to the Niagara River but it doesn't cross into Michigan, +except along the Michigan Southern and Lake Shore Railroad where<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> some +enterprising gentlemen have planted the chestnut with the tamarack +alternately all the way from Cleveland to Chicago. I examined the state +of Indiana across and from top to bottom several times in the summer and +I never saw any chestnuts there, but I have seen some newly planted +places in Michigan; near Battle Creek I saw a farm of about fifty acres. +We are having up in Ontario, beyond Toronto, a blight that has attacked +the Lombardy poplar and that looks similar to the chestnut blight. I +have been watching it for the last ten years and the tree seems to have +at last outlived it. It dies down and then a little sprout comes out +from the carcass.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Isn't that the poplar tree borer that always attacks the +Lombardy?</p> + +<p>Mr. Corsan: Oh no, it's very similar to the chestnut tree blight. We can +grow chestnut trees all we like but no one has brains enough to grow +them. The farmers grow pigs and things but don't bother with chestnut +trees; consequently the chestnut blight does not exist there.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pierce: I didn't answer a portion of Mr. Littlepage's question. Mr. +Littlepage asked whether or not the blight might be expected in the +Middle West. That depends, more or less, upon the results of the work +Pennsylvania is now carrying on. If we can keep the disease from +extending through the territory in which we are working, there is a very +good chance to keep it out of the West. If we are not successful, it may +be expected to develop, in time, over the whole chestnut range.</p> + +<p>There seems to be a very good opportunity for growing the chestnut +commercially beyond its present range; that is, where it is so +infrequent as not to be in danger from infected growths nearby.</p> + +<p>In the eastern part of the state different people have reported that the +blight seemed to them to be dying out and, a number of these reports +coming from a certain locality, the Commission decided to investigate +one which seemed to be better reported than the others. It was found, +after a very extensive investigation, that this dying out was true only +in the sense that it was not spreading, perhaps, as fast as it had been +spreading before. The mycelium and the spores were healthy and were +affecting the new trees in quite the same manner as the year before and +as in other parts of the state.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: The question of controlling blight after it has appeared +is of very great consequence. Concerning any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> commercial proposition +with chestnuts the people are wide awake to the seriousness of the +blight. They are afraid to go into growing chestnut orchards; they have +had so many fake propositions in the past in pecan promotions that they +are afraid of chestnuts and everything else. Any proposition for +bringing forward chestnuts commercially must be a plain, simple, +straightforward statement of the truth, the whole truth and nothing but +the truth. We are ready, all through the North and East, to raise +hundreds of acres of chestnuts, such as Mr. Reed has spoken about, ones +which resist the blight, or ones which resist the blight comparatively +well.</p> + +<p>Let us consider comparative immunity for a moment. We know how expensive +it is to manage an apple orchard, and yet, with the present high prices, +the profits on apple orchards, well managed, are great. May we not have +chestnut orchards managed with the same degree of relative expense and +the same degree of relative profit? I would like very much to hear from +some of the men who have actually raised chestnuts in orchards +concerning the relative care of the chestnut compared with the apple, +and the relative profit. I see Col. Sober here; can't you tell us about +your experience in managing the blight? Can it be managed successfully +in proportion as apple tree parasites are managed?</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: My experience has been this; I have four hundred acres of +chestnuts in bearing. They range from five years to fifteen years old. I +find that I can control the blight easier than I can control the scale +on apple trees. If anyone doesn't believe this I invite him and all to +come to my place and see for themselves. I think I have nearly one +million seedling and grafted paragon trees. I don't think you will find +fifty affected trees on the whole place today. I have men going in every +grove at the present time who have inspected thousands of trees and +found seven that had blight on the limbs, so I know what I am speaking +about.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: What is your method?</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: Cutting out, cutting off anything I see; if it is really +necessary, cut the tree down; but we don't often find that necessary +because just as quick as we see any affected, or any limb dying or dead, +we cut it off. I had my groves laid out in sections of a hundred feet +wide and numbered; and I had charts made so that they can be inspected +section by section. In that manner, every tree is inspected. One +individual<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> will inspect the trunk and another one the top. In each +section I can show you as far as we have gone. I can show you how many +trees are in each section and how many affected trees there are in that +section, or whether there are any or not. I say I can control it easier +than I can control scale and with less expense and I want that to go on +record. There is no question about it. It can be seen at my place. I go +over my groves about four times a year and have been doing it all the +time, and I don't doubt but that I discovered this disease the first of +anybody in the state, perhaps, in 1902. I was looking around to cut +scions and I saw one tree whose center was dead and around it were the +finest shoots almost that I had ever seen for grafting purposes. I went +to it and saw the center was dead. I cut some scions and today that is +one of the finest trees I've got on my place. From what I know now that +was a blighted tree.</p> + +<p>A member: Did you paint over the scars?</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: No sir, but we are doing it now, using white lead.</p> + +<p>A member: How much blight is there around you?</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: I am surrounded with it on all sides. Right up against my +groves about 17 per cent of the trees are affected. That is the report +coming from the parties inspecting now for the Blight Commission. I +shipped Mr. Mayo about four or five thousand trees this fall. I don't +suppose there were a dozen that were thrown out, thinking they were +blighted or diseased. We have records of all that up at my place. There +are some trees right here now that came from my nursery. I wish you +gentlemen could just see for yourselves; come out and see.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: In advancing this chestnut on a commercial basis it had +better be stated that it does not blight as badly as the American +chestnut and that when blighted it can be cared for with less cost than +the apple tree. I would suggest that some such notice be sent out with +commercial stock. That would put it on the right basis so that the +chestnut would find its position, which it is not finding now because +the people are full of the blight; and if a frank, full statement of +this sort were made I believe it would be extremely important.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rockey: I went through practically the whole extent of Mr. Sober's +orchard recently and found one infected tree. I can vouch for the +statement that he has made that he is almost surrounded by blight.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: I have given attention to only a few of my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> own trees that +were blighted because I have too much else to do and too large a place, +a couple of hundred acres engaged in a small and large way,—a variety +of ways—with nut trees; and the few I have cared to save after blight +has begun I have saved by cutting it out very thoroughly and using +either white paint or grafting wax. I used also pine tar and some gas +tar. I killed some good trees that I wanted particularly to save by +putting on gas tar.</p> + +<p>The matter of compelling the removal of infected trees is a very +important one, but it must rest with the authorities. In the vicinity of +New York we have so much hard wood that you cannot sell it unless you +are in some sort of a trade combination. Fine oak, fine hickory, fine +chestnut, you can't dispose of in New York City, because we have such a +lot of it. We have wild deer within fifteen miles of New York City on +three sides of us on account of the forests. You have got to find some +special way for disposing of this blighted chestnut timber. Telephone +and telegraph poles and ties all go for nothing, unless you happen to be +so situated that you can manage the matter commercially, and a way +should be found by the state so that people can dispose of their +blighted timber, which is just as good as any other.</p> + +<p>It is very important to note that the boy scouts are interested, and we +ought to encourage their interest. It is a splendid thing, getting the +interest of boys engaged. You know how active a boy is in getting a +snake from under a rock and he will do the same thing with the chestnut +blight. It is his natural tendency to hustle when he gets after +anything. This chestnut blight belongs to the microbe group and the +microbe is the great enemy of mankind. In wars the microbe kills about +eight men for every one killed by missiles. If we can encourage the +interest of boy scouts in fighting the greatest of all human enemies, +the microbe, including this little fungus, we shall have a splendid +working force.</p> + +<p>In regard to the injection of poisons and medicines into trees, it seems +to me that a very firm stand ought to be taken by all responsible men +who know anything about plant pathology. We know that a poison injected +into a tree must either act injuriously right there upon the cells of +the tree, or else must undergo metabolic changes. A tree cannot use +anything that is thrown into it, poison or food or anything else, until +it has undergone a metabolic change; you must have a distinct, definite +chemical process taking place and we ought to state that most of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +substances which are alleged to be of value, when injected into a tree, +are either absolutely worthless or injurious. One man tried to persuade +me that his medication if applied to the cambium layer would be +absorbed, and said that if I would only use it on a few of my trees I +could see for myself. He said it would drive off even the aphides. I +tried it on four trees affected with aphides and found that he told me +the truth. It drove them off, because the trees died and the aphides +left. One tree lived a year before being killed; it was a most insidious +sort of death, but the aphides left that tree. (Laughter.)</p> + +<p>Some of the Asiatic chestnuts resist the blight very well. Curiously +enough when grafted upon some of the American chestnuts they then become +vulnerable. Two years ago, from a lot of about one thousand Corean +chestnuts in which there had been up to that time no blight, I grafted +scions on American stump sprouts and about 50 per cent of those grafts +blighted in the next year, showing that the American chestnut sap offers +a pabulum attractive to the Diaporthe, and that is a fact of collateral +value in getting our negative testimony upon the point.</p> + +<p>Concerning the question of carrying blight fifty miles, there's no +telling how far birds will fly carrying the spores of Diaporthe upon +their feet. The spores are viscid and adhere to the feet of beetles, or +migratory birds which sometimes make long lateral flights following +food, rather than direct flights north and south. It is quite easy to +imagine birds carrying this Diaporthe over an interval of possibly fifty +miles, making that distance in one night perhaps. Someone may have +carried chestnuts in his pocket to give to his granddaughter fifty miles +away, and in that way carried the blight. If any grafted trees have been +carried fifty miles, or any railroad ties, with a little bark on, +carried fifty miles and then thrown off, it might blight the chestnuts +in that vicinity. One can have as much range of imagination as he +pleases as Longfellow says, There is no limit to the imagination in +connection with questions of spreading the blight of Diaporthe.</p> + +<p>Some of the Japanese and Corean chestnuts and some of the Chinese +chestnuts resist blight fairly well. Among my chinkapins, I have the +common <i>pumila</i> and the Missouri variety of <i>pumila</i>, which grows in +tree form forty or fifty feet high. I have the alder-leaf chestnut, +which keeps green leaves till Christmas, sometimes till March when the +snow buries them, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> those comparatively young trees have shown no +blight; but one hybrid, between the chinkapin and the American chestnut, +about twelve years of age, has blighted several times. I have cut off +the branches and kept it going, but this year I shall cut it down. It +will start at the root and sprout up again. I thought I'd give up that +hybrid, but having heard Col. Sober's report I will begin at the root +and look after some of the sprouts. That hybrid is the only one of my +chinkapin group that has blighted at all.</p> + +<p>In regard to the use of bichloride of mercury or formaldehyde, it seems +to me that formaldehyde will be a better germicide than bichloride of +mercury, because bichloride of mercury coagulates the albuminous part of +the plasm and may destroy the cell structure, whereas the formaldehyde +will be more penetrating and less injurious. One would need to know how +strong a formaldehyde solution can be used safely. I presume the most +vulnerable part of the tree would be at the bud axils. Spraying must +require considerable experience at the present time and is of doubtful +efficiency for timber chestnuts I am sure. We would like very much to +hear any further comment upon this subject.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: Mr. Sober's orchard is so unusually large that evidently it +does not apply to average cases. The average man is buying chestnut +trees for the garden or yard or lane. Prof. Collins has an acre on the +top of a hill at Atlantic Forge and there he has fought diligently with +the skill of a highly trained man, and the blight is gradually driving +him back. I think that in a short time the trees on Prof. Collins' acre +will be gone. I believe we need much more information before we can +offer any hope that chestnut trees from a nursery will be safe against +blight. I should like to ask the Blight Commission if they are at the +present time planning to breed immune strains of chestnuts, and if not, +I wish to suggest that it is a piece of work well worthy of their +consideration. They might try grafting on American stocks, or on their +own seedlings, some of the Korean chestnuts, on any variety that +promises resistance, and also hybridizing, with the hope of getting a +good nut that will resist the blight.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: That is a very important matter, no doubt. In regard to +the few chestnuts bought for lanes and gardens, I know a good many men +who have bought a few grafted chestnuts with the idea of setting out a +number of acres if those few did well, being men of a conservative sort. +Men of that sort are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> the ones we want to have in our Association. We +want to have men who will buy four trees, and if they do well, set out +four hundred acres. That is what a great many men have had in mind in +buying two, four or six trees of any one kind; they want to try them +out. That is the wise way, the conservative way, the truly progressive +way. If we are going to have very large numbers of any one kind of +chestnut set out, we must make a statement of the dangers, so that men +may be forewarned. If they set them out without warning and are +disappointed, they drop the entire subject and go to raising corn and +hogs; and then, to save trouble, turn these hogs into the corn and get +to doing things in the easiest way, rather than carry on the complicated +methods of agriculture that belong to the spirit of the present time. I +would like to know if many efforts are being made toward breeding immune +kinds. I am at work on that myself.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pierce: Our Commission has recently gotten, I think, about fifty +pounds of Chinese chestnuts of several kinds, which they expect to plant +for experiment. Besides that they have made some other arrangements of +which I know very little. This investigation will take years. The +Commission has been compelled to devote itself to so many lines of work +that I am afraid this question has not been given the attention it might +have had. I think in the future there will be a good deal done along +that line.</p> + +<p>Two of us have been given the title of tree surgeons, and we work, or +make arrangements to have someone else work, sometimes the scout, in the +orchards throughout the state. I have a list of two hundred owners of +cultivated chestnut trees that I got in the last month from various +sources. Anyone in Pennsylvania who has a cultivated chestnut tree, can +send a postal card, get one of us out to examine the tree and see +whether it is blighted, and we will demonstrate what can be done in the +way of treating it. I have done that right along in the last two months. +If it is only a single tree I cut out all I can myself.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: There are two distinct questions; first, the chestnut as a +food tree, and second, as a timber tree. Your work has been chiefly with +the chestnut as a timber tree?</p> + +<p>Mr. Pierce: No, mine has been mostly on the lawn, so that it is for +nuts.</p> + +<p>Experiments made on one or two species of Japanese chestnuts show about +9 per cent of tannin; the tannin in the Ameri<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>can chestnut runs only 6 +per cent and in the small American, runs less. We know that the Japanese +is somewhat more immune than the American. We have already found that it +has 50 per cent more tannin. I believe one of us wrote you about +experiments to find out the percentage of tannin in Corean, North +Japanese, South Japanese and Chinese chestnuts. The investigation will +be carried on for the next two or three months.</p> + +<p>Mr. Corsan: May I ask if there is any soil food that would increase the +amount of tannin? Trees protect themselves. We have watched the black +walnut and seen him fight all sorts of enemies. The tree has poisons +everywhere and the nut a thick shell to boot and doesn't coax enemies to +get at him or to eat him until he is ripe.</p> + +<p>A Member: Have you found that fertilizing a tree increased the +percentage of tannin?</p> + +<p>Mr. Rockey: That hasn't been determined yet but it will be studied.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: It is a question if the tendency would not be for tannin +to go over to sugar and cellulose under cultivation. I don't remember +the chemistry on that. Aren't there any expert chemists here who can +tell us? The natural tendency of the tree under high cultivation would +be to change tannin over into sugar and starch.</p> + +<p>Mr. Corsan: This talk of the chestnut blight reminds me of a remark made +by a gentleman at a peach growing convention. He said the best thing +that ever happened to this country was to get that San Jose scale +because it stopped lazy men from growing peaches. He said, "I don't mind +it a bit and can make more money than when peaches were nothing a +basket." Probably nature will help us some way.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: We have to consider what nature wants to do.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mayo: If I am in order, I would like to know whether this fungus +trouble is likely in the future to attack or has at any time attacked, +the apple, pear or quince?</p> + +<p>The Chairman: I think it has been pretty well decided that they are not +in danger. I will, however, ask Mr. Rockey and Mr. Pierce to answer that +question.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rockey: Up to the present time there has been no indication that the +blight will get into them. This might be a good occasion for me to +mention the Connellsville fungus again. It was found on some of the oaks +and other trees in this section<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> of the country, and for a time it +looked as though the blight was getting into other species, but since +that fungus has been identified there has been no indication that the +blight will extend beyond the chestnut group as a parasite, although you +can inoculate oaks and other trees with the fungus and it will live in +them, but only on the dead portion of the tree and not as the parasite +lives on the chestnut.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: I should like to ask Mr. Sober if he has found any evidence +that the paragon chestnut differs from the native chestnut in resistance +to the blight, and if his paragons are different from other paragons?</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: I cannot say whether my chestnuts are different from the +other paragon chestnuts or not, or whether they are as resistant to the +blight. I know it is a very sweet chestnut. In regard to keeping my +groves clean—from 1901 to 1910, we had three broods of locusts and two +hailstorms that opened the bark in almost every tree and branch. The +limbs were stung by the locusts thousands of times, so that I didn't +have a crop of chestnuts. Professor Davis was cutting off limbs for a +couple of months so you see my trees were open, if any ever were, to +receive the blight. The hailstorms destroyed the leaves and I didn't +have any chestnuts that year in one part of my grove and with all +that—you people come and see how clean it is, that's all there is to +it. I know what I've done and what I can do.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: The next paper in order is that of Professor Smith.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="NUT_GROWING_AND_TREE_BREEDING_AND_THEIR_RELATION_TO_CONSERVATION" id="NUT_GROWING_AND_TREE_BREEDING_AND_THEIR_RELATION_TO_CONSERVATION"></a>NUT GROWING AND TREE BREEDING AND THEIR RELATION TO CONSERVATION</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Professor J. Russell Smith, Pennsylvania</span></h4> + + +<p>Prof. Smith: Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen; I am going to ask your +indulgence for including in my subject a matter that perhaps goes a +little beyond the scope of this organization, for I wish to speak of +fruit as well as nut-bearing trees. Conservation, whose object is the +preservation of our resources for future generations, as well as for +ourselves, finds its greatest problem in the preservation of the soil. +The forests can come again if the soil be left. It is probable that we +can find substitutes for coal, and for nearly everything else, but once +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> soil is gone, all is gone; and the greatest danger to the soil is +not robbery by ill cropping, because no matter how man may abuse the +soil, scientific agriculture can bring it back with astonishing speed. +But the greatest enemy of conservation is erosion, the best checks for +erosion are roots.</p> + +<p>Thus far, the only man who has been telling us anything about planting +roots upon the hillsides is the forester. But he usually sets nothing +but wood trees, which at the end of fifty or a hundred or a hundred and +fifty years, we can cut down, and which, during the intervening time, +have done nothing but cast shade, drop leaves and retain the soil. My +doctrine is that the potentially greatest crop-producing plants are not +those on which we now depend for our food, but are the trees,; that the +greatest engines for production are not the grasses, but the trees. Our +agriculture is an inheritance from the savage, and the savage found that +he could do better with annual grains than he could with nut trees, +because he didn't know how to improve the nut crop by selection of the +trees, while there came involuntarily an improvement in the other crops. +No man today knows the parentage of some of the cultivated plants and +grains on which we now depend. Thus we came down to the present day of +science, with the purely chance discoveries of savages as the main +dependence of mankind for the basis of agriculture.</p> + +<p>We have within a decade discovered the laws of plant breeding. We know a +good deal more about it now than ever before and are in a position to +start about it very deliberately and with a reasonable certainty that we +are going to get certain combinations of qualities if we keep at it long +enough. Thus the hickory and walnut offer perfect marvels of +possibilities. Look around on these tables and see the size of some of +these things. There are hickory nuts 1¼ inch long and there are +shagbarks as full of meat as pecans and probably quite as good. There +are in Kentucky, I am told, hickory nuts that you can take in your +fingers and crush. Here we have the pecan, this great big shellbark from +Indiana, the shagbark from the North, and the thin shell nuts from +Kentucky. Now hybridize these and I think, if you work at it long +enough, you will get a tree that will have all those good qualities.</p> + +<p>The wonderful black walnut is a tree of hardiness, and the delicious +Persian or English walnut is a nut of acceptable form. The pair offers +splendid possibilities in their hybrid progeny.</p> + +<p>We have fruits thus far recognized as of little value which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> offer great +possibilities as forage producers. The mulberry bears from June to +September and the persimmon from September till March and the pig +harvests them himself.</p> + +<p>We have the possibility of a brand-new agriculture, depending not upon +grains, but upon tree crops, provided someone will breed the +crop-yielding trees which we can use. This will permit us to use +entirely different kinds of land from that now considered best for +agriculture. The natural necessities for plant growth, I believe, are +heat, moisture, sunlight and fertility. Now they are not all the +limiting factors with man, because man adds the fifth, the arbitrary +fact of arability, and that right away bars out about half of the +fertile earth, because when we insist on heat, light, moisture, +fertility <i>and arability</i>, we leave out that rough half of the earth +equally fertile, idle, subject only to the work of the forester, who +will give us a forest about 1999. It might just as well be planted with +a host of crop-yielding trees, the walnuts, hickory nuts, pecans, +persimmons, mulberries—and the list is very long. There are at the +present time in use in Mediterranean countries twenty-five crop-yielding +trees other than the ordinary orchard fruits. I am told that they have +oak trees there which yield an acorn that is better than the chestnut. A +pig will fill himself with acorns on the one hillside and with figs on +the next hillside and then lie down and get fat. We are too industrious, +we wait on the pig; I want the pig to wait on himself.</p> + +<p>But who is going to breed these things? These crop yielding trees? A +gentleman told us this morning that he was not nervous, that he could +watch a hickory tree grow, and stated that he had forty acres of land +and was breeding trees for fun. Here is Dr. Morris, who is having a +delicious time doing the same thing. We should not have to depend on +enthusiasts who are working for fun; we must not depend on such sources +for the greatest gifts in the line of food production that man can +imagine. This work should be done by every state in the Union. I believe +that it is capable of proof that we can get just as much yield from a +hillside in untilled fruit and nut-yielding trees, as we can from +putting that same hillside under the plough and getting wheat, corn, +barley, rye and oats and a little grass once in a while. It will make +just as much pig or just as many calories of man food from the tree +crops as it will make under the plough. And under the plough that +hillside is going down the stream to choke it and reduce the hillside to +nothing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p>We have three classes of land. The first class is the level land, which +belongs to the plough now and for all time. The third class, which is +the unploughable steep mountain and hill land, is probably as great in +area as the level land, and between the two is the hilly land that we +are now cultivating to its great detriment, visibly reducing the earth's +resources by bringing about rapidly that condition which has led to the +saying in the Old World: "After man, the desert." The Roman Empire, +where men have had possession for two thousand years, proves, "After +man, the desert." It is equally proven in much of China, but it can be +prevented if these hill lands are put to trees. But we cannot afford to +put those lands into trees unless the trees yield.</p> + +<p>I move that this Association memorialize those persons who are in +position to promote the breeding of fruit and nut-yielding trees, that +we may bring nearer the day of tree-crop agriculture. I want a letter to +go from this Association with the authority of the Association and its +sanction, to the Secretary of Agriculture at Washington and to all the +men in authority in the Bureau of Plant Industry at Washington, to the +Presidents of the State Agricultural Colleges, the Directors of +Experiment Stations and professors who are interested in plant breeding. +That will make a list of three or four hundred persons and involve an +expenditure of a few dollars but I believe it will be productive of +good. I hope that the Association will see fit to lend its name and a +little cash to that proposition, because if we can get the authority of +the state and the money of the state, the results will come much more +rapidly than if there are just a few of us doing it independently. +(Applause.)</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The Chairman: Will someone put Prof. Smith's suggestion in the form of a +motion?</p> + +<p>A Member: I move that it be referred to the Committee on Resolutions.</p> + +<p>(Motion carried.)</p> + +<p>Mr. Corsan: Undoubtedly we all agree with Prof. Smith. He spoke of the +persimmon. When I speak of the persimmon in my country nobody knows what +I am talking about. I found two trees in Battle Creek, Michigan, in a +front yard. The person who owned them was an old lady. I said, "Will you +give me these persimmons?" She said, "Yes, take them all; the neighbors +come here and while they are getting the persimmons they bother me a +lot. Everybody seems to like them." They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> were delicious persimmons that +were quite edible before frost, they are probably the two furthest north +persimmon trees in the world. I went a little way around Devil Lake, and +found pawpaws. They are a very good fruit when cultivated. The idea of +preserving the soil and not sending it all into the Lakes and down into +the Gulf of Mexico—that is a good idea of Prof. Smith's.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gardner: I submit that that Battle Creek woman should start a new +breakfast food. (Laughter.)</p> + +<p>Mr. Corsan: Every second year there is an immense crop on one of the +persimmon trees; they are a male and female, I think. You can't see the +branches for the fruit, and the thermometer there falls to 22 degrees +below zero.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: You can graft the male trees with pistillate grafts if you +want to, or you can transfer grafts both ways. The persimmon and pawpaw +will undoubtedly both grow at Toronto. They are not indigenous there +because of natural checks to development in their sprouting stage, but +if you buy Indiana stock for Toronto, such transplanted trees will both +grow there, I am sure. This is not quite relevant to Prof. Smith's +paper. It seems to me that Prof. Smith gave us a very comprehensive +resumé of facts bearing upon the situation, perhaps not particularly +calling for discussion. We are very glad to have his arraignment of +facts.</p> + +<p>The next paper on the program will be that of Dr. Deming. While Dr. +Deming is getting ready, I would like to have the trees shown. Mr. Jones +will speak about his pecans, these specimens of young trees here.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: These are pecans that Mr. Roper brought up from the +Arrowfield Nurseries. (Here Mr. Jones described the trees.)</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Would those trees grow after they have been dried as much +as that?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: I don't think so; pecans don't stand much drying.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: No, unless you cut off all the roots.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: If we should dig up a tree like this and cut it off a foot +and a half down, would it be all right to transplant it?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Yes, if your season should not be too dry.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: What has been your experience with the Stringfellow method +of cutting off every single root?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: We cut the tap-roots off, but leave an inch of the lateral +roots.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Chairman: I think you can do better by following the Stringfellow +method and cutting off all the laterals.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: If you were going to transplant those for your own use +where would you cut them off?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: About here, a foot and a half down.</p> + +<p>The Secretary: And the top?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Yes, sir, I'd reduce the top about that much; I think we will +have to work for a better root for the North.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="BEGINNING_WITH_NUTS" id="BEGINNING_WITH_NUTS"></a>BEGINNING WITH NUTS</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Dr. W. C. Deming, Westchester, New York City</span></h4> + + +<p>In his official capacity as secretary of the Northern Nut Growers +Association the writer is frequently asked, by persons wishing to grow +nuts, about climate, soils, varieties and methods.</p> + +<p>The following observations are intended to apply only to the +northeastern United States, the country lying east of the Rockies and +north of the range of the southern pecan. They are intended more for the +person who already has his land, or is restricted in his range, than for +the one who can range wide for larger operations and will study deeper +before deciding.</p> + +<p>It is probable that most nuts will grow wherever the peach will. Outside +the peach area there is probably not much use in trying to grow the +pecan or Persian walnut. Yet it must always be remembered that nut +growing in the North is, at present, almost entirely experimental and +that anybody may be able to disprove the authorities. We are all +experimenting now. By and by it will be different.</p> + +<p>In severer climates the chestnut, shagbark, black walnut, butternut, +hazel, beech, pine, Japanese cordiformis and hardy Chinese walnuts can +be grown or, at least, offer possibilities. In such climates the +development of the native nuts by selection and crossing, and the +adaptation of alien nuts, deserves, and will repay, experiment.</p> + +<p>It is to be supposed, as before said, that the hopeful beginner already +has his land. Let him choose the best part of it that he can spare. By +"best part" is meant the most fertile, not too wet nor too dry nor, if +possible, too hilly to cultivate. Hard pan near the surface, and too +thick to be easily broken up by dynamite, is not desirable.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<p>A nut orchard ought to have much the same preparation as an apple +orchard. A practical way would be to plow deeply and harrow well in +summer and sow a cover crop like rye and vetch or clover. The more +stable manure, or other fertilizer, applied the better.</p> + +<p>Let the field now be staked off thirty feet apart in squares, or in +triangles if preferred. Late in the fall dig the holes and plant nuts, +three or four in each hole, two to four inches deep, according to size, +and six inches apart. Put a good handful of ground bone in each hill. +Unless the soil and subsoil are mellow, so that the long tap roots may +penetrate deeply, it would be best to dynamite the holes, using a half +pound of 20 per cent or 25 per cent dynamite at a depth of two and a +half feet. This is a simple matter and the dynamite companies will +furnish materials and instructions. It is also some fun.</p> + +<p>There is some danger that nuts planted in fall may be destroyed by +rodents, that some will "lie over" and not sprout the first year, or +that all the nuts in a hill may make inferior plants, so that some +authorities advise putting them in a galvanized wire cage, the nuts only +half buried, then covered with a few leaves during the winter and +otherwise left exposed to the elements. In the spring they must be taken +from the cage and planted in the hills before the sprouts are long +enough to be easily broken.</p> + +<p>The different kinds of nuts should be planted in "blocks" rather than +mingled, to facilitate handling.</p> + +<p>These nuts are to furnish trees that are later to be grafted or budded. +After they have grown a while the weaker ones are to be removed, as +necessary, until only the strongest remains in each hill. When grafted +and grown to great size the brave man will thin them out to sixty feet +apart. Interplanting with fruits or vegetables may be practised.</p> + +<p>As to the kinds of nuts to be planted that depends on what you want to +grow. If chestnuts it must be remembered that the bark disease is very +likely to attack them, in the East at any rate. Experiments with +chestnuts outside the range of the blight are very desirable. The +American (<i>Castanea dentata</i>) and European (<i>C. sativa</i>) chestnuts are +specially susceptible. The Asiatic chestnuts (<i>C. Japonica</i>, etc.) seem +to have a partial immunity, especially the Korean, and it is possible +that the native chestnut grafted on these may be rendered more or less +immune. It is being tried and is an interesting experiment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Asiatic chestnut trees are dwarfish in habit, come into bearing +early, the nuts are generally large and some of them of pretty good +quality. They may be planted as fillers between the trees of larger +growth. The nuts may be bought of importers. (See circular on "Seedsmen +and Nurserymen".) The small Korean chestnut has been especially +recommended.</p> + +<p>If you wish to grow the shagbark hickory (<i>Hicoria ovata</i>) plant the +best specimens of this nut you can get, or the bitternut (<i>H. minima</i>) +which is said to be a superior stock for grafting.</p> + +<p>High hopes are held that that other favorite hickory, the pecan (<i>H. +pecan</i>) may be grown far outside its native range, and the Indiana pecan +is the nut on which these hopes are founded. Seed nuts may be obtained +from reliable Indiana dealers, but it is said that some of them are not +reliable.</p> + +<p>The hickories may be budded and grafted on one another so that one kind +of stock may serve for both shagbark and pecan.</p> + +<p>If you want to grow the Persian walnut (<i>Juglans regia</i>), often called +the "English" walnut, the black walnut (<i>J. nigra</i>), seems to afford the +most promising stock, though <i>J. rupestris</i>, native in Texas and +Arizona, has been recommended and <i>J. cordiformis</i>, the Japanese heart +nut, is also promising. This nut can be recommended for planting for its +own sake as the tree is hardy, a rapid grower, comes into bearing early +and bears a fairly good nut. There are no grafted trees, however, so the +variable seedlings will have to be depended upon.</p> + +<p>On any of these walnut stocks the black walnut and the butternut (<i>J. +cinerea</i>) may also be propagated if worthy varieties can be found. There +are none now on the market.</p> + +<p>The nuts mentioned are enough for the beginner and the three stocks, +chestnut, hickory and walnut, will give him all he wants to work on and +furnish plenty of fascinating occupation.</p> + +<p>The hazel, the almond and others, though offering possibilities, had +better be left to those further advanced in the art of nut growing.</p> + +<p>Now the nut orchard is started and the owner must push the growth of the +trees by the ordinary methods, cultivation, cover crops and fertilizers. +See any authority on growing fruit trees.</p> + +<p>In from two to five years the trees will be ready for budding and +grafting, they will have made a good growth above ground, and a bigger +one below, they are permanently placed and haven't got to be set back a +year or two, or perhaps killed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> by transplanting, with loss to the tap +roots and laterals. In the writer's opinion that natural tap root of the +nut tree growing down, down to water is not to be treated as of no +importance.</p> + +<p>So let your seedlings grow up and down happily while you get ready the +stuff with which to build their future character, for seedling trees are +very slow in coming into bearing, and uncertain in type and quality of +nut. Grafted trees bear early and true to type.</p> + +<p>Take your choicest bit of ground and put it in the best shape you know +how. Then order the finest grafted trees you can find on the market. +(See circular on "Seedsmen and Nurserymen".) Your choice will be limited +for there are as yet only a few grafted varieties of the Persian walnut +and the Indiana pecan, and but one of the shagbark hickory to be had. Of +chestnuts there are more and, in the South of course, plenty of pecans. +But pecan growing in the South is another story. If you order chestnuts +be sure that they do not come from a nursery infected with blight. Get +young trees because they are more easily established.</p> + +<p>Order from two to four of each variety. Fewer than two gives too small +an allowance for mortality and more than four, besides the not +inconsiderable strain on the pocket, will divide your attention too +much; for you have got to give these trees the care of a bottle baby.</p> + +<p>Set them sixty feet apart if you have the room. If not set them closer. +Better closer if that means better care. They may be set in the fall but +probably spring is better, as early as you can get them in. Follow the +instructions of the nurserymen closely. Digging holes with dynamite is +probably good practice. Put some bone meal in the soil around the roots +but no strong fertilizer. Some soils need lime. Tamp the soil about the +roots with all your might. It cannot be made too firm.</p> + +<p>Then water them all summer, or until August if they have made a good +growth. Give them all they can drink once a week. Sink a large bar about +a foot from the tree and pour the water into the hole, as much as the +soil will take.</p> + +<p>Keep up cultivation and a dust mulch or, if you cannot do this, mulch +with something else. Mulching doesn't mean a wisp of hay but something +thick or impervious. Six inches of strawy manure, grass, vines or weeds; +an old carpet, burlap, feed or fertilizer bags or even newspapers, held +down with stones or weeds or earth, all make good mulches.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> + +<p>These trees ought to grow and, whether you ever succeed in grafting your +seedlings or not, you should have at least a small orchard of fine nut +trees.</p> + +<p>The second summer with the trees will be something like the baby's. +Worms may bother them. Look out for bud worms and leaf-eating +caterpillars. Give them all the water they can drink in the dry dog +days. Nurse them, feed them and watch them and they will grow up to +bless you. Some of them may bear as early as apple trees.</p> + +<p>These trees, and such scions as, from time to time, you may obtain +elsewhere, are to furnish your propagating material.</p> + +<p>The plan just described may be modified in various ways, but the general +principles are the same. Instead of planting the nuts in their permanent +positions they may be put in nursery rows where they may have the +advantage of intensive cultivation. The best of the resulting trees may +be grafted or budded in the rows, or after they have been transplanted +and have become well established. This method is an excellent one and +has distinct advantages and many advocates.</p> + +<p>Yearling seedlings may be bought and set either in permanent positions +or in nursery rows.</p> + +<p>Of course the man who is in a hurry, who can disregard expense and who +does not care for the experience and gratification of grafting his own +trees, may set his whole plantation with expensive grafted trees and +replant where they fail.</p> + +<p>The technique of budding and grafting you must work out yourself with +the help of the instructions obtainable from several authorities, or, by +far the surer way, study the art with a master. The essentials are good +stocks and good scions, the right moment—and practice.</p> + +<p>Excellent publications giving instructions in methods of propagation +are: "The Persian Walnut Industry in the United States," by E. R. Lake; +Bulletin 254, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture, +1913: "The Pecan," by C. A. Reed; Bulletin 251 of the same department, +1912: "Walnut Growing in Oregon," published by the Passenger Department +Southern Pacific Company Lines in Oregon, Portland, Oregon, revised +edition, 1912; and "Nut Growing in Maryland," by C. P. Close; Bulletin +125 of the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station, College Park, +Maryland. Any of these may be had free on application.</p> + +<p>The files and current issues of the nut journals are full of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +information. Join the nut growers associations, subscribe to the nut +journals, get all the literature (see Circular No. 3) and you will soon +be happily out of the fledgeling stage of nut growing and begin to do as +you please.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The Chairman: Comment upon this paper is now in order.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: You say you are going to issue that?</p> + +<p>The Secretary: On my own responsibility, but subject to modification.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: If that is going out as a circular of the association, I would +like to suggest two slight changes. For instance, you wouldn't expect +the ordinary nut tree to begin to bear as early as the ordinary +transplanted apple tree.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Some would.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: A summer apple would begin to bear much earlier than the +ordinary nut tree.</p> + +<p>The Secretary: Well, chestnuts begin to bear very early after grafting. +I refer only to grafted trees here.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: I thought that the paper had to do with trees that were +planted as nuts.</p> + +<p>The Secretary: No, I think I made that perfectly clear.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: What is that new statement about roots, that it is desirable +to leave them?</p> + +<p>The Secretary: That it is better that a tree should go undisturbed than +that it should be transplanted.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: Isn't there a question about that?</p> + +<p>The Secretary: A question would arise in the hands of an expert, +perhaps, but I think for an amateur, that a tree growing where the nut +was planted is more likely to live and do well than a transplanted tree.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: I am not so certain about that, but what I had in mind was +that the planter would get the idea that the tap-root was not to be cut +off and that it is very desirable to the tree.</p> + +<p>The Secretary: That's a good point.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: About cutting the tap-root I have said yes and no so fast +that I don't know which I've said last, and it seems to me that we ought +to have discussion on this very point.</p> + +<p>The Secretary: I have said that in buying these grafted trees you should +set them out following the instructions of the nurseryman closely.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: But that statement about the tap-root would lead the average +planter to think that it was very desirable to have the tap-root.</p> + +<p>The Secretary: Has it been settled that it is not desirable?</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: Well, I think it has been generally accepted that it is of no +special value.</p> + +<p>The Secretary: That trees will grow as well transplanted as if they have +never been transplanted?</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: Well, I shouldn't want to put it that way, but this is the +point: I would like to have the tree planter understand that a walnut +tree doesn't need the tap-root and if he cuts off the tap-root in +planting, there is no great loss. I wouldn't want to say that his trees +wouldn't begin to bear earlier or bear larger if left in the original +place. I prefer to transplant my own tree after it is grown, rather than +run the risk of getting scrub trees in the post hole or on the hill. I +prefer to select the grafted trees even without the tap-roots, which +would be removed in digging, and planting them all uniform, rather than +to plant the seeds. Speaking for the amateur, I think the latter is good +practice. The point I had in mind was that many people will not take the +time to plant nuts but will want to set grafted trees, and the question +is, should they have considerable tap-root—the grafted trees?</p> + +<p>The Secretary: Following my plan, a man would buy a small number of fine +trees and set them out at once; that would probably be all he would +undertake and all he could probably manage. He would also plant a small +number of nuts on which to experiment in propagation. My experience up +in Connecticut has been that all my southern transplanted trees, almost +without exception, have died. I have planted pecans and Persian walnuts +from a number of different nurseries. I have done it personally and done +it as carefully as I could, but they have either made a very feeble +growth indeed or have all died. On the other hand, the seeds I have +planted have grown into very vigorous trees.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: I have had a little experience with the tap-root theory. You +can't dig a walnut tree without cutting the tap-root, and that tap-root, +I find, is practically of no benefit at all after you have your upper +laterals, and an abundance of them; by cutting the tap-root growth is +stimulated and a new tap-root is made. It is very largely in the mode of +pruning the tap-root. You can readily stimulate the tap-root system.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Chairman: You try to keep an equilibrium by cutting down the top in +proportion?</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: Yes, sir.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pomeroy: In examining transplanted trees I found ten times as many +roots where the tap-root had been cut; and there were two tap-roots. I +like a tree with a good tap-root system and I am positive that if you +transplant a tree you get a better root system, get a great many more +roots.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: The tree development, it seems to me, depends not upon the +number of roots which are carried with it when it is transplanted, but +upon the feeding roots which develop. Now, if we cut back the tap-root, +cut back the laterals, cut back the top, we have a tree carrying in its +cambium layer, food, just as a turnip or beet would carry it—and I look +upon a transplanted tree much as a carrot or beet, with stored food +ready to make a new root.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harris: I planted last fall a year ago a lot of English walnuts. +Would the gentleman advise taking those up, cutting the tap-roots and +planting them again?</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: I don't think that would be advisable.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harris: They were grown from the nuts sown in a row last fall a year +ago and grew very well.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: In propagating the English walnut we have had them do the best +by transplanting when the tree is about two years old, but it will more +or less disturb the vigor of a tree to transplant it. That is +self-evident; it needs some time to heal those wounds that are made both +in the root and the branch.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harris: What time of year do you bud them?</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: In August.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutt: I notice some trees here that are evidently two-year old +pecans that have been cut back, and you notice that in every case +several tap-roots have taken the place of the one. Here are some others +that have not been cut. These have gone straight down. They are strong +roots with few fibers on them. On these other trees that have been cut +the formation of tap-roots continues. They will go down till they strike +a permanent water-table and then the tap-root will stop. In Hyde County, +North Carolina, near the ocean, the water-table is close to the surface +and there is a deep black alluvial soil with a great deal of water in +it. In order to grow anything there they have to put in ditches to get +the water out. The pecan trees growing there have absolutely no +tap-roots at all, it rots off as soon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> as it strikes the permanent +water-table; and I think that's the reason they produce such enormous +quantities of pecans in that county. In bottomless, sandy land where +there is no clay the root keeps on going down till it finds the +permanent water-table, even if that is six or eight or ten feet down. +These roots, as you see, were going right down to China to look at that +king on the other side if they got a chance. It's the same with the long +leaf pine. It has a tap-root below ground thicker than the trunk above +ground. The reason is that it grows naturally on those bottomless +places; the root goes down till it strikes water, then runs off +laterally. If you cut the roots they are bound to make new tap-roots. +You can see the place where they have been cut and in place of one +tap-root you have two, going right down into that sandy soil till they +find a water-table. I believe that a nurseryman who will cut off the +root of the pecan tree when it is transplanted, will cause it to form +more lateral roots and make a better tree. There's a great number of +vigorous roots in this tree than in this, and this tree whose root has +been cut off will make a tree much easier to transplant and will be a +better tree than those with great thick roots without the fibers that +have the root hairs upon them.</p> + +<p>A member: You wouldn't recommend cutting back that tap-root too +severely, would you?</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutt: In planting a tree of this kind, I'd cut off a foot or 18 +inches. If you get about 24 inches in a specially good soil, or about 30 +inches of root ordinarily that's all you want.</p> + +<p>A member: I should think that would depend quite a little on the height +of the water-table. If you were planting on land where the water-table +is low, you would leave more tap-root?</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutt: Yes.</p> + +<p>A member: That was the reason I brought up the point, because I think +cutting so short would be too severe.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutt: The cambium is the only part of the tree that maintains +growth. Every wound kills the cambium to a certain extent, so I always +cut off roots of any size with sharp shears as smoothly as possible. I +cut far enough back to find good, fresh, living tissue. In moist soil +that will callous over. In the South the soil is moist and we have +growing conditions in the winter time, so it will callous over during +the winter. In the North, I understand, you make a practice of planting +in the spring, because of the weather conditions.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harris: In Western Maryland we have in the moun<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>tains a deep, sandy +soil; there doesn't appear to be any water bottom to it; what would the +tap-root do in that case?</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutt: It will go down until it finds what it wants, finds sufficient +moisture.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harris: Gravelly bottom?</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutt: If you have ever seen the roots of a long leaf pine, you've +seen where the roots go to when they get a chance.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: I should like to ask Dr. Deming if he would give us his +experience in propagating the walnut and hickory?</p> + +<p>Dr. Deming: A very important thing indeed for us nut growers in the +North is to learn how to propagate. Dr. Morris has had some success; I +haven't had any. I have tried it summer and spring, year after year. I +believe there are a few pieces of bark, without buds, still growing. +Chestnuts I haven't found very difficult, but with the walnut and +hickory I have had no success whatever, although I have practiced the +best technique I could master. I think one reason why I have had no +success is that I haven't had good material. I have had good stocks, but +I haven't had good scions, not the sort of scion that the successful +southern nurserymen use. Still, Dr. Morris has had success with the same +kind of material that I have failed with.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Not very much success.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: Dr. Deming said that the land ought not to be too dry nor too +wet. Would you feel like saying that a water-table at 24 inches was +neither too low nor too high?</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutt: It depends a great deal on the nature of the soil, the +water-pulling capacity of the soil. Take a soil like that I mentioned, +in Hyde County, near the ocean; you can see it quake all around you.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: But would you say that the northern nut grower might safely +put his orchard on soil that had a water-table within two or three feet +of the surface?</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutt: I could tell if I saw that soil. If it is craw-fishy, or soil +that is ill-drained or won't carry ordinary crops, I'd say keep off of +it, but if it will bear ordinary crops it's all right; in some cases +where the soil is very rich the plant does not need to go down into that +soil anything like the depth it would in a poor soil. The poorer the +soil the further the roots have to go to find nourishment.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: I think that is an extremely exceptional case in relation to +northern nuts. There is very little such North Carolina land in this +section of the country, if I judge right.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> We don't plant nut-growing +orchards up here in peaty soils, so Dr. Deming's recommendation was +rather for very good agricultural soil. A water-table here must be eight +or ten feet deep; in that event, it would not make any difference +whether you left three feet of tap-root or 15 inches.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutt: No.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: In the soils of some parts of New England, a tree would +have to have a root three or four hundred feet deep to get to flowing +water, but nevertheless trees flourish there.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: But the capillarity of the soil provides water for the tree +above the water-table.</p> + +<p>Mr. Corsan: It all depends on the kind of nut. At St. Geneva I came +across a butternut that was growing in a soil that would kill a chestnut +very quickly. The soil was very springy and wet and the butternut just +loves that soil. I found that while other butternut trees bore nuts in +clusters of one to three, this butternut tree was bearing them in +clusters of ten and eleven. At Lake George, right in front of the +Post-Office, there was one tree twenty-four years old, two feet through, +that grew butternuts in clusters of ten and you could get a barrel of +nuts from it. It bore again this last summer heavily, not in clusters of +ten but in clusters of seven or eight. When we have damp soil we can't +grow the chestnut but the hickory nut will grow in a swamp, and so will +the butternut.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: And the beech.</p> + +<p>Mr. Corsan: The beech wants clay; it won't grow unless there is clay.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Our beech will grow where it has to swim.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: Before we get away from this discussion I think that we ought +to commend Dr. Deming in the selection of this subject and in the +handling of his paper. In my position in the Government, we have a good +many inquiries about nut matters, and they are usually from people who +want to know how to start. The great call for information at the present +time is from the beginners, not from the advanced people, and I am glad +that Dr. Deming took that subject and handled it as he did, and I am +glad that he proposes to issue it as a circular from this Association. +It will be a great relief to others who are called on for information.</p> + +<p>I should like to have a word, too, about this tap-root question. From +what has been said it is pretty clear that there is quite a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> difference +of opinion. We sometimes think we can improve on nature in her ways by +harsh methods and, while I know it is customary in the nurseries of the +South to cut the tap-roots back pretty severely, I wonder, sometimes, +whether that is always the best thing.</p> + +<p>I haven't had any personal experience, but I have observed quite a good +deal, and the tendency, it seems to me, is to try to develop as much as +possible the fibrous root. Sometimes that is brought about by cutting +the tap-root, or putting a wire mesh below where the seed is planted, so +as to form an obstruction to the tap-root, so that it necessarily forms +a fibrous root. Where the tap-root is the only root I doubt very much +the advisability of cutting back too severely.</p> + +<p>Col. Van Duzee: I have heard this subject discussed all over this +country, in meetings of this kind, and a great deal of energy has been +wasted. I do not think any of us know anything about it, but I do wish +to say this, that when you come to transplant a tree from the nursery to +the orchard, there are things of infinitely more moment than how you +shall hold your knife between your fingers when you cut the roots. The +exposure of the roots to the air, the depth to which the tree is to be +put in the ground, the manner in which it shall be handled—those things +are of infinitely more importance, because we know we can transplant +trees successfully and get good results when the tap-root has been +injured or almost entirely removed. I do not consider that the question +of cutting the tap-root is of very serious importance, but I do think we +should insert a word of caution as to the exposure of the roots of trees +to the atmosphere, and make it just as strong as we are capable of +writing it.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: That is a very interesting point, that we have fixed our +eye on the tap-root and talked too much about it. Not long ago one of +the agricultural journals decided finally to settle the question about +the time for pruning grapes, whether it should be done in the fall, +spring, winter or summer, and after summing up all the testimony from +enthusiastic advocates for each one of the seasons, the editor decided +that the best time is when your knife is sharp; and that is very much +the way with the tap-root. Be very particular in getting the root in and +caring for it.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pomeroy: Prof. Close, in a bulletin issued two years ago, spoke as +does Col. VanDuzee about protecting the roots of the trees; he said +"when the trees are taken from the box<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> that you receive them in, don't +expose them to the sun or air, puddle every tree, and plant as soon as +possible." I think that is pretty good advice. It doesn't cost any +money, and takes very few minutes, to puddle the trees and it saves many +of them.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: I have tried the Stringfellow Method of cutting back top +and root until my men asked me if I didn't want to transplant another +tree instead, and they have grown just as well as trees on which I took +great pains to preserve fine branching roots.</p> + +<p>The Secretary: The last thing in my thought was to start a discussion of +this perennial subject of the tap-root, but I should like criticism of +this little circular, no matter how severe, because I am not finally +committed to it and want to make it as useful as possible.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: Every man likes to ride his own hobby horse. Would it not +be wise to suggest that some of these seedlings be put in odd corners? +Certainly the hickory and walnut are adept in making themselves a home +in the roughest kind of land.</p> + +<p>The Secretary: I have tried that, but I don't think, as a rule, the +trees do well when stuck around in fence corners and odd places. To be +sure the trees I put behind the barn or pig pen have grown beautifully, +so that at one time I thought of building barns and pig pens all over +the farm to put trees behind, but where they were set in fence corners +and out of the way places they have not done very well. I think the +experience of others is about to the same effect.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: My experience has been different from yours. I have some +chestnut and walnut trees, on an unploughable hillside in the corner of +my father's farm in Virginia which I stuck there ten or a dozen years +ago and have done very little to them. Of course they are native. They +have thriven. Nature does it exactly that way.</p> + +<p>The Secretary: It seems to me there is no question that they will do +better under cultivation. Of course they may do fairly well in odd +places if they can dominate the other growth.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: A man could take a pocketful of the various kinds of nuts +and go around his fence corners and plant a few. In an hour he can plant +fifty, and if he gets one to grow it is good return for that hour's +work.</p> + +<p>The Secretary: I have advised people to take a handful of nuts and a +cane when they go out walking and occasionally stick one in.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Chairman: In our locality, people would ask, "Why is that string of +squirrels following that man?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Corsan: I have been planting nuts in that way for years.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: If a man planted trees which belonged in his neighborhood, +nuts that were already in the dominant ruling group, then his chances +for success would be very good, but if he introduced in fence corners +trees that had to adjust themselves to a new environment, he would find +very few growing and the squirrels, other trees and various obstacles to +development in the midst of established species, would wipe out most of +them. Nevertheless, as it isn't much trouble, I would advise anybody to +take a pocketful of hickory nuts out with him when he goes for a walk +and plant one every little way.</p> + +<p>A Member: The idea is good; let us follow it up.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: I don't think it is feasible at all to plant trees around +fence corners.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: In our locality it would not do at all.</p> + +<p>A Member: It won't do in any locality. The sods and grass around the +tree will dwarf it and cause a very slow growth. Our time is valuable +and we can't wait on that kind of a tree to bring results. Cultivation +is the main need. Sometimes trees will do well where the soil is rich +and competition absent. In Burlington, N. J. we found a walnut tree +bearing enormous crops in a back yard. I have seen the same thing in +this county, and also in Carlisle, and the Nebo tree, famous for its +wonderful productiveness, has a similar environment. But it is high +cultivation that usually is necessary for the best results in all trees, +and walnut trees particularly.</p> + +<p>The Secretary: Here is a note relating to this subject:</p> + +<p>"The women of Sapulpa, Okla., who recently organized for city and county +improvement and advancement, have determined to plant pecan, walnut and +hickory trees on both sides of a road now being constructed through +Creek County, basing their action on the theory that two pecan trees +placed in the back yard of a homestead will pay the taxes on the +property. They believe that when the trees begin to bear they will +provide a fund large enough for the maintenance of the road."</p> + +<p>The Chairman: That's all right if you can look after them.</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: It is very interesting to listen to these discussions of +roadside trees and I have until recently been a strong advocate of them, +but I have changed my opinion. I don't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> think there is anything in the +planting of trees in fence corners or along the roadside, for several +reasons. The first reason is that nobody knows how long it is going to +take that tree to amount to anything. I wouldn't give two cents a piece +for trees stuck out where you cannot cultivate them and get to them to +fertilize them. Another thing, we are right up against the problem of +the insect pests of these trees and who is going to take care of them +along the roadside? The insect pests will get on them and come into the +fields of the man who is cultivating and raising trees legitimately. +Down in southern Indiana, now, we find along the roadside hundreds of +walnut trees that are every year eaten up with caterpillars. They love +those trees and come over on to my trees. I keep my trees cleaned off +pretty well. There's that problem. Up to a short time ago I was an +advocate of roadside trees. It would be all right if there was some +means of cultivating them. If there is land somewhere that is of no use, +so that it doesn't make a bit of difference whether the trees on it have +insect pests or not, you can go out there and scatter nuts and let it +alone and wait the length of time you've got to wait. I don't think it's +of much value, however, even then. I don't think there is a thing in it. +I used to pride myself on the fact that I had set out more trees than +anybody else in the State of Indiana. I haven't bragged about that for a +long time, though I have set out, perhaps, in the last eight or ten +years, or had set out under my direction, about 750,000 trees; I am not +particularly proud of that any more, but I am proud to meet the fellow +who has set out twenty or thirty acres of trees on good land, the best +he's got, and cultivated them and kept the insects off of them and +burned them up instead of letting them prey on the neighborhood. I think +there should be a law passed that these trees along the roadside must be +cut down or that somebody will have to take care of them.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: The original idea of roadside trees was constructive in +its nature but failed to include the idea that, with the increase of +orchard trees, or trees of any one species, we increase the insect pests +because we disturb the balance of nature; and by disturbing the balance +of nature we give advantage to insects which then remain on neglected +trees to prove a menace to our own orchards. It we have various towns +setting out roadside trees and detailing the children to look after +them, asking the children to report on them, I believe the thing can be +made a success and that the taxes of many a small town can be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> paid from +the nut trees along the roadside, provided you have one boy or one girl +for each tree, their services to be given free and the profit from the +tree to be given to the town.</p> + +<p>Mr. Corsan: How about the cattle? Let them keep grazing around?</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Oh, my, yes.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: I think we sometimes let our feelings make us say things +that our brains would scarcely approve. I believe Mr. Littlepage's +charge against the tree on the roadside is not necessarily +substantiated. I don't know just how he is going to take care of his +trees, but if it requires a vehicle carrying spray, I submit that a +roadside tree is about as well fixed as one in his field. If it requires +a man with a stick or a hoe or a ladder, the tree on the roadside is in +about as eligible a location as one in the field. If care implies the +idea of turning over the soil, the roadside is handicapped, but nature +has got along without having the soil upturned. My point is this; there +is on nearly every farm in the East a little patch of land somewhere, a +little row between a road and stream where a few trees can grow, and if +fertilization is required, a few barrels of manure can go there as well +as anywhere else. The fact that a tree is put in a place that is not +ploughed doesn't mean that it is beyond all care. My point is that with +care we can get trees in fence rows without tillage and that, in +addition to Dr. Deming's formal and carefully cultivated plot, there is +about every farm a place where a man can stick a few trees and give them +such care as can be given without tillage.</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: I agree heartily with Prof. Smith's theory, but having +had some experience, I find those things that he describes are not done; +there is just that difference, always, between theory and fact. I read a +beautiful book once, written by a woman, entitled, "There is No Death," +and I found on inquiry that she had already buried four husbands. +(Laughter.) I was much interested in reading, once upon a time, +Rousseau's beautiful story of domestic life and I found that while he +was writing it, his children were in an orphan asylum. A fellow teaching +in the high school in Terre Haute, Indiana, married one of the beautiful +attractive young ladies of that town. Shortly after they were married he +was busy writing and turned and told her that he didn't love her any +more and he wished she'd go home. She was heartbroken and left and it +turned out later that he was writing a book on how to get to Heaven. +(Laughter.)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> There's just the difference between theory and fact. This +is a beautiful theory. I used to be the strongest advocate of it, but +all you've got to do is to go on a farm and try it. The trees won't get +big enough to amount to anything in our lifetime, because these things +you say you will do to them you don't do; at least, that has been my +experience, and I would like to ask anyone to point to any section in +the United States today, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, where +this theory is carried out successfully; and yet I know it has been +advocated for fifty years.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: How about school children reporting on trees under their +care?</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: Whenever you give the proper care to them you solve the +problem—whenever anyone will convince me that that will be done. There +is no reason, of course, why the tree won't grow in these places, but my +experience is that they don't thrive.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: I've put out thousands of them for public-spirited +citizens, but it would be difficult to find one of them today.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: In France and in Germany the land is very valuable and they +take a great deal of pride in their nut trees. The nuts we have here in +the Lancaster market, Persian walnuts, are largely brought from France, +Spain, Italy and Germany. The land being so valuable there, they devote +much of their waste land to nuts, like Mr. Smith's idea of planting +along the wayside, and they plant and cultivate them in their yards and +in all corners. They would not, under any consideration, plant a maple +tree just for the shade; the tree must serve for both fruit and shade, +and those are some of the sources of foreign wealth.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harris: I don't think the question is so much one of planting in +fence corners as that we have a great deal of waste land on which the +soil is very well adapted to growing nut trees. I know that sometimes in +growing peach trees it is almost impossible to cultivate them. I know +places in western Maryland where the rocks are lying so that you can +hardly plough, and yet the soil is fertile and particularly adapted in +some places for peach trees, and would be for chestnut trees. They have +there a system of cultivation much as if you used the plough, and yet +they are on steep hillsides. There is no reason, I think, why nut trees +shouldn't grow there as well as on the level field where you can +cultivate every inch of soil.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Chairman: They are looked after, that's the whole thing.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gowing: I come from New Hampshire and we have what used to be an old +farm, but it is now a pasture and the soil is quite a potash soil, I +think, amongst the rocks, and there's some apple trees planted there by +the original man that worked this place. It was too rough to plough, but +they have borne us as good apples some years as we have had on the +place; and on this same piece of twenty acres or so, there's some +chestnut trees more than two feet through that were cut off when the +land was cleared, and they must have done well, for they grew to be such +enormous trees.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: The trees are planted on this same old stump land?</p> + +<p>Mr. Gowing: Yes, sir.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: A great deal of stump land can be planted in this way.</p> + +<p>Mr. Corsan: That wouldn't be planting them along roadsides and in fence +corners.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: No, they would be looked after; the whole thing is looking +after them.</p> + +<p>A Member: My idea is that there would be very few nut trees planted if +every one was to start his own trees. They put off planting the trees +even when they can get them at the nurseries, and if they had to start +their own nurseries there wouldn't be one planted to where there's +10,000 now; and I think that in the end the nurserymen are going to +attend to the planting of trees and the other people are going to attend +to growing them. Maybe I'm mistaken but did this Government ever produce +any trees? Prof. Smith spoke of appropriating money and letting the +Government get us some new variety. Hasn't it always been private +individuals who get the new varieties? I have been trying to think of +some fruit tree, apple or something, that a state or the Government has +propagated.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: In this country I believe the Government has never done +it, but in some parts of Europe, especially Switzerland, the taxes of +some towns are paid by the trees along the roadside; but there every man +has to report on his own trees and the proceeds go to support the town, +and the taxes of certain small towns are actually paid today by roadside +trees; but this is in a country where land is valuable, and every tree +is under the direct supervision of a citizen who must report on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> it, and +the product of that tree goes to the Government, he giving his labor +instead of paying taxes.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: I was merely pleading for the continuation and spread of +that work, both geographically and in increasing the varieties of trees.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: I am heartily in favor of that, but I think it ought to be +referred to a committee. I want Prof. Smith to write it out in the form +of a letter.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: I am glad you called my attention to that.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: The Government and the states are now engaged in such work and +this ought to give it impetus. I think that the time and labor of the +Nut Growers Association, since its organization, will have been well +spent if we succeed in bringing to fructification this one resolution. I +want also to suggest that Prof. Smith include among the nuts, the +beechnut, because there's more meat in beechnuts for the amount of shell +than any other nut we grow.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: If there is no further discussion, we will have now to +spend a short time in Executive Committee work. I think we will ask to +have a Nominating Committee appointed first. Mr. Rush, will you kindly +read the list of the names of the men you proposed to act as a +Nominating Committee?</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush then moved that the Nominating Committee consist of Messrs. +Lake, Hutt, C. A. Reed, Smith and Deming, and the motion was adopted, +after which the Nominating Committee reported as follows: For President, +Mr. Littlepage; for Vice-President, Mr. C. A. Reed; for Secretary and +Treasurer, Dr. Deming. On Executive Committee: Dr. Robert T. Morris, in +place of Mr. C. A. Reed. On Hybrids, Prof. J. R. Smith, in place of Mr. +Henry Hicks. On Membership Committee, Mr. G. H. Corsan, in place of +Prof. E. R. Lake. On Committee on Nomenclature, Dr. W. C. Deming in +place of Prof. John Craig; the other committees to stand as heretofore.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: I move that the secretary be instructed to cast the ballot of +the association for these nominations.</p> + +<p>The motion was seconded and adopted and the ballot cast in accordance +therewith.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Now I will appoint as a Committee on Resolutions relating +to Prof. Craig, Dr. Deming and the Chairman; Committee on Exhibits, Col. +VanDuzee, Mr. Roper and C. A. Reed, and they will be here this evening +to report on exhibits. Committee on Resolutions, Prof. J. Russell Smith<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +and Mr. T. P. Littlepage. There is no Committee on Incorporation. Will +someone propose that we have such a committee?</p> + +<p>The Secretary: Isn't it a desirable thing that the society should be +incorporated? It was mentioned to me by a wealthy man that if anyone +wished to leave, or give, some money to this association, they would be +much more likely to do it if the society were incorporated.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: I think it would be better for someone to make a motion.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: I move that a Committee on Incorporation be appointed by the +chairman; a committee of three.</p> + +<p>(Motion seconded and adopted.)</p> + +<p>The Chairman: The Committee on Incorporation will consist of Mr. +Littlepage and Prof. Close. This evening we will meet informally here at +about eight and tomorrow at ten we have the meeting at the Scenic to +hear the papers of Mr. Rush and Prof. Lake and Prof. Reed, and see the +lantern slides. We will first meet here at nine o'clock for an executive +meeting and to look over the exhibits. The Committees will report at +that time.</p> + +<p>(After discussion, on motion of Prof. Smith, seconded by Mr. Littlepage, +the selection of the place of the next meeting was left to the Executive +Committee.)</p> + +<p>The report of the Secretary and Treasurer was then read.</p> + +<h4>(SEE APPENDIX)</h4> + +<p>The Chairman: You have heard the Secretary's report. We had better take +up, first, the question of deficit. What are we going to do about the +$66.00? What prospects have we for the balancing of that account?</p> + +<p>The Secretary: That account will be easily balanced, and more than +balanced, by the dues coming in and then I will proceed to run up a +deficit for next year.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: You have heard the Secretary's report. If there is no +discussion, a motion to adjourn will be in order.</p> + +<p>(Adjourned till December 19th.)</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The Convention met, pursuant to adjournment, December 19th, 1912, at +9:30 <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>, President Morris in the Chair, and went into Executive +Session.</p> + +<p>It was moved and carried that the President be empowered to appoint a +committee to attend the conference at Albany,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> called for the +consideration of the hickory bark borer, by the Commissioner of +Agriculture of the State of New York.</p> + +<p>The question of the publication of reports of the Convention proceedings +in the American Fruit and Nut Journal, was next taken up and it was +moved by Mr. Lake and carried that the papers and discussions of this +Society shall be used for its own publications exclusively, except as +the Executive Committee deems it to the best interests of the industry +to furnish them for separate publication.</p> + +<p>The Secretary: On November 8th, I received a letter from Calvin J. +Huson, the Commissioner of Agriculture of New York, to this effect.</p> + +<p>Dear Sir:</p> + +<p>At the coming land show in New York this department proposes to have, as +a part of its exhibit, a collection of native and introduced New York +grown nuts.</p> + +<p>Can you give us the names of growers of the better strains of nuts who +might be able to furnish material for such an exhibit. Perhaps your +association would be able to assist in the matter. The Department will +be able to stand a reasonable expense for cost of nuts, expressage, etc. +Perhaps a few seedling trees would add interest.... By the exhibit as a +whole we wish to show the variety and quality of nuts that may be grown +in this state....</p> + +<p class="center">Very truly yours,</p> +<p class="author"><span class="smcap">Calvin J. Huson</span>,<br /> +Commissioner. +</p> + +<p>He wished me to assist in getting up an exhibit, but as he only gave us +a week I was unable to do anything. I do not know that there is any +action to be taken on that, but I read the letter simply to show that +the interest in nut growing is increasing and that this is an +opportunity for us to make an exhibit another year.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: Would the secretary take the trouble to make a collection of +nuts covering the territory of the association and submit it for exhibit +at a meeting of this character, this land show, giving credit to the +donors for material, somewhat as Mr. Reed has done in pecans for the +National Nut Growers Association?</p> + +<p>The Secretary: I think I'd have a few minutes to spare to do that.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: I think it would be an admirable thing.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Yes, it would advertise the organization extensively and +be a constructive step in agriculture.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage, have you any report from the Committee on Incorporation?</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: That is a matter that will require considerable thought +and attention. It will require attention from several standpoints, as +for example under what laws we might wish to incorporate, so I think the +committee will reserve its report to make to the Executive Committee at +some later meeting.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: We have no other business, I believe, and will now retire +to the hall where we will have the lantern slide exhibition. The morning +session closes the meeting and we are to meet at two o'clock at the +Monument and from there go out to see certain trees in the vicinity. Mr. +Rush and Mr. Jones are to show us these and their two nurseries.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: I would like to offer as a resolution, that the secretary be +instructed to make arrangements with the publishers of the American +Fruit and Nut Journal for the distribution of one copy to each member as +a part of his membership fee. The secretary will then be able to reach +the members in his published notices without special printers' troubles +of his own, and the members will be able to get some live matter right +along.</p> + +<p>The motion was seconded and adopted, after which the executive session +closed and the members adjourned in a body to the Scenic Theatre, where +the regular program was resumed as follows:</p> + +<p>The Chairman: We will have Mr. Rush's paper first.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_PERSIAN_WALNUT_ITS_DISASTER_AND_LESSONS_FOR_1912" id="THE_PERSIAN_WALNUT_ITS_DISASTER_AND_LESSONS_FOR_1912"></a>THE PERSIAN WALNUT, ITS DISASTER AND LESSONS FOR 1912</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">J. G. Rush, Pennsylvania</span></h4> + + +<p>The year just closing has been full of disasters both on land and sea, +though I do not wish it to be understood that I am inclined to be a +pessimist on account of these occurrences.</p> + +<p>I wish to speak of a disaster which overtook the walnut industry in the +northern states. Early in the year we had an arctic cold wave which put +the thermometer from 23 to 33<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> degrees below zero. This cold wave +apparently did no injury to the walnut trees at the time but late in the +spring it was discovered that the wood cells were ruptured though the +buds and bark were uninjured. In cutting the scions in early April the +bark and buds seemed in good condition for grafting; but as the time +approached to do the work it was readily seen, by its changed color, +that the wood was injured, some scions of course more than others. Those +that were only slightly discolored were used in grafting. But as time +passed the unhappy result came to light that out of about 2,000 nursery +trees grafted only one graft grew. After climbing an 80 foot walnut tree +to get our scions, and paying a good price for them besides, this was +rather discouraging.</p> + +<p>This cold wave, which was unprecedented for the time, had wrought other +injuries to the nut industry. That was especially to the young trees +that were transplanted the fall previous and last spring. The +transplanting with a frost injury already was too great a strain on the +feeble life of the trees. The consequence was that some of them died +outright, and others made only a feeble growth. But where low and severe +pruning was practised good results followed and such trees as were +established on the original root system escaped the frost injury +entirely. The young nursery trees with dormant buds were not affected in +the least but made a strong growth of from three to seven feet this last +summer.</p> + +<p>The intense cold wave was such that some old and young seedling Persian +walnut trees were killed outright, and not only the Persian walnut but +in a few instances the American black was very much injured; likewise +the Norway maple, magnolia, California privet and roses. Also the peach +both in tree and fruit.</p> + +<p>Now in conclusion let me say, what is the lesson to be learned? First, +as to the propagation of the Persian walnut, great care should be taken +that only trees that are hardy should be propagated from, as well as +having good bearing qualities with a first class nut. Second, after a +freeze such as we had last winter, a special effort should be made to +save the newly planted tree by close and severe pruning. As, for +example, I had a very fine two year old Hall Persian walnut which was +referred to me as dead. I cut the tree off about 4 inches above where it +was budded on the black walnut stock. It was not long after that signs +of new life appeared and eventually it made a very fine, handsome tree.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +Nature does indeed some wonderful tricks in this respect by which we can +learn valuable lessons; and chief of these is close pruning.</p> + +<p>Such a cold wave may visit us only once in a lifetime and should not +discourage us from carrying nut culture to its highest development. We +must not think for a moment that other walnut sections are exempt from +similar visitations. They have them in the Pacific Northwest, and in +France and Germany.</p> + +<p>As regards the walnut industry for Lancaster county or Pennsylvania in +general, I am safe in saying that a fair percentage of the farmers are +taking hold of it. This is because of the fact that the San Jose scale +has practically destroyed all the old apple trees around the farm +buildings, and, not wishing to have the building denuded of the +customary shade and fruit, nut trees are planted instead. This is in +reality the practice prevalent in France and Germany where they utilize +every foot of ground to profitable account.</p> + +<p>The life of an apple tree is from fifty to sixty years whereas a walnut +tree is just in its prime at that age and destined to live for hundreds +of years afterwards. Then again the ravages of the chestnut tree blight +are destroying the cultivated paragons just as freely as the chestnuts +in the forests, which in a few years will be things of the past, thus +giving still more room for walnut and other nut trees.</p> + +<p>The Northern Nut Growers Association was organized for a grand and noble +purpose, that is to stand together shoulder to shoulder to devise ways +and means to bring nut culture to a grand and glorious success.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Mr. Corsan: The temperature Mr. Rush spoke of rather surprises me. Last +year at Toronto it did not fall lower than 9 degrees below zero. We had +summer almost until New Year's and then a very severe winter until +April. I didn't notice any evergreen trees killed, but at Detroit, the +Bronx and various other places, I never saw a winter so disastrous for +killing evergreens.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Not only that but nurserymen all over eastern New England +said they suffered greater losses last winter than ever before.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: I would like to ask Mr. Rush if it would be possible to cut +scions by December 1st, so as to escape danger from such great freezes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: I really have little experience in keeping scions. This fall I +put some in the moist cold earth in the cellar. I think the experiment +will be successful because I have known chestnut scions cut in the fall, +to be kept under leaves in the grove till spring.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: I should like to suggest that you try the following +experiment; bury them, wrapped up in a gunny-sack or something, entirely +underground where they will have absolute moisture and be shut away from +the air. I have found that very successful.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: Sometimes the trouble is they get too moist.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: There is a principle here, and we had better keep down to +principles as much as we can. That principle is that if the cells of the +scions are distended with water a certain chemical process is going on +all the while, because a scion is just as much alive as the red +squirrel; it is a living organism. Now then, if the cells are a very +little below normal dryness the chemical processes mostly cease, and +that is better. We have to use nice judgment in avoiding having a scion +so dry that its cells perish or so moist that its cells are undergoing +chemical processes too rapidly. Our scions are cut, say, the last of +November, then covered with leaves enough to prevent freezing and +thawing. That will carry scions pretty well through the winter and +perhaps is the best way, but we must never forget that in dealing with +scions we are dealing with living red squirrels just as when we are +dealing with pollen.</p> + +<p>A Member: Are the leaves moist or dry?</p> + +<p>The Chairman: The driest leaves in the woods contain more water than you +think they do. They carry enough to maintain the life of the cells, if +they are packed pretty firmly about your scions, and at the same time +the scions are still allowed to breathe. I keep them above ground. I put +a layer of shingles on the cellar floor, if I've got a bare ground +cellar floor, and then a layer of very fine leaves like locust leaves, +then a single layer of scions and then a good big heap of leaves over +those, packed tight, a good big heap of apple leaves or anything you +have at hand. Try it on the basis of principles. It is a complex +question. You can't settle any of these questions off-hand. Every man +who has had much experience has learned that he needs a whole lot more.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: Have you had any experience in fixing up a bed of scions +like that and putting it in cold storage?</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Yes, but you must tell the cold storage people not to let +them get too dry. Tell them you want them in moist cold storage, and to +keep the temperature about 40.</p> + +<p>A Member: We have found with walnuts that if you have the scions too +damp they won't keep very long. If you have them just moist enough to +hold them you can keep them all winter, maybe indefinitely.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: If your cell is full of water the scion will work as hard +as an Irishman.</p> + +<p>A Member: I find that we have to graft them above ground, in the North, +and if they are too moist when grafted they will dry up, but if kept dry +they will grow, because they will remain in good condition until the sap +comes up in the stock.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Yes, you must choose a position midway between too dry and +too moist.</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: That is very important; they won't stand dampness.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pomeroy: Wouldn't it be well to dip the cut end of the walnut scion +in wax to hold the sap?</p> + +<p>The Chairman: I am afraid that would stop its breathing. You are dealing +with a red squirrel all the while, remember that.</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: My method is this: I have a little room about six feet wide +with ice packs on both sides and double doors. In that I pack my scions +in this way: I take carbide cans made of iron and put damp sawdust, +about an inch or so, on the bottom and then I pack my scions in the +cans, cut end down, then I put the top on loosely. I have carried them +over the second year in that way.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: But you let them breathe all the while?</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: Certainly, and they have but very little moisture. They are +kept in a temperature of about 40 degrees.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: How often do you wet that sawdust?</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: Not once.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Well, that's in keeping with our theoretical basis.</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: I cut scions any time between now and March. I don't take +them out of storage until we use them. We graft up to the middle of +June.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Chairman: I found some hickory scions that had been accidentally +overlooked, kept under leaves, and the buds in the cambium were +perfectly good after two years. In regard to winter injury—in the +vicinity of Stamford, Conn., the nurserymen reported greater losses of +all kinds in nursery stock than they had had before in their experience. +I noticed that some small branches of the Persian walnuts had been +injured, and particularly where grafts had started a little late and had +not lignified quite thoroughly I lost whatever grafts had not had time +to lignify. Last winter the injuries in our vicinity consisted chiefly +of two kinds; occasional killing of the small branches—this does little +harm because, where the branch is killed and dies back for a certain +distance, we have three or four more branches starting up, so that +perhaps it is not sophistical to say that it does the tree good. We get +a larger bearing area than if it were not for this occasional freezing +of small branches. Another form of injury occurs in the spring. The sap +will start to ascend when we have warm days in February and March; then +a few cold days come and, if we have absolutely freezing temperature at +night, this sap freezes and when it freezes it expands, as water does +everywhere, and the result is a bursting of the bark. That is an +occasional happening with all trees but particularly with exotics. One +kind of winter injury has been overlooked in connection with the walnut. +The very last thing which the tree does in the autumn is to complete its +buds for female flowers. That is the very last job the tree has on hand +and if the tree cannot complete the buds for female flowers perfectly, +then a very little wood killing will make that a barren tree, although +it appears to be a good strong tree. That covers the kinds of winter +injury I have seen in the vicinity of Stamford, Conn.</p> + +<p>(Here Col. C. K. Sober of Pennsylvania showed lantern slide views of his +orchards of paragon chestnuts and his methods.)</p> + +<p>The Chairman: We will have now Mr. Reed's address with lantern views.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="A_1912_REVIEW_OF_THE_NUT_SITUATION_IN_THE_NORTH" id="A_1912_REVIEW_OF_THE_NUT_SITUATION_IN_THE_NORTH"></a>A 1912 REVIEW OF THE NUT SITUATION IN THE NORTH</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">C. A. Reed, Washington, D. C.</span></h4> + + +<p>In taking up the question of the present status of the nut industry of +the Northern States, we have to do more with what has not been +accomplished than with what has been. Very little has been done toward +developing the northern chestnut. What has been done has been mostly +with the European species and so far that has not been very +satisfactory. The European species is quite subject to the blight. The +Japanese nut is not ordinarily of a quality equal to that of the +American. It is thought, too, that with the Japanese chestnut the +chestnut blight has been introduced, which has been so serious to our +native species. The walnut has not become well established in the +eastern states. So far, most of the European nuts that have been +imported have been too tender to adapt themselves to our climatic +conditions, and the filbert, when brought from Europe, proves quite +subject to a blight that prevails everywhere with our native species, +but with them is not so serious. In running over these slides, I will +begin first with the chestnut. That is perhaps the best known species in +this locality. That shows one of our native chestnut trees as it is +familiar to you all in a great part of this territory under discussion, +that is, the part of the United States east of the Mississippi River and +north of the Potomac. That photograph was taken some time last June or +July when the tree was in full bloom. The chestnut is one of the most +beautiful of our native nut trees. This tree has the blight in one of +the earlier stages and it is shown here merely to call attention to the +disease, because no discussion of the chestnut industry at the present +time can be complete without at least calling attention to the +seriousness of that blight. That tree, perhaps, has not been affected +more than two years, possibly one. Is that right, Mr. Pierce?</p> + +<p>Mr. Pierce: About two. That's an 18 or 20 inch tree, isn't it?</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: Yes, sir.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pierce: It must be an 18 or 20 inch tree to be so badly blighted at +the top.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: Two years, but you see it's pretty well gone. We come now to +the Paragon, one of the first trees of that variety ever propagated. It +was planted where it stands, by the intro<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>ducer, Mr. Henry M. Engel, at +Marietta, where they had quite an orchard at one time, but the blight is +so serious that there are only a few specimens of the trees left. That +tree is probably in the neighborhood of twenty-five years old. The next +slide shows two trees of the same variety that we may possibly see this +afternoon. They are on the farm belonging to Mr. Rush and they are about +twenty years old.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: What have those trees yielded?</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: They yield four, five, six and seven to eight bushels. You can +see that they are not far from the barn and the roots run under that +barnyard manure pile.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: What would you consider an average crop?</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: They grow five or six bushels per tree.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: The greatest attention that has been paid to developing the +paragon chestnut in orchard farming has been on the plan Mr. Sober has +just shown, by clearing away the mountain side and cutting down +everything but the chestnut sprouts. This photograph was taken in a +thicket where the underbrush had not been cleared away. Those are a good +age now or perhaps a little bit older than we usually graft, aren't +they, Mr. Sober?</p> + +<p>Mr. Sober: Yes, sir; one or two years old. When they get to be three +years old they are past grafting, according to my method.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: This photograph was taken at Mr. Sober's a little over a year +ago, taken in the rain and is not very clear, but it shows the distance +between the trees at the time when these trees were four or five years +old—is that right?</p> + +<p>Mr. Sober: They are eleven year old trees.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: Do you thin them out after they get that size?</p> + +<p>Mr. Sober: Yes, sir, they should be thinned out more, but I hesitated on +account of the blight; I have thousands that I could spare, but for fear +the blight will take them out.</p> + +<p>A Member: Do you cultivate the ground?</p> + +<p>Mr. Sober: I don't cultivate it, I just pasture it. The land is +fertilized, but not cultivated.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: That is a photograph of a large chestnut orchard in this +county. It is not many miles from here. I understand that owing to the +blight and to the weevil, that orchard has not been satisfactory, and I +was told two or three days ago that it was being cleared away.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: What varieties?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: Paragon and native stock.</p> + +<p>A Member: Was that the old Furness Grove?</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: Yes, sir. That slide shows the congeniality, ordinarily, +between the stock of the native chestnut and the paragon. The next slide +shows a typical instance of malformation between the Japanese and native +chestnut. I understand that this is not unusual at all. The Japanese, +ordinarily, does not make a good union with the American sweet chestnut. +That slide was taken in Indiana. It is a twenty-five acre paragon +orchard owned by Mr. Littlepage and Senator Bourne of Oregon, planted in +the spring of 1910. The next slide shows one of the trees in the orchard +during its first season. Mr. Littlepage had to have them all gone over +and the burs removed. They were so inclined to fruit during the first +season that they would have exhausted themselves if the burs had not +been removed. They made a very promising start, but I understand from +Mr. Littlepage that a number of the trees have since died. Is there +anything you'd like to add to that, Mr. Littlepage?</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: I haven't yet quite determined the cause of the trouble. +Last winter I lost perhaps one-third of the trees with a peculiar +condition. The wood under the bark was darkened. I sent some of them to +Washington the year before to see if there was any blight or fungus and +they reported there was none on any of the trees, but this winter +perhaps one-third of the trees died down to the graft. A few, however, +would sprout from the scion, giving me, of course, the grafted top +again. It seemed to indicate, perhaps, a winter killing and yet I would +not undertake to assert that that was the cause, but it was very +serious.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: Was the land low or high?</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: High land along a hillside, very excellent land for +chestnuts.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: Sandy loam?</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: No, it's a hilly clay with a considerable humus and set +in clover.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Which way does it face?</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: South.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: That is rather bad.</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: I don't know. I have some over on the other side of the +hill and I don't know whether the killing was greater on the other side +or not.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: We have before us a view of the original Rochester and its +originator, Mr. E. A. Reihl, of Alton, Ill. Over in the Court House we +have on exhibition nuts of that variety which most of you have seen. You +are aware, probably, that it is a native chestnut. It is one of the +largest and best of the native chestnuts and originated in southern +Illinois, where so far the blight has not spread. It gives considerable +promise for the future. We come back now to Lancaster county to a +chinkapin tree, a hybrid chinkapin. The original tree stands in a forest +in this county, and as you notice there, it is a very good sized tree. +You might think from the looks of the photograph that that is a +chestnut, but the nuts are small and borne in racemes, so they are +typical chinkapins.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: One parent was a chestnut?</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: We don't know; it's a native tree; it's a hybrid.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: It's a supposed hybrid.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: Yes, the chestnut and chinkapin grow close together.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: What is the form of the nuts?</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: Round like a chinkapin. I think it was a chestnut on a +chinkapin.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: If it is a chinkapin, what is there to indicate that there is +any chestnut blood in it?</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: The size of the tree and the fact that the nut matures with +the chestnut. The chinkapin is about three weeks earlier than this +variety of chinkapin.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: That photograph is typical of the Rush hybrid chinkapin. We +take up the butternut now. So far as we know, there are no named +varieties of the butternut; there cannot be until some good individual +tree is found which is of sufficient merit to entitle it to propagation +by budding and grafting. It is one of the best known nuts in our field, +especially in New England; it is more common there than it is further +south.</p> + +<p>This slide shows the native butternut in the forests of southern Indiana +near the Ohio River. Of course, those trees in forests like that don't +mature many nuts. It is not in the forests, ordinarily, that you will +find individual trees of sufficient merit to entitle them to +propagation. It is the tree in the open that has had greater +opportunities than are afforded in the forest.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: Are there any coniferous trees in that forest?</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: No, that's an alluvial bottom, Mr. Lake. There is quite +a long bottom by the creek where the butternut grows profusely. We have +the same tree on the farm that Sena<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>tor Bourne and I own. Hundreds of +those trees grow in the woods there. It's rich alluvial soil.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: The fact that it is rich alluvial soil does not usually bar +coniferous trees; it may in your section.</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: There are none there.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: The slide before us shows typical black walnuts that are +almost as common, perhaps more so, in many parts of the area under +discussion, than the butternut. This photograph was taken in Michigan +where the trees are growing along fence rows without cultivation or +special attention. No one knows whether the nuts of those trees are of +special value or not. It merely shows the starting point for improvement +in the walnut. We come now to the Persian walnut, which Mr. Lake will +discuss more fully in a few minutes. This is one of the trees we will +probably have an opportunity to see this afternoon. It is between Mr. +Rush's nursery and the station, on the right hand side as you are going +out. Just above the top of the fence you will notice a dark line which +indicates the point of union. The Persian walnut was grafted on the +black stock. The Persian is of slightly greater diameter. Now we have +Mr. Rush in his walnut nursery. These are seedling walnuts in their +third year.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: Second year.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: Second year from the time of planting. You will notice the +luxuriant growth. The next slide shows the methods of propagation. This +is the first step in the operation. The knife is similar to those on the +tables in the Court House. The next slide shows the second stage in the +operation where the bark has been lifted and Mr. Rush holds the bud of +the Persian walnut in the fingers of his left hand, and the next slide +shows the bud in position and being held firmly by a finger of the left +hand. As soon as it is in position like that, Mr. Rush lifts the +pencil—the instrument that he holds in the right hand and folds the +bark back over the new bud and then cuts it on the outside, so that he +makes a perfect fit. If anything, the bark of the black walnut overlaps +slightly the bark of the bud, and the third step in the operation is the +wrapping. Below, right at this point, is a completed operation. That was +done in August, using buds of the present season's growth, and in about +how many days is it that you take off the wrapping?</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: About two weeks.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: In about two weeks take off the wrapping; and about how much +longer is it before you get a growth like that?</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: About two weeks more, three weeks more.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: In about four or five weeks from the time of the operation a +growth like that is not uncommon.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: When is the top cut off?</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: When I see that growth is taking place I cut the top off in +order to encourage the growth to get strong enough for the winter. Of +course our object is to keep the bud dormant until the following season, +perfectly dormant, but sometimes they do make a growth and, if they do, +cut them off at the top and force them. You will not get that bud to +grow next summer, but another bud starts out below that branch and gives +you your tree.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: That one dies then?</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: Yes, sir, invariably dies.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: There is one of Mr. Rush's own growing of the Rush walnut, a +little tree which, in its second season, matured two nuts. That +photograph was taken just about the time the nuts were ready to be +gathered.</p> + +<p>Mr. Corsan: I noticed in the nurseries at the Michigan Agricultural +College, a lot of black walnuts that were sun-scalded. They were too far +apart. Can anyone tell us anything about this danger of sun-scald to the +trunk?</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: Well, in this particular instance, the tree stands right next +to a fence, so it is protected from the hot sun during a large part of +the season. Perhaps Mr. Rush could tell us whether he has had any +trouble with sun-scald.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: Not at all, none whatever, never.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: There is, in some localities, a great deal of danger from +sun-scald. In the vicinity of Stamford, Conn., most of the English +walnuts will sun-scald more or less unless we look out for that and give +them shade; mostly in the trunk below the branches.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: How about the nuts?</p> + +<p>The Chairman: I haven't seen any scalding there.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: These are all interesting points and I am glad to have them +thrown in. Mr. Rush can tell us about this slide. It is one of the +cut-leafed varieties of walnut from California that he is propagating. +It is more of an ornament than it is a commercial nut, isn't it?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: It is both combined. It is very productive and very hardy. The +nut is not quite as large as the Nebo. It is the cut-leafed weeping +walnut. The first tree that came from California cost twenty dollars. It +is very ornamental.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: This is a view of a seedling Persian walnut orchard in Bucks +county, this state, some twenty or thirty miles north of Philadelphia. +It is now about ten years of age and is owned by Mrs. J. L. Lovett, of +Emilie. Some of the nuts of this orchard are on exhibition over in the +Court House. The orchard was not given any special cultivation at the +time this photograph was taken. The nuts from the trees, of course, are +very ununiform, being seedlings, and the bearing of the trees is not +especially large, but the apparent thrift and vigor of these trees gives +a good deal of ground for looking forward to a walnut industry in the +eastern states.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: Do you know the origin of the seed?</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: No, sir, we do not. The nuts from which those trees were +planted were obtained and planted by Mr. Lovett who is now deceased.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: One of the most important features, it seems to me, of +grafting, is the idea that we can graft from prolific trees. The +majority of trees, of walnuts, hickories, anything you please, are not +remarkably prolific, but in grafting you select a tree that is prolific +as one of the most desirable of its qualities.</p> + +<p>A Member: You say that this grove was given no particular cultivation; +are they careful to allow all the foliage to remain on the ground where +it drops?</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: I couldn't answer as to that.</p> + +<p>A Member: Mr. Sober, do you do that?</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: Yes, sir.</p> + +<p>A Member: The point I wanted to make is that that is probably very much +better than any cultivation that could be given.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: The matter of cultivation is one we have got to settle in +this country. I have been over the walnut orchards on the Pacific coast, +in the East and in Europe, and I find three entirely separate and +distinct methods of treatment. On the Pacific coast, the rule is to +cultivate every year and irrigate where they can, but to cultivate, at +any rate, whether they irrigate or not. In the East, where people are +supposed to be very industrious, we have adopted the lazier way of +letting the trees<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> grow in sod; but that is not so bad if we follow the +principle brought forward by Stringfellow of letting the leaves all +decompose, and adding more fertilizer and more leaves and taking away +nothing. In France and Germany and England, where the trees are +cultivated, particularly in France, where they are best cultivated, we +find two methods; first, keeping up clean cultivation and adding a +little lime every year and, second, add lime without the cultivation. +One great feature of the treatment of the tree in France, where the best +walnuts come from, is the addition of a little lime every year, even if +it's a limestone ground, and that may possibly account for the delicate +character of the French walnuts and the reason why they have the first +call in the market. I don't know that that is true, but it seems to me, +at least, a collateral fact, and collateral facts often mean something.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pomeroy: Judging from my own experience I think that that orchard +would be producing now two or two and a half bushels per tree each year +if put under cultivation and given the care of an ordinary peach +orchard.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: These are seedling trees, you understand, in that orchard we +showed. This is a Persian walnut tree in Mr. Rush's front yard. I've +forgotten the variety.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: That is the Kaghazi.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: Now we come to the original hickories. This is one of the +earliest hickory nuts propagated, in fact, it's about the only one so +far. That tree is owned by Mr. Henry Hales of Ridgewood, N. J.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: Have they fertilized it?</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: No, not especially. It stands on good, fertile soil but I +think no attention has ever been paid to it in the way of cultivation.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: Have you its yielding record?</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: It never made large records; as I recall it now, it has never +borne more than a few bushels at any one time, perhaps two bushels.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: One reason is because it has been cut back regularly every +year for scions?</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: Yes, that's true.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: Over two hundred years old, then?</p> + +<p>The Chairman: I doubt if that tree is over fifty or sixty.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: That's what I should say,—somewhere in the neighborhood of +fifty or sixty years old.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: That slide shows a typical grafted tree in Mr. Hales' garden. +It's a nice shapely, thrifty tree about seven years old and only +recently came into bearing to any extent. The nurserymen have had great +difficulty in propagating it until recently. Now that Mr. Jones has come +up from the South and he and Mr. Rush are getting down together +earnestly in the propagation of these northern trees, we will probably +have more of them, but in all the years that Mr. Hales has been working +with that particular variety, he has never been able to get more than a +few trees grown in the nursery, so it is not disseminated to any extent.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Do you think that this will be like the pecan and hickory, +that some varieties will bear fifteen years after grafting and other +varieties two years after grafting, for instance, as extremes?</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: Probably so, the same as it is with other fruits.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: It seems to me that that is what we may fairly anticipate.</p> + +<p>Mr. Corsan: Like Northern Spy apples and other apples.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: This slide is a little bit out of order. It's a native Persian +walnut tree that stands in this county. It is owned by Mr. Harness. Mr. +Rush has propagated it under the name of Geit. That photograph was taken +in the fall of 1911. Last year it suffered greatly during the extreme +weather, but it came out again and made a very good growth. This is the +original Rush tree that we may be able to see this afternoon. And this +is the original Nebo that we had hoped to be able to see but will +probably not succeed. It is some seven or eight miles from Mr. Rush's +home and we will hardly be able to make it this afternoon. The slide +before us shows some European filberts that were planted by Mr. Hales +and up to the present time they are doing nicely although they have +never fruited especially heavily; but there is no blight.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: How many years?</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: I think those are ten to twelve years old. Perhaps you have +seen them.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Yes. There are two features connected with the filbert +that we ought to discuss right here. One is the tendency to its being +destroyed by the blight of our American hazel, which extends to Indiana, +and another is the fact that it blossoms so early that the female +flowers or the male flowers are both apt to be killed by the frost. All +the members of this Asso<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>ciation ought to get to work to bring out a +variety which will have the blight-resisting features and the later +blooming of the American hazel.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: This slide shows a filbert we will probably be able to see +this afternoon. It is in Mr. Rush's door yard and is still pretty young. +I believe it has not borne of any account.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: It has borne a little.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: How old is it?</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: I think it's about five years old. It is a Barcelona.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: The next slide is taken in the orchard of Mr. Kerr at Denton, +Md. At one time he had a very nice orchard of these filberts, but the +blight has gotten in and has about wiped out everything. In a letter +from him this fall he said he had very few nuts of any variety, although +he did have a few. A letter that came this week from J. W. Killen, of +Felton, Md., said he had found filberts to be about as unprofitable a +nut, as any he could have grown.</p> + +<p>We will spend a few minutes now running over the pecan situation. We can +hardly omit it altogether because there are so many people in the +northern states who are interested in the pecan in a financial way. The +chart before us shows first the native area. This part here is the +portion of the United States in which the pecan is a native. You notice +how far upward it extends, almost to Terre Haute, Indiana, and across +southern Indiana along the Ohio River, and it is right in here, about +where the pencil indicates that some of our best northern varieties have +originated. Mr. Littlepage and W. C. Reed and others have shown us nuts +over in the Court House that originated there. The Busseron and the +Indiana are the two most northern. They are a little way north of +Vincennes. No varieties so far of any merit have originated in Illinois. +While we have the map of Illinois before us, I would like to point out +the place where Mr. Riehl originated the variety of chestnut we referred +to some time ago. Down in more southern Illinois is where we find Mr. +Endicott. This darkened area along the southeastern part of the United +States, and extending away up into Virginia, shows the area to which the +pecan has been planted with more or less success. This area extending +down over the Piedmont and up into Virginia and West Virginia, is the +mountain area to which the pecan is not adapted. You never find pecans +on the uplands. This thick, heavy area shows the territory within which +the pecan has been most extensively planted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> It is not common down in +southern Florida. You notice, too, that over here in Texas there have +been very few orchards planted to pecans. North of these shaded areas, +anywhere up in Ohio or Pennsylvania or New York, the pecan has not shown +any adaptability or has not shown sufficient adaptability to justify +commercial planting. Whatever planting of pecans is done in the area +north of the shaded portions there must be considered as experimental.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: The southern part of Texas is actually in the tropical +zone. It would be interesting to know if we have the pecan actually +growing in the tropics.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: We have more or less vague reports that it is growing down +near Brownsville. I think Mr. Littlepage told us the other day of a +friend of his who is planting pecans.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Brownsville is very close to the tropics.</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: Mr. Yoacum told me he had a grove down there that had +not been a success so far. I know that quite a number of people have +discussed the question of planting pecans in that section.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: This is one of the largest of pecan trees; it is the largest +that it has ever been my personal privilege to see. It has a +circumference of between 18 and 19 feet and a spread of about 125 feet. +We estimated that it was about the same height. It stands on the west +side of the Mississippi River, some distance south of Baton Rouge.</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: What is the approximate water level below the ground?</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: It is quite near the surface.</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: I thought so. There are conditions you will observe that +are unusual. In lands where the water level is near the surface, there +is a tendency in the tree to shove out a lot of surface roots. You can +travel all over the pecan belt of Indiana and will never see a pecan +tree that does not look as if it had been driven in the ground with a +pile-driver, but I have noticed that you find those spreading roots +where the water level is near the surface of the ground.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: It is interesting to know that right near this tree were other +large trees, nearly as large, that were blown over, and they showed no +tap-roots, but merely the surface roots, This slide shows a pecan bloom. +The pistillate bloom is clear up on the terminate growth; the staminate, +like other nut trees,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> is on the growth of last season and comes out +somewhat in advance of the pistillate, necessarily.</p> + +<p>We come now to the wild pecans of Texas. The recent census figures show +that fully three-fifths of all the pecans produced in the United States +come from Texas. This photograph shows the native wild pecans along the +Colorado River. Here is the pecan as a park tree. This picture was taken +in Llana Park, New Braunfels, in west Texas. One of the nuisances in +pecan trees is illustrated in the upper part of this photograph; you +will notice the Spanish moss that grows so densely on the pecan trees if +neglected. Unless the moss is kept out it gets so dense that it smothers +the fruiting and leafing surface, so trees that are densely covered with +that are able to make leaves only on the terminals. You notice in the +rear the leaves of bananas that grow there throughout the entire year.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: I have noticed that the mistletoe was a bad parasite on +the pecans in some regions. Have you found that?</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: Yes, that is true; that is one of the pests of the pecan. This +slide shows a typical Texas scene. The wild pecans have been gathered +and are brought into town and are waiting the buyers. You will notice +right here is a bag that has been stood up and opened, waiting for a +buyer, the same as we see grain in the streets of northern towns, and +here are pecans on their way from the warehouse to the car. The next +slide shows another step; they are on their way now from Texas to the +crackery or the wholesalers. The crop of pecans in Texas alone usually +runs from 200 cars to 600 or 700 cars. This year the crop is small and +probably not over 200 cars, so the prices are going up. This is the +pecan crackery in San Antonio, having a capacity of 20,000 pounds a day. +The pecans are cracked by machinery and the kernels are picked out by +hand. This slide shows a native pecan tree. The one in the foreground +was from across the river near Vincennes. It is one of the first +northern varieties that was introduced, but it is now superseded. The +next is the original tree of the Busseron. The nuts from that tree are +on exhibition over at the Court House brought here by Mr. Reed. The tree +was cut back quite severely several years ago to get budwood and has not +made sufficient top yet to bear normal crops again. This is the original +tree of Indiana. Beside the tree is the introducer, Mr. Mason J. +Niblack, the gentleman with his hand by the tree. Now we come to the +original<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> Green River, one of the northern Kentucky pecans. It is in a +forest more than twelve miles from Evansville across the Ohio River in +Kentucky. The trunk of that tree is typical of others in the forest. +There is a pecan forest of perhaps 200 acres, from which everything but +pecan timber was removed several years ago.</p> + +<p>The slide before us shows the trunk of a supposed chance hybrid between +hickory and pecan. The next slide shows a grafted tree of that variety. +It is interesting to note the vigor of this hybrid. It is quite the +usual thing to get added vigor with hybrids. This is one of the most +beautiful, dense, dark green trees that I have ever seen in the hickory +family. This tree is in northern Georgia, but it is not so prolific as +the parent tree.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Does the shell fill down there?</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: No, it does not.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: It grows very vigorously in Connecticut. It is a perfectly +hardy hybrid, but I am afraid I shall only be able to use the crop for +spectacle cases.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: This shows one of the most common methods of propagating the +pecan, the annular system. It is a slight modification of the system Mr. +Rush applies to the propagation of the walnut. This shows one of the +tools designed especially for annular budding, the Galbraith knife. The +rest of the operation you already understand. It is merely placing the +bud in position and wrapping the same as Mr. Rush does.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: I would like to ask, does it make a great deal of +difference whether the bud ring is half an inch long or an inch and a +quarter long?</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: It does not make any difference. The union takes place on the +cambium layer. It is not made on the cut.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Then the length of the bud is not of great importance?</p> + +<p>Mr. Rush: No, it is of no importance at all.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: This slide may be a little bit misleading. Two nuts matured in +the nursery on a scion that was inserted in February. The scion was +taken from a mature tree and the fruit buds had already set and had +enough nourishment to carry them through the season so that they +matured. That is no indication of what may be expected in the way of +bearing. It is one of the freaks. This is merely a view of a +fourteen-year old pecan orchard in south-western Georgia, a 700-acre +orchard owned largely by one person. That is the orchard belonging<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> to +Mr. G. M. Bacon, a name probably familiar to some of you. Those trees +are set 46 feet, 8 inches apart, each way. There are twenty trees to the +acre, just beginning to bear now. That photograph was taken some two +years ago showing the first step in topworking. The top has been +removed, as you notice, and the next slide shows the subsequent +water-sprouts which are later budded. The lower branches were left in +the first place to take up the sap while the new head was in formation. +They have now been removed. Our next point might be brought out in +connection with this slide. One of the typical, sub-tropical storms, not +unusual in the Gulf States, swept over this area in September, just as +the nuts were beginning to mature and defoliated the trees and whipped +off the nuts. The sap was still in circulation, and the varieties that +respond most readily to warm weather, that start earliest in the spring, +sent out new leaves, so that foliage was foliage that ought to have come +on the next year, that is, it was exhausting next year's buds. The same +year the tree sent out its blossom buds, so it had no fruit the +following season. This slide shows one of the pests in the pecan +orchard, the twig girdler, at work. The insect deposits its egg under +the bark up at about that point, then goes down below girdles the twig, +and it breaks off, goes to the ground, and the insect comes out, goes +into the ground and comes out the next season. There are a good many +drawbacks that are occurring and more are to be expected the same as +with other fruit. There are probably no more setbacks to pecan growing +than there are to the growing of other fruit, but this is one of the +things. This orchard was set in land bordering the Flint River and at +the time this picture was taken the water stood at the depth of three +feet. It probably did no harm, because it didn't stay more than a week +or ten days. Sometimes it stays longer and in such cases it is a serious +matter. In Texas, floods come up like that into the branches of the +trees, so high in some seasons after the nuts are formed, that the nuts +deteriorate and fall to the ground. In such cases it is a pretty serious +thing. (Applause.)</p> + +<p>The time for which the "scenic" was engaged having expired, the +delegates returned to the Court House and the regular program was +resumed.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: We will next hear from Mr. Lake.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lake: My topic, aside from the slides, was concerning the result of +the work at Arlington this year. It is all written out but I don't +propose to read the paper at this stage. I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> not been a teacher and +lecturer for 25 years for nothing, and I don't propose to kill the few +friends I have among nut growers by talking them to death when they are +hungry and want to see something interesting. I will send this paper in +due time to the secretary, and give way now to Mr. Jones. I did want to +show you on the slides a few illustrations of cross fertilization +between the Japanese and the American walnut, but we will put those in +engravings and put them in the Northern Nut Growers' Journal, so that +you will see them there with better satisfaction. Now one or two words +about these Persian walnuts. These are eastern grown seedlings, the best +that I have been able to pick out. Here is an Oregon grown nut. That is +the ideal type for dessert walnuts. This is the Meylan. There is only +one better, and that is the real Mayette, of which we grow very few in +the United States, but we are growing considerable of the Meylan. +Whether we can grow this successfully here or not, I am not certain, but +it is well worth trying. The better type of our nut seedlings in the +east are from the Parisienne. We must get a nut something like this that +you can crack between your fingers, not one that is sealed so hard that +it requires a hammer, and must get one with a very good quality of meat. +One great advantage to the walnut grower in the East will be that he can +get his crop on to the Thanksgiving market, which is the cream of the +market—something the Western or European nut grower cannot do. So if we +can grow a nut reasonably fair in quality we can expect excellent +results.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Mr. Jones, will you give us your points now?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Dr. Deming yesterday asked me to give a little demonstration +of grafting and I have brought along a sort of transplanted nursery on a +board, so that I might do so.</p> + +<p>(Here Mr. Jones demonstrated methods of grafting the pecan.)</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Tell us about the wax cloth, Mr. Jones.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: We use that over the cut.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: How do you make your wax cloth?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: We take a roll of this, possibly three or four yards long, +very thin muslin, roll it up and drop it in the melted wax.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: How do you make that wax?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: We don't measure the ingredients, but I think it varies from +four to six pound of rosin, to one pound of beeswax and a tea cup full +of boiled linseed oil and about a tablespoon of lamp black.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: What do you use the lamp black for, Mr. Jones?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: To toughen the wax so that it will not crack and so that it +will adhere better.</p> + +<p>A Member: How do you get your excess of wax off the cloth?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: We just throw the rolls on a board and press them.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reed: I believe you would find it easier to tear it up into strips +than to put it in rolls. We have been using that method. We ran short of +cloth and I went to town and got some and tore off a piece about 8 or 9 +yards long and folded it up into strips that wide and dipped it in the +pure beeswax and pressed it on a board and it was ready for work.</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: I take just a common corn cob and wind it on as you would on +a spool, then, while the wax is warm, I dip it in; you can have the +cloth half an inch wide or an inch wide just as you please. My way of +making wax is, I take two pounds of rosin, one pound of beeswax and half +a pound of tallow. I find that stands all kinds of weather.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: You prefer the tallow?</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: Yes sir, I do.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Beef tallow or mutton tallow?</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: I prefer mutton tallow; two pounds of rosin, one of beeswax +and half a pound of tallow. Then you want to boil it very slowly and +thoroughly, and pour it in cold water.</p> + +<p>A Member: Do you unroll this roll of cloth?</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: I have a machine to turn it on just the same as you would on +a spool.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: The strip goes through the wax?</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: No, you wind that, then when your wax is warm, you drop this +in but secure the ends, then take it out and lay it by till it's all +saturated; then I tear it off as I use it. I find that is the most +convenient thing, and I generally get calico, that is pretty closely +woven, but is rotten so that it tears easily.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Did you ever use raffia for tying your grafts?</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: No sir, I have not.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: We have used it on pecans and walnuts for the reason that it +doesn't have to be untied as it bursts off with the growth of the tree.</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: This wax I have tried on thousands and thousands of grafts +and it stands all kinds of weather. You can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> get wax that's been there 8 +or 10 years and you can take it off now and use it.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: That is one advantage of using the tallow; linseed oil will +dry out.</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: Tallow is the best; that's been my experience.</p> + +<p>A Member: If linseed oil is not used immediately or very soon, it gets +hard.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: It's all right in wax and all right in cloth, too, if you +keep it in a damp place till ready to use.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutt: Can you use parafine in place of beeswax?</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Have you tried this method on the other hickories besides +the pecans?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Yes sir.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: You've got shagbark to catch fairly well, have you by this +method?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Yes sir.</p> + +<p>The Secretary: How did your pecans and hickories do last summer?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: I've forgotten the exact percentage that grew. Some died +after they had made a growth of several inches. I think I left too many +limbs growing on the hickories. Some of them made quite good growth.</p> + +<p>A Member: When is this kind of grafting done?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: We wait until the sap is up.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: What do you cover the top with?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: With wax. We leave this open at the bottom, for the reason +that the sap can get out and not ferment. If it holds the sap, it will +sour you know.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: How far down does your wax go, Mr. Jones?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Far enough to cover up the wrapping.</p> + +<p>A Member: Does that work on pecans as well as hickories?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Yes sir. To show the value of this patch, we have grafted +rows side by side and got 80 per cent where we used this patch and 34 +per cent where we waxed it over solid and left no ventilation or exit +for the sap.</p> + +<p>A Member: Isn't that to keep the wax out of the cambium layer?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Yes sir, it does that too.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: Are there any fine points about this trimming, other than +mere wedge?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: No sir, only it's thick on one side, as you will see so that +it wedges tightly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<p>A Member: Isn't it a fact that you can use three and four year pecan +wood just as well?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Yes sir, two year wood or three will give you better results +than one year.</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: What time in the season do you graft?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: The 20th of April to the 20th of May here.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: What stage of stock do you prefer?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Well it doesn't matter, you can graft these after they have +made a foot of new growth, if you've got a good dormant scion; you could +put in a graft any time in the summer, perhaps.</p> + +<p>A Member: How long do you leave on the paper bags?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Until the scion begins to grow. Sometimes I have made a +mistake and left them on until they grew up and curled down.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: What is the superiority of that over plain cleft grafting?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: You can do better work and do it quicker. I have put in 1200 +grafts in a day.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: You don't mind this arch being left up?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: That ought to go a little deeper, maybe, but it don't make +much difference, so long as it is well waxed.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: The paper bag protects the scion?</p> + +<p>Mr Jones: Yes sir. The object is not to protect the scion so much as to +keep it dry. You want to keep the scion dry until it gets sap from the +stock to start it into growth.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: Is it necessary that this should be waxed cloth?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: No sir, we use paper ordinarily, of course we run wax over +the paper in waxing the scion and then the paper is as good as cloth.</p> + +<p>Col. Sober: Do you find it apt to curl up in windy days—the paper? I +tried that and had all kinds of trouble until I got on to the tape.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: We don't try to tie with the paper; the paper is only to let +the surplus moisture or sap out.</p> + +<p>A Member: Does this tend to hold that in or is it all held in by the +patch there?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: This doesn't really need any tying, as it is large.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: Would you carry the patch around to the other side?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: No sir, just fill it up with wax.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Chairman: And the juice runs out of there and will escape anyway.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Yes sir.</p> + +<p>A Member: Do you wax in addition to the paper you put on?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: We don't wax the scion all over. We used to take hot wax and +run a thin layer over the whole scion, but we quit that and used the +bag, because if you wax over a scion tight and it happens to have +sufficient moisture, it will start growth with that moisture before it +makes the union.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: Do you wax the tip end?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Yes sir.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: Do you wax this in here?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Yes sir; we fill that over with liquid wax. It is possible to +have your wax too hot, and burn the scion.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: Have you found that all the species of hickory take grafts +with equal ease?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: We grafted some here last spring that started very nicely and +then died. I don't know whether it was in the hickory stock or whether +they were robbed by the sprouts; we didn't pull off any sprouts. There's +a whole lot of things we don't know about grafting yet, but will know +more in time.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: How about using scion wood more than one year old?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: We prefer two or three year old wood for the scion. We have +coming now, 3,000 walnut scions from California and they are all to be +two and three years old. I have put in rows of 100 with large two year +scions and you could count 100 and not find one dead among them and some +of the scions were almost as big as my wrist. It's a job to cut them. +You see that scion, being large, has enough vitality to hold it until it +can make a union.</p> + +<p>A Member: You want one bud on this?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: We generally have two buds.</p> + +<p>A Member: Do you use the same method on the Persian walnut?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Yes sir; we got a little stingy one year and cut these all to +one bud and hardly got any out of them. You've got to have wood enough +to hold the scions dormant; of course there may be one or more buds on +the scion.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: And got to have food enough in them.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Yes sir. Col. Sober grafts chestnuts that way,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> but I have +never been able to graft pecans and walnuts with very short scions.</p> + +<p>The Chairman: I have caught chestnuts with one bud, but most of the nut +trees want more food and you've got to have a lot in the scion.</p> + +<p>Prof. Smith: Have you used that with pecans in the North?</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones: Yes sir, this will be our method of propagation.</p> + +<p>After Mr. Jones had given further illustrations of the process of +grafting, the convention adjourned.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="SOME_PERSIAN_WALNUT_OBSERVATIONS_EXPERIMENTS_AND_RESULTS_FOR_1912" id="SOME_PERSIAN_WALNUT_OBSERVATIONS_EXPERIMENTS_AND_RESULTS_FOR_1912"></a>SOME PERSIAN WALNUT OBSERVATIONS, EXPERIMENTS AND RESULTS FOR 1912</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">E. R. Lake, Washington, D. C.</span></h4> + + +<p>The Arlington work for 1912 in the propagation of the Persian walnut +consisted in top-grafting three and four year old nursery stock by +several methods, as ordinary cleft, side cleft, bark cleft, prong, whip +and modified forms of these. For wrapping we tried bicycle tape, waxed +cord and cloth, with wax and plasticine for covering.</p> + +<p>The work was done during the latter part of April and first part of May. +The stocks averaged from ¾ to 1¼ inches diameter, and were cut off +from 16 to 30 inches above the surface of the ground. In a few cases +bark grafting by modified whip form was performed upon the branches at a +height of about 4 feet.</p> + +<p>Later in the season from June 12th to August 25th buds were placed by +varying methods. In the earlier instances the buds were taken from +left-over grafting stock. Of the scion wood received last year all the +wood from Eastern growers was frost bitten and wholly failed to take +with one or two exceptions.</p> + +<p>The Pacific Coast wood was received in excellent condition and +operations with it were gratifying, especially with the ordinary cleft +graft, and patch bud.</p> + +<p>Next year's work in grafting will be confined to the cleft, and the +bark-whip processes. This latter is very simple and under careful +treatment promises to be a convenient and successful process.</p> + +<p>In the budding operations we resorted to a number of methods largely for +the benefit of the information obtained from the practice, and not so +much for the returns in propagated trees.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<p>However, for 1913 in the work of propagating for stock results we shall +confine our practice to the patch method, though we may find from later +tests that the hinge method so favorably looked upon by Oregon is better +suited to the work.</p> + +<p>Various experiments with tying material were tried. Raffia, cotton cord, +waxed cloth and bicycle tape were used. The raffia and cord gave best +results. A tight tie is needed.</p> + +<p>June-budding from the left-over graft-wood gave a very low percentage of +"takes." Most of the buds appeared to be drowned. Buds from the current +year's growth inserted from early to middle of August are at present +apparently in good dormant condition.</p> + +<p>Some July buds from the left-over graft-wood placed in the younger +branches of a twelve year old American black took well and made from +three to six inches growth. The branches were cut back as soon as the +buds appeared to be set, a course that would not be advocated if one +were doing the work for re-topping. The young wood from these buds is +delicate and soft and in order to insure their living through the +winter, so far as our efforts may avail, they have been enclosed in +strong paper bags. In our budding and grafting operations we had no +success with the Japanese or Chinese stocks. We expect to try them +further as their rapid growth makes them much to be desired if a +permanent union can be effected. So far as we have been able to learn +from the southern propagators who have worked along this line, no +difficulty has been encountered in effecting a short-life union,—four +to six years on an average, though a few have kept alive for twelve +years.</p> + +<p>The growth of the successful grafts has been very variable. In several +instances in which both scions upon a stock grew, the growth was from +two to three feet. In other cases the young wood was scarcely a foot +long.</p> + +<p>The fact that the stocks and scion-wood varied widely in size and vigor +and the further fact that the scions were from several varieties of +western stock are quite sufficient causes for no uniform results in this +respect.</p> + +<p>The wood of all successful grafts appears to be in excellent condition +for the winter season and we are looking forward to an interesting +further growth of these next year, though the trees have just been +transplanted. In order to doubly insure ourselves against loss of the +varieties now growing one half, or even more in a few instances, of the +young wood has been removed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> and placed in a cold room so that further +grafting or budding of these varieties may be made next year.</p> + +<p>Nursery trees of the Franquette, Pomeroy, Parisienne and unidentified +others, on their own roots are making a pitiable effort at successful +growth, while all wood on the black stock is making excellent growth.</p> + +<p>In one instance the wood of Mayquette a cross between Mayette and +Franquette formed two nutlets. Lack of pollen was all that prevented the +fruiting of one-year-old grafted trees. A splendid point for the unit +orchard booster, but a point of no value to the real walnut grower.</p> + + +<h4>CROSS FERTILIZATION</h4> + +<p>Owing to the very vigorous weather of the past winter the catkins on the +older Persians at Arlington Farm were killed. In order to study the +conduct and product of these trees we sought pollen elsewhere to +fertilize their liberal display of pistils. We were successful in +obtaining some from the trees of Messrs. Killen and Rosa, and Miss Lea, +but though this and some pollen of black, butternut and the Japanese was +used no pollenation was successful.</p> + +<p>In the case of sieboldiana, however, we succeeded in securing what +appears to be fruit of certain definite cross-fertilization, as +sieboldiana x nigra; sieboldiana x cinerea and possibly sieboldiana x +regia.</p> + +<p>Only in one instance did the nuts appear to have other than the usual +characters of sieboldiana.</p> + +<p>The nuts of the cinerea cross were longer, more tubular and somewhat +deeper furrowed and darker.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately some conflicting results in the fruiting of the +sieboldiana places the possible cross-fruits under a cloud.</p> + +<p>A peculiarity of the blossoming of the sieboldiana at Arlington this +year was that the stamens and pistils of an individual tree opened at +dates of six to ten days apart, and with the tree used for crossing the +catkins were all off before the pistils opened. As no two trees are near +together, perhaps two to three hundred feet being the closest, natural +cross-pollenating was not expected. However, after the +cross-pollenations by hand were made and fruits set, and even matured, +it was found that some clusters had from one to three more nuts than +were hand treated. Many of the clusters had less nuts than the number of +pistils treated, which was to be expected.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> + +<p>But how to account for the extra sets is a problem not clear for it is +possible that pollenation might have occurred in one of two ways—by +stray pollen grains from the hand operations by wind-carried grains from +the trees. In any event only the fruiting of the trees from the nuts +under consideration will settle it, and as these have been planted we +are on the way to the solution.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_INDIANA_PECANS" id="THE_INDIANA_PECANS"></a>THE INDIANA PECANS</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">R. L. McCoy, Indiana</span></h4> + + +<p>The pecan is probably the best nut that grows. It belongs to the hickory +family which is indigenous to North America. Since water is its natural +distributing agent it is most generally found growing intermixed with +the large hickory nut or shagbark in creek and river bottoms. While the +hickory is hardy enough to thrive even into the Canadian provinces the +pecan is not so hardy and is seldom found in the northern tier of +states. It thrives well as far north as the northern boundary of +Illinois. The writer has seen a transplanted tree in bearing in Branch +County, Michigan, and native trees along the Mississippi River near the +mouth of the Wisconsin.</p> + +<p>The nuts in the extreme northern limit are not much larger than a hazel +nut. But the nuts that grow in Indiana and Illinois from the Ohio River +on the south to Rock Island on the northwest and Lafayette on the +northeast are much larger. Here are found many superior nuts worthy of +propagation. In fact, the writer has before him a great many nuts of +named and un-named varieties which he and Mr. Littlepage and others have +discovered in their search for worthy nuts in the native pecan woods. +There are many thousand acres of these groves on the Ohio, Green, Wabash +and Illinois rivers where many trees are found which bear nuts as large +as some of the varieties which are being propagated in the Gulf Coast +country.</p> + +<p>The nuts of the Evansville group are especially noted for their fine +flavor. The people of this section will not eat southern pecans if they +can get native nuts. This year several carloads of these native wild +nuts will be shipped to the Cleveland, Boston, and New York markets. +While the finer nuts seldom get into the markets at all but are bought +by wealthy men in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> locality where they grow. Many men buy from a +special tree year after year—its flavor suiting their taste.</p> + +<p>The yield from some of these larger trees (and there are many of them +four feet in diameter and some as large as nineteen feet four inches in +circumference at shoulder height) is very good. The writer has seen a +number in the last few days which were estimated to have from four to +six hundred pounds, the most of the crop having not yet been gathered. +He knows of one tree which bore (17) seventeen bushels and Mr. Louis +Huber of Shawneetown gathered 718 pounds from another tree. Two hundred +and eighty-five pounds of nuts were gathered and weighted from the Luce +tree. These nuts were gathered green for fear of their being stolen and +it was estimated that fifteen pounds were left on the tree. Also that +the hail storm in early September destroyed fifty (50) pounds more. +Hence the Luce bore approximately eight bushels. The Kentucky tree had +four and one-half bushels by measurement. The Warrick tree had, the best +we can estimate, about 150 pounds. The Grayville, or Posey as Mr. +Littlepage wishes to call it, bore at least two hundred pounds by +weight. One hundred and sixty pounds were gathered from the Major and +two hundred and fifty pounds from the Green River tree. We do not think +the Hinton bore to exceed two pounds of nuts. We do not know the amount +of nuts gathered from the Indiana and the Busseron trees. The Buttrick +tree had some three or four bushels of nuts this year but as a dredge +ditch was recently constructed by it, destroying half of its root +system, it did not mature its crop. This tree has been in bearing since +1817 and it has not been known to miss a crop previous to this year.</p> + +<p>In our search for nuts worthy of being propagated we have found several +nuts as yet un-named that are in our opinion much superior to any +northern nut that has been brought to public notice. But as we know +little of their bearing record and do not wish to burden the nurserymen +with too many varieties we will keep these trees under observation for a +year or two before naming them.</p> + +<p>We have been trying to propagate some of the best varieties at our +nursery for about three years. Our first attempt was root-grafting in +which our success varied from 15 per cent to 75 per cent under the best +conditions. We found after some experience that it was not difficult to +root-graft. But last winter, 1911-12, was the coldest winter for some +years, the thermometer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> registering as low as 20 degrees below. Most of +our root-grafts were killed back to the ground but few if any of them +were killed outright. When spring came they started new growth and are +now about four feet high. The fall of 1911 was very warm and wet and +they were in vigorous growth until the first week in November when we +had a hard freeze which killed the wheat, causing the worst failure in +that crop ever known in this section. The winter then following being +very cold we had two conditions against spring root-grafted pecans. But +we failed to see any budded ones that were injured. However, we only had +pecans budded to hickory which was done by Mr. Paul White in May, 1911 +and, so far as we know, this was the first hickory top-worked to pecan +in Indiana. However, he now has quite a number top-worked last spring +that have made a growth of three or four feet. We also have both budded +and root-grafted pecans from last spring and summer so that in the +spring we will have a better opportunity to see what effect the winter +will have on them.</p> + +<p>So far as we are able to determine from our observation of a few +orchards all pecan trees bought from southern nurserymen and planted in +this section have either died out or made very feeble growth. Although +some large Texas nuts have been planted here and grown, yet they have +either not fruited at all or the nuts have proved no better than our +native nuts.</p> + +<p>The northern pecan timber is not brash like the southern pecan but is +very elastic and tough. An axe-handle made from northern pecan sells for +ten cents more than one made from hickory and pecan timber is much +sought after by axe-handle makers.</p> + +<p>The people in this section have in the last few years awakened to the +fact that their swamps studded with pecan trees are about the most +valuable lands they possess and many are the inquiries: "Where can we +get good budded or grafted pecans?"</p> + +<p>The idea of propagating the northern pecan is of very recent origin and +while the few attempts at propagation have not as yet met with any very +great success, yet we are hoping that the time will be when many acres +of our lands shall be set in valuable pecan orchards and our highways +lined with long rows of fine pecans, chestnuts, and English walnuts +which shall serve the three-fold purpose of beautifying Mother Earth, +yielding delicious food, and furnishing a place of rest for the weary +traveler.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="APPENDIX" id="APPENDIX"></a>APPENDIX</h2> + +<h3>REPORT OF THE SECRETARY AND TREASURER</h3> + + + +<div class='centered'> +<table border="1" cellpadding="2" width="60%" cellspacing="0" summary="REPORT OF THE SECRETARY AND TREASURER"> +<tr> +<td>Bal. on hand, date of last report</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right">$ 48.73</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Annual dues and life membership</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right">178.00</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Advertisements in Annual Report</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right">25.00</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sale of report</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right">18.00</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Dr. Crocker, paid for list of names</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right">2.00</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Prof. Collins, paid for reprints</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right">8.00</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + + +<tr> +<td><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Total receipts</span></td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right">$279.73</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<th>Expenses:</th> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Expenses of Prof. Collins</td> +<td align="right">$ 20.85</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Printing report and reprints</td> +<td align="right">195.16</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Other printing</td> +<td align="right">38.00</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Postage</td> +<td align="right">35.75</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Typewriting</td> +<td align="right">16.24</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Stationery</td> +<td align="right">4.50</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Miscellaneous</td> +<td align="right">14.30</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + + + +<tr> +<th><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Total expenses</span></th> +<td align="right">$324.80</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Bill receivable</td> +<td align="right"> ;</td> +<td align="right">1.00</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Bill payable</td> +<td align="right">22.00</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + + + +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">$346.80</td> +<td align="right">$280.73</td> +<td align="right"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<th><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Deficit</span></th> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td align="right">$66.07</td> +</tr> + + + +</table></div> + + + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Our first annual report, embodying the transactions at the first +and second annual meetings, was issued in May, and copies were sent +to all members, to the principal libraries of the country, to +officials of the Agricultural Department at Washington, and to some +state agricultural officials, to several agricultural and other +periodicals for notice and review, and to various persons +especially interested. Eighteen copies have been sold.</p> + +<p>About 1,000 copies of each of the two circulars, "Why Nut Culture +is Important" and "The Northern Nut Growers Association and Why You +Should Join It", have been sent to members and correspondents, and +also revised circulars on the literature of nut growing and on +seedsmen and nurserymen.</p> + +<p>An illustrated article about nut growing and the association +appeared in the Literary Digest and many agricultural and other +periodicals have had notices of our association and our meeting.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Besides the regular notices sent to members and papers, different +notices and brief statements about nut growing, were sent weekly +for five weeks before the meeting to 80 different newspapers +published in the country about Lancaster in the hope of getting a +good local attendance. The Pennsylvania Chestnut Blight Commission +assisted in this publicity campaign by sending postal card notices +to about a hundred persons in the eastern part of Pennsylvania who +were known to have from a few to thousands of cultivated chestnut +trees.</p> + +<p>The secretary's correspondence has increased so as to become, if it +were not for enthusiasm, burdensome. Often several inquiries a day +are received and they come from all parts of the United States and +Canada.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> + +<p>The following figures are brought up to date of going to press.</p> + +<p>Our membership has nearly doubled since the last report was issued, +increasing from 60 to 113. We have lost 1 member by death and 2 by +resignation. Our present membership standing at 110.</p> + +<p>We have members in 27 states, the District of Columbia, Panama, and +Canada. New York heads the list with 37 members and Pennsylvania +comes next with 12.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_RESOLUTIONS" id="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_RESOLUTIONS"></a>REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS</h2> + +<p class="center">Read by Professor Smith</p> + + +<p>RESOLVED:</p> + +<p>1. That we extend our thanks to the Mayor and citizens of Lancaster for +the welcome and entertainment they have afforded us while here and for +the excellent auditorium they have placed at our disposal.</p> + +<p>2. That we extend our thanks to Messrs. Rush and Jones and their +entertainment committee.</p> + +<p>3. That we extend our thanks to the Pennsylvania Chestnut Tree Blight +Commission for the attendance of their representatives. We note with +keen interest their expressions of hope for the control of this +cyclopean menace.</p> + +<p>4. That we express our deep appreciation of the great interest and +valuable services of Dr. Morris, the retiring President, and Dr. Deming, +the Secretary and Treasurer, two officers to whose untiring efforts this +Association is largely due.</p> + +<p>5. That we express the thanks of the Association to those members and +others who have enriched this meeting by their interesting exhibits.</p> + +<p>6. That the following letter be sent from this Association to the,—</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary of Agriculture,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Persons in authority in the United States Bureau of Plant Industry,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The Presidents of Agricultural Colleges,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The Directors of Agricultural Experiment Stations,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And leading Teachers in Agriculture Colleges.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>The Northern Nut Growers' Association, by resolution passed at its third +annual meeting, held at Lancaster, Pa., in December 1912, calls your +attention to the importance of, and need for, the breeding of new types +of crop yielding trees. We now have the possibility of a new, but as yet +little developed, agriculture which may (A) nearly double our food +supply and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> also (B) serve as the greatest factor in the conservation of +our resources.</p> + +<p>(A) Our agriculture at the present time depends chiefly upon the grains +which were improved by selection in pre-historic times, because they +were annuals and quick yielders. The heavy yielding plants, the engines +of nature, are the trees, which have in most cases remained unimproved +and largely unused until the present time because of the slowness of +their generations and the absence of knowledge concerning plant +breeding.</p> + +<p>We now know something about plant breeding, and its possibilities as +applied to the crop yielding trees seem to be enormous. They certainly +warrant immediate and widespread effort at plant breeding. A member of +this Association has shown that the chinquapin can be crossed with the +oak; that all the walnuts freely hybridize with each other and with the +open bud hickories, a class which includes the toothsome and profitable +pecan. There is in California a tree which is considered to be a cross +between the native walnut and the live oak. The Mendelian Law in +connection with past achievements in plant breeding, and the experiments +of Loeb in crossing the sea urchin and the star fish are profoundly +suggestive.</p> + +<p>The possibilities of plant breeding as applied to crop yielding trees +seem to be enormous. They certainly warrant immediate and widespread +effort toward the creation of useful strains which may become the basis +of a new agriculture yielding food for both man and the domestic +animals.</p> + +<p>(B) The time for constructive conservation has come. Our most vital +resource is the soil. It is possibly the only resource for which there +is no substitute. Its destruction is the most irreparable waste. So long +as the earth remains in place the burnt forest may return and the +exhausted field may be restored by scientific agriculture. But once the +gully removes this soil, it is the end so far as our civilization is +concerned—forest, field and food are impossible and even water power is +greatly impaired. Our present system of agriculture, depending upon the +grains, demands the plowing of hillsides and the hillsides wash away. +This present dependence upon the plow means that one-third of our soil +resources is used only for forest, one-third is being injured by +hillside erosion, and only one-third, the levelest, is being properly +used for plow crops.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> + +<p>The present alternative of Forestry for hillsides is often impossible +because the yields are too meagre. Almost any land that can produce a +forest, and much that has been considered too dry for forest, can +produce an annual harvest of value to man or his animals when we have +devoted sufficient attention to the breeding of walnuts, chestnuts, +pecans, shellbarks, acorn yielding oaks, beech nuts, pine nuts, hazel +nuts, almonds, honey locust, mesquite, screw bean, carob, mulberry, +persimmon, pawpaw, and many other fruit and nut trees of this and other +lands.</p> + +<p>The slowness and expense of the process of plant introduction and tree +breeding limits this work to a few individuals with patience and +scientific tastes and to governmental and other institutions of a +permanent nature. The United States Government and each state experiment +station should push this work vigorously and we appeal to you to use +your influence in that direction. You may find material of interest in +our published proceedings and in the Fruit and Nut Journal, the organ of +the industry, published at Petersburg, Virginia.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE" id="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE"></a>REPORT OF COMMITTEE</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">On the Death of Professor John Craig</span></h4> + +<p class="center">Read by Dr. Morris</p> + + +<p>"The Northern Nut Growers' Association suffered very great loss in the +death of Professor John Craig, at Siasconset, Massachusetts, on August +10, 1912.</p> + +<p>"Professor Craig, from his many responsible positions in the +horticultural world, had acquired a wealth of information which was +always at the disposal of his friends and students. His training as a +teacher gave such facility in expression of view, that his part in our +discussions inspired the audience and called forth the best that others +had to offer.</p> + +<p>"His type of mind was essentially scientific, and combined with this +type of mind there was a rare quality of critical faculty in relation to +the relative practical values of horticultural ideas and methods. His +interest in the Northern Nut Growers Association belonged to a natural +fondness for everything that promised new development, and he +established at Cornell University the first course in nuciculture,—so +far as we are aware,—that has ever been formulated at an educational +institution.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The personality of Professor Craig, characteristic of that of the +scientist, was marked by simplicity and directness of manner, impatience +with error due to carelessness or intent, but unlimited benign tolerance +of all men who honestly expressed views opposing his own or who made +conscientious mistakes. Professor Craig possessed that broad humanity +which found quite as large interest in his fellow man as it found in his +special study of plants, and his charming personality, strong manly +bearing, scholarship, and active interest in whatever engaged his +attention at all, will be ever remembered by those of us who had the +pleasure and the profit of his acquaintance."</p> + +<p>Mr. Littlepage: I would just like to say, in connection with the very +appropriate and excellent words which the President used in reference to +Prof. Craig, that it certainly meets the most hearty approval of all of +us who knew Prof. Craig, that this association go on record in this +manner. At the first meeting that was held, by the few of us who met in +Bronx Park Museum at New York, to start this organization, you will +remember the enthusiasm and the words of encouragement that Prof. Craig +gave us at that time. He was there among the first and there was always +intermingled with the scientific phase of the subjects that he +discussed, the practical, genial good fellowship that made everyone like +him; and after all, it is but proper that we stop for a moment and +express our deep appreciation. In this life of turmoil and business +hustle, I think that we sometimes do not quite realize the shortness of +life, the shortness of the time that we have to accomplish any of those +things in which we are interested; and it is the men who are giving +their time to these scientific subjects, the results of which will inure +to all humanity, who are certainly entitled to consideration and a +kindly remembrance. That is why it was that I heard with such +gratification the words of the President about Prof. Craig.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_EXHIBITS" id="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_EXHIBITS"></a>REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EXHIBITS</h2> + +<p class="center">Read by Professor Hutt</p> + +<h4>By J. G. Rush, West Willow, Pa.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Persian walnuts, four varieties: Hall, Burlington, Nebo, Rush; +plate of mixed, imported varieties; Seedling walnuts, Paradox +walnut, black walnuts and rupestris, (Texas); two plates +Chinquapins; chestnuts, Giant Japanese; shellbarks: LaFeuore, very +good, large, Weiker, fair; two seedlings: Paradise nut; two plates +filberts; Lancaster Co. pecans; budding knives.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<h4>By Wilmer P. Hooper, Forest Hill, Md.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Seedling Persian Walnut; Sir Clair; tree probably fifty years old, +vigorous, hardy, annual bearer. On farms of L. J. Onion, +Cooperstown, Md. P. O. Sharon, Md. 1911 crop one bushel; 1912 crop +one and one half bushels.</p> + +<p>Alexis; tree twenty-eight years old; vigorous, hardy, annual +bearer, flavor good. Farm of Alexis Smith, Churchville, Md. Crop +1911 one bushel; crop 1912 one bushel.</p> + +<p>Sheffield; tree six years old; bought of Hoopes Brothers & Thomas; +hardy, vigorous; 6 to 18 feet high; on farm of Mrs. S. T. Poleet, +Cooperton, Md., P. O. Sharon, Md.</p> + +<p>Smith; tree forty to forty-five years old; large, hardy; on farm of +J. T. Smith, Berkeley, Md.</p> + +<p>Beder; fifty to fifty-five years old; large, annual bearer; grown +from nut on farm of David Hildt, Janettsville, Md.</p> + +<p>Hooker; tree twenty-two years old; origin Franklin Davis; vigorous, +hardy, annual bearer, hard shell, fine butternut flavor; from farm +of Mrs. Kate Hooker, Vale, Md.</p></div> + +<h4>By Mr. Knaub.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Shellbarks, five varieties: three black walnuts, two butternuts; +one chestnut.</p></div> + +<h4>By Mrs. J. L. Lovett, Emilie, Pa.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Six varieties of Persian walnuts.</p></div> + +<h4>By E. B. Holden, Hilton, N. Y.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Holden walnut.</p></div> + +<p>Stock Seed Nuts from J. M. Thorborn & Co., 33 Barclay St., New York +City.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Juglans Californica, Juglans cordiformis, Juglans Sieboldi, Juglans +nigra, Juglans cinerea, Juglans sinensis, Carya alba (shellbark), +Carya porcina (pignut), Carya tomentosa (mockernut), Carya sulcata, +Corylus rostrata, Corylus amara, Castanea Americana.</p></div> + +<h4>By E. A. Riehl, Alton, Ill.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A plate of Rochester nuts and thirty seedlings of it, showing +tendency to reversion; eight varieties of shagbark; eight varieties +of shellbark; eight plates of Sieboldi; eight plates black walnuts +(Thomas); Rush Chinquapin.</p></div> + +<p>Collection of walnuts by Professor Lake, of Washington, D. C.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Royal Hybrid, California x nigra; Paradox, California x regia; +Meylan, Glady, Sypherd, Stabler, Milbank, St. Clair.</p></div> + +<h4>By A. C. Pomeroy, Lockport, N. Y.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Pomeroy walnuts and seedlings of the original tree.</p></div> + +<h4>By T. P. Littlepage, Washington, D. C.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Indiana pecans, six varieties: Warwick, Posey, Major, Kentucky, +Indiana, Hodge; Hinton, McCallister hican, Barnes walnut from +Washington, D. C., four varieties shagbark.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> + +<h4>By W. C. Reed, Vincennes, Ind.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Indiana pecans, thirteen varieties: Luce, Beard, Busseron, Porter, +Squires, Kentucky, Hall, Sullivan (2), Warwick, Indiana, Wilson.</p></div> + +<h4>By Col. C. K. Sober, Lewisburg, Pa.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Photograph of his chestnut orchard and nursery.</p></div> + +<h4>By C. A. Reed, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Exhibition jars of Holden walnut, Warwick pecan, Kentucky pecan, +Luce pecan, Hales shagbark, Kirtland shagbark, Weiker shagbark. +Exhibition of Squirrel, Perfection and Great Grip nut crackers; +White, Jones and Galbreath budding tools.</p></div> + +<h4>By Arrowfield Nurseries, Petersburg, Va.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Seedling pecan trees.</p></div> + + +<h3>THE HICKORY BARK BORER</h3> + +<p>That our correspondence with the New York State Commissioner of +Agriculture, as published in the annual report, has borne fruit is shown +by the calling of a conference at the office of the Commissioner at +Albany on February 24th, "to consider methods of control of the hickory +bark borer".</p> + +<p>Among those present were the following:</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Frederick Allien, representing Riverdale Park Association.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">H. W. Merkel, Forester, New York Zoological Park; representing Bronx, Valley Parkway Commission.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. W. A. Murrill, Acting Director, New York Botanical Garden.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">J. J. Levison, Forester, Department of Parks, Brooklyn.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wesley B. Leach, Consulting Arboriculturist, Boro of Queens.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Clifford R. Pettis, Superintendent of State Forests, Albany.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. E. P. Felt, State Entomologist, Albany.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. W. C. Deming, Sec., Northern Nut Growers' Ass'n, Westchester.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">George G. Atwood, Chief, Bureau of Horticulture, State Dept. of Agriculture, Albany.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">B. D. Van Buren, Assistant Chief.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. W. H. Jordan, Director, State Experiment Station, Geneva.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">George L. Barrus, Conservation Commission, Albany.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">S. H. Burnham, Assistant State Botanist, Albany.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. Donald Reddick, Professor of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Ithaca.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Glenn W. Herrick, Professor of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Ithaca.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">W. H. Rankin, Conservation Commission, Albany.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">P. J. Parrott, Entomologist, State Experiment Station, Geneva.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">F. C. Stewart, Botanist, State Experiment Station, Geneva.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>After a prolonged discussion the following resolution was unanimously +adopted:</p> + +<p>WHEREAS, the hickory bark borer is at present extremely injurious and +destructive to hickory trees in and around New York City, and has +already destroyed and is threatening the destruction of thousands of +valuable trees; and</p> + +<p>WHEREAS, it has been demonstrated in several instances, on a large +scale, that the hickory bark borer can be practically controlled; +therefore, be it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> RESOLVED, that we hereby respectfully request the +commissioner of agriculture to take such steps as may be necessary to +bring about the enforcement of the provisions of the agricultural law +relative to insect pests and diseases with particular reference to +control of the hickory bark borer; and be it further</p> + +<p>RESOLVED, that the thanks of the conference are hereby tendered to +Commissioner of Agriculture Huson for his courtesies and the calling of +the conference.</p> + +<p>The following "News Items" of no date, but received in the early part of +June, shows what action has so far been taken:</p> + + +<h3>STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE</h3> + +<p class="center">News Items</p> + +<p>Commissioner Huson of the State Department of Agriculture is receiving +considerable information relative to a serious outbreak of the hickory +bark borer in the vicinity of New York and on Long Island. This borer is +the principal cause of the death of thousands of hickory trees. The +greatest infested area is in the northern part of New York City, in +Westchester County, in Queens and Nassau Counties, though much injury +has been observed throughout Suffolk County, particularly along the +northern shore of the island. The area of infested hickories is about +the same as the territory where the chestnut trees have succumbed to the +attacks of the chestnut bark disease. Now that the chestnuts have so +nearly disappeared and the fact that the hickory trees are also +threatened with entire extermination because of the hickory borer, +requests have been made by many citizens, that the Commissioner of +Agriculture should exercise such authority as the law gives him in the +control of this pest. That the hickory trees that have not been attacked +may be saved, or in a very large measure protected has been proven in +the Zoological Park and in the parks of Brooklyn. The able +superintendents of these two parks have for the last two or three years, +been cutting out every infested hickory tree and in that way the other +trees are found at this time to be free from insects and they have been +saved from certain destruction.</p> + +<p>The hickory borer eats its way into the bark of the hickory trees in +mid-summer. Eggs are laid which hatch and the grubs feed in peculiar +galleries in the bark and between the wood and the bark is such a way as +to cut off the flow of the sap, thus causing the death of the trees. +These grubs are in these galleries at this time of the year and will +remain so until about the middle of June. It is, therefore, necessary +that the infested trees be cut and destroyed before that time in order +to prevent further widespread of the insects. The Commissioner has been +promised the hearty cooperation of many influential and interested +citizens in this movement and agents of this Department are on the +ground with authority to inspect trees to ascertain the limit of +infestation and they have been directed to mark such trees as should be +removed and destroyed at once.</p> + +<p>All persons are requested to inform the Department of the location of +infested hickory trees and to extend to the inspectors such assistance +as may be desired.</p> + +<p>Department Circular Number 64 on "Dying Hickory Trees" will be sent to +all applicants.</p> + +<p class="author"> +CALVIN J. HUSON,<br /> +Commissioner of Agriculture +</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Albany, N. Y.</span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>MISCELLANEOUS NOTES</h3> + +<p>Members present:</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. R. T. Morris</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. T. P. Littlepage</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. W. C. Deming</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. C. A. Reed</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. W. N. Roper</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Prof. E. R. Lake</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. E. S. Mayo</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. A. C. Pomeroy</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. J. F. Jones</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. J. G. Rush</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Col. C. A. Van Duzee</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Prof. J. Russell Smith</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Prof. W. N. Hutt</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. G. H. Corsan</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. C. S. Ridgway</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. H. N. Gowing</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. W. C. Reed</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. W. F. McSparren.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Others present:</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mrs. C. A. Reed</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mrs. A. C. Pomeroy</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mrs. J. F. Jones</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mrs. C. S. Ridgway</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Prof. F. N. Fagan, Dept. of Horticulture, State College of Pennsylvania</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mrs. Fagan</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. Roy G. Pierce, Tree Surgeon, Penn. Chestnut Blight Commission</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. Keller E. Rockey, Forester in Charge of Demonstration Work, Penn. Chestnut Blight Commission</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Col. C. K. Sober, Lewisburg, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. S. V. Wilcox, Rep. Thos. Meehan & Sons, Germantown</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. H. Brown, Rep. Thos. Meehan & Sons, Germantown</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. Wilmer P. Hoopes, Forest Hill, Md.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. A. H. Metzger, Millersville, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. Amos M. Landis, Lancaster, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. Blair Funk, Pequea Creek, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. David S. Herr, Lancaster, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. Edward Harris, Sr., Cumberland, Md.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. Edgar A. Weimer, Lebanon, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. Benj. H. Gochnauer, Lancaster, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mr. C. G. Reese, Elizabethtown, Pa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And others.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<h3>CORRESPONDENTS AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN NUT CULTURE</h3> + + +<h4>ALABAMA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Williams, P. F., Prof. of Horticulture, Ala. Polytechnic Institute, Auburn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Alabama Farm Journal, Montgomery, Ala.</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> + +<h4>ARIZONA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Biederman, C. R., Garces, Cochise Co.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Huntzinger, H. G., Teviston</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rodgers, Robt. A., Forest Service, U. S. Dept, of Agric, Canille</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>ARKANSAS</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wilson, B. N., Prof. of Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of Ark., Fayetteville</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Powers, R. C, 414 So. Trust Bldg., Little Rock, Ark.</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>CALIFORNIA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">McNeil, Anna, 2154 Center St., Berkeley</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Baker, W. A., Greenfield</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Leonard Coates Nursery Co., Morgan Hill</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Smith, R. E., Agric Exp. Sta., Whittier</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Burbank, Luther, Santa Rosa</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>CANADA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cleugh, H. H., Castlegar, British Columbia</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secord, Harper, St. Catherin's, Ontario</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Porter, W. T., 1520 St. Clair Ave., Toronto</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sager, D. S., Dr., Brantford</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Moyle, Henry, 84 Bedford Road, Toronto</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ross, Malcolm N., Dept. Public Works, Regina, Saskatchewan</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Saunders & Co., W. E., London, Ontario</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hubbell, W. S., Spanish River Lumber Co., Little Current, Ontario</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Peters, E. W., 742 Somerset Bldg., Winnepeg</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Graham, Wm., Hagensburg, British Columbia</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>COLORADO</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bell, Bessie, Miss, 156 S. Sherman, Denver</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Morgan, J. W., Dr., 85 S. Penn. Ave., Denver</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>CONNECTICUT</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cleveland, E. S., Hampton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Buttner, J. L., Dr., 763 Orange Street, New Haven</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Jewell, Harvey, Cromwell</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gorham, Frederick S., 48 Holmes Ave., Waterbury</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Jenkins, E. H., Agric. Exp. Sta., New Haven</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Spring, Sam. N., State Forester, New Haven</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Pratt, C. M., Newtown</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hale, Geo. H., Mrs., Glastonbury</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Miles, H. S., Dr., 417 State St., Bridgeport</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ives, E. M., Sterling Orchards, Meriden</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cook, Harry B., Orange, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Allen, G. Wilford, M.D., Boardman, Ct.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Smith, Geo. W., Elm Fruit Farm, Hartford</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lane, W. S., Norfolk</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Werle, Jos. A., Merwin's Beach, Milford</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Williamson, Robert, Greenwich</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stauffer, W. F., No. 81 S. Burritt St., New Britain</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Boyd, Wm. A. Dr., Westport</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lewis, Elmer H., Central Village</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Frothingham, Channing, New Canaan</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fletcher, Albert E., Box 67, Farmington</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Morre, R. D., Colchester</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wolcott, C. B., P. O. Box 39, Plantsville</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>DELAWARE</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Killen, J. W., Felton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">McCue, C. A., Prof., Newark</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cowgill, L. P., Dover</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cannon, Miss Lida, Dover</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Kosa, J. J., Milford</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sypherd, C. D., Dover</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Whitehead, F. Houston, Lincoln</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Studte, M. H., Houston</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Knipe, T. E., Delaware City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dunn, Thos. F., Dover</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Webb, Wesley, Dover</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>FLORIDA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Simpson Bros. Nurseries, Monticello</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Curtis, J. B., Orange Heights</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Floyd, W. L., Prof. of Horticulture, University of Florida, Gainesville</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Baldwin, Ed. S., DeLand</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>GEORGIA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wight, J. B., Cairo</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wilson, J. F., Dr., Waycross</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">McHatton, T. H., Prof. of Horticulture, Athens</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Edwards, B. H., Macon, Ga.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Southern Ruralist, Atlanta</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>IDAHO</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Vincent, C. C., Prof., College of Agriculture, Moscow</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ackerman, W. B., P. O. Box 184, Twin Falls</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hays, L. H., Mace</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>ILLINOIS</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lindholm, E., 9139 Commercial Ave., Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stoll, Wm. Paul, 1264 Glenlake Ave., Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Schafer, J. F., Mt. Pulaski</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Koonce, Geo. W., Greenville</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Watson, Bloomington</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Banning, Thos. A., Mrs., Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Graham, R. O., Bloomington</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Karstens, Peter J., Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Leslie, A. M., 201 Main Street, Evanston</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fisher, Mr., "Cairo Citizen", Cairo</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Endicott, H. W., Villa Ridge</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hektoen, H., Memo. Inst. for Infectious Diseases, Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">McVeigh, Scott, 1208 Wrightwood Ave., Chicago</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Evans, Homer W., R. F. D. 6, Plainfield</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Buckman, Benjamin, Farmingdale</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Horner, H. Clay, Chester</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Burt, Frank A., 115 1-2 So. Race St., Urbana</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Somer, George W., No. 106 N. La Salle St., Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Spalding, C. W., No. 1851 Byron St., Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Strawbridge, A. N., No. 533 E. 33rd St., Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Remley, Mrs. Grace, Franklin Grove</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Prochnow, I. W., No. 1127 Second Ave., Rock Island</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">McFarlane, H. W., Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Graham, W. H., Fort Gage</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fink, Wm. H., No. 4030 N. Pauline St., Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Crandall, C. S., Urbana</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Campbell, T. W., Elgin</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Badgley, B. H., No. 2241 Greenleaf Ave., Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Millroy, W. L., Quincy</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sweeney, Jno. M., No. 1636 Manadnock Block, Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Krossell, C. F. P., Dr., No. 5502 Indiana Ave., Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Weeks, E. F., No. 143 N. Dearborn St., Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Heald, Prescott, No. 107 So. Glen Oak Ave., Peoria</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Riddle, F. A., Mrs., No. 1441 Jackson Boulevard, Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Kennish, F. H., No. 124 East Oak St., Kewanee</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Finley, J. B., Care of Moline Polo and Shaft Co., Moline</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Braden, E. S., No. 10 S. LaSalle St., Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Kemp, E. F., No. 108 S. LaSalle St., Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Peterson, Albert J., No. 3448 Hayes St., Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hewitt, R., No. 149 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hopkins, A. M., R. 710, 167 W. Washington St., Chicago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hemingway, Geo. R., Oak Park</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rut, Z. D., Park Ridge</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dietrich, J. J., Arlington Heights</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hansell, E. F., No. 5654 W. Lake St., Chicago</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>INDIANA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Leiber, Richard, Indianapolis</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Garden, Daniel A., Elnora</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cathcart, Alva Y., Bristol</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Strassell, J. W., Supt. of Schools, Rockport</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Howard, W. T., R. F. D. 19, Indianapolis</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Boos, E. M., R. F. D. 2, Milan</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Boss Co., John C, Elkhart</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Green, Frank, No. 811 So. St., Newcastle</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">House, M. M., 1664 College Ave., Indianapolis</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Simpson & Sons, H. M., Vincennes</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Woodbury, C. G., Lafayette</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ray, Elgin H., Winamac, R. F. D. 1</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fellwock, P. B., 3 Up. Fourth St., Evansville</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hooke, Ora G., Albany, Delaware Co.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Smith, Oren E., Dr., Traction Terminal Bldg., Indianapolis</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Whetsell, Edward, 107 Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Swain, W. H., South Bend</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Knapp, Dr., Evansville</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Yoder, A. C., Dr., Goshen</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Knaub, Ben., R. 1, Box 99, North Vernon</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lukens, B., Mrs., Anderson</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>IOWA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dennis, A. B., Dr., Cedar Rapids</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ruppersberg, E. A., Miss, Charles City College, Charles City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Patten, C. G., Charles City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sawyer, L. H., Des Moines</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thompson, Harry French, Forrest City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Successful Farming" Des Moines</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Kimball's Dairy Farmer" Waterloo</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>KANSAS</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Godfrey, F. M., Holton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Skinner & Co., J. H., Topeka</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>KENTUCKY</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Matthews, Clarence W., State University, Lexington</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Horine, E. F., M.D., 1036 Bardstown Rd., Louisville</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Inland Farming", Louisville</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Brislin, John A., Cash. Farmers' Bank of Ky., Frankfort</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Kiefer, Louis W., 901 N. Elm St., Henderson</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>LOUISIANA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hinton, E. G., Weeks</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>MAINE</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Soule, Sidney S., Mrs., South Freeport</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hitchings, Edson F., College of Agriculture, Orono</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Peardon, J. H., Matinicus</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stryker, D. J., Rockland</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Chase, Dr. Walter G., Wiscasset</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>MARYLAND</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Michael, Jesse J., Frederick</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Little, William E., Westminister</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bunting, J. T., Box 137, Marion Station</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Benkert, George, Baltimore</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Heron, Benj. F. L., Box 58, Mt. Ranier</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Coad, J. Edwin, Drayden, St. Mary's Co.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Munter, D. M., No. 22 Virginia Ave., Cumberland</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Daingerfield, P. B. K., Maryland Club, Baltimore</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bachrach, Walter K., No. 16 W. Lexington St., Baltimore</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hewell, John, No. 2028 W. Lexington St., Baltimore</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hays, Amos H., Parkton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stem, C. W., Sabillasville</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tyler, John Paul, No. 344 W. Preston St., Baltimore</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Munter, D. W., No. 1642 Runton Ave., Baltimore</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Kerr, J. W., Denton</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Overton, W. S., R. F. D. 2, Silver Spring</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Harris, Edward, Sr., 31 S. Liberty St., Cumberland</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Strite, S. M., 52 Broadway, Hagerstown</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Harrison's Nurseries, Berlin</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hoopes, Wilmer P., Forest Hill</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Irwin, Arthur J., 226 E. Main St., Frostburg</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">McDaniel, Alex H., North East P. O., Cecil Co.</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>MASSACHUSETTS</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Blood, W. H., Mrs., Jr., 147 Grove Street, Wellesley</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Reed, Orville, Rev., Granville, Centre</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Deroo, Frank B., Box 363, Needham</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fox, Jabez, 99 Irving Street, Cambridge</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hall, James L., Kingston, Box 31</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Adams, Norris W., Box 323, Worcester</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mass. Agric. Coll., Amherst</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Crosby, Fred, Bolton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bailey, Thos. W., Kingston</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Griffin, W. E., Cor. Central St. & B. & M. R. R., Worcester</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dawson, Jackson, Mr., Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dowse, Granton H., Wrentham</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ellsworth, J. Lewis, Sec'y Mass. State Bd. of Agric., Boston</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fleming, Charles B., Norwood</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Brounell, Lewis, 1030 High Street, Fall River</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Portmore, J. M., 7 Denison Av., So. Framingham</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Humphrey, F. A., Worcester</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Waugh, F. A., Prof., Amherst</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Beebe, E. Pierson, Boston</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mead, H. O., Lunenburg</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Torrey, John P., Dr., Andover</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Affleck, G. B., 287 Hickory St., Springfield</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Deming, Grove W., Mt. Hermon School</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Elder, David, Harwich, Mass.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">James, Gorton, 492 So. Station, Boston</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sturtevant, E. L., Brookline</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Brown, J. Frank, The Corey Hill Hospital, Brookline</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Willwerth, A. H., No. 21 Greenwich Park, Boston</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Day, W. Taylor, No. 313 Main St., Great Barrington</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Coney, Harriet M., Miss, No. 106 Church St., Ware</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>MICHIGAN</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Brauer, H. A., 810 W. Huron St., Ann Arbor</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cobb, Myron A., Central State Normal School, Mt. Pleasant</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ilgenfritz's Sons Co., T. E., Nursery, Monroe</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Haines, Peter S., Detroit</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Kidder, Samuel, Ann Arbor</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Paul, Irwin, Muskegon, R. F. D. 7</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Garfield, Chas. W., Hon., Grand Rapids</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wermuth, Burt, Assoc. Ed. "Michigan Farmer", Detroit</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Eustace, H. J., Prof., State Horticulturist, E. Lansing</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Carmichael, Milton, 281 Yard Bldg., Detroit</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Richardson, A. H., Dr., The Martha Washington, Mt. Clemens</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Baker, N. I., Dr.,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Himebaugh, Clayton D., Sheffield Mfg. Co., Burr Oak</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Spring, O. L., 728 Wabash Ave., Detroit</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Reshore, L. T., Dowagiac</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Adams, Rollo K., Middleville</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Montgomery, R. H., 46 Jefferson Ave., Detroit</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"The Gleaner", Detroit</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Davis, R. J., Lock Box 753, Buchanan</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Simpson, Wallace N., No. 379 W. Main St., Battle Creek</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Palmer, A. C., Ellsworth</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Faurote, Fay L., Lord Bldg., Detroit</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Andrus, F. P., Almont, Lapeer Co.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gamble, M. D., E. F., Coldwater</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Horner, E. E., Eaton Rapids Woolen Mills, Eaton Rapids</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stryker, F. A., Buchanan</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lake, Geo., Northville</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hanes, P. S., No. 730 Sheridan Ave., Detroit</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Handy, J. W., M.D., No. 105 West 1st St., Flint</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>MINNESOTA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fairchild, D. H., St. Paul</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Husser, Henry, Minneiska</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wedge, Clarence, Albert Lea</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cutting, Fred, Byron</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Underwood, Roy, Lake City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Alford, E. F., 2390 Woodland Ave., Duluth</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Latham, A. W., Sec'y State Hortic. Soc'y, 207 Kasota Bldg., Minneapolis</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Woodbridge, Dwight E., U. S. Bureau of Mines, Duluth</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tillinghast, E. G., Leetonia Mining Co., Hibbing</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lake Sarah Specialty Farm, Rockford</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Farm Stock & Home, Minneapolis</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>MISSOURI</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bostwick, Arthur E., 70 Vandeventer St., St. Louis</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stark Bros.' Nurseries and Orchards Co., Louisiana</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Williams, F. V., D.D.S., 3720 Virginia, Kansas City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Born, H. H. Dr., Park & Compton Sts., St. Louis</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bailey, B. A., Versailles</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wallace, E. S., Office of City Chemist, Kansas City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cummings, C. C., Dr., Joplin</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wilcox, Walter H., 433 Forth Ave., Webster Groves</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mosher, H. G., Schell City</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>NEW HAMPSHIRE</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dillingham, Thos. M., Dr., Marlboro</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Clement, Ruth E., Miss, E. Deering</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> + +<h4>NEBRASKA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rolder, C. A., Dr., Hedde Bldg., Grand Rapids</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>NEVADA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Swingle, C. G., Hazen</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gregory, E. R., Dr., Reno</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>NEW JERSEY</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lovett, J. T., Little Silver</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Pomona Nurseries, Palmyra</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bobbink & Atkins, Rutherford</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Speer, Lester W., 401 Passaic Ave., Nutley</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Black, Son & Co., Jos. H., Hightstown</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Chevrier, Chas. S., P. O. Box 579, Trenton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rice, John J., Almonnesson</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Parry, John R., Parry</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Totten, A. B., Middlebush</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hartt, Wm. S., Box 366 Toms River</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dantun, A. P., Walsted Farm, Freehold</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shoemaker, Wm. E., Bridgeton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Miller, Jessie E., Miss, 204 W. Passaic Ave., Rutherford</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hall & Robert Tubbs, Willowwood Farm, Pottersville P.O.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mount, T. S., Hamilton Sq.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Schulze, Edward H., Elizabeth</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Spindler, M., No. 316 Halsey St., Newark</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sonders, Geo. B., P. O. Box 204, Mays Landing</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Palmer, H. C. H., Main Road, Vineland</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Putnam, G. H., Vineland</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Parkin, J. W., No. 576 E. 23rd St., Paterson</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Martin, Geo. W. R., No. 47 Chestnut St., Newark</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lintner, Geo A., Summit, New Jersey</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Kirkpatrick, F. L., No. 35 E. Chestnut St., Merchantville</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gilmore, Jr., Thos. J., No. 219 Montgonery St., Jersey City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Haddon, Chas. K., Camden</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Black, Walter C, Hightstown</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Parkin, John M., No. 576 E. 23rd St., Paterson</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bailey, G. W., Kenilworth</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Eyferth, Adolph, No. 554 Tenth St., N.E., West New York, N. Y.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Matlack, C. L., No. 47 Potter St., Haddenfield</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wellborn, C. E., Weston</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Somers, A. F., No. 187 Warren St., Jersey City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Turner, H. J., Box 356, Montclair</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Woodruff, Leon, No. 27 Jefferson St., Bridgeton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Davis, H. H., No. 113 Chestnut St., East Orange</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Butler, F. W., Mrs., Plainfield</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Kevitt, T. C, Anthonia</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Maurer, E. H., No. 309 S. Broad St., Elizabeth</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>NEW MEXICO</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thompson, W. M., Dr. Logan</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p> + +<h4>NEW YORK</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hedrick, U. P., Prof., Experiment Station, Geneva</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Murrill, W. H., Botanical Museum, Bronx Park, New York City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bailey, Liberty H., Cornell Agric. Coll., Ithaca</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The Rochester Nurseries, Rochester</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">L'Amoreaux Nursery Co., Schoharie</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Green's Nursery Co., Rochester</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lewis, Roesch & Son, Nurserymen, Fredonia</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Burnette, F. H., Phelps</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wheatcroft, S. F., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Irwin, Chas., 116 Rosedale St., Rochester</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Garrison, H. F., Westfield</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Benney, Wm. H., 30 Church St., N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Harris, C. F., 211 Blandina St., Utica</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thew, Gilmore E., 2006 Fifth Ave., N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Yoakum, B. F., 71 Broadway, N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Trimble, J. H., 1255 St. Paul St., Rochester</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">McNair, E. O., Erie Co., Bank Bldg., Buffalo</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Baruch, H. B., 55 New Street</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Studley, Frank P., Matteawan</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bostwick, Henry J., Clifton Springs Sanitarium, Clifton Springs</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wyckoff, C. H., Aurora</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Slocum, J. F., 29 Park Street, Buffalo</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sunnyfield Nursery Co., Poughkeepsie</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Morgan, H. E., Pittsford</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Williams & Co., Rose, Miss, Newark</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hechler, C. H., Harbor Hill, Roslyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Piccard, L. M., 705 Fulton St., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bardin, A. G., Mr., 29 Brevoort Pl., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Townsend, 257 Broadway, N. Y. City, Room 703</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hunter, Wm. T., Jr., 32 Rose St., N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gage, Stanley A., 72 Mahlstedt Place, New Rochelle</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Robertson, C. G., 39 Ormond Pl., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sackman, Karl Bever, 92 Williams Street</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Younkheere, D., 3320 Bailey Ave., Kingsbridge, N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Foster, E. W., Central Park, L. I.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hemming, H., Mrs., 59 Walworth St., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Powell, E. P., Clinton, Otsego Co.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Merkel, Herman W., Forester, Bronx Zoological Park</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Powell, Geo. T., Pres. Agric. Experts Assoc, 5 E. 42 St., N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Britton, N. L., Dr., Director Botanical Gardens, Bronx Park, N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Walker, Roberts, 115 Broadway, N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sullivan, W. F., 154 E. 74th St., N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rosenberg, Max, Pleasantville, Box 91</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bridgman, A. C., The Standard Union, Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Voorhis, Ernest, Rev., 1047 Amsterdam Ave., N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Buckbie, Annie, Miss, Wisner, Orange Co.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Knight, Geo. W., Mrs., 28 Cambridge Pl., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hickox, Ralph, Williamsbridge, N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Armstrong, M. E., Miss, 10 St. Francis Place, Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Perry, C. J., 18 Fulton St., Auburn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Holden, E. R., Jr., 34 W. 33 Street, N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Charlton Nursery Co., Rochester</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Jones, L. V., Miss, St. Luke's Hospital, Newburgh</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hichcock, F. H., 105 W. 40th St., N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Vickers, H. W., Dr., Little Falls</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shepard, W. E., New Paltz, Ulster Co.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mendelson, D., 1825 Pilkin Ave., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hopkins, W., 15 Dey St., City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Smith, H. P., Center Moricrifs, Suffolk, Co.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">West, Dr., 51 E. 25th St., N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Grimmer, John W., Armour Villa Park, Bronxville</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Leipziger, H. A., Dr., Hotel Empire, Broadway & 63rd St., N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Engesser, Jas., 513 N. Washington St., Tarrytown</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Kepke, John, Dr., 488 Nostrand Ave., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Manning-Spoerl, J. O. O., Dr., 151 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Langdon, H. P., Maple Ridge, Farm, Constable</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wainwright, John W., Dr., 80 Wash. Sq., E., N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Teele, A. W., 30 Broad St., N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Grot, Henry, 201 E. 116th St., N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Graham, S. H., Ithaca</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Teter, Walter C., 10 Wall St., N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Jewett, Asabel, Berkshire</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thompson, Adelbert, East Avon</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wiggin, Thos. H., Scarsdale</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Ridgewood Times", Myrtle & Cypress Aves., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Schubel, Geo., Lit. Ed., Myrtle & Cypress Aves., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Kelly, Julia Z., Miss, College of Agriculture, Ithaca</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Caldwell, R. J., 374 Broadway, N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lincoln, Egbert P., 429 Lincoln Pl., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Reynolds, Walter S., Dr., 66 W. 71st St., N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Davidson, Charles Stewart, 60 Wall St., N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Slosson, Richard S., 140 Carolina St., Buffalo</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Leutsch, Nina, Clinton Corners</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Armstrong, Rob. P., N. Y. State School of Agric., Canton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Manning, J. M., 1002 Third Ave., N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Righter, J. Walter, 156 Fifth Ave., N. Y. City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Reynolds, H. L., 50 Palace Arcade, Buffalo</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Spencer, W. F., No. 106 Bond St., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sauer, Arthur W., Broadway & Driggs Ave., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mezger, L. K., M.D., No. 186 Clinton Ave., North Rochester</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Williams, Olive G., Miss, No. 341 Garfield Ave., Troy</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Austin, Nichols & Co., New York</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bearns, J. H., Jr., No. 198 Broadway</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dupree, Wm., No. 83 Halsey St., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thomas, A. E., No. 105 Windsor Place, Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Holt, Frank L., No. 220 Broadway</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Greffe, Joseph A., Box 105, Boonton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Holden, E. R., Jr., No. 34 W. 33rd St</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hendrickson, B. W., Care of J. K. Armsby Co., No. 87 Hudson St.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hoyle, Louis C., Middletown</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hall, John, Sec'y, Rochester</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Miller, Francher, L., No. 605 Kirk Block, Syracuse</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mitchell, F. J., No. 44 W. 98th St.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Leggett & Co., Francis H., Franklin, Hudson & Leonard Sts.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Krizan, Jos., No. 521 E. 72nd Street</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Jaburg Bros., No. 10-12 Leonard St.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mathans, J. A., White Plains</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Nicholson, J. E., Care of Messrs. Wassermass, No. 42 Broadway</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Nicholson, J. E., No. 83rd St. & 24th Ave., Bensonhurst</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mills, W. M., No. 397 Goundry St., N. Towanda</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sullivan, Warren, No. 44 Morningside Drive</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sweizer, Karl, No. 40 Exchange Place</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shook, F. M., Dept. of Tropical Medicine</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Randolph, Lewis C., No. 357 Delaware Ave.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Riley, R. M., Garden City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rogers, G. M., Apt. 44. No. 605 144th St.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Williams & Co., R. C., Fulton & South Sts.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Turner, Fred. C., R.F.D. No. 7, Box 115, Schenectady</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tuthill, W. C., No. 245 Water St.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sanford, A. E., No. 18 Bowman St., Rochester</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Smith, Howard K., No. 323 Webster Ave., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hewitt, R., Ardsley on Hudson</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Evans, J. C., Lockport</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hessinger, M. A., No. 102 West 102d St.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wetbeck, J. B., Care of Worcester Salt Co., No. 71 & No. 73 Murray St.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Scott, Thomas C., No. 372 Chenango St., Binghamton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dye, Walter A., Garden City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ellison, E. T., No. 1272 Jefferson Ave., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Brown, Carl W., Ripley, Chautauqua Co.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Teran, T. Mrs., Hotel Calvert, New York City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Power, Alice B., Miss, No. 203 St. Paul St., Rochester</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Banks, E. M., No. 342 West 45th St., New York City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Anderson, Bryon Wall, No. 79 Franklin Ave., New Rochelle</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mesner, E. D., No. 34 Carlton St., Buffalo</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gawey, Gerald, No. 347 W. 19th St.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Maynard, A. R., Waterloo</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Johnson, M., No. 540 W. 146th St.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Strawn, T. C., No. 355 W. 55th St.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bruce, W. Robert, Brick Church Institute, Rochester</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Broughton, L. D., No. 304 Lewis Ave., Brooklyn</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ouilshan, H. W., N. E. Cor. 125th St. and 8th Ave., Bishop Building, Rooms 207-210, New York City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wadsworth, M. A., No. 423 E. 4th St., Brooklyn</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>NORTH CAROLINA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Blair, Wm. A., V. P. People's Nat. Bank, Winston-Salem</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>OHIO</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wise, P., Maumee</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Schuh, L. H., Columbus</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rich, E. L., No. 3063 Edgehill Road, Cleveland Heights, Cleveland</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Neff, W. N., Martel</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">McEwen, Will J., No. 755 Wilson Ave., Columbus</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Miller, Wm., Gypsum</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Marshall, Robert, No. 23 Hollister St., Cincinnati</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Longsworth, I. R., Lima</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Kiser, Frank A., Fremont</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Goetz, C. H., Columbus</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Draine, F. J., 2411 Detroit Ave., Toledo</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cochran, J. H., Napoleon</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bundy, C. C., No. 1356 Mt. Vernon Ave., Columbus</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Penrod, A. M., Camp Chase</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Poston, E. M., President, New York Coal Co., Columbus</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rodgers, A. S., Springfield Gas Engine Co., Springfield</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Jeffers, F. A., Monroe Bank Building, Woodsfield</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Kennedy, C. S., No. 412 Monroe St., East Liverpool</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Crawford Co., M., Cuyahoga Falls</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hoyt, C. H., Cleveland</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ashbrook, Wm. A., Hon., Johnstown</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Johnston, I. B., Station K., Cincinnati</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stasel, A. A., No. 25½ S. Third St., Newark</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Book, G. M., Bloomdale</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Smith, E. R., No. 132 S. Collett St., Lima</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rader, Hal, No. 125 Chestnut St., Nilec</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Watt, Frank E., No. 116 Show Ave., Dayton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Anderson, A. J., "Ohio Farmer", Cleveland</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Scarff, W. U., New Carlisle</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Durant, A. T., German-American Ins. Co., Akron</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Daugherty, U. G., R. D. 13, Dayton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Miller, Chas. D., 60 N. Garfield Ave., Columbus</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Doren, Jane M., Bexley, Columbus</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Prickett, J. D., 727 Plymouth St., Toledo</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Zerkey, M. Allen, Justus, R. D. 1</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lohman, E., Greenville</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ewart, Mortimer, Mogadore</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Schumacher, Arlin, Pandora</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Yunck, Ed. G., 710 Central Ave., Sandusky</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Nellis, A. S. Byrne, Dr., Cor. Third & Webb Sts., Dayton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rogers, W. B., St. Stanislaus' House of Retreat, Cleveland</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Parrott, Frances, Miss, R. D. 12, Dayton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rector, J. M., Dr., Columbus</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lauder, Ed., Dr., 1012 Prospect Ave., S. E., Cleveland</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>OREGON</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Robinson, C. A., R.F.D. 1, Carlton, Yamhill Co.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Oregon R. R. & Navigation Co., Portland</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Power, Frank W., Sec'y State Horticultural Society, Orenco</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gardener, V. R., Associate Prof, of Horticulture, Corvallis</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">McDonald, M., Oregon Nursery Co., Orenco</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Magruder, G. M., Medical Building, Portland</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fishback, P. L., Monmouth</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p> + +<h4>PANAMA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Deer, G. N., Ancon, C. Z.</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>PENNSYLVANIA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Le Fevre, B. W., 251 Elm St., Lancaster</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Harris, D. S., Williamsburg, P.O. Box 416</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wright, M. H., Penn. Shafting Co., Spring City</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hutchinson, Mahlon, 138 South 15th Street, Philadelphia</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Taylor, C. B., Philadelphia</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Townsend, C. W., Pittsburg</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Allen, Carl G., Williamsport</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hall, L. C., Avonia</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sober, C. K., Lewisburg</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Foley, John, Forester Penn. R. R. Co., Broad St. Sta., Philadelphia</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mann, Chas. S., Hatboro, Montgomery Co., R. D. 1</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Springer, Willard, Jr., Forest Asst. Pa. R. R. Broad St. Sta. Philadelphia</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Peck, Wm. H., Care of Third Nat. Bank, Scranton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Riehl, H. F., Manheim</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hildebrand, F. B., Duquesne</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wolford, C. H., Prin. Duquesne Public Schools, Duquesne</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Motts, Sarah E., 533 S. Hanover St., Carlisle</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Watts, R. L., Prof. of Horticulture, State College</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hebbin, T. T., McKeesport</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ballou, C. S., Potter Co.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Marsden, Biddle R., Dr., Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fenstermacher, P. S., Care of Harry C. Tripler, Young Bldg., Allentown</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Keeler, Asa S., Tunckhannock</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hess, Frank P., Jr., 31 N. Walnut St., Mt. Carmel</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">George, W. H., Edgewood, Bucks Co.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Scott & Hill, Erie</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">St. Francis, J., 21 Scott Block, Erie</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wilt, Edwin M., No. 816 Brooklyn St., Philadelphia</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wright, W. J., State College</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Scott, W. M., No. 824 Centennial Ave., Sewickley</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Small, Norbert, Edgegrove</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Schotte, T. B., Kittanning</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Kirkpatrick, F. L., No. 273 Eleventh St., Philadelphia</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gochnauer, Benj. H., Lancaster, R. F. D. No. 7</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Engle, E. B., Marietta</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cook, Dr., George R., Johnston</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Chalmers, W. J., Vanport, Beaver Co.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cahalan, Jno. A., No. 1524 Chestnut St., Philadelphia</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">DeWeese, D. M., No. 51 Logan Ave., Sharon</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Doan, J. L., School of Horticulture, Ambler.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Keystone Wood Co., Williamsport</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fleming, H. N., No. 410 Downing Bldg., Erie</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hassell, H. W., Dr., Medical Department, Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Pease, H. E., No. 1111 Lamont St., Pittsburgh</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Palmer, C. L., Dr., P. O. Box, Mt. Lebanon</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Spear, James, Jr., Wallingford</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hoerner, William S., Chambersburg</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hazel, Boyd E., Box No. 57, Madisonburg</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stover, C. J., Ambler</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Davis, Thos. D., No. 267 Shady Ave., Pittsburgh</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hill, V. J., No. 4215 Chestnut St., Philadelphia</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Richards, A. C., Schellsburg</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stocks, George, No. 1128 Heberton, Pittsburgh</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rhoads, Dr., J. N., No. 1635 S. Broad St., Philadelphia</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Quimby, C. S., R. F. D. 3, Phoenixville</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>RHODE ISLAND</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Peckham, F. H., Dr., 6 Thomas St., Providence</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Collins, Franklin J., Prof., 468 Hope St., Providence</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Heaton, H. W., M.D., No. 2 Iron's Block, Providence</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Winslow, Ernest L., Providence</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bronsdon, M. H., Chief Engineer, The Rhode Island Co., Providence</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Pleger, John J., Box 686, Manila</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>TEXAS</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Blair, R. E., U. S. Exper. Farm, San Antonio</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Edward, Chas. L., Dallas</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Kyle, E. J., Prof, of Horticulture, College Station</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Anderson, J. H., Brighton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Canada, J. W., Houston</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>UTAH</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hansen, O. K., Dr., Provo</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hughes, M. A., Dr., Judge Bldg., Salt Lake City</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>VERMONT</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Woodman, J. S., So. Royalton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cummings, M. B., Sec'y State Horticultural Society, Burlington</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Parrish, John S., Eastham, Albermarle Co.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Blue, C. E., Ridgeway, Charlottsville</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Haynes, I. J., Manakin</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>VIRGINIA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Emerson, J. S., Dr., Red Hill</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Catlett, Carter, Gloucester</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>WASHINGTON</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Washington Nursery Co., Toppenish</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shomaker, Joel, Nellita</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Moody, Robert, Everett</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stuart, John A., Christopher Nurseries, Christopher</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Davis, Pauline, Miss, Box 415, Pullman</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">May, Walter, 456 Empire Bldg., Okanogan</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Western Farmer, Spokane</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">March, G. L., Kennewick</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> + +<h4>WEST VIRGINIA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bennett, Louis, Mrs., 148 Court Ave., Weston</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>WISCONSIN</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Kirr, A. R., Box C, R. D. 6, Fond du Lac</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Harold, Geo. E., Maiden Rock, R. D. 3</span><br /> +</p> + +<h4>DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Van Deman, H. E., Washington</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Swingle, Walter, Prof., Bur. Plant Industry, Washington</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Coville, Fred. V., Prof., Bur. Plant Industry, Washington</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Clinton, L. A., Prof., Dept, of Agric., Washington</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stabler, Albert, Ins. Agt., Washington</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bick, Wm. H., 1403 H. St., Washington</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hendrick, A. J., 609, 3rd St., Washington</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Life & Health, Takoma Park Sta., Washington</span><br /> +</p> + + + +<h3>EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS FROM STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS AND OTHERS</h3> + + +<p>A well-known nut grower in Delaware writes: "We have given the filberts +a thorough test and found them one of the most unprofitable nuts ever +tested. At one time we had under test about 15 distinct varieties. After +several years tests they all succumbed to the blight; a blight that +attacked the old wood and killed it. Some of our bushes or trees got as +much as six inches in diameter before they were entirely killed back. +Possibly by thorough spraying from the setting of trees a success might +be made. Some varieties tested were very prolific and of fine quality. +We succeeded in getting a fine lot of walnuts from the tree southeast of +the potato house by applying pollen. They are as fine and as well filled +and as large as any I have ever seen. Several of our crosses had a few +nuts this year, most of them are rather thick shelled. The trees though +seem to be perfectly hardy. We have several Japan walnut trees bearing +this year some of which I consider first class, equal to the best +shellbarks or pecans in cracking quality; besides they are so very +prolific, producing as many as a dozen in a cluster. We can show +specimens from several distinct varieties or types. The Cordiformis +seems to be one of the best. We also have some very fine black walnuts. +One of our seedlings from the select nuts produces the largest walnuts +that I have ever seen. The tree did not have very many on it this year. +Several of the other seedlings from the same planting produced fine nuts +with good cracking qualities. We also had several pecan trees to bear a +few nuts this year; most of the nuts were rather small but of fine +quality, very thin shells and well filled. Our Japan chestnuts bore +quite full.</p> + +<p>I think it possible to produce Persian walnuts successfully in our +locality. I also think the Japan walnut offers a good field for +investigation."</p> + + +<h3>FROM THE STATE VICE-PRESIDENT FOR COLORADO</h3> + +<p class="author">Dec. 11, 1912.</p> + +<p>So far as I can learn only two attempts have been made in this state to +grow nuts. The first one consists in the setting out of about one +hundred Jap<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>anese walnuts by the Antlers Orchard Co. Their place is on +the western slope in the fruit district and I am informed that the first +winter the tops were killed but new shoots put out from the roots and +the trees did well this year.</p> + +<p>The other attempt is one I made last spring. I set out a few pecan trees +as an experiment near Colorado Springs. Six of the seven trees lived and +put out some leaves but did not make much growth. If they survive the +winter I purpose planting more pecans and some other nuts,—chestnuts, +black walnuts and possibly Persian walnuts.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="author"> +Hilton, N. Y.<br /> +Nov. 29, 1912. +</p> + +<p>Dear Sir:</p> + +<p>In reply to your inquiry I am inclosing notes on walnut culture in this +locality. This noble fruit is not generally known here. I do not know of +more than twelve or fifteen bearing trees in my county. Of these all are +without doubt seedlings, and are located in places where the peach will +thrive. The soil in which they grow is varied: Dunkirk fine sand, +Dunkirk silt loam, Ontario fine sand loam, and Ontario loam. (See soil +survey of <i>Monroe county</i>, N. Y. U. S. Dept. Agriculture.) The altitude +is comparatively low. The highest point in the county is only 682 ft. +above lake Ontario, and the average elevation is not more than 300 ft. +The "Holden" walnuts are growing at a still lower level. This tree, +considering its surroundings and location, had a good crop this year. +Standing on the lawn uncultivated and unfertilized, hemmed in on three +sides by other trees, it gave us at least three bushels of fine nuts.</p> + +<p>The wood showed no injury after last winter's intense cold. Growth +started in the spring just as the apple blossoms came out. The catkins +are very large, at least much larger than those on the other trees we +have, and hang on longer. One of our trees loses its male blossoms +before the female bloom appears, but the "Holden" is the last to lose +them. About half of the clusters of fruit have two or three nuts in +them. We began harvesting the nuts Sept. 15th, just four months from the +blossom. The dropping continued for a month, prolonged on account of +lack of frost.</p> + +<p>Last week the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported the appearance +of the first load of English walnuts ever brought on the local market. +They were grown on fifteen year old seedlings, at East Avon, N. Y., by +Adelbert Thompson. His orchard is said to contain 200 trees. It seems +very probable that the next twenty-five years will see the development +of Persian walnut growing, to commercial proportions, in those +localities in the state where the peach will grow.</p> + +<p>I had a little experience last spring with southern grown walnut trees. +Last spring I received from Louisiana eleven trees of the "Holden" +variety grafted on black walnut stocks. They were fine trees, the +largest at least eight feet tall. Six of these I set out in my own +orchards and gave them intensive care and cultivation, but alas, growth +was weak and at last they died. If I were to deduce any conclusions it +would be that there is too great a difference between Louisiana and New +York conditions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY</h3> + +<p>Dear Sir:—</p> + +<p>I am addressing you as secretary of the Northern Nut Growers' +Association in hopes that you can refer me to some one, perhaps a member +of your society, in this part of the country to whom we can appeal to +take part at the coming annual meeting of this society as champion of +nut growing. While in our state we cannot successfully grow pecans, nor +perhaps the sweet chestnut and some other nuts, yet some varieties do +well with us and a larger interest in their growing should be +stimulated.</p> + +<p class="center">Yours very truly,</p> + +<p class="author">A. W. Latham, Sec'y.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Northern Nut Growers Association, +Report of the Proceedings at the Third Annual Meeting, by Northern Nut Growers Association + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NNGA REPORT, 1912 *** + +***** This file should be named 23656-h.htm or 23656-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/6/5/23656/ + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Janet Blenkinship +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://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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b/23656-page-images/p140.png diff --git a/23656.txt b/23656.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a53ee03 --- /dev/null +++ b/23656.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6874 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Northern Nut Growers Association, Report of +the Proceedings at the Third Annual Meeting, by Northern Nut Growers Association + +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 Third Annual Meeting + Lancaster, Pennsylvania, December 18 and 19, 1912 + +Author: Northern Nut Growers Association + +Release Date: November 28, 2007 [EBook #23656] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NNGA REPORT, 1912 *** + + + + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Janet Blenkinship +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://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 THIRD ANNUAL MEETING + +LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA DECEMBER 18 and 19, 1912 + +THE CAYUGA PRESS ITHACA, N. Y. + +1913 + + +[Illustration: PROFESSOR JOHN CRAIG + +A FOUNDER OF THE ASSOCIATION + +_Died 1912_] + + + * * * * * + + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS + + + Officers and Committees of the Association 3 + + Members of the Association 4 + + Constitution and Rules of the Association 8 + + Proceedings of the Meeting held at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, + December 18 and 19, 1912 9 + + Address of Welcome by the Mayor of Lancaster 9 + + Response by Mr. Littlepage 11 + + President's Address. The Practical Aspects of Hybridizing Nut Trees. + Robert T. Morris, New York 12 + + Fraudulent and Uninformed Promoters. T. P. Littlepage, Indiana 22 + + Recent Work on the Chestnut Blight. Keller E. Rockey, Pennsylvania 37 + + Some Problems in the Treatment of Diseased Chestnut Trees. Roy G. + Pierce, Pennsylvania 44 + + Nut Growing and Tree Breeding and their Relation to Conservation. J. + Russell Smith, Pennsylvania 59 + + Beginning with Nuts. W. C. Deming, New York 64 + + The Persian Walnut, Its Disaster and Lessons for 1912. J. G. Rush, + Pennsylvania 85 + + A 1912 Review of the Nut Situation in the North. C. A. Reed, + Washington, D. C 91 + + Demonstration in Grafting. J. F. Jones, Pennsylvania 105 + + Some Persian Walnut Observations, Experiments and Results for 1912. + E. R. Lake, Washington, D. C 110 + + The Indiana Pecans. R. L. McCoy, Indiana 113 + + + Appendix: + + Report of Secretary and Treasurer 116 + + Report of Committee on Resolutions 117 + + Report of Committee on the Death of Professor John Craig 119 + + Report of Committee on Exhibits 120 + + The Hickory Bark Borer 122 + + + Miscellaneous Notes: + + Members Present 124 + + List of Correspondents and Others Interested in Nut Culture 124 + + Extracts from Letters from State Vice-Presidents and Others 138 + + + + + OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION + + President T. P. Littlepage Indiana + Secretary and Treasurer W. C. Deming Georgetown, Conn. + + + COMMITTEES + + _Executive_ + Robert T. Morris + W. N. Roper + And the Officers + + _Promising Seedlings_ + T. P. Littlepage + C. A. Reed + W. C. Deming + + _Hybrids_ + R. T. Morris + J. R. Smith + C. P. Close + + _Membership_ + W. C. Deming + G. H. Corsan + W. N. Roper + + _Nomenclature_ + W. C. Reed + R. T. Morris + W. C. Deming + + _Press and Publication_ + W. N. Roper + T. P. Littlepage + W. C. Deming + + + STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS + + Canada Goldwin Smith Highland Creek + Colorado Dr. Frank L. Dennis Colorado Springs + Connecticut Charles H. Plump West Redding + Delaware H. P. Layton Georgetown + Florida H. Harold Hume Glen St. Mary + Georgia G. C. Schempp, Jr. Albany + Illinois Dr. F. S. Crocker Chicago + Indiana R. L. McCoy Lake + Iowa Alson Secor Des Moines + Kentucky A. L. Moseley Calhoun + Louisiana J. F. Jones Jeanerette + Maryland C. P. Close Washington, D. C. + Massachusetts Bernhard Hoffmann Stockbridge + Michigan Miss Maud M. Jessup Grand Rapids + Minnesota C. A. Van Duzee St. Paul + New Hampshire Henry N. Gowing Dublin + New Jersey Henry Hales Ridgewood + New York A. C. Pomeroy Lockport + North Carolina W. N. Hutt Raleigh + Ohio J. H. Dayton Painesville + Oklahoma Mrs. E. B. Miller Enid + Oregon F. A. Wiggins Toppenish + Panama B. F. Womack Canal Zone + Pennsylvania J. G. Rush West Willow + Texas C. T. Hogan Ennis + Vermont Clarence J. Ferguson Burlington + Virginia W. N. Roper Petersburg + West Virginia B. F. Hartzell Shepherdstown + + +MEMBERS OF THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION + + Abbott, Frederick B., 419 9th St., Brooklyn, N. Y. + Armstrong, A. H., General Electric Co., Schenectady, N. Y. + Arnott, Dr. H. G., 26 Emerald St., South, Hamilton, Canada. + Barron, Leonard, Editor The Garden Magazine, Garden City, L. I. + Barry, W. C., Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y. + Benner, Charles, 100 Broadway, N. Y. City. + **Bowditch, James H., 903 Tremont Bldg., Boston, Mass. + Button, Herbert, Bonnie Brook Farm, Cazenovia, N. Y. + Browne, Louis L., Bodsbeck Farm, New Canaan, Conn. + Butler, Henry L., Gwynedd Valley, Pa. + Casper, Norman W., Fairlawn, New Burnside, Ill. + Chalmers, W. J., Vanport, Pa. + Chamberlain, W. O., 300 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis, Minn. + Clendenin, Rev. Dr. F. M., Westchester, N. Y. City. + Close, Prof. C. P., Expert in Fruit Identification, U. S. Dept. + of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. + Cole, Dr. Chas. K., 32 Rose St., Chelsea-on-Hudson, N. Y. + Coleman, H. H., The Northwestern Mutual Life Ins. Co., Newark, N. J. + Corsan, G. H., University Gymnasium, Univ. of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. + Crocker, Dr. F. S., Columbus Memorial Bldg., Chicago, Ill. + Dayton, J. H., Painesville, Ohio. Rep. Storrs & Harrison Co. + Decker, Loyd H., Greeley, Col., R. 5, Box 11. + Deming, Dr. N. L., Litchfield, Conn. + Deming, Dr. W. C. Georgetown, Conn. + Deming, Mrs. W. C. Georgetown, Conn. + Dennis, Dr. Frank L., The Colchester, Colorado Springs, Col. + Ellwanger, W. D., 510 E. Ave., Rochester, N. Y. + Ferguson, Clarence J., Rep. Eastern Fruit & Nut Orchard Co., + 144 College St., Burlington, Vt. + Fischer, J., Rep. Keystone Wood Co., Williamsport, Pa. + Fullerton, H. B., Medford, L. I. + Gowing, Henry N., Dublin, N. H. + Gschwind, Geo. W., 282 Humboldt St., Brooklyn, N. Y. + Haberstroh, Arthur L., Sharon, Mass. + Hale, Mrs. Geo. H., Glastonbury, Conn. + Hall, L. C. Avonia, Pa. + *Hales, Henry, Ridgewood, N. J. + Hans, Amedee, Supt. Hodenpyl Est., Locust Valley, L. I., N. Y. + Harrison, J. G., Rep. Harrison's Nurseries, Berlin, Md. + Hartzell, B. F., Shepherdstown, W. Va. + Haywood, Albert, Flushing, N. Y. + Hicks, Henry, Westbury Station, L. I., N. Y. + Hildebrand, F. B., 5551 Monroe Ave., Chicago, Ill. + Hoffman, Bernhard, Stockbridge, Mass. + Hogan, C. T., Ennis, Texas. + Holden, E. B., Hilton, N. Y. + Holmes, J. A., 127 Eddy St., Ithaca, N. Y. + Hopper, I. B., Chemical National Bank, N. Y. City. + Hume, H. Harold, Glen Saint Mary, Fla. + Hungerford, Newman, 45 Prospect St., Hartford, Conn. + **Huntington, A. M., 15 W. 81st St., N. Y. City. + Hutt, W. N., Raleigh, N. C. + James, Dr. W. B., 17 W. 54th St., N. Y. City. + Jaques, Lee W., 74 Waverly St., Jersey City Heights, N. J. + **Jones, J. F., Jeanerette, La., & Willow St., Pa. + Jessup, Miss Maud M., 440 Thomas St., Grand Rapids, Mich. + Keely, Royal R., 1702 Mt. Vernon St., Philadelphia, Pa. Walpole, + Mass., Box 485. + Koch, Alphonse, 510 E. 77th St., N. Y. City. + Lake, Prof. E. R., Asst. Pomologist, Dept. of Agriculture, + Washington, D. C. + Layton, H. P., Georgetown, Del. + Leas, F. C, 400 So. 40th St., Philadelphia, Pa., and Bala, Pa. + Littlepage, T. P., Union Trust Bldg., Washington, D. C, and + Boonville, Ind. + Loomis, Charles B., E. Greenbush, N. Y. R. D. 1. + Lovett, Mrs. Joseph L., Emilie, Bucks Co., Pa. + Malcomson, A. B., 132 Nassau St., N. Y. City. + Mayo, E. S., Rochester, N. Y. Rep. Glen Brothers. + McCoy, R. L., Ohio Valley Forest Nursery, Lake, Spencer Co., Ind. + Meehan, S. Mendelson, Germantown, Phila., Pa. Rep. Thos. Meehan & Sons. + Miller, Mrs. E. B., Enid, Oklahoma, R. Box 47 1-2. + Miller, Mrs. Seaman, Care of Mr. Seaman Miller, 2 Rector St., N. Y. + McSparren, W. F., Furnice, Pa. + Magruder, G. M., Medical Bldg., Portland, Oregon. + Morris, Dr. Robert T., 616 Madison Ave., N. Y. City. + Moseley, A. L., Bank of Calhoun, Calhoun, Ky. + Moses, Theodore W., Harvard Club, 27 W. 44th St., N. Y. City. + Niblack, Mason J., Vincennes, Ind. + Nichols, Mrs. F. Gillette, 129 E. 76th St., N. Y. City, and + E. Haddam, Conn. + Patterson & Taylor, 343 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, Ill. + Pierson, Miss A. Elizabeth, Cromwell, Conn. + Plump, Chas. H., West Redding, Conn. + Pomeroy, A. C., Lockport, N. Y. + Potter, Hon. W. O., Marion, Ill. + Reed, C. A., Div. of Pomology, U. S. Dept, of Agriculture, + Washington, D. C. + Reed, W. C., Vincennes, Ind. + Rice, Mrs. Lilian McKee, Barnes Cottage, Carmel, N. Y. + Rich, William P., Sec'y Mass Horticultural Society, 300 Mass. Ave., + Boston. + Ridgway, C. S., "Floralia," Lumberton, N. J. + Riehl, E. A., Alton, Ill. + Roper, Wm. N., Arrowfield Nursery Co., Petersburg, Va. + Rose, Wm. J., 413 Market St., Harrisburg, Pa. + Rush, J. G., West Willow, Pa. + Schempp, G. C., Jr., Albany, Ga. Route 3. + Secor, Alson, Editor Successful Farming, Des Moines, Iowa. + Sensenig, Wayne, State College, Center Co., Pa. + Shellenberger, H. H., 610 Broadhead St., Easton, Pa. + Shoemaker, Seth W., Agric. Ed. Int. Corresp. Schools, Scranton, Pa. + Smith, E. K., 213 Phoenix Bldg., Minneapolis, Minn. + Smith, Goldwin, Highland Creek, Ontario, Canada. + Smith, J. Russell, Roundhill, Va. + Smith, Percival P., 108 S. LaSalle St., Chicago, Ill. + Tuckerman, Bayard, 118 E. 37th St., N. Y. City. + Turner, K. M., 1265 Broadway, N. Y. City. + Ulman, Dr. Ira, 213 W. 147th St., N. Y. City. Farm, So. Monsey, Rockland + Co., P. O., Address, Spring Valley, N. Y. + Van Duzee, Col. C. A., St. Paul, Minn, and Viking, Fla. + Walter, Dr. Harry, Hotel Chalfonte, Atlantic City, N. J. + Wentink, Frank, 75 Grove St., Passaic, N. J. + White, H. C., DeWitt, Ga. + Wiggins, F. A., Rep. Washington Nursery Co., Toppenish, Wash. + Wile, Th. E., 1012 Park Avenue, Rochester, N. Y. + Williams, Dr. Charles Mallory, 48 E. 49th St., N. Y. City, and + Stonington, Conn. + Williams, Harrison, Gen. Land & Tax Agt., Erie R. R. Co., 50 Church St., + N. Y. City. + **Wissmann, Mrs. F. DeR., 707 Fifth Ave., N. Y. City. + Womack, B. F., Ancon, Canal Zone, Panama. + Wyman, Willis L., Park Rapids, Minn. + + * Honorary Member. + ** Life Member + + + + +CONSTITUTION AND RULES OF THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION. + + +_Name._ The society shall be known as the NORTHERN NUT GROWERS +ASSOCIATION. + +_Object._ The promotion of interest in nut-producing plants, their +products and their culture. + +_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 approval of the committee on membership. + +_Officers._ There shall be a president, a vice-president, and a +secretary-treasurer; an executive committee of five persons, of which +the president, vice-president and secretary shall be members; and a +state vice-president from each state represented in the membership of +the association. + +_Election of Officers._ A committee of five members shall be elected at +the annual meeting for the purpose of nominating officers for the +subsequent year. + +_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. + +_Fees._ The fees shall be of two kinds, annual and life. The former +shall be two dollars, the latter twenty dollars. + +_Discipline._ The committee on membership may make recommendations to +the association as to the discipline or expulsion of any member. + +_Committees._ The association shall appoint standing committees of three +members each to consider and report on the following topics at each +annual meeting: first, on promising seedlings; second, on nomenclature; +third, on hybrids; fourth, on membership; fifth, on press and +publication. + + + + +NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION + +THIRD ANNUAL MEETING + +DECEMBER 18 AND 19, 1912 + +AT LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA + + +The third annual meeting of the Northern Nut Growers Association was +held in the Court House at Lancaster, Pa., beginning December 18, 1912, +at 10 A. M.; President Morris presiding. + +The Chairman: The meeting will be called to order. We have first an +address by the Mayor of Lancaster, Mayor McClean. (Applause.) + +Mayor McClean: Ladies and gentlemen of the Northern Nut Growers +Association: + +The Mayor of a city of the size of this, in which conventions meet so +frequently, is so often called upon to make a speech that the prospect +of having to do so causes him some disturbance of mind, not only on the +day of the delivery of the speech but for many days preceding; but I +confess that the invitation to come here today has had no such effect on +me. I am very glad to meet and mix up with the members of this +organization. The evolutionists tell us where we came from; the +theologians, where we are going to; but no matter how much we may differ +as to the theories of these respective leaders of thought, upon one +thing we can all agree and that is that we are here. You ladies and +gentlemen representing the Northern Nut Growers Association are here to +interchange opinions and discuss questions which have to do with the +greater success of the very useful industry, the youthful and useful +industry, in which you are engaged. I am here as the Mayor of this +goodly town to tell you that you are not looked upon as intruders; that +we will be blind when you help yourselves to our wine flasks, but that +we will not be deaf should you ask for more. I am thoroughly in sympathy +with the purpose of this organization, understanding it to be the +encouragement of the planting of nut bearing trees in order that an +addition to our present food supply may be provided; and that much waste +land, now profitless, may be taken up and converted to practical and +profitable uses; and further that through the medium of such tree +planting and tree care as you propose, landscape embellishment in +greater degree than that which now exists may be provided. We hear very +much about conservation these days and it seems to me that the +proposition which you advance is conservation in a very worthy and very +high degree. The soil and climate of Lancaster County seem to be +peculiarly adapted to the growing of trees bearing nuts and fruits, and +I am sure that the result of this convention will be to stimulate +locally a very great interest in this worthy undertaking. You have +chosen wisely in selecting Lancaster as the place for this meeting, +because we feel and we are satisfied that you will agree, after you have +been here a few days, that this was the town that Kipling had in mind +when he wrote of the town that was born lucky. (Laughter.) Here you will +find all the creature comforts, everything that makes for the pleasure +of existence, good food and good water, and if there be any of you who +have a liking for beverages other than water, it may be some consolation +to you to know that in this vicinity the mint beds are not used for +pasture, the punch bowls are not permanently filled with carnations, the +cock-tail glasses show no signs of disuse and the corkscrew hangs within +reach of your shortest member. (Laughter.) We are a great people over +this way. Perhaps you are not aware of that, but we bear prosperity with +meekness and adversity with patience. We feel that we can say to you, +without boasting, if you seek a pleasant country, look about you. You +may not know it, but it is a fact and the United States census reports +ever since census reports have been made will prove it, that the annual +valuation of the agricultural products of the county in which you now +sit exceeds that of any other county in all this great nation. +(Applause.) Another bit of local history may surprise you when I tell +you that the combined deposits of the banks of Lancaster County +approximate the enormous amount of fifty million dollars, that they are +larger than the total deposits of any one of seven states in the Union +that I can name and that they exceed the combined deposits of two of +those seven states. But I don't want to take up your time with a +recitation of local history, because I feel that your Lancaster +colleagues will give you all the information, and I don't want to spoil +their pleasure in giving it by anticipating them. I congratulate you +upon the success of this convention. I applaud the purpose for which you +are united. I felicitate you upon your achievements up to this time, and +predict for you a greater measure of usefulness and advantage in the +time to come, which usefulness and advantage, let me suggest, can be +made yours more promptly, certainly more surely, by your proceeding upon +the principle that whatever is of benefit to the organization as a whole +must be of benefit to each of its members, either directly or +indirectly. I trust that you will go on with this good work and +stimulate enthusiasm in your purpose in a nation wide way, working +together with one common object, proceeding under the motto of the Three +Guardsmen of France, "One For All and All For One." I now extend to you +the freedom of the city. Roam where you will. Just one bit of advice I +have to give. Contrary, perhaps, to general report, this is not a slow +town and therefore you are in more danger of being run down than run in. +(Laughter.) I will not follow the time honored practice of handing you +the keys of the city, for the reason that when I heard you were on the +way, I had the old gates taken off the hinges in order that your +incoming might be in no way impeded. (Laughter.) And now, in the name of +the city of Lancaster, its heart filled with the sunny warmth of July, I +bid you welcome and promise that we will try to extend to you a +hospitality as generous as golden October. (Applause.) + +The Chairman: Will Mr. Littlepage please respond to the Mayor's kindly +address of welcome? + +Hon. T. P. Littlepage: Mr. President: On behalf of the members of the +Northern Nut Growers Association, I desire to thank the Mayor very +cordially for his delightful words of welcome to this city. We feel that +the words haven't any strings to them, such as were indicated in a +little poem I noticed the other day, which said that a young man took +his girl to an ice cream parlor and she ate and she ate and she ate +until at last she gave him her heart to make room for another plate. +(Laughter.) There apparently isn't anything of that in the cordial +welcome which we have received here to this great County of Lancaster. I +know now after hearing the Mayor's discourse upon the great resources of +this county, why it was that a young fellow who had rambled out into the +West and happened to drop into an old fashioned protracted meeting, when +asked to come up to the mourners' bench, objected somewhat, and finally +when they said, "Well, young man, you've got to be born again;" replied, +"No, it isn't necessary, I was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania." +(Laughter and applause.) I understand now why the young man was so +sanguine, why it wasn't necessary to be born again, even under the +auspices of the Great Spirit. It is very gratifying indeed to be in the +midst of a great county of this kind that has made one of the great +basic industries so successful. It takes three things to make a really +great nation; it takes great natural resources, it takes great policies +and it takes great people. We have nations in this world where the +resources, the possibilities of agriculture and all lines of human +endeavor are as unlimited, almost, as ours, but they haven't the people +and in the cases where they have people of the right kind, they haven't +adopted the policies. It takes those three things for any county, any +state or any nation to be really great, and it is indeed gratifying to +those of us who believe in the highest development, the best for +humanity, to come into a county where the people, through their +industry, their policies of advancement, have made that county one of +the best farmed agricultural counties in the United States; and that is +saying a great deal when you consider the greatness of this nation and +her immense wealth and resources. It is indeed gratifying to all of us +who are spending some time and some effort to further somewhat the +advancement of the country along horticultural lines, to be met with a +cordial welcome and to come into this community that has so highly +developed her various resources: so, on behalf of this Association and +all its members, even the members that are not here, those of them who +might, if they desired, take advantage of the Mayor's corkscrew and +carnation bowl, I thank the Mayor and thank the citizens of this County +and say that we are delighted to be among you. (Applause.) + +The Chairman: We will now proceed with the regular order of business. As +my paper happens to be placed first on the list, through the methods of +the Secretary, I will ask Mr. Littlepage to kindly take the chair while +I present notes on the subject of hybridizing nut trees. + + + + +THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF HYBRIDIZING NUT TREES + +DR. ROBERT T. MORRIS, NEW YORK + +[Illustration: DR. ROBERT T. MORRIS OF NEW YORK + +_First President of the Association, 1911 and 1912_] + + +In the experimental work of hybridizing nut trees, we soon come to learn +that a number of practical points need to be acquired before successful +hybridizing can be done. This is a special field in which few have taken +part as yet, and consequently any notes upon the subject will add to +the sum total of the knowledge which we wish to acquire as rapidly as +possible. First, in collecting pollen; it is important to shake our +pollen into dry paper boxes. If we try to preserve the pollen in glass +or in metal, it is attacked by various mould fungi and is rapidly +destroyed. We have to remember that pollen consists of live cells which +have quite as active a place in the organic world as a red squirrel, and +the pollen grains need to breathe quite as much as a red squirrel needs +to breathe. Therefore they must not be placed in glass or metal or +tightly sealed. Further, the pollen grains need to be kept cool in order +to avoid attacks from the greatest enemy of all organic life, the +microbes or the lower fungi. Probably we may keep pollen for a longer +time than it could ordinarily be kept, if it is placed in cold storage, +but practically I have tried the experiment on only one occasion. Last +year I wished to cross the chinkapin with the white oak. The white oak +blossoms more than a month in advance of the chinkapin in Connecticut, +and the question was how we could keep the white oak pollen. Some of it +was placed in paper boxes in cold storage; some in paper boxes in the +cellar in a dry place. Pollen which had been kept in the cellar and +pollen which had been kept in cold storage were about equally viable. It +is quite remarkable to know that pollen can be kept for more than a +month under any circumstances. Hybridization occurred in my chinkapins +from this white oak pollen. Sometimes, where the flowering time of such +trees is far apart, it is important to know how we may secure pollen of +one kind for the female flowers of the other. Two methods are possible. +In the first place, we may secure pollen from the northern or southern +range of a species for application upon pistillate flowers at the other +end of the range of that species. Another way is to collect branches +carrying male flowers before the flowers have developed, place them in +the ice house or in a dark, cold room without light until the proper +time for forcing the flowers, and if these branches are then placed in +water, the water changed frequently as when we are keeping flowers +carefully, the catkins or other male flowers will develop pollen +satisfactorily a long time after their natural time of furnishing +pollen, when they are brought out into the light. In protecting +pistillate flowers from the pollen of their own trees, with the nut tree +group where pollen is wind-borne rather than insect borne, I find that +the better way is to cover the pistillate flowers with paper bags, the +thinner the better, the kind that we get at the grocery store. It is +best to pull off the undeveloped male flowers if they happen to be on +the same branch with the female flowers, and then place the bags over +the female flowers at about the time when they blossom, in advance of +pollination of the male flowers. It is not safe to depend upon pulling +off the male flowers of an isolated tree and leaving the female flowers +without bags to protect them from pollen of the same species or of +allied species, for the reason that wind may carry pollen to a great +distance. One of Mr. Burbank's critics--I am sorry he has so many, for +they are not all honest or serious--one of his critics, in relation to +the crossing of walnuts, said that it was due to no particular skill on +the part of Mr. Burbank, for, whenever the wind blew from the east, he +regretted to say that his entire orchard of Persian walnuts became +pollinized from the California black walnuts nearly half a mile away. +This is an exaggeration, because the chances are that most of the +Persian walnuts were pollenized from their own pollen, but in the case +of some Persian walnuts blossoming early, and developing female flowers +in advance of male flowers, pollen might be carried to them from half a +mile away in a high wind from California black walnut trees. Black +walnut pollen would then fertilize pistillate flowers of the Persian +walnut. I have found this a real danger, this danger of wind-pollination +at a distance, much to my surprise. Last year I pollinized one or two +lower branches of female flowers of a butternut tree which had no other +butternut tree within a distance of a good many rods, so far away that I +had no idea that the pollen would be carried from the tree with male +flowers to the one which happened to have female flowers only that year; +consequently I placed pecan pollen on the female flowers of the lower +branches of this butternut tree without protecting them with bags, and +left the rest of the tree unguarded. There were no male flowers on that +butternut tree that year. Much to my surprise, not only my pollinized +flowers but the whole tree bore a good crop of butternuts. This year, on +account of the drought, many of the hickory trees bore female flowers +only. I do not know that it was on account of the drought, but I have +noted that after seasons of drought, trees are apt to bear flowers of +one sex or the other, trees which normally bear flowers of both sexes. +This year a number of hickory trees bore flowers of one sex only, and I +noted that some shagbark trees which had no male flowers had fairly good +crops of nuts from pollen blown from a distance from other trees. I had +one pignut tree (H. Glabra) full of female flowers which contained only +one male flower, so far as I could discover and which I removed. On one +side of this tree was a bitternut; on the other side a shagbark. This +tree bore a full crop of pignuts, (Hicoria glabra) evidently pollinized +on one side by the bitternut and on the other side by the shagbark These +points are made for the purpose of showing the necessity of covering the +female flowers with bags in our nut tree hybridizations. We must +sprinkle Persian insect powder inside the bags or insects will increase +under protection. When we have placed bags over female flowers, it is +necessary to mark the limb; otherwise, other nuts borne on neighboring +limbs will be mistaken for the hybridized nuts unless we carefully place +a mark about the limb. Copper wire twisted loosely is, I find, the best. +Copper wire carrying a copper tag with the names of the trees which are +crossed is best. If I mark the limb with string or with strong cord I +find there are many ways for its disappearance. Early in the spring the +birds like it so well that they will untie square knots in order to put +it into their nests. Later in the season the squirrels will bite off +these marks made with cords for no other purpose, so far as I know, +except satisfying a love of mischief. Now I am not psychologist enough +to state that this is the reason for the action of the red squirrel, and +can only remember that when I was a boy I used to do things that the red +squirrel now does. (Laughter.) Consequently, on that basis, I traced the +psychology back to plain pure mischief. Red squirrels and white footed +mice must be looked after with great care in our hybridized trees. If +the squirrels cannot get at a nut that is surrounded by wire cloth, they +will cut off the branch and allow it to fall to the ground and then +manage to get it out. White footed mice will make their way through +wire, and mice and squirrels will both manage to bite through wire cloth +unless it is very strong in order to get at the nut. The mere fact of +nuts being protected by wire cloth or in other ways seems to attract the +attention of squirrels. One of my men, a Russian, said, in rather broken +English, "Me try remember which nuts pollinized; no put on wire, no put +on tag, no put on nothing; squirrel see that, see right straight, bite +off one where you put sign for him." (Laughter.) The best way for +keeping squirrels and white footed mice from ascending a tree, I find is +by tacking common tin, slippery smooth tin, around the trunk of the tree +and this may be left on only during the time when squirrels are likely +to ascend the tree. They will begin long before the nuts are ripe. In +the case of hazel nuts, I have surrounded the bushes with a wire fence +or wire mesh, leaving a little opening on one side, and have placed +steel traps in the opening. Now here enters a danger which one does not +learn about excepting from practical experience. I went out one morning +shortly after having thought of this bright idea and found two gray +squirrels in the traps. They had followed their natural instinct of +climbing when they got into the steel traps, and climbing wildly had +broken off every single branch from those hazels which carried +hybridized nuts. There wasn't one left, because the squirrels when +caught had climbed into the trees and had so violently torn about with +trap and chain that they had broken off every single branch with a nut +on it. So many things happen in our experiments that appeal to one's +sense of the ludicrous, if he has a sense of humor, that I assure you +nut raising is a source of great delight to those who are fond of the +drama. + +The field of hybridizing nut trees offers enormous prospects. We are +only just upon the margin of this field, just beginning to look into the +vista. It has been done only in a limited way, so far, by crossing +pollen and flowers under quite normal conditions. We may look forward to +extending the range now of pollinization from knowledge based upon the +experiments of Loeb and his followers in biology. They have succeeded in +developing embryos from the eggs of the sea urchin, of the nereis, and +of mollusks, without spermatozoa. Their work has shown that each egg is +a single cell with a cell membrane and it is only necessary to destroy +this cell membrane according to a definite plan to start that egg to +growing. Life may be started from the egg in certain species without the +presence of the other sex. This may lead us into a tremendous new field +in our horticultural work. We may be able to treat germ cells with acids +or other substances which destroy the cell membrane so as to allow +crossing between very widely separated species and genera. Loeb, by +destroying the cell membrane of the sea urchin, was enabled to cross the +sea urchin with the star fish, and no one knows but we may be able, +following this line of experimentation, eventually to cross the shagbark +hickory with a pumpkin and get a shagbark hickory nut half the size of +the pumpkin. That is all! (Applause.) + + * * * * * + +(President Morris then took the chair.) + +The Chairman: Please let me add that the hickory pumpkin idea is not to +be taken seriously. That is a highly speculative proposition. I have +found some times that, in a very scientific audience, men who were +trained in methods of science, had very little selvage of humor,--little +margin for any pleasantry, but this highly speculative suggestion, +curiously enough, is not in fact more speculative than would have been +the idea twelve years ago that you could hatch an egg, start an egg to +development--without fertilization. + +Mr. Hutt: I would like to ask how widely you have been able to cross +species? + +The Chairman: It has been possible to cross species of hazels freely +with the four species that I have used, the American hazel, Corylus +Americana; the beak hazel, Corylus rostrata; the Asiatic, Corylus +colurna, and Corylus pontica. These apparently cross readily back and +forth. With the hickories I think rather free hybridization occurs back +and forth among all, but particularly in relation to groups. The +open-bud hickories, comprising the pecan, the bitternut, the water +hickory, and the nutmeg hickory, apparently, from my experiments, cross +much more readily among each other than they cross with the scale-bud +hickories. The scale-bud hickories appear to cross much more freely +among each other than they cross with the open-bud hickories; not only +species but genera may be crossed, and I find that the walnuts +apparently cross freely with the open-bud hickories and the open-bud +hickories cross with the walnuts. I have thirty-two crosses between the +bitternut hickory and our common butternut, growing. All of the walnuts +apparently cross rather freely back and forth with each other. I have +not secured fertile nuts between the oaks and chestnuts, but I believe +that we may get fertile nuts eventually. The nuts fill well upon these +two trees fertilized with each others' pollen respectively, but I have +not as yet secured fertile ones. We shall find some fertile crosses I +think between oaks and chestnuts, when enough species have been tried. + +Mr. Hutt: Do you notice any difference in the shapes of any of those +hybrids, the nuts, when you get them matured and harvested? Do they look +any different from the other nuts on the tree? + +The Chairman: There isn't very much difference, but I seem to think that +sometimes the pollen has exercised an influence upon the nuts of the +year. Theoretically it should not do so, but I noticed one case +apparently in which I crossed a chinkapin with a Chinese chestnut, and +the nuts of that year seemed to me to present some of the Chinese +chestnuts' characteristics. + +Mr. Hutt: This year I crossed a number of varieties of pecans and in +nearly all those crosses there was to me quite an evident difference in +the nuts. For instance those gathered off certain parts of a pecan tree +of certain varieties, Schley or Curtis or Frotscher, would be typical +nuts, but those hybrids or crosses that I produced were distorted, more +or less misshapen and seemed to have peculiarities; so that when we came +to look over the colony we were in doubt whether they were hand +pollinated hybrids or had been pollinated before we got the blossoms +covered. Many of them evidenced a great number of distortions, and one +of them I remember particularly whose shell was so thin it was just like +a piece of brown paper; and there were several peculiarities that were +quite noticeable in those hand pollinated nuts. + +The Chairman: That is a very interesting point. When we come to consider +deformities of nuts we shall find very many cases due to the character +of the pollinization. I crossed the Persian walnut with the shagbark +hickory and had nuts that year of just the sort of which Mr. Hunt +speaks, with shells as thin as paper. One could crush them with the very +slightest pressure of the finger. The shells were not well developed. +Unfortunately the mice happened to get at all of those nuts. I don't +know if they were fertile or not. The kernels were only about half +developed. I should look for deformity in these nuts rather than a +taking on of the type of one parent over the other, the idea being based +on theoretical biological considerations. We had last year a photograph +of a tree in California which apparently was a cross, a very odd +cross--does any one remember about that California tree? + +Mr. Wilcox: It was a cross between Juglans Californica and the live oak. + +The Chairman: Both the foliage and the nuts were very remarkable and +pertained to characters of these two trees. Such a cross to my mind +would be wholly unexplainable excepting on the ground recently brought +out by Loeb and his followers in crossing the lower forms of animal life +and finding that the cell membrane of the egg, if destroyed, will allow +of very wide fertilization subsequently with other species. It occurs to +me now--I had no explanation last year, but it occurs to me now, +knowing of Loeb's experiments--that it is possible that one of the +parents, the parent California oak tree carrying the female flowers, +might have had its sex cells subjected to some peculiar influence like +acid, sulphurous acid, for instance, from some nearby chimney. +Sulphurous acid perhaps from someone merely lighting a match to light a +cigar under the tree; he might have so sensitized a few female flowers, +may have so injured the cell membrane of a few female germ cells that +cross pollinization then took place from a walnut tree. It is only on +some such ground as the findings of Loeb that we can explain such a very +unusual hybridization as that, which appeared to me a valid one, of a +cross between an oak and a walnut. + +(Secretary Deming then called attention to hybrids in the various +exhibits.) + +Professor Smith: I should like to ask why, if this free hybridization +takes place in nature among the hickories, you do not have a perfect +complex of trees showing all possible variations in the forest. + +The Chairman: In answer to Professor Smith's question I will start from +his premises and remark that we do have such complexities. The hickories +are so crossed at the present time, like our apples, that even crossing +the pollen of various hickory trees of any one species does not promise +interesting results unless we cross an enormous number. They are already +so widely crossed that it is very difficult sometimes to determine if a +certain tree is shagbark or pignut or shellbark or mockernut. For the +most part the various species and varieties of hickories retain their +identity because their own pollen is handiest, and different species do +not all flower at the same time. Their own pollen from the male flowers +is apt to fall at the time when their own female flowers are ripe and +under these circumstances the chances are very much in favor of the tree +pollinizing its female flowers with its own pollen. On the other hand, +there is hardly one chance in many hundred thousand for any crossed nut +to grow, for the reason that most nuts are destroyed by mice, squirrels, +rats and boys. If you have a hickory nut tree growing in a lot, and +which has produced a bushel of hickory nuts year after year, do you know +of one single nut from that tree which has grown? In this plan of +Nature, this plan of enormous waste of Nature in order to get one seed +to grow, the chance for a hybridized hickory nut to grow under normal +conditions, is so small that we should have relatively few crossed +trees growing wild in Nature, though we do find quite a good many of +them. + +Professor Smith: If I am not taking up too much time, I would like to +put some more questions to you. + +The Chairman: That's what we are here for. + +Professor Smith: Have you ever tried the plan of serving collations to +squirrels? Why wouldn't it pay to give them portions of wheat and corn? +Second, what percentage of the oak pollen kept in cold storage a month +was alive? Third, what is the range of time that the hybridizer has to +make the pollinization? Must we go on the dot or have we two days or +four days or a week, in the case of hickories and walnuts? + +The Chairman: I think possibly as these are three direct questions, I +might answer them now. No, I think it would be better to have all +questions bearing on this subject brought out and then I will answer all +together. So if you will kindly ask all the questions, I will then +endeavor to answer them. + +Mr. Corsan: The squirrels bothered me last year. I've got forty acres of +land for experimental purposes only and I started planting and the +little beggars would dig down exactly where I planted the nuts, so I +went into town and got a rat trap with a double section so I could catch +them alive; and I caught so many by feeding them cheap pignuts, the +sweet pignuts from Michigan, that I brought them in and my boys sold +them for twenty-five cents apiece. Since then we have never been +bothered with red squirrels. For the white footed mice I laid down large +doors over some hay or long grass and they gathered underneath and then +I lifted the doors up every day and with a stick I smashed hundreds of +them. I have posted a notice to leave the skunk and mink alone; I don't +want anybody on the place shooting them. + +The Chairman: I will first answer Professor Smith's questions. This +matter of serving collations for squirrels had best be done as +collations are served at political meetings--with a trap attached. You +don't know how many squirrels there are in the vicinity or how many +white footed mice. You will be surprised at the numbers of the little +rascals, and not only that, but the field mice, the common field mouse +and pine mouse run in mole holes under the ground and can smell a nut a +long way off. They are extremely destructive. What percentage of pollen +grains of the white oak were alive? I do not know. Enough to fertilize +a number of flowers. The sooner pollen is used the better. I cannot +answer the question exactly because I did not make an experiment in the +laboratory to know what part of the pollen was viable. I put on a good +deal of it and there were at least some viable grains in the lot. That, +however, is a matter which can be subjected to exact laboratory tests +without any difficulty. I am so busy with so many things that I can only +follow the plan of the guinea hen that lays forty eggs and sits in the +middle of the nest and hatches out all she can. Now the range of time +for pollinizing is a thing of very great importance and we have to learn +about it. We must all furnish notes on this question. With some species +I presume the duration of life of pollen, even under the best +conditions, might be only a few days. Under other conditions it may be +several weeks; but we have to remember that, in dealing with pollen, we +are dealing with a living, breathing organism. + +The Secretary: I believe the experiment has been carried to completion +of fruiting a thousand trees from nuts grown on one pecan tree without +two of the resulting nuts being like one another or like the parent nut. +Is that true, Mr. Reed. + +Mr. Reed: Yes, you might say ten thousand. + +The Secretary: We have an illustration of the variability of the progeny +of a nut in this collection of chestnuts by Mr. Riehl out in Illinois. +This is a parent nut, the Rochester, and these others are seedlings from +the Rochester, except where marked otherwise, some showing a tendency to +revert to the parent, and some promising to be improvements on the +parents. + +The Chairman: Mr. Secretary, I think we'd better confine ourselves to +the hybrid question at the present time. + +The Secretary: Are not those all hybrids? + +The Chairman: I don't believe any man can tell, unless you get the +flowers, because you have the American and European types merging +together so perfectly. Some of them show distinctly the European type; +others show distinctly the American type. That is what I would expect, +however. The practical point is the question of quality. Which one keeps +the American quality and which one retains the coarseness of the +European type? + +Mr. Harris: Speaking of variations of nuts I think it is well known that +there is quite a variation in the nuts of the oak. I noticed in one +species, michauxii, which is an oak in the South, that its nuts varied +a great deal. It is something of the type of the chestnut, the white oak +or the rock oaks and it varies a great deal. + +I found one on my father's range in New Jersey and also one on the +Potomac. The variations extend to the trees as well as the nuts. + +The Chairman: The oak tree properly belongs in another tree group and +some of the acorns are not only edible, but first-rate. In China there +are at least three species found in the markets to be eaten out of hand +or roasted. Our white oaks here, some of them, bear very good fruit, +from the standpoint of the boy and the pig, anyway, and it seems to me +that we may properly include the oaks in our discussion. There would be +great range in variation of type from hybridization between oak trees +and I have seen a number of oak trees that were evidently hybrids, where +the parentage could be traced on both sides, that were held at very high +prices by the nurserymen. I asked one nurseryman, who wanted an enormous +price for one hybrid oak, why he didn't make ten thousand of those for +himself next year? It hadn't occurred to him. + +If there is no further discussion in connection with my paper we will +have Mr. Littlepage's paper on Nut Promotions. + +Mr. Littlepage: Dr. Deming said that he thought it might be time that we +have something just a little lighter--that either he should read a paper +or I. (Laughter.) Inasmuch as he included himself, I took no offense +whatever. The subject I have written on, roughly and hurriedly, is +Fraudulent and Uninformed Promoters. + + + + +FRAUDULENT AND UNINFORMED PROMOTERS + +T. P. LITTLEPAGE, WASHINGTON, D. C. + +[Illustration: MR. T. P. LITTLEPAGE + +OF INDIANA + +_President of the Association_] + +In the beginning, let me assert my confidence and interest in +agriculture in general. This is one of the basic industries, upon the +proper understanding and growth of which depends the food supply of the +nation. It is admitted by scientists that, other conditions being equal, +an adequacy or inadequacy in the supply of proper food makes the +difference between great people and undesirable people. This being true, +the various operations of agriculture must always be of the greatest +concern to those who are interested in the nation's welfare. + +The "back-to-the-farm" movement is being discussed today in various +periodicals, but back of the "back-to-the-farm" movement is a philosophy +that has not been generally understood. It is not proper here to take +time to discuss the reasons why the man in the "steenth" story of some +magnificent office building, with telephones, electric lights, +elevators, and all modern conveniences, longs for the time when he can +roam again amidst the green fields in the sunshine and fresh air, but +suffice it to say that in my judgment a majority of the professional +men, and men in other walks of life, would, if they could, abandon their +various employments and turn again to the soil. The boy on the farm +dreams of the days when he can be the president of a bank, have a home +in the city, own an automobile, smoke good cigars and go to the show +every night. The bank president dreams of the day when he can turn again +to the farm and walk in the green fields, where he can shun the various +artificial activities of life, drink buttermilk and retire with the +chickens. + +It may be asked what connection these statements have with the subject, +and the answer is this--that in the minds of many thousands of people +there is this supreme desire to some day own a portion of God's +footstool to which they can retire from artificial and vainglorious +environments to those under which they can be their real selves and +follow pursuits to their liking. It is this that makes it possible for +the promoter of various horticultural enterprises to succeed in +interesting in his schemes the clerk, the merchant, the doctor, the +lawyer, the school teacher, the preacher, and all others whose +occupations confine them within the limits of the great cities. + +In the beginning, let us distinguish between the fraudulent promoter and +the uninformed promoter. The fraudulent promoter is he who recognizes +this great and worthy ambition of many people to buy a spot to which +they can some day retire and work and rest and dream and enjoy the +coming and going of the seasons, and the sunshine and the shadows, and +who capitalizes this ambition, with that industry as his stock in trade +which, at the particular moment, happens to offer the most attractive +inducements. Those familiar with the industry he is exploiting, can tell +him by his actions, by his words, by his nods and winks. It is hard for +the crook to disguise himself to the informed. + +Distinguished from the fraudulent promoter is the uninformed promoter, +but, so far as results are concerned, there is not much difference +between them for the innocent investor. They both lead him to failure. +They are unlike only in this, that the pathway of the one is lined with +deception, crookedness and chicanery; of the other, with blasted hopes +based upon good intentions but bad information. Both lead to the +self-same sepulcher which in the distance looks white and beautiful but +when reached is filled with the bones of dead men. + +There is not much difference after all, when one comes right down to the +facts, between the crook who starts out deliberately to get one's money +and the fellow who starts out in ignorance and makes great promises of +returns that he knows nothing about. Both succeed in getting one's money +and both succeed in misleading those who have a desire to lay aside +something for their old days. We naturally feel more charity for him who +has good intentions, but who fails, than for him who starts out with bad +intentions. But, after all, only results count. + +Did you ever receive the literature of one of these various concerns +that has pecan or apple orchards to sell? How beautiful their schemes +look on paper! With what exquisite care they have worked out the +pictures and the language and the columns of figures showing the +profits! While writing this article I have before me a prospectus of a +certain pecan company that prints columns of attractive figures. +Fearful, however, that the figures would not convince, it has resorted +to all the various schemes of the printers' art in its portrayal of the +prospective profits from a grove set to pecans and Satsuma oranges, and +it tells you in conclusion that it guarantees by a bond, underwritten by +a responsible trust company, the fulfillment of all its representations. +Yet what are the facts? Their lands are located in a section where the +thermometer falls to a point that makes highly improbable the profitable +growing of Satsuma oranges. And all their figures are merely estimates +of the wildest character, printed in attractive columns, based upon +nothing. + +As a member of the National Nut Growers Association I was this year +chairman of the committee on orchard records. I sent out blanks, with +lists of questions, to many prominent nut growers to see if I could +secure data upon which to base a report to the association. The replies +I received showed the existence of some very promising young orchards of +small size, well cared for, but they also showed that there was no such +thing as an intelligent report upon which reliable data as to the +bearing records of orchards could be based for any future calculations. +There are two reasons for this. First, most of the figures we have are +based upon the records of a few pet trees around the dooryard or garden, +grown under favorable conditions. Second, the young groves are not yet +old enough for anyone to say, with any degree of accuracy, what the +results will be. Therefore, the alluring figures printed in these +pamphlets are only guesses. + +Furthermore, what of the contract of these concerns? What does it +specify? You would be surprised to know the legal construction of one of +these contracts, together with their guaranty bond. In most cases they +advertise to plant, and properly cultivate for a period of five to seven +years, orchards of the finest varieties of budded or grafted pecan +trees, with Satsuma oranges or figs set between. But the guaranty +company is usually wise enough to have lawyers who are able to advise +them of their liabilities, and about all they actually guarantee is +that, after a period of five years, provided all payments have been +promptly met, there will be turned over to the purchaser five acres of +ground with trees upon it. Five years old? No, they may not be one year +old. Budded or grafted? No, they may be mere seedlings. Oranges set +between them? No, the orange has passed out of the proposition before +the bond stage. The companies generally print a copy of the bond, but +usually in such small type that the victim does not read it, though the +heading is always prominent. It thunders in the index and fizzles in the +context. + +Moreover, suppose suit is brought on one of these contracts and bonds? +What is the measure of damages? What basis has any court or jury for +fixing damages? And be it remembered that courts do not exist for the +protection of fools against their folly. The principle "caveat emptor" +is as old as the common law itself, and it means that the buyer must +beware, or in other words, that he should inform himself, and that he +cannot expect the courts to protect him where he has failed to exercise +due caution and diligence. Therefore, as a lawyer, I should very much +hesitate to take on a contingent fee the suit of one of these various +victims against a promoting orchard corporation. + +However, in any jurisdiction where there is a criminal statute against +fraudulent representation and obtaining money under false pretenses, I +should not hesitate, if I were the prosecuting attorney, to indict every +member of such a corporation, and, to sustain the case, I would simply +present to a jury of honest men the representations in their advertising +literature, and then have the court instruct the same jury as to the +validity and limitations of their contract. Their advertising is +brilliant enough to dazzle the sun. Their contract is as dull as a mud +pie. + +In addition to all of this comes the question of orcharding by proxy, +and the success of the unit or acreage system, and many other similar +questions; and let me say that I doubt if there is today in the United +States one large development scheme, either in pecan or apple orchards, +that will prove of ultimate financial profit and success to the +purchaser. The promoter may get rich--he has nothing at stake. In most +instances he has the price of the land in his pocket before there is a +lick of work done on it, and the payments come in regularly and promptly +to take care of his salary and the meager and unscientific development. + +Of course I would not be understood as saying that pecan or apple +orchards cannot be made profitable. I am of the opinion that reasonable +sized orchards in proper locations and proper soil, of proper varieties, +with proper care in handling, are good investments, and, as proof of my +confidence, I am planting orchards both in the north and south. The +adjective "proper" which I have used here may seem insignificant at the +start but, believe me, before you have begun to clip the coupons off +your orchard bonds this adjective will loom up as important as Webster's +Unabridged Dictionary. In fact you will wonder how it has been possible +for anyone to forecast in one word such comprehensive knowledge. Think +of a man a thousand miles away putting money into the hands of some +unknown concern, for five acres of unknown land, to be set in unknown +varieties of trees, to be cared for by unknown individuals. Can he not +see that, in keeping with all the other unknown factors, his profits +must also be unknown? + +We look at a great industrial enterprise, such as the steel trust, and +marvel at its success. But it must be remembered that this industry +started many years ago, and step by step built furnace after furnace and +mill after mill, after the owners had tried out and become familiar with +all the factors of that industry, and after great corps of trained +experts had been developed, and after science had given to this industry +many of the most marvelous mechanical inventions of the age. These facts +are overlooked, however, when some fellow steps up and proposes to put a +steel-trust-orchard on the market in twelve months. In most industrial +enterprises there are well-known and established factors to be +considered. In horticultural enterprises, however, no man knows what +twelve months hence will bring. I read the other day with great +interest the prospectus of a great pecan orchard started several years +ago by a very honorable and high-minded man, and the promises of success +were most alluring. What are the facts? The boll weevil came along and +wiped out his intermediate cotton crops. The floods came later and +destroyed acres of his orchards, and, if he were to write a prospectus +today, it would no doubt be a statement of hope rather than a statement +of facts. He would no doubt turn from the Book of Revelations, where at +that time he saw "a new heaven and a new earth," and write from the Book +of Genesis, where "the earth was without form and void." + +How many people have been defrauded by these various schemes, no one +knows. How many clerks, barbers, bookkeepers, stenographers, students, +preachers, doctors, lawyers, have contributed funds for farms and future +homes in sections where they would not live if they owned half of the +county. How many people have been separated from their cash by +literature advertising rich, fertile lands in sections where the +alligator will bask unmolested in miasma for the next fifty years, and +where projects should be sold by the gallon instead of by the acre. + +Some time ago it was reported that inquiries in reference to the +feasibility and profits of various orchard schemes had come in to the +Bureau of Plant Industry of the Agricultural Department, at Washington, +in such numbers that the officials of that Bureau had considered the +advisability of printing a general circular, which they could send to +the inquirers, advising them to make due investigation, and giving a few +general suggestions about proxy farming and orchard schemes. I was +advised by a friend in the middle west that the contemplated issuance of +this circular by the Bureau of Plant Industry had aroused a number of +protests throughout the country, and that various Senators and Members +of the House of Representatives had entered strong protests with the +Secretary of Agriculture against it. A number of these protests have +come to my notice, and they take various forms of opposition, but are +all unanimous against the Department of Agriculture offering to the +prospective purchaser any information. Various reasons for their stand +were given by the protestants, but how flimsy and ridiculous they are +when analyzed. Congress for a number of years has been appropriating +money and authorizing certain work by the Department of Agriculture. It +is the people's money, and the people's Department, and the information +gathered by the experts in this Department ought to be the people's +information, and it ought to be possible for any citizen to write the +Department a letter about any proposition that he has received from any +of these various promoters, and have the advice of those who know most +about it. + +I suppose the Department of Agriculture has entirely too many duties to +perform to undertake a work of this kind, but what an inconsistent +position it is for a Member of Congress, who has been voting for +appropriations to carry on this work, to appeal to the Secretary of +Agriculture to suppress such information in order that some exploiter +may get somebody's money under false representations. I think if it were +possible today to know the list of concerns and companies who +registered, directly or through agents, their opposition to this +proposed warning circular, you would have a correct index of the +concerns good to let alone. For no honest, reputable individual or +company need be afraid of the work or suggestions of that great +Department. I have the pleasure of knowing many of the officials in the +Bureau of Plant Industry, and never anywhere have I seen a body of men +so conscientiously engaged in the work of promoting legitimate +horticultural and agricultural knowledge. It is the very life of that +great Department, and its officers and employees above everyone else are +most interested in seeing the land produce the most and best that it can +be made to produce, and they are best qualified to pass upon these +matters. + +Most of the questions in these various schemes are questions of soil and +horticulture. One letter in opposition to the Agricultural Department's +attitude, that was brought to my attention, stated that crops varied +under different conditions, and that no one was able to tell what a +certain soil would or would not produce throughout a period of years, +and intimated that the Department of Agriculture might mislead the +public; and yet the concern that sent it printed columns of figures +guaranteeing returns from pecans and Satsuma oranges in a section where +orange growing is of very doubtful possibility. Boiling down these +objections by the promoters, they come to simply this: That the +Agricultural Department, with no motive but to tell the truth, and with +its corps of trained experts, might mislead the public, but they (the +promoters) could not possibly be mistaken in their fabulous figures +compiled for the purpose of getting money from some misinformed victim. + +Proxy farming never was a success and I do not think it ever will be. +One of my friends told me a short time ago of a very successful young +pecan orchard on the gulf coast. Upon inquiry I found that it was of +reasonable size, nine years old, and that the owner had lived in it nine +years. It was not 500 acres in extent, or 1,000 acres, or 2,000 acres, +but about 20 acres. Last summer I went into a beautiful apple orchard in +Southern Indiana and saw about forty acres of trees bending to the +ground with delicious Grimes Golden apples. On that particular day there +were great crowds of people walking among the trees and admiring the +fruit. I too walked among the trees a short time, but of greater +interest to me than the trees was the old, gray-haired man who had made +the orchard. The trees could not talk, but he could, and he told the +story of the years of care, and diligence, and work, and thought, and +patience, that showed why it is not possible to cover the mountains of a +state with orchards bringing almost immediate and fabulous incomes. + +Some time ago I stood talking to the old superintendent of the Botanical +Garden in Washington--William R. Smith, now deceased--and while +discussing with him the requisites for tree culture, he said "Young man, +you have left out the most important one of them all," When I asked him +what I had left out, he said "above all things it takes the eye of the +master." So it does, and the master is he whose vigilance is continual, +who watches each tree as if it were a growing child--as indeed it is, a +child of the forests--who has the care and the patience, and who is not +dazzled by the glitter of the dollar, but who loves trees because they +are trees. + +Theoretically, one can figure great successes in big horticultural +development propositions, but these figures rest upon theory and not +fact. It would be difficult to state all the reasons why I have a firm +conviction that such big schemes of every kind will fall, but I believe +this conviction is shared by the foremost thinkers in the horticultural +world. A four-year-old boy was once taken to see the animals in a +circus. He was very much interested, but, when shown the tremendous +elephant, shook his head and said "he is too big." + +A small grove properly handled ought to be an excellent investment. The +various uncertainties and vicissitudes involved can, in a degree, be +compensated for by great care; and I suppose it would be possible even +with some of these big schemes--by placing enough money behind them--to +insure a fair degree of success. It must be borne in mind, however, that +these promoters, of whom we have been speaking, are not so much +concerned in the successful orchard as they are in big salaries and +profits, and, if one has money enough to pay big salaries and profits, +and still pay for the proper care of the orchard, then he does not need +an orchard. Most of these promoters charge too much for a proper and +honest development alone, and too little for the proper development plus +the profits and salaries of the promoters. I wish it were not so. I wish +the old earth could be made to smile bountiful crops without such +expensive tickling, but this is one of the checks and balances that +nature places upon her great storehouse of wealth. + + * * * * * + +The Chairman: This is a matter of very great importance and I hope we +shall have a good discussion, from a practical point of view, by men who +know about fraudulent promotions and their effect. We ought to go on +record in this matter right now. I know of numbers of teachers, doctors +and other poor people who have put money into nut promotion schemes +without knowing anything about the ultimate prospect of profit. + +Mr. Hutt: One noticeable thing about the promoter's literature is that +he never knows anything about crop failure, and in the agricultural and +horticultural world that is a thing that is painfully evident to a man +who has been in business a great length of time. In the promoter's +literature it is just a matter of multiplication; if one tree will +produce so much in a year, a hundred trees will produce a hundred times +as much. I got a letter the other day from Mr. S. H. James, of Beaumont, +Louisiana, and he said, "I have been very fortunate, I have actually had +two good crops in succession," and when you come to compare that with +the promoter's literature--why he knows no such thing as crop failure. +Anybody who knows anything about agricultural or horticultural work +knows that we have winter and floods and everything else to contend +with. + +The Chairman: Someone might tell us about failures they happen to know +of in promotion schemes. + +Mr. Smith: I would like to ask if Mr. Littlepage isn't going to open up +that barrel of actual facts that he has about yields? + +Mr. Littlepage: Mr. President, I didn't know that I had a whole barrel +of actual facts. When I started in several years ago a barrel wouldn't +have held all of them, but I think that now I could put the actual facts +in a thimble. I've got several barrels of good pecans, however, I'd like +to open up and let Mr. Smith sample if he wants to. + +The Chairman: Let's hear about frauds from someone who knows how the +land was managed and how the trees were managed and how it actually +occurred. + +Mr. Van Duzee: Mr. President, I feel that I ought to say something, +first in commendation of the paper itself. It is a question how far we, +as an Association, are responsible for the care of our fellowmen, but at +this period when the industry is new, I feel that it is a very +legitimate thing for us to do a little work to try and prevent these +people from preying upon our fellowmen. The president remarked this +morning that something was an evidence of the tremendous waste in +Nature. It is true, Nature, in building a forest, wastes a vast amount +of time and energy. These people who are preying upon the nut industry +today find as their victims the weaklings which Nature buries in the +forest. Those things are incidental and we must expect them, but I feel +that a paper of this kind, at this time, is a very valuable thing and I +hope it will receive wide publication. We cannot say too much to +discourage this sort of thing. Now, to respond, in a measure, to the +President's request for actual facts, I am confronted with this +proposition, that some of the men who have made the greatest failures +are men who have done so through ignorance. They are honest men, they +are personal friends of mine. I don't care to go too much into details, +because they are just as sorry today as I am, but I have seen this done. +I have seen hundreds of acres of nut orchards in the South planted with +the culls from nurseries bought at a very low figure. I have seen these +trees neglected absolutely, not in one case but in many cases. I have +seen the weeds as high as the trees at the time when a telegram was +received by the the local agent that a carload of the purchasers of +these tracts was about to leave to look over their property. I have seen +the local manager hustle out, when he got that telegram, and hire every +mule in the community to come in and, with a plow, throw a furrow or two +to the rows of trees so that they could be distinguished from the weeds +they were growing among. As Mr. Littlepage has said, there can be no +success in such operations; and I feel, looking at it in a very broad +way, that this is a very good time to emphasize the point that those of +us who have the greatest experience in the growing of nut trees do not +feel that these enterprises are legitimate, or that they promise very +much success. (Applause.) + +Mr. Pomeroy: I live just a short distance from Buffalo. A few months +ago--I got it on the very best authority--there was some salesman in +Buffalo who didn't have time to call on all those who wanted to give him +money for pecan propositions. He didn't have time, Doctor, he just had +to skip hundreds of them, he said; he was just going from one place to +another, making his collections. Buffalo is a city of only about 450,000 +people and there must be some money being collected and sent in to +somebody. + +The Chairman: Very glad to hear of that instance; let's hear of others. + +Mr. Littlepage: I would like, if possible, to answer Mr. Smith's +question. I didn't know that he referred to facts about these +promotions, I thought perhaps he meant facts about nut growing. + +Mr. Smith: You said you had made inquiries as to nuts, harvest yields, +orchard yields; it was those, particularly, that I had in mind. + +Mr. Littlepage: Oh well, I could give those to you readily. There are +some very promising orchards, making a good showing under investigation, +handled under proper conditions and of proper size. I would not want to +say that those things are not possible. Talking specifically of these +overgrown schemes, one of them is recalled to my mind, a development +company in southern Georgia, that advertises very alluringly. It set out +one year a lot of culls; they all died. I am told that they went out the +second year and, without any further preparation, dug holes and set out +another lot of culls. They too died; and then they went out the third +year and planted nuts, and those trees, at the end of a year's growth, +were perhaps six or seven inches high, and the salesman from that +company, I understood, took one of the prospective purchasers over into +a fine grove owned by another man on the opposite side of the road, and +let him pick out his five acres from the orchard across the road. That's +one type I could multiply indefinitely. + +Mr. W. C. Reed: I think this is a very important matter. As a nursery +man who has sold a great many trees to promoting companies, I want to +say that I have never, with one exception, seen an orchard that has been +a success, but I have seen hundreds of failures, some of them where they +have set out orchards of 150,000 trees and sold them off in one and ten +acre tracts, and in only one case have I seen a success. I think these +promotions should be avoided by the nut growers of the North. + +The Chairman: This is very valuable information, coming from a dealer. + +Mr. Van Duzee: I have found this in the yields of my orchards. Six or +seven or eight years ago, I discounted every source of information that +I could have access to, as to yields, brought them to a conservative +point, submitted them to the best informed men in the United States, and +then divided those figures by five as my estimate of what I might hope +to accomplish as my orchards came into bearing. I have since been +obliged to find some excuses for failing to even approximate those +conservative figures. I had this year in our orchard, a 35 acre plot of +Frotscher trees which is one of the most promising varieties, six years +of age, and there were not five pounds of nuts in the whole plot. I have +had an orchard of 36 acres, mostly Frotscher and Stewart, go through its +sixth year with less than 200 pounds of nuts to the entire orchard. I +have another orchard of 30 acres which in its sixth year has produced +less than 100 pounds of nuts. Now many of these promoters guarantee to +take care of these orchards, which they are selling, for 10 per cent or +20 per cent, or even half the proceeds of those orchards, from the fifth +year. You can see readily that the entire crop of such orchards as I +have been able to produce, would not begin to pay their running expenses +the sixth and seventh year. + +The Chairman: You took good care of yours? + +Mr. Van Duzee: I think so. I think there are many gentlemen in the +audience who have been through them, and it is conceded that my orchards +are at least fairly good representatives of what can be done under +normal conditions. + +Mr. Corsan: Are yours southern orchards? + +Mr. Van Duzee: These pecan orchards are in south-western Georgia. + +Mr. Corsan: The Northern Nut Growers Association, as I understand, is a +collection of men who are interested in finding out what we can do in +the way of growing nuts for the North. We go to the markets and see +baskets of cocoanuts, Brazil nuts, California walnuts, but no nuts +growing for the market around our neighborhood. In my own city, Toronto, +I can see some nut trees because I look very closely at everything, but +the average person cannot see them because they are very few. I have a +number of experiments on hand. If I succeed in even one of these +experiments, I am satisfied to spend my whole life at it. I am not +nervous, I can watch a hickory tree grow. (Laughter.) I want to grow +some nuts for the next generation. I haven't the slightest thought of +making a copper of money out of it but I am going to enjoy the thing, +and that's the idea of the Northern Nut Growers Association, or else I +have made a mistake. + +The Chairman: Is there any further discussion on the matter of frauds? +Does anyone else wish to speak on this subject? + +Mr. Littlepage: It is indeed very gratifying to hear the President of +the National Nut Growers' Association, Col. Van Duzee, speak on this +subject and to have the honor of having him with us as a member of our +Association. It is gratifying to have him come out in such strong terms +on this question. It has always been his policy and his reputation, so +far as I have heard, to stand for what is best and squarest in nut +culture. + +The Chairman: The paper of Mr. Littlepage is one of very great +importance, because the number of frauds associated with an enterprise +is an indication of the fundamental value of the cause. These fraudulent +nut promoters capitalize the enthusiasm of people who want to get back +to the land, just as porters at the hotels capitalize the joy of a newly +married couple. (Laughter.) We have in this "back-to-the-land" movement, +a bit of philosophy of fundamental character which includes the idea of +preservation of the race. Preservation of the race!--why so? Nature made +man a gregarious species and, being gregarious, he has a tendency to +develop the urban habit. Developing the urban habit, he fails to oxidize +his proteins and toxins. Failing to oxidize his proteins and toxins, he +degenerates. Recognizing the degenerating influence of urban life, by +means of his intelligence he has placed within his consciousness that +automatic arrangement, as good as the automatic arrangement which turns +water on to a boiler, which says to him, "go out and oxidize your +proteins and toxins." That is what "back-to-the-land" means. You've got +to begin from this fundamental point. Now then, if this represents a +fundamental trait in the character of our species and we are acting in +response to a natural law, then must we be doubly careful about having +our good intentions, our good methods, halted by unwisdom. That brings +to mind the point made about our present Secretary of Agriculture. I am +very glad this has been made a matter of record here, for I am sorry to +say that in connection with another subject--(health matters)--wherever +there has been opportunity for the Secretary to act, he has decided as a +matter of policy on the side of capital and against the side of public +interest. Almost every time, so far as we have a record of the action of +the present Secretary of Agriculture and of Dunlap and McCabe, his +assistants. We ought to state here, in connection with fraudulent nut +promotions, that he has acted in favor of capital and against the public +interest if it is true. It ought to go as a matter of record from this +Association. We may be bold in this matter, but we should be righteously +bold because we are speaking for the public interest ourselves. We have +nothing to gain; there is nothing selfish about this organization. We +may be kindly and say that the Secretary is at the mercy of shrewder +men. + +Mr. Corsan says that we are interested in scientific work only. That is +true at the present time, because all progress must be from a scientific +basis. If our care in managing experiments is such that we cannot avoid +getting rich, we will accept the result. (Laughter.) I am glad that in +connection with this discussion Mr. Corsan made one epigrammatic +remark,--that he was not nervous and could watch a hickory tree grow. I +tell you there's a lot of wit in that. + +Mr. Littlepage: He has good eyesight, Mr. President. + +The Chairman: The reason why we have so many fraudulent promotions is +largely because of our American temperament; we are so nervous that we +can't watch a hickory tree grow. In matters of public health, our +Secretary of Agriculture has prevented actual criminals from being +brought to justice--he made that his policy. + +I think those are the points that I wish to make in commenting upon Mr. +Littlepage's paper and if he will make any concluding remarks we will be +very glad to hear them. In regard to Mr. Hutt's suggestion that we +cannot count on crop success or crop failure mathematically--now, there +are fortunes to be made from the proper management of good nut orchards. +We know of orchards where very large incomes are at present being made, +and I am very glad that the sense and sentiment of this meeting is +against quotation of that feature. I have not heard here one word in +quotation of orchards which bring incomes of $10,000 a year or more from +various kinds of nuts, and we know there are many such orchards. It is +the failures upon which we should concentrate our attentions right now, +and the reason for failure is not that nut growing is not going to make +progress but that we cannot count on our nuts from a mathematical basis. +One of my friends, an old Frenchman, became very enthusiastic about +raising poultry. He sent out requests for circulars to every poultry +fancier who published circulars, and I will wager that he got 50 per +cent of answers to his requests for circulars about fancy poultry. He +began to raise chickens, and my father-in-law met him on the street one +day and asked how he was getting on with his pullets that were going to +lay so many eggs. "Oh," he said, "Ze trouble is with ze pullet; she no +understand mathematique like ze fancier. If I have one pullet, she lay +one egg every day; if I have two pullet, _perhaps_ she lay two egg every +day, and if I have three pullet, she _nevaire_ lay three egg every day." +(Laughter.) Now I think that the remaining time this morning we had +better devote to the executive session, then we had better meet at two +o'clock for the election of our committee. The meeting then is at +present adjourned, with the exception of those who will take part in the +executive session, and we will meet again at two P. M. There is one +point I wanted to make in connection with Col. Van Duzee's remarks that +a certain number of really honest men have allowed their names to be +used in connection with promotion propositions. Men who are quite +skillful at learning the use of names, have gotten men of good +intentions and kindly interest, I know, to lend their names as even +officials of nut promotion companies. Besides that, a good deal of +garbled literature of recommendation has gone out in their circulars. I +have had a number of circulars sent to me quoting abstract remarks that +I had made relative to nut culture in general, and this has been applied +concretely in circulars; the context did not go with it. I asked a +lawyer what I could do about it, and after going over the question he +said that I probably was powerless. + +After announcements by the Secretary, the convention took a recess until +2 P. M., at which time it was called to order by President Morris and +the regular program was resumed as follows: + +The Chairman: The executive session will be held after the meeting, as +many are here to hear the paper on the chestnut blight, so we will +proceed at once to the order of business and listen to the first paper +by Mr. Rockey. + +Mr. Rockey: This paper deals more particularly with the work that has +been done in Pennsylvania. But what has been done here may be considered +to be typical of what has been done elsewhere. + + + + +RECENT WORK ON THE CHESTNUT BLIGHT + +KELLER E. ROCKEY + +Forester in charge of Demonstration Work, Pennsylvania Chestnut Tree +Blight Commission + + +The history of the blight, briefly outlined, is as follows: + +In 1904 the diseased condition of the chestnut trees around New York +City was noted and an examination of them showed that they were being +attacked by a disease at that time unknown. Investigations since then +have shown that the blight had been at work there and elsewhere for a +number of years before that time, but it has been impossible to +determine just when it first appeared or where. The disease was studied +and described at that time. + +On display here are specimens and photographs showing the appearance of +the blight so that I will not go into that part of the subject in +detail. I hope that you will notice, however, the symptoms by which the +disease is recognized: 1st. The small red pustules which produce the +spores and, on rough barked trees, appear only in the crevices. 2nd. The +peculiar mottled appearance of the inner bark of the canker. 3rd. The +discoloration of the outer bark. 4th. The danger signals, such as +withered leaves in summer or persistent leaves or burrs in winter, +suckers which develop at the base of cankers, and the yellowish cracks +which soon appear in the bark over the cankers. + +Workers in the Bureau of Plant Industry, Washington, D. C., have been +studying the blight since 1908. In the Spring of 1911, a bill creating +the commission for the investigation and control of the blight in +Pennsylvania was passed, and the active work began in August 1911. The +method upon which the Commission is working is outlined in Farmers' +Bulletin No. 467, of the Department of Agriculture, and consists briefly +of determining the area of blight infection and in removing diseased +trees west of a certain line, with the purpose of preventing the western +spread of the blight. + +This Commission has ascertained as accurately as possible the amount of +infection in the various parts of the state and the results are given in +a map on display here. The state is divided into two districts by a line +drawn along the western edge of Susquehanna, Wyoming, Columbia, Union, +Snyder, Juniata and Franklin Counties, which is approximately the +western line of serious blight infection. West of this line a large +portion of the state has been scouted, and the remainder will be +finished early in 1913. We have learned by experience that in the +winter, after the fall of the leaves, the best scouting work can be +done. Persistent leaves and cankers along the trunk are readily seen, +and more and better work can be accomplished than in the summer, except +when the snow is very deep. + +Blight infections have been found in counties adjacent to this line: +also in Fayette County, near Connellsville, in Warren County, near +Warren, and in Elk County, near St. Mary's. These three infections were +directly traceable to infected nursery stock, and in one case the blight +had spread to adjacent trees. A large area of diseased chestnut in +Somerset County illustrates the harm done by shipping infected nursery +stock. The centre of this infection is a chestnut orchard where about +100 scions from an infected eastern orchard were grafted to native +sprouts in 1908. The percentage of infected trees in the orchard from +which the scions were obtained, according to a count made this Fall, +averages 80 per cent. Evidently these scions brought the disease into +this region, for the grafts have all been killed by the blight and every +tree in the orchard is killed or infected by disease. On adjoining +tracts over 5,400 infected trees have been cut, and there are a number +of others in process of removal, radiating in all directions from the +orchard as a center to a distance of three miles. Another infection of +143 trees was found in Elk County. It is thought that three trees at the +centre of infection were diseased in 1909, although it is possible that +one of these trees was already infected in 1908. In 1910, 27 additional +trees were infected; in 1911, 50 additional trees, and in 1912, 228 +additional trees. The disease spread in all directions from the center +of infection to a distance of 700 feet. + +These infections are interesting in showing the rate at which the blight +may travel in healthy timber. + +These infections have all been removed and it is the expectation that by +the end of January 1913 all scattered spot infections will be removed +from the territory west of the line previously mentioned, and that, to +the best of our knowledge, these western counties will be free from +blight. In 1913 the field force will be concentrated on the advance line +and the work will be carried eastward. The Commission has the power to +compel the removal of infected trees. In the western part of the state +this power has been exercised in the few cases where it was necessary. +As a rule, however, the owners are not only willing but anxious to get +rid of the infected trees, and our field men are given hearty support by +individuals, granges and other organizations. The timber owners of Elk +County had printed and posted an announcement that the chestnut blight +had been found in the locality and warned the people to be on the +look-out for it. In addition the Commission has had a man, for a short +time at least, in each of the eastern counties of the state, and their +time has been taken up principally by those who requested inspections of +timber with the view of determining the percentage of blight infection +and the best method to be pursued in combating it and realizing on their +timber. Our men are all deputy wardens, with the authority which is +attached to this office, and are instructed to do their utmost to +prevent fire damage. + +An exhibit which consists of specimens showing the blight in various +stages together with photographs, literature, etc., was placed in about +30 of the county fairs throughout the state. The appreciation of the +public has been so clearly shown that next year it is the intention of +the Commission to continue and perhaps increase this phase of the work, +and to place large permanent displays at the Commercial Museum, +Philadelphia, the State Capitol, Harrisburg, and other places. + +Many of the Annual Teachers' Institutes have been reached with a display +and lecture. We have arranged also to have a speaker at fully one +hundred of the Farmers' Institutes this winter. We are also arranging to +have a permanent display at many of the public schools, normal schools +and colleges, where instruction on the blight is given. An effort was +made last winter to enlist the service of the boy scouts and we are +indebted to them for considerable work, chiefly in an educational way. +The successful outcome of all our work will depend in a large measure +upon the owners themselves, and it is our purpose to give them all the +information possible upon the whole subject. + +The Commission established a Department of Utilization which is +collecting information on the various industries which use or might use +chestnut wood, listing the buyers and owners of chestnut wood, thus +assisting owners of blighted chestnut trees in marketing their timber to +the best advantage. The Department is trying to increase the use of +chestnut wood by calling attention to its many good qualities, and thus +utilize the large quantity which must necessarily be thrown upon the +market. There has been more or less discrimination against blighted +chestnut timber. This has been in many cases unjust, since the blight +does not injure the value of the wood for most purposes for which it is +used. However, the owners sometimes fail to realize that the blight +cankers are the most favorable places for the entrance of the borers, +and that where a large number of trees are being considered, a +percentage of them will be materially injured by insects which follow +blight infection. Where telegraph poles are barked, it is often seen +that borers have attacked the wood under blight cankers, and have not +touched any other part of the tree. All blighted timber should be cut +before death to realize its best value, since insects and +wood-destroying fungi cause the very rapid deterioration of dead, +standing timber. There has been a good market in almost every locality +for poles, ties and the better grades of lumber. Cordwood presents the +difficult problem of disposal. The best market for this is in the +central part of the state, at the extract plants. The Commission has +secured from the Pennsylvania R. R. a special tariff on blighted +chestnut cordwood so that this product may be profitably shipped from +greater distances than before. + +The Commission has inspected all chestnut nursery stock shipped from +nurseries within the state and has also provided for inspection of all +chestnut stock entering the state. This should prevent a repetition of +infections in the western part of the state which might destroy millions +of dollars worth of timber. + +From time to time publications have been and will be issued by the +Commission, which are obtained free of charge upon request, or they may +be consulted in the leading libraries throughout the state. + +An appropriation for $80,000 was given by the last Congress for +scientific research work upon the blight disease and work is being +carried out in cooperation with the various states. Several of the +Government investigators are now at work upon our force. Some of the +most important unsolved scientific problems of the blight, as given by +Secretary Wilson, in his message, to Congress, are as follows:-- + +First, the relation of the disease to climate. + +Second, the relation of the parasite to the varying tannin content of +the tree. + +Third, the origin of the disease. + +Fourth, relation of birds and insects to the dissemination of the +disease. + +Fifth, the nature and degree of resistance of the Asiatic species. +Another problem in relation to tree treatment may be added, that is, the +relation of spores and mycelium to toxic agents. + +The Pennsylvania Commission maintained laboratories during the summer at +Charter Oak, Centre County, and at Mt. Gretna, Lebanon County. The +latter has been moved to Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, for +the winter. We have also had a laboratory at the University of +Pennsylvania, which has been greatly enlarged this fall. + +The number of people who informed us that they had discovered a sure +"cure" for the blight made it necessary to obtain an orchard near +Philadelphia where all such discoverers were given an opportunity to +demonstrate the efficacy of their remedies. It might be noted that in +every case the blight is thriving as usual. These cures consisted +largely of an injection of a toxic principle by some means into the +circulation of the tree. In some cases this was accompanied by a +fertilizer of some kind, and this fertilizer may account for the +apparently improved condition of the tree in some cases, after such +remedies were used, since the growth was increased and the leaves and +branches had a healthier appearance. This increased growth has not had +any appreciable effect upon the rapidity of spread of the blight +mycelium. As the experiments are not officially finished and recorded it +is too early to give any further data. Our pathologists have also +conducted experiments in this same line but no medicinal remedy or +fertilizer has yet been found. + +The varying chemical constituents of chestnut trees, principally tannic +acid, have often been suggested in regard to the origin and spread of +the blight. Investigators are now working along this line and we hope, +for valuable results before long. + +The origin of the disease, as already stated, is something of a mystery, +and there is as yet no generally accepted theory, although many people +have very pronounced views on the subject. Many puzzling facts have been +noted since investigating the disease in Pennsylvania, among them being +the large percentage of infection in eastern York and southern Lancaster +counties, the relative small percentage in certain localities around +which the blight is generally prevalent, and recent infections found in +Warren and other western counties, a great distance from what is known +as the western advance line of the disease. + +Our pathologists have reported some very interesting facts in regard to +the dissemination of the blight. In the preliminary report of the +summer's work at our field laboratories the results tend to show: + +First, the prolific ascospore stage is very important in causing the +spread of the blight, the spores at this stage being forcibly ejected +from the pustules and borne through the air for some distance. This +ejection of spores takes place under natural field conditions only when +the bark has been soaked by rain, but the expulsion of spores is also +dependent upon temperature conditions and ceases entirely at +temperatures from 42 to 46 degrees F. and below. + +Second, the wind plays a large part in local ascospore dissemination. + +Third, birds and insects (except ants) are apparently of very little +importance in the dissemination of the blight except in providing +wounds. Further investigations of the importance of ants is being made +during the present winter. + +Several kinds of beetles have been observed eating the pustules and are +in this way beneficial, since tests show that they digest and destroy +the spores. It has also been suggested by workers in the Bureau of +Entomology that such beetles, which are of several kinds, may be of +value in the attempt to control the disease. These are perhaps the only +natural enemies discovered to date. + +The proper classification of the chestnut blight fungus has also been +the subject of much discussion. Last winter specimens of what in +external characteristics appeared to be Diaporthe parasitica were found +in western Pennsylvania, Virginia and elsewhere, growing upon chestnut, +oak and other species. This condition was puzzling and the subject of +some controversy. It has been found, however, that this fungus, called +the "Connellsville fungus," is a distinct species closely related to the +true blight fungus, being, however, entirely saprophytic. Cultural +distinctions are apparent and the ascospores differ in size and shape so +that no further confusion need occur. + +Upon the question of immunity of certain kinds of Asiatic stock, there +is very little to report beyond what was known one year ago. In the +investigations made the work has been hampered by the fact that much of +the so-called Japanese stock is in reality a hybrid of European or +American species. In 1909, 45 Japanese seedling trees were set out at +Gap, Lancaster Co., for experimentation along this line. A recent +examination showed that 90 per cent are infected. Concerning the variety +or purity of this stock, I have not been informed. Our force as well as +others are at work upon the problem which will require many years' +study. + +Previous investigations seem to show that certain pure strains of +Japanese and Korean chestnut are resistant to the blight. Blight cankers +may be found upon them but they are less easily infected and suffer less +than the more susceptible varieties. With this as a working basis, +considering the results that have been attained in other fruit by +selection and hybridization, the situation is hopeful. Prof. Collins +said at the Harrisburg Conference in February that "There is no reason +to doubt that we may eventually see an immune hybrid chestnut that will +rival the American chestnut in flavor and the Paragon in size". + +In southern Europe chestnut orcharding is a well established and +profitable industry. In the United States chestnuts have been considered +a marketable commodity ever since the Indians carried them to the +settlements and traded them for knives and trinkets. The demand has +always exceeded the supply and at the present time about $2,000,000 +worth of nuts are imported from Europe annually. With the development of +the better varieties of the American nut has come an increased activity +in the United States and the chestnut orchard industry promises to +become one of very large importance. It has an added advantage that the +trees can be grown upon the poorer types of soil which are not adaptable +for farming or the raising of other fruit. + +At the present time there are in what is known as the blight area of +Pennsylvania, or eastern half of the State, about 100 orchards ranging +from 12 trees up to 400 acres in extent. These orchards are in varying +stages of blight infection, some of them being almost entirely free, due +to the attention which has been given them. In order to protect such +orchards the Commission is compelling the removal of infected trees +within a certain radius of them. + +As you know the blight has been a very serious factor in this industry. +Some of the orchards have been completely annihilated and the income +reduced from several thousand or more dollars per year to nothing. +Whether or not the blight will completely wipe out the orcharding +industry is a subject of large importance. Personally I believe that +chestnuts will be raised commercially in Pennsylvania in increased +abundance, and as the various phases of the blight subject are brought +to light, keeping the disease under control can be more easily +accomplished. At the present time this is being done in certain orchards +by the present methods of examining the trees often, treating each +infection, or removing the tree. If this policy is successfully pursued +for several more years it will demonstrate conclusively that chestnuts +can be grown in spite of the blight and this will mean an opportunity to +use vast areas of waste land in Pennsylvania and in the other states, in +a highly profitable manner. + + * * * * * + +The Chairman: The subject of the next paper is Some Problems in the +Treatment of the Chestnut. It will be presented by Mr. Pierce, after +which we will have a general discussion of the entire subject. + +Mr. Pierce: Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen: I see that, as we wrote +our papers separately, some of the things I had in mind will be similar +to those Mr. Rockey had. + + + + +SOME PROBLEMS IN THE TREATMENT OF DISEASED CHESTNUT TREES + +BY ROY G. PIERCE + +Tree Surgeon, Pennsylvania Chestnut Tree Blight Commission + + +The problems that present themselves to the growers of chestnut trees +concerning the present disease may be summed up under three heads: +first, what the disease is, how it is caused, and how it may be +recognized; second, what is to be done with diseased trees to bring them +to health or to prevent them from infecting other healthy trees nearby; +third, what means in the future can be undertaken to keep a tree +healthy, that is, to prevent reinfection. + +First, what the disease is, how it is caused, and how it may be +recognized. The disease known as the chestnut tree blight is caused by +the fungus, _Diaporthe parasitica_, which usually finds entrance to the +tree through wounds in the bark. The mycelium or mass of fungous +filaments gradually spreads through the bark in much the same manner as +mold spreads over and through a piece of bread, even penetrating the +wood to a depth of sometimes five annual rings. The spread of the +fungus, resulting in the cutting off of the sap flow, is the immediate +cause of the wilting and dying of the leaves and branch above the point +of girdling. This wilting of the leaves, followed later by the death of +one branch after another as the fungus spreads, has given rise to the +term "blight" of the chestnut trees. + +The danger signals which the chestnut tree displays when diseased are +not a few. In summer, when the tree is first affected, the leaves turn +yellow-green and wilt, later turning brown. Small burs and withered +leaves retained in winter are some signs of the diseased condition of +the tree. At the base of the blighted part a lesion, or reddish brown +canker, is usually found. This lesion may be a sunken area or, as is +frequently the case, a greatly enlarged swelling, known as a +hypertrophy. After a branch has become completely girdled sprouts or +suckers are very apt to be found below the point of girdling. In old +furrowed bark on the main trunk of the tree the presence of the disease +is seen in the reddish brown spore-bearing pustules in the fissures. In +determining the presence of the fungus in the furrowed bark of old +trees, one must learn to recognize the difference between the light +brown color characteristic of fissures in healthy growing bark, and the +reddish brown color of the fungus. When the disease has been present +several years the bark completely rots and shrinks away from the wood, +and when the bark is struck with an axe a hollow sound is produced. + +Many of the owners of chestnut trees throughout Pennsylvania do not +acknowledge that a fungus is causing the death of the trees. They state +that since they have found white grubs or the larvae of beetles in +nearly every tree that dies, that it has been the larvae that killed the +tree. It is acknowledged that generally white grubs are found in dying +chestnut trees, and that in nearly all of the large cankers or lesions +these grubs are present. However, if one will take the pains to examine +the small twigs and branches or the new shoots rising from the stumps, +that are diseased, he will not find the grubs present. + +Second, what is to be done with diseased trees to bring them back to +health or to prevent them from infecting other healthy trees nearby. To +bring the trees back to health implies that the disease can be cured. +This is not always true for the tree may be already nearly girdled, when +the disease is first noticed. A tree taken in time, however, may have +its life prolonged indefinitely though it may have the blight in some +portion of it every year. More particularly does this apply to valuable +ornamental and orchard trees. + +Prof. J. Franklin Collins, Forest Pathologist in the Department of +Agriculture in Farmer's Bulletin No. 467 on "The Control of the Chestnut +Bark Disease" gives the following: "The essentials for the work are a +gouge, a mallet, a pruning knife, a pot of coal tar, and a paint brush. +In the case of a tall tree a ladder or rope, or both may be necessary +but under no circumstances should tree climbers be used, as they cause +wounds which are very favorable places for infection. Sometimes an axe, +a saw, and a long-handled tree pruner are convenient auxiliary +instruments, though practically all the cutting recommended can be done +with a gouge with a cutting edge of 1 or 1-1/2 inches. All cutting +instruments should be kept very sharp, so that a clean smooth cut may be +made at all times." + +All of the discolored diseased areas in the tree should be removed. +Small branches or twigs nearly girdled are best cut off. Cankers in the +main trunk or on limbs should be gouged out. Carefulness is the prime +requisite in this work. If the disease has completely killed the +cambium, the bark should be entirely removed as well as several layers +of wood beneath the canker. By frequent examination, however, diseased +spots may be found on the tree where the mycelium of the fungus is still +in the upper layers of the bark. It is not necessary then to cut clear +to the wood, but the discolored outer bark may be removed and a layer of +healthy inner bark left beneath the cut. The sap may still flow through +this layer. The border of the diseased area is quite distinct, but +cutting should not stop here but should be continued beyond the +discolored portion into healthy bark, at least an inch. The tools should +be thoroughly sterilized by immersion in a solution of 1.1000 bichloride +of mercury, or 5 per cent solution of formaldehyde, before cutting into +the bark outside of the diseased area. Experiments have shown that a +gouge or knife may carry the spores into healthy bark and new infection +take place. Experiments are being carried on in the laboratory to +determine the length of time which spores will live in solutions of +different strengths of fungicides. + +It has been shown that a cut made pointed at the top and bottom heals +much faster than one rounded. The edges of the cut should be made with +care so as not to injure the cambium. The chips of diseased bark and +wood should not be allowed to fall on the ground then to be forgotten. A +bag fastened just below the canker will collect most of this material as +it is gouged out and prevent possible reinfection, which might take +place if the material were allowed to scatter down the bark. Canvas or +burlap spread around under a small orchard tree might be sufficient to +catch all of the diseased chips of bark and wood cut out of the lower +infections. This diseased material should be burned together with +blighted branches. After completely cutting out all of the diseased +parts the cut surfaces should be either sterilized or covered with a +waterproofing which combines a fungicide with a covering. Among these +might be mentioned coal tar and creosote, or a mixture of pine tar, +linseed oil, lamp black and creosote. + +The trees which have been killed by blight, or nearly girdled, have been +overlooked. These should be cut off close to the ground, the stump +peeled and the bark and unused portions of the tree burned over the +stump. The merchantable parts of the trees should be removed from the +woods promptly, as all dead unbarked wood furnishes an excellent +breeding place for the blight fungus. + +Third, what means in the future can be undertaken to keep a tree +healthy, that is, to prevent reinfection. The spores may be carried by +so many agents that it is difficult to prevent reinfection. However it +is clear that the farther infected products or trees are removed from +healthy trees the less liable they are to have spores carried to them. +Cooperation with nearby owners of diseased trees will help solve this +problem. + +Spraying on a large scale has only been carried on, so far as I know, on +the estate of Pierre DuPont, Jr., at Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. At +this place there are many large chestnut trees ranging from sixty to +ninety feet in height, many of which were planted some sixty-five years +ago. Mr. R. E. Wheeler started the work of cutting out diseased limbs +and cankers in October 1911, and began spraying with Bordeaux mixture in +April 1912. The formula 5-5-50, five pounds of copper sulphate and five +pounds of lime in 50 gallons of water was found to be injurious to the +foliage in the Spring. This was changed therefore, to 4-5-50, which had +one pound less of copper sulphate. This did not seem to injure the +foliage. + +About 70 trees were sprayed twenty times during the season. Nearly all +of these were gone over four times to remove diseased branches and +cankers, once in October 1911, then in early summer and again in +September and November 1912. As an example take tree No. 6 which was +studied, December 14, 1912. It is 39 inches in diameter at breast +height, and approximately 70 feet in height. On this one tree six +diseased limbs were removed, and sixteen cankers were cut out. Of these +sixteen, two infections continued, that is, were not completely cut out, +and had spread; three had infections below old limbs which had been +removed, and eleven were healing over. This tree was about 1000 feet +away from other badly infected trees, though but 25 feet away from other +chestnut trees in the same row. The experiment of Mr. DuPont in spraying +shows what can be done on valuable lawn trees. On the whole, these trees +look well and healthy. Trees which were not sprayed over three times and +were within 50-100 feet from badly blighted trees, became infected in so +many different places that it will be necessary to remove them. + +One of the problems to be solved next year will be that of the least +number of sprayings which will be effective in preventing new infection. + + * * * * * + +The Chairman: The question of the chestnut blight is now open for +discussion. + +Mr. Littlepage: I should like to ask these gentlemen how far west they +have heard of chestnut blight--that is, heard of it with any degree of +authenticity, and also whether or not they care to express an opinion as +to what the prospects are in the middle west, say out in Indiana, +Illinois and Ohio? + +Mr. Pierce: In answer to that question, I will say that in Pennsylvania +we have found infections in Wayne County and also in Fayette County, +both near the western extreme of the state, but those have been attended +to, very largely, and the boundaries closely determined. In Ohio there +have been several reports of the blight being found, but I don't think +either of the reports have been proven. There has been a fungus that I +have spoken of as the Connellsville fungus, that has been all around in +that neighborhood, south-western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. + +The Chairman: Is the Connellsville fungus also _diaporthe parasitica_? + +Mr. Pierce: Yes, sir. It was placed by Mr. Anderson, who did the work +on that, in the same genus as diaporthe, but he preferred the name +_endothia parasitica_. + +The Chairman: The question is of changing the generic name, from +_diaporthe_, on the basis of the previously established species? + +Mr. Pierce: Yes, sir, previously established species of _endothia_. It +is only a suggestion of Mr. Anderson; it was made by him. This was very +similar to the true blight fungus and when our men first went out into +the western part of the State, they reported these various cases that +came up there as chestnut blight, and none of the pathologists of our +force then were competent to determine the difference, except that the +fact was noted even then that it was not growing as a parasite in the +sense that the true blight fungus has been growing in the east. + +The Chairman: That may be due to varietal differences, though, rather +than specific? + +Mr. Pierce: Yes, although Mr. Anderson seemed to think it was specific. + +The Chairman: Is there any further discussion? The subject is worthy of +a good deal of comment. + +Mr. Pomeroy: I want to ask the speaker what the approximate cost would +be for one spraying of a tree about that size, 70 feet in height? + +Mr. Pierce: We have photographs on the table there showing our eight +hundred dollar spraying machine, the same kind used in Massachusetts in +gypsy moth work. With this two men can spray about ten such trees in a +day. I haven't got it down in black and white but I figured that, on +those chestnuts at DuPont's, they sprayed about 600 gallons a day. Ten +trees a day would make it, say, with a $2.50 man, not very high for a +tree. I think it costs in all something like four dollars a tree during +the whole season, but that is a very rough estimate and the materials +are not included. + +The Chairman: The cost will have to be calculated on a sentimental basis +for the ornamental trees, and on a commercial basis for the commercial +trees. The actual value of the spraying has not yet been determined. +This spraying cannot reach the mycelium in the cambium layer; if the +disease has been carried in by a beetle or woodpecker your spraying +would be ineffective. + +Mr. Pierce: Yes indeed, that was just the thought Mr. Galena had, +notwithstanding the fact that they cut out all visible infections and +the trees were so blue with spray that you could see them for half a +mile. + +The Chairman: But, later on, cracks and squirrel scratches and all sorts +of injuries would allow new spores to be carried in? + +Mr. Pierce: Yes, sir. + +Mr. Reed: The future of the chestnut depends so largely on the +conquering of this disease that no other horticultural problem of this +nut is, just at present, imperative. So far as we know, all of the +European and American varieties are highly subject to this disease, so +much so that there is no inducement to plant them, and we are waiting +for Dr. Morris and a few other hybridizers to find some hybrids, or +straight Japanese varieties, that are of sufficient merit, and of +sufficient degree of resistance to this disease, for us to have a basis +for building up the future industry. On the tables there are quite a +number of exhibits from Mr. Riehl and Mr. Endicott of Illinois. Most of +them are hybrids between the American and the Japanese species, but, so +far as we know, they have not been tried in communities where the +disease prevails. We don't know whether they are resistant or not, as +they are being grown in a section entirely outside of the area where the +blight exists. I think I am right in that, am I not, Mr. Pierce? Is +there any chestnut blight in southern Illinois? + +Mr. Pierce: There has been none reported. + +Mr. Reed: I think that the varieties that these men in Indiana have +originated are the most promising we know of. I think that in examining +these specimens you will agree that they are of fairly high quality and +good size, and if they prove to be resistant to the disease much may be +expected from them. + +Mr. Hutt: I have not seen the chestnut blight at all. I hope that it +isn't in our section. I have heard it was brought in from some point but +I do not know whether it was identified exactly as the chestnut blight. + +Mr. Pierce: I saw a specimen sent from North Carolina and it proved to +be the Collinsville fungus. + +Mr. Corsan: If you remember reading Fuller's book on nuts, he reported +that the chestnut blight extended through the Carolinas but said that +chestnuts were still coming from that direction in great abundance. Up +in Canada we haven't the chestnut blight. The chestnut tree runs from +the Ohio River to the Niagara River but it doesn't cross into Michigan, +except along the Michigan Southern and Lake Shore Railroad where some +enterprising gentlemen have planted the chestnut with the tamarack +alternately all the way from Cleveland to Chicago. I examined the state +of Indiana across and from top to bottom several times in the summer and +I never saw any chestnuts there, but I have seen some newly planted +places in Michigan; near Battle Creek I saw a farm of about fifty acres. +We are having up in Ontario, beyond Toronto, a blight that has attacked +the Lombardy poplar and that looks similar to the chestnut blight. I +have been watching it for the last ten years and the tree seems to have +at last outlived it. It dies down and then a little sprout comes out +from the carcass. + +The Chairman: Isn't that the poplar tree borer that always attacks the +Lombardy? + +Mr. Corsan: Oh no, it's very similar to the chestnut tree blight. We can +grow chestnut trees all we like but no one has brains enough to grow +them. The farmers grow pigs and things but don't bother with chestnut +trees; consequently the chestnut blight does not exist there. + +Mr. Pierce: I didn't answer a portion of Mr. Littlepage's question. Mr. +Littlepage asked whether or not the blight might be expected in the +Middle West. That depends, more or less, upon the results of the work +Pennsylvania is now carrying on. If we can keep the disease from +extending through the territory in which we are working, there is a very +good chance to keep it out of the West. If we are not successful, it may +be expected to develop, in time, over the whole chestnut range. + +There seems to be a very good opportunity for growing the chestnut +commercially beyond its present range; that is, where it is so +infrequent as not to be in danger from infected growths nearby. + +In the eastern part of the state different people have reported that the +blight seemed to them to be dying out and, a number of these reports +coming from a certain locality, the Commission decided to investigate +one which seemed to be better reported than the others. It was found, +after a very extensive investigation, that this dying out was true only +in the sense that it was not spreading, perhaps, as fast as it had been +spreading before. The mycelium and the spores were healthy and were +affecting the new trees in quite the same manner as the year before and +as in other parts of the state. + +The Chairman: The question of controlling blight after it has appeared +is of very great consequence. Concerning any commercial proposition +with chestnuts the people are wide awake to the seriousness of the +blight. They are afraid to go into growing chestnut orchards; they have +had so many fake propositions in the past in pecan promotions that they +are afraid of chestnuts and everything else. Any proposition for +bringing forward chestnuts commercially must be a plain, simple, +straightforward statement of the truth, the whole truth and nothing but +the truth. We are ready, all through the North and East, to raise +hundreds of acres of chestnuts, such as Mr. Reed has spoken about, ones +which resist the blight, or ones which resist the blight comparatively +well. + +Let us consider comparative immunity for a moment. We know how expensive +it is to manage an apple orchard, and yet, with the present high prices, +the profits on apple orchards, well managed, are great. May we not have +chestnut orchards managed with the same degree of relative expense and +the same degree of relative profit? I would like very much to hear from +some of the men who have actually raised chestnuts in orchards +concerning the relative care of the chestnut compared with the apple, +and the relative profit. I see Col. Sober here; can't you tell us about +your experience in managing the blight? Can it be managed successfully +in proportion as apple tree parasites are managed? + +Col. Sober: My experience has been this; I have four hundred acres of +chestnuts in bearing. They range from five years to fifteen years old. I +find that I can control the blight easier than I can control the scale +on apple trees. If anyone doesn't believe this I invite him and all to +come to my place and see for themselves. I think I have nearly one +million seedling and grafted paragon trees. I don't think you will find +fifty affected trees on the whole place today. I have men going in every +grove at the present time who have inspected thousands of trees and +found seven that had blight on the limbs, so I know what I am speaking +about. + +The Chairman: What is your method? + +Col. Sober: Cutting out, cutting off anything I see; if it is really +necessary, cut the tree down; but we don't often find that necessary +because just as quick as we see any affected, or any limb dying or dead, +we cut it off. I had my groves laid out in sections of a hundred feet +wide and numbered; and I had charts made so that they can be inspected +section by section. In that manner, every tree is inspected. One +individual will inspect the trunk and another one the top. In each +section I can show you as far as we have gone. I can show you how many +trees are in each section and how many affected trees there are in that +section, or whether there are any or not. I say I can control it easier +than I can control scale and with less expense and I want that to go on +record. There is no question about it. It can be seen at my place. I go +over my groves about four times a year and have been doing it all the +time, and I don't doubt but that I discovered this disease the first of +anybody in the state, perhaps, in 1902. I was looking around to cut +scions and I saw one tree whose center was dead and around it were the +finest shoots almost that I had ever seen for grafting purposes. I went +to it and saw the center was dead. I cut some scions and today that is +one of the finest trees I've got on my place. From what I know now that +was a blighted tree. + +A member: Did you paint over the scars? + +Col. Sober: No sir, but we are doing it now, using white lead. + +A member: How much blight is there around you? + +Col. Sober: I am surrounded with it on all sides. Right up against my +groves about 17 per cent of the trees are affected. That is the report +coming from the parties inspecting now for the Blight Commission. I +shipped Mr. Mayo about four or five thousand trees this fall. I don't +suppose there were a dozen that were thrown out, thinking they were +blighted or diseased. We have records of all that up at my place. There +are some trees right here now that came from my nursery. I wish you +gentlemen could just see for yourselves; come out and see. + +The Chairman: In advancing this chestnut on a commercial basis it had +better be stated that it does not blight as badly as the American +chestnut and that when blighted it can be cared for with less cost than +the apple tree. I would suggest that some such notice be sent out with +commercial stock. That would put it on the right basis so that the +chestnut would find its position, which it is not finding now because +the people are full of the blight; and if a frank, full statement of +this sort were made I believe it would be extremely important. + +Mr. Rockey: I went through practically the whole extent of Mr. Sober's +orchard recently and found one infected tree. I can vouch for the +statement that he has made that he is almost surrounded by blight. + +The Chairman: I have given attention to only a few of my own trees that +were blighted because I have too much else to do and too large a place, +a couple of hundred acres engaged in a small and large way,--a variety +of ways--with nut trees; and the few I have cared to save after blight +has begun I have saved by cutting it out very thoroughly and using +either white paint or grafting wax. I used also pine tar and some gas +tar. I killed some good trees that I wanted particularly to save by +putting on gas tar. + +The matter of compelling the removal of infected trees is a very +important one, but it must rest with the authorities. In the vicinity of +New York we have so much hard wood that you cannot sell it unless you +are in some sort of a trade combination. Fine oak, fine hickory, fine +chestnut, you can't dispose of in New York City, because we have such a +lot of it. We have wild deer within fifteen miles of New York City on +three sides of us on account of the forests. You have got to find some +special way for disposing of this blighted chestnut timber. Telephone +and telegraph poles and ties all go for nothing, unless you happen to be +so situated that you can manage the matter commercially, and a way +should be found by the state so that people can dispose of their +blighted timber, which is just as good as any other. + +It is very important to note that the boy scouts are interested, and we +ought to encourage their interest. It is a splendid thing, getting the +interest of boys engaged. You know how active a boy is in getting a +snake from under a rock and he will do the same thing with the chestnut +blight. It is his natural tendency to hustle when he gets after +anything. This chestnut blight belongs to the microbe group and the +microbe is the great enemy of mankind. In wars the microbe kills about +eight men for every one killed by missiles. If we can encourage the +interest of boy scouts in fighting the greatest of all human enemies, +the microbe, including this little fungus, we shall have a splendid +working force. + +In regard to the injection of poisons and medicines into trees, it seems +to me that a very firm stand ought to be taken by all responsible men +who know anything about plant pathology. We know that a poison injected +into a tree must either act injuriously right there upon the cells of +the tree, or else must undergo metabolic changes. A tree cannot use +anything that is thrown into it, poison or food or anything else, until +it has undergone a metabolic change; you must have a distinct, definite +chemical process taking place and we ought to state that most of the +substances which are alleged to be of value, when injected into a tree, +are either absolutely worthless or injurious. One man tried to persuade +me that his medication if applied to the cambium layer would be +absorbed, and said that if I would only use it on a few of my trees I +could see for myself. He said it would drive off even the aphides. I +tried it on four trees affected with aphides and found that he told me +the truth. It drove them off, because the trees died and the aphides +left. One tree lived a year before being killed; it was a most insidious +sort of death, but the aphides left that tree. (Laughter.) + +Some of the Asiatic chestnuts resist the blight very well. Curiously +enough when grafted upon some of the American chestnuts they then become +vulnerable. Two years ago, from a lot of about one thousand Corean +chestnuts in which there had been up to that time no blight, I grafted +scions on American stump sprouts and about 50 per cent of those grafts +blighted in the next year, showing that the American chestnut sap offers +a pabulum attractive to the Diaporthe, and that is a fact of collateral +value in getting our negative testimony upon the point. + +Concerning the question of carrying blight fifty miles, there's no +telling how far birds will fly carrying the spores of Diaporthe upon +their feet. The spores are viscid and adhere to the feet of beetles, or +migratory birds which sometimes make long lateral flights following +food, rather than direct flights north and south. It is quite easy to +imagine birds carrying this Diaporthe over an interval of possibly fifty +miles, making that distance in one night perhaps. Someone may have +carried chestnuts in his pocket to give to his granddaughter fifty miles +away, and in that way carried the blight. If any grafted trees have been +carried fifty miles, or any railroad ties, with a little bark on, +carried fifty miles and then thrown off, it might blight the chestnuts +in that vicinity. One can have as much range of imagination as he +pleases as Longfellow says, There is no limit to the imagination in +connection with questions of spreading the blight of Diaporthe. + +Some of the Japanese and Corean chestnuts and some of the Chinese +chestnuts resist blight fairly well. Among my chinkapins, I have the +common _pumila_ and the Missouri variety of _pumila_, which grows in +tree form forty or fifty feet high. I have the alder-leaf chestnut, +which keeps green leaves till Christmas, sometimes till March when the +snow buries them, and those comparatively young trees have shown no +blight; but one hybrid, between the chinkapin and the American chestnut, +about twelve years of age, has blighted several times. I have cut off +the branches and kept it going, but this year I shall cut it down. It +will start at the root and sprout up again. I thought I'd give up that +hybrid, but having heard Col. Sober's report I will begin at the root +and look after some of the sprouts. That hybrid is the only one of my +chinkapin group that has blighted at all. + +In regard to the use of bichloride of mercury or formaldehyde, it seems +to me that formaldehyde will be a better germicide than bichloride of +mercury, because bichloride of mercury coagulates the albuminous part of +the plasm and may destroy the cell structure, whereas the formaldehyde +will be more penetrating and less injurious. One would need to know how +strong a formaldehyde solution can be used safely. I presume the most +vulnerable part of the tree would be at the bud axils. Spraying must +require considerable experience at the present time and is of doubtful +efficiency for timber chestnuts I am sure. We would like very much to +hear any further comment upon this subject. + +Prof. Smith: Mr. Sober's orchard is so unusually large that evidently it +does not apply to average cases. The average man is buying chestnut +trees for the garden or yard or lane. Prof. Collins has an acre on the +top of a hill at Atlantic Forge and there he has fought diligently with +the skill of a highly trained man, and the blight is gradually driving +him back. I think that in a short time the trees on Prof. Collins' acre +will be gone. I believe we need much more information before we can +offer any hope that chestnut trees from a nursery will be safe against +blight. I should like to ask the Blight Commission if they are at the +present time planning to breed immune strains of chestnuts, and if not, +I wish to suggest that it is a piece of work well worthy of their +consideration. They might try grafting on American stocks, or on their +own seedlings, some of the Korean chestnuts, on any variety that +promises resistance, and also hybridizing, with the hope of getting a +good nut that will resist the blight. + +The Chairman: That is a very important matter, no doubt. In regard to +the few chestnuts bought for lanes and gardens, I know a good many men +who have bought a few grafted chestnuts with the idea of setting out a +number of acres if those few did well, being men of a conservative sort. +Men of that sort are the ones we want to have in our Association. We +want to have men who will buy four trees, and if they do well, set out +four hundred acres. That is what a great many men have had in mind in +buying two, four or six trees of any one kind; they want to try them +out. That is the wise way, the conservative way, the truly progressive +way. If we are going to have very large numbers of any one kind of +chestnut set out, we must make a statement of the dangers, so that men +may be forewarned. If they set them out without warning and are +disappointed, they drop the entire subject and go to raising corn and +hogs; and then, to save trouble, turn these hogs into the corn and get +to doing things in the easiest way, rather than carry on the complicated +methods of agriculture that belong to the spirit of the present time. I +would like to know if many efforts are being made toward breeding immune +kinds. I am at work on that myself. + +Mr. Pierce: Our Commission has recently gotten, I think, about fifty +pounds of Chinese chestnuts of several kinds, which they expect to plant +for experiment. Besides that they have made some other arrangements of +which I know very little. This investigation will take years. The +Commission has been compelled to devote itself to so many lines of work +that I am afraid this question has not been given the attention it might +have had. I think in the future there will be a good deal done along +that line. + +Two of us have been given the title of tree surgeons, and we work, or +make arrangements to have someone else work, sometimes the scout, in the +orchards throughout the state. I have a list of two hundred owners of +cultivated chestnut trees that I got in the last month from various +sources. Anyone in Pennsylvania who has a cultivated chestnut tree, can +send a postal card, get one of us out to examine the tree and see +whether it is blighted, and we will demonstrate what can be done in the +way of treating it. I have done that right along in the last two months. +If it is only a single tree I cut out all I can myself. + +The Chairman: There are two distinct questions; first, the chestnut as a +food tree, and second, as a timber tree. Your work has been chiefly with +the chestnut as a timber tree? + +Mr. Pierce: No, mine has been mostly on the lawn, so that it is for +nuts. + +Experiments made on one or two species of Japanese chestnuts show about +9 per cent of tannin; the tannin in the American chestnut runs only 6 +per cent and in the small American, runs less. We know that the Japanese +is somewhat more immune than the American. We have already found that it +has 50 per cent more tannin. I believe one of us wrote you about +experiments to find out the percentage of tannin in Corean, North +Japanese, South Japanese and Chinese chestnuts. The investigation will +be carried on for the next two or three months. + +Mr. Corsan: May I ask if there is any soil food that would increase the +amount of tannin? Trees protect themselves. We have watched the black +walnut and seen him fight all sorts of enemies. The tree has poisons +everywhere and the nut a thick shell to boot and doesn't coax enemies to +get at him or to eat him until he is ripe. + +A Member: Have you found that fertilizing a tree increased the +percentage of tannin? + +Mr. Rockey: That hasn't been determined yet but it will be studied. + +The Chairman: It is a question if the tendency would not be for tannin +to go over to sugar and cellulose under cultivation. I don't remember +the chemistry on that. Aren't there any expert chemists here who can +tell us? The natural tendency of the tree under high cultivation would +be to change tannin over into sugar and starch. + +Mr. Corsan: This talk of the chestnut blight reminds me of a remark made +by a gentleman at a peach growing convention. He said the best thing +that ever happened to this country was to get that San Jose scale +because it stopped lazy men from growing peaches. He said, "I don't mind +it a bit and can make more money than when peaches were nothing a +basket." Probably nature will help us some way. + +The Chairman: We have to consider what nature wants to do. + +Mr. Mayo: If I am in order, I would like to know whether this fungus +trouble is likely in the future to attack or has at any time attacked, +the apple, pear or quince? + +The Chairman: I think it has been pretty well decided that they are not +in danger. I will, however, ask Mr. Rockey and Mr. Pierce to answer that +question. + +Mr. Rockey: Up to the present time there has been no indication that the +blight will get into them. This might be a good occasion for me to +mention the Connellsville fungus again. It was found on some of the oaks +and other trees in this section of the country, and for a time it +looked as though the blight was getting into other species, but since +that fungus has been identified there has been no indication that the +blight will extend beyond the chestnut group as a parasite, although you +can inoculate oaks and other trees with the fungus and it will live in +them, but only on the dead portion of the tree and not as the parasite +lives on the chestnut. + +Prof. Smith: I should like to ask Mr. Sober if he has found any evidence +that the paragon chestnut differs from the native chestnut in resistance +to the blight, and if his paragons are different from other paragons? + +Col. Sober: I cannot say whether my chestnuts are different from the +other paragon chestnuts or not, or whether they are as resistant to the +blight. I know it is a very sweet chestnut. In regard to keeping my +groves clean--from 1901 to 1910, we had three broods of locusts and two +hailstorms that opened the bark in almost every tree and branch. The +limbs were stung by the locusts thousands of times, so that I didn't +have a crop of chestnuts. Professor Davis was cutting off limbs for a +couple of months so you see my trees were open, if any ever were, to +receive the blight. The hailstorms destroyed the leaves and I didn't +have any chestnuts that year in one part of my grove and with all +that--you people come and see how clean it is, that's all there is to +it. I know what I've done and what I can do. + +The Chairman: The next paper in order is that of Professor Smith. + + + + +NUT GROWING AND TREE BREEDING AND THEIR RELATION TO CONSERVATION + +PROFESSOR J. RUSSELL SMITH, PENNSYLVANIA + + +Prof. Smith: Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen; I am going to ask your +indulgence for including in my subject a matter that perhaps goes a +little beyond the scope of this organization, for I wish to speak of +fruit as well as nut-bearing trees. Conservation, whose object is the +preservation of our resources for future generations, as well as for +ourselves, finds its greatest problem in the preservation of the soil. +The forests can come again if the soil be left. It is probable that we +can find substitutes for coal, and for nearly everything else, but once +the soil is gone, all is gone; and the greatest danger to the soil is +not robbery by ill cropping, because no matter how man may abuse the +soil, scientific agriculture can bring it back with astonishing speed. +But the greatest enemy of conservation is erosion, the best checks for +erosion are roots. + +Thus far, the only man who has been telling us anything about planting +roots upon the hillsides is the forester. But he usually sets nothing +but wood trees, which at the end of fifty or a hundred or a hundred and +fifty years, we can cut down, and which, during the intervening time, +have done nothing but cast shade, drop leaves and retain the soil. My +doctrine is that the potentially greatest crop-producing plants are not +those on which we now depend for our food, but are the trees,; that the +greatest engines for production are not the grasses, but the trees. Our +agriculture is an inheritance from the savage, and the savage found that +he could do better with annual grains than he could with nut trees, +because he didn't know how to improve the nut crop by selection of the +trees, while there came involuntarily an improvement in the other crops. +No man today knows the parentage of some of the cultivated plants and +grains on which we now depend. Thus we came down to the present day of +science, with the purely chance discoveries of savages as the main +dependence of mankind for the basis of agriculture. + +We have within a decade discovered the laws of plant breeding. We know a +good deal more about it now than ever before and are in a position to +start about it very deliberately and with a reasonable certainty that we +are going to get certain combinations of qualities if we keep at it long +enough. Thus the hickory and walnut offer perfect marvels of +possibilities. Look around on these tables and see the size of some of +these things. There are hickory nuts 1-1/4 inch long and there are +shagbarks as full of meat as pecans and probably quite as good. There +are in Kentucky, I am told, hickory nuts that you can take in your +fingers and crush. Here we have the pecan, this great big shellbark from +Indiana, the shagbark from the North, and the thin shell nuts from +Kentucky. Now hybridize these and I think, if you work at it long +enough, you will get a tree that will have all those good qualities. + +The wonderful black walnut is a tree of hardiness, and the delicious +Persian or English walnut is a nut of acceptable form. The pair offers +splendid possibilities in their hybrid progeny. + +We have fruits thus far recognized as of little value which offer great +possibilities as forage producers. The mulberry bears from June to +September and the persimmon from September till March and the pig +harvests them himself. + +We have the possibility of a brand-new agriculture, depending not upon +grains, but upon tree crops, provided someone will breed the +crop-yielding trees which we can use. This will permit us to use +entirely different kinds of land from that now considered best for +agriculture. The natural necessities for plant growth, I believe, are +heat, moisture, sunlight and fertility. Now they are not all the +limiting factors with man, because man adds the fifth, the arbitrary +fact of arability, and that right away bars out about half of the +fertile earth, because when we insist on heat, light, moisture, +fertility _and arability_, we leave out that rough half of the earth +equally fertile, idle, subject only to the work of the forester, who +will give us a forest about 1999. It might just as well be planted with +a host of crop-yielding trees, the walnuts, hickory nuts, pecans, +persimmons, mulberries--and the list is very long. There are at the +present time in use in Mediterranean countries twenty-five crop-yielding +trees other than the ordinary orchard fruits. I am told that they have +oak trees there which yield an acorn that is better than the chestnut. A +pig will fill himself with acorns on the one hillside and with figs on +the next hillside and then lie down and get fat. We are too industrious, +we wait on the pig; I want the pig to wait on himself. + +But who is going to breed these things? These crop yielding trees? A +gentleman told us this morning that he was not nervous, that he could +watch a hickory tree grow, and stated that he had forty acres of land +and was breeding trees for fun. Here is Dr. Morris, who is having a +delicious time doing the same thing. We should not have to depend on +enthusiasts who are working for fun; we must not depend on such sources +for the greatest gifts in the line of food production that man can +imagine. This work should be done by every state in the Union. I believe +that it is capable of proof that we can get just as much yield from a +hillside in untilled fruit and nut-yielding trees, as we can from +putting that same hillside under the plough and getting wheat, corn, +barley, rye and oats and a little grass once in a while. It will make +just as much pig or just as many calories of man food from the tree +crops as it will make under the plough. And under the plough that +hillside is going down the stream to choke it and reduce the hillside to +nothing. + +We have three classes of land. The first class is the level land, which +belongs to the plough now and for all time. The third class, which is +the unploughable steep mountain and hill land, is probably as great in +area as the level land, and between the two is the hilly land that we +are now cultivating to its great detriment, visibly reducing the earth's +resources by bringing about rapidly that condition which has led to the +saying in the Old World: "After man, the desert." The Roman Empire, +where men have had possession for two thousand years, proves, "After +man, the desert." It is equally proven in much of China, but it can be +prevented if these hill lands are put to trees. But we cannot afford to +put those lands into trees unless the trees yield. + +I move that this Association memorialize those persons who are in +position to promote the breeding of fruit and nut-yielding trees, that +we may bring nearer the day of tree-crop agriculture. I want a letter to +go from this Association with the authority of the Association and its +sanction, to the Secretary of Agriculture at Washington and to all the +men in authority in the Bureau of Plant Industry at Washington, to the +Presidents of the State Agricultural Colleges, the Directors of +Experiment Stations and professors who are interested in plant breeding. +That will make a list of three or four hundred persons and involve an +expenditure of a few dollars but I believe it will be productive of +good. I hope that the Association will see fit to lend its name and a +little cash to that proposition, because if we can get the authority of +the state and the money of the state, the results will come much more +rapidly than if there are just a few of us doing it independently. +(Applause.) + + * * * * * + +The Chairman: Will someone put Prof. Smith's suggestion in the form of a +motion? + +A Member: I move that it be referred to the Committee on Resolutions. + +(Motion carried.) + +Mr. Corsan: Undoubtedly we all agree with Prof. Smith. He spoke of the +persimmon. When I speak of the persimmon in my country nobody knows what +I am talking about. I found two trees in Battle Creek, Michigan, in a +front yard. The person who owned them was an old lady. I said, "Will you +give me these persimmons?" She said, "Yes, take them all; the neighbors +come here and while they are getting the persimmons they bother me a +lot. Everybody seems to like them." They were delicious persimmons that +were quite edible before frost, they are probably the two furthest north +persimmon trees in the world. I went a little way around Devil Lake, and +found pawpaws. They are a very good fruit when cultivated. The idea of +preserving the soil and not sending it all into the Lakes and down into +the Gulf of Mexico--that is a good idea of Prof. Smith's. + +Mr. Gardner: I submit that that Battle Creek woman should start a new +breakfast food. (Laughter.) + +Mr. Corsan: Every second year there is an immense crop on one of the +persimmon trees; they are a male and female, I think. You can't see the +branches for the fruit, and the thermometer there falls to 22 degrees +below zero. + +The Chairman: You can graft the male trees with pistillate grafts if you +want to, or you can transfer grafts both ways. The persimmon and pawpaw +will undoubtedly both grow at Toronto. They are not indigenous there +because of natural checks to development in their sprouting stage, but +if you buy Indiana stock for Toronto, such transplanted trees will both +grow there, I am sure. This is not quite relevant to Prof. Smith's +paper. It seems to me that Prof. Smith gave us a very comprehensive +resume of facts bearing upon the situation, perhaps not particularly +calling for discussion. We are very glad to have his arraignment of +facts. + +The next paper on the program will be that of Dr. Deming. While Dr. +Deming is getting ready, I would like to have the trees shown. Mr. Jones +will speak about his pecans, these specimens of young trees here. + +Mr. Jones: These are pecans that Mr. Roper brought up from the +Arrowfield Nurseries. (Here Mr. Jones described the trees.) + +The Chairman: Would those trees grow after they have been dried as much +as that? + +Mr. Jones: I don't think so; pecans don't stand much drying. + +The Chairman: No, unless you cut off all the roots. + +Prof. Smith: If we should dig up a tree like this and cut it off a foot +and a half down, would it be all right to transplant it? + +Mr. Jones: Yes, if your season should not be too dry. + +The Chairman: What has been your experience with the Stringfellow method +of cutting off every single root? + +Mr. Jones: We cut the tap-roots off, but leave an inch of the lateral +roots. + +The Chairman: I think you can do better by following the Stringfellow +method and cutting off all the laterals. + +Prof. Smith: If you were going to transplant those for your own use +where would you cut them off? + +Mr. Jones: About here, a foot and a half down. + +The Secretary: And the top? + +Mr. Jones: Yes, sir, I'd reduce the top about that much; I think we will +have to work for a better root for the North. + + + + +BEGINNING WITH NUTS + +DR. W. C. DEMING, WESTCHESTER, NEW YORK CITY + + +In his official capacity as secretary of the Northern Nut Growers +Association the writer is frequently asked, by persons wishing to grow +nuts, about climate, soils, varieties and methods. + +The following observations are intended to apply only to the +northeastern United States, the country lying east of the Rockies and +north of the range of the southern pecan. They are intended more for the +person who already has his land, or is restricted in his range, than for +the one who can range wide for larger operations and will study deeper +before deciding. + +It is probable that most nuts will grow wherever the peach will. Outside +the peach area there is probably not much use in trying to grow the +pecan or Persian walnut. Yet it must always be remembered that nut +growing in the North is, at present, almost entirely experimental and +that anybody may be able to disprove the authorities. We are all +experimenting now. By and by it will be different. + +In severer climates the chestnut, shagbark, black walnut, butternut, +hazel, beech, pine, Japanese cordiformis and hardy Chinese walnuts can +be grown or, at least, offer possibilities. In such climates the +development of the native nuts by selection and crossing, and the +adaptation of alien nuts, deserves, and will repay, experiment. + +It is to be supposed, as before said, that the hopeful beginner already +has his land. Let him choose the best part of it that he can spare. By +"best part" is meant the most fertile, not too wet nor too dry nor, if +possible, too hilly to cultivate. Hard pan near the surface, and too +thick to be easily broken up by dynamite, is not desirable. + +A nut orchard ought to have much the same preparation as an apple +orchard. A practical way would be to plow deeply and harrow well in +summer and sow a cover crop like rye and vetch or clover. The more +stable manure, or other fertilizer, applied the better. + +Let the field now be staked off thirty feet apart in squares, or in +triangles if preferred. Late in the fall dig the holes and plant nuts, +three or four in each hole, two to four inches deep, according to size, +and six inches apart. Put a good handful of ground bone in each hill. +Unless the soil and subsoil are mellow, so that the long tap roots may +penetrate deeply, it would be best to dynamite the holes, using a half +pound of 20 per cent or 25 per cent dynamite at a depth of two and a +half feet. This is a simple matter and the dynamite companies will +furnish materials and instructions. It is also some fun. + +There is some danger that nuts planted in fall may be destroyed by +rodents, that some will "lie over" and not sprout the first year, or +that all the nuts in a hill may make inferior plants, so that some +authorities advise putting them in a galvanized wire cage, the nuts only +half buried, then covered with a few leaves during the winter and +otherwise left exposed to the elements. In the spring they must be taken +from the cage and planted in the hills before the sprouts are long +enough to be easily broken. + +The different kinds of nuts should be planted in "blocks" rather than +mingled, to facilitate handling. + +These nuts are to furnish trees that are later to be grafted or budded. +After they have grown a while the weaker ones are to be removed, as +necessary, until only the strongest remains in each hill. When grafted +and grown to great size the brave man will thin them out to sixty feet +apart. Interplanting with fruits or vegetables may be practised. + +As to the kinds of nuts to be planted that depends on what you want to +grow. If chestnuts it must be remembered that the bark disease is very +likely to attack them, in the East at any rate. Experiments with +chestnuts outside the range of the blight are very desirable. The +American (_Castanea dentata_) and European (_C. sativa_) chestnuts are +specially susceptible. The Asiatic chestnuts (_C. Japonica_, etc.) seem +to have a partial immunity, especially the Korean, and it is possible +that the native chestnut grafted on these may be rendered more or less +immune. It is being tried and is an interesting experiment. + +The Asiatic chestnut trees are dwarfish in habit, come into bearing +early, the nuts are generally large and some of them of pretty good +quality. They may be planted as fillers between the trees of larger +growth. The nuts may be bought of importers. (See circular on "Seedsmen +and Nurserymen".) The small Korean chestnut has been especially +recommended. + +If you wish to grow the shagbark hickory (_Hicoria ovata_) plant the +best specimens of this nut you can get, or the bitternut (_H. minima_) +which is said to be a superior stock for grafting. + +High hopes are held that that other favorite hickory, the pecan (_H. +pecan_) may be grown far outside its native range, and the Indiana pecan +is the nut on which these hopes are founded. Seed nuts may be obtained +from reliable Indiana dealers, but it is said that some of them are not +reliable. + +The hickories may be budded and grafted on one another so that one kind +of stock may serve for both shagbark and pecan. + +If you want to grow the Persian walnut (_Juglans regia_), often called +the "English" walnut, the black walnut (_J. nigra_), seems to afford the +most promising stock, though _J. rupestris_, native in Texas and +Arizona, has been recommended and _J. cordiformis_, the Japanese heart +nut, is also promising. This nut can be recommended for planting for its +own sake as the tree is hardy, a rapid grower, comes into bearing early +and bears a fairly good nut. There are no grafted trees, however, so the +variable seedlings will have to be depended upon. + +On any of these walnut stocks the black walnut and the butternut (_J. +cinerea_) may also be propagated if worthy varieties can be found. There +are none now on the market. + +The nuts mentioned are enough for the beginner and the three stocks, +chestnut, hickory and walnut, will give him all he wants to work on and +furnish plenty of fascinating occupation. + +The hazel, the almond and others, though offering possibilities, had +better be left to those further advanced in the art of nut growing. + +Now the nut orchard is started and the owner must push the growth of the +trees by the ordinary methods, cultivation, cover crops and fertilizers. +See any authority on growing fruit trees. + +In from two to five years the trees will be ready for budding and +grafting, they will have made a good growth above ground, and a bigger +one below, they are permanently placed and haven't got to be set back a +year or two, or perhaps killed, by transplanting, with loss to the tap +roots and laterals. In the writer's opinion that natural tap root of the +nut tree growing down, down to water is not to be treated as of no +importance. + +So let your seedlings grow up and down happily while you get ready the +stuff with which to build their future character, for seedling trees are +very slow in coming into bearing, and uncertain in type and quality of +nut. Grafted trees bear early and true to type. + +Take your choicest bit of ground and put it in the best shape you know +how. Then order the finest grafted trees you can find on the market. +(See circular on "Seedsmen and Nurserymen".) Your choice will be limited +for there are as yet only a few grafted varieties of the Persian walnut +and the Indiana pecan, and but one of the shagbark hickory to be had. Of +chestnuts there are more and, in the South of course, plenty of pecans. +But pecan growing in the South is another story. If you order chestnuts +be sure that they do not come from a nursery infected with blight. Get +young trees because they are more easily established. + +Order from two to four of each variety. Fewer than two gives too small +an allowance for mortality and more than four, besides the not +inconsiderable strain on the pocket, will divide your attention too +much; for you have got to give these trees the care of a bottle baby. + +Set them sixty feet apart if you have the room. If not set them closer. +Better closer if that means better care. They may be set in the fall but +probably spring is better, as early as you can get them in. Follow the +instructions of the nurserymen closely. Digging holes with dynamite is +probably good practice. Put some bone meal in the soil around the roots +but no strong fertilizer. Some soils need lime. Tamp the soil about the +roots with all your might. It cannot be made too firm. + +Then water them all summer, or until August if they have made a good +growth. Give them all they can drink once a week. Sink a large bar about +a foot from the tree and pour the water into the hole, as much as the +soil will take. + +Keep up cultivation and a dust mulch or, if you cannot do this, mulch +with something else. Mulching doesn't mean a wisp of hay but something +thick or impervious. Six inches of strawy manure, grass, vines or weeds; +an old carpet, burlap, feed or fertilizer bags or even newspapers, held +down with stones or weeds or earth, all make good mulches. + +These trees ought to grow and, whether you ever succeed in grafting your +seedlings or not, you should have at least a small orchard of fine nut +trees. + +The second summer with the trees will be something like the baby's. +Worms may bother them. Look out for bud worms and leaf-eating +caterpillars. Give them all the water they can drink in the dry dog +days. Nurse them, feed them and watch them and they will grow up to +bless you. Some of them may bear as early as apple trees. + +These trees, and such scions as, from time to time, you may obtain +elsewhere, are to furnish your propagating material. + +The plan just described may be modified in various ways, but the general +principles are the same. Instead of planting the nuts in their permanent +positions they may be put in nursery rows where they may have the +advantage of intensive cultivation. The best of the resulting trees may +be grafted or budded in the rows, or after they have been transplanted +and have become well established. This method is an excellent one and +has distinct advantages and many advocates. + +Yearling seedlings may be bought and set either in permanent positions +or in nursery rows. + +Of course the man who is in a hurry, who can disregard expense and who +does not care for the experience and gratification of grafting his own +trees, may set his whole plantation with expensive grafted trees and +replant where they fail. + +The technique of budding and grafting you must work out yourself with +the help of the instructions obtainable from several authorities, or, by +far the surer way, study the art with a master. The essentials are good +stocks and good scions, the right moment--and practice. + +Excellent publications giving instructions in methods of propagation +are: "The Persian Walnut Industry in the United States," by E. R. Lake; +Bulletin 254, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture, +1913: "The Pecan," by C. A. Reed; Bulletin 251 of the same department, +1912: "Walnut Growing in Oregon," published by the Passenger Department +Southern Pacific Company Lines in Oregon, Portland, Oregon, revised +edition, 1912; and "Nut Growing in Maryland," by C. P. Close; Bulletin +125 of the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station, College Park, +Maryland. Any of these may be had free on application. + +The files and current issues of the nut journals are full of +information. Join the nut growers associations, subscribe to the nut +journals, get all the literature (see Circular No. 3) and you will soon +be happily out of the fledgeling stage of nut growing and begin to do as +you please. + + * * * * * + +The Chairman: Comment upon this paper is now in order. + +Mr. Lake: You say you are going to issue that? + +The Secretary: On my own responsibility, but subject to modification. + +Mr. Lake: If that is going out as a circular of the association, I would +like to suggest two slight changes. For instance, you wouldn't expect +the ordinary nut tree to begin to bear as early as the ordinary +transplanted apple tree. + +The Chairman: Some would. + +Mr. Lake: A summer apple would begin to bear much earlier than the +ordinary nut tree. + +The Secretary: Well, chestnuts begin to bear very early after grafting. +I refer only to grafted trees here. + +Mr. Lake: I thought that the paper had to do with trees that were +planted as nuts. + +The Secretary: No, I think I made that perfectly clear. + +Mr. Lake: What is that new statement about roots, that it is desirable +to leave them? + +The Secretary: That it is better that a tree should go undisturbed than +that it should be transplanted. + +Mr. Lake: Isn't there a question about that? + +The Secretary: A question would arise in the hands of an expert, +perhaps, but I think for an amateur, that a tree growing where the nut +was planted is more likely to live and do well than a transplanted tree. + +Mr. Lake: I am not so certain about that, but what I had in mind was +that the planter would get the idea that the tap-root was not to be cut +off and that it is very desirable to the tree. + +The Secretary: That's a good point. + +The Chairman: About cutting the tap-root I have said yes and no so fast +that I don't know which I've said last, and it seems to me that we ought +to have discussion on this very point. + +The Secretary: I have said that in buying these grafted trees you should +set them out following the instructions of the nurseryman closely. + +Mr. Lake: But that statement about the tap-root would lead the average +planter to think that it was very desirable to have the tap-root. + +The Secretary: Has it been settled that it is not desirable? + +Mr. Lake: Well, I think it has been generally accepted that it is of no +special value. + +The Secretary: That trees will grow as well transplanted as if they have +never been transplanted? + +Mr. Lake: Well, I shouldn't want to put it that way, but this is the +point: I would like to have the tree planter understand that a walnut +tree doesn't need the tap-root and if he cuts off the tap-root in +planting, there is no great loss. I wouldn't want to say that his trees +wouldn't begin to bear earlier or bear larger if left in the original +place. I prefer to transplant my own tree after it is grown, rather than +run the risk of getting scrub trees in the post hole or on the hill. I +prefer to select the grafted trees even without the tap-roots, which +would be removed in digging, and planting them all uniform, rather than +to plant the seeds. Speaking for the amateur, I think the latter is good +practice. The point I had in mind was that many people will not take the +time to plant nuts but will want to set grafted trees, and the question +is, should they have considerable tap-root--the grafted trees? + +The Secretary: Following my plan, a man would buy a small number of fine +trees and set them out at once; that would probably be all he would +undertake and all he could probably manage. He would also plant a small +number of nuts on which to experiment in propagation. My experience up +in Connecticut has been that all my southern transplanted trees, almost +without exception, have died. I have planted pecans and Persian walnuts +from a number of different nurseries. I have done it personally and done +it as carefully as I could, but they have either made a very feeble +growth indeed or have all died. On the other hand, the seeds I have +planted have grown into very vigorous trees. + +Mr. Rush: I have had a little experience with the tap-root theory. You +can't dig a walnut tree without cutting the tap-root, and that tap-root, +I find, is practically of no benefit at all after you have your upper +laterals, and an abundance of them; by cutting the tap-root growth is +stimulated and a new tap-root is made. It is very largely in the mode of +pruning the tap-root. You can readily stimulate the tap-root system. + +The Chairman: You try to keep an equilibrium by cutting down the top in +proportion? + +Mr. Rush: Yes, sir. + +Mr. Pomeroy: In examining transplanted trees I found ten times as many +roots where the tap-root had been cut; and there were two tap-roots. I +like a tree with a good tap-root system and I am positive that if you +transplant a tree you get a better root system, get a great many more +roots. + +The Chairman: The tree development, it seems to me, depends not upon the +number of roots which are carried with it when it is transplanted, but +upon the feeding roots which develop. Now, if we cut back the tap-root, +cut back the laterals, cut back the top, we have a tree carrying in its +cambium layer, food, just as a turnip or beet would carry it--and I look +upon a transplanted tree much as a carrot or beet, with stored food +ready to make a new root. + +Mr. Harris: I planted last fall a year ago a lot of English walnuts. +Would the gentleman advise taking those up, cutting the tap-roots and +planting them again? + +Mr. Rush: I don't think that would be advisable. + +Mr. Harris: They were grown from the nuts sown in a row last fall a year +ago and grew very well. + +Mr. Rush: In propagating the English walnut we have had them do the best +by transplanting when the tree is about two years old, but it will more +or less disturb the vigor of a tree to transplant it. That is +self-evident; it needs some time to heal those wounds that are made both +in the root and the branch. + +Mr. Harris: What time of year do you bud them? + +Mr. Rush: In August. + +Mr. Hutt: I notice some trees here that are evidently two-year old +pecans that have been cut back, and you notice that in every case +several tap-roots have taken the place of the one. Here are some others +that have not been cut. These have gone straight down. They are strong +roots with few fibers on them. On these other trees that have been cut +the formation of tap-roots continues. They will go down till they strike +a permanent water-table and then the tap-root will stop. In Hyde County, +North Carolina, near the ocean, the water-table is close to the surface +and there is a deep black alluvial soil with a great deal of water in +it. In order to grow anything there they have to put in ditches to get +the water out. The pecan trees growing there have absolutely no +tap-roots at all, it rots off as soon as it strikes the permanent +water-table; and I think that's the reason they produce such enormous +quantities of pecans in that county. In bottomless, sandy land where +there is no clay the root keeps on going down till it finds the +permanent water-table, even if that is six or eight or ten feet down. +These roots, as you see, were going right down to China to look at that +king on the other side if they got a chance. It's the same with the long +leaf pine. It has a tap-root below ground thicker than the trunk above +ground. The reason is that it grows naturally on those bottomless +places; the root goes down till it strikes water, then runs off +laterally. If you cut the roots they are bound to make new tap-roots. +You can see the place where they have been cut and in place of one +tap-root you have two, going right down into that sandy soil till they +find a water-table. I believe that a nurseryman who will cut off the +root of the pecan tree when it is transplanted, will cause it to form +more lateral roots and make a better tree. There's a great number of +vigorous roots in this tree than in this, and this tree whose root has +been cut off will make a tree much easier to transplant and will be a +better tree than those with great thick roots without the fibers that +have the root hairs upon them. + +A member: You wouldn't recommend cutting back that tap-root too +severely, would you? + +Mr. Hutt: In planting a tree of this kind, I'd cut off a foot or 18 +inches. If you get about 24 inches in a specially good soil, or about 30 +inches of root ordinarily that's all you want. + +A member: I should think that would depend quite a little on the height +of the water-table. If you were planting on land where the water-table +is low, you would leave more tap-root? + +Mr. Hutt: Yes. + +A member: That was the reason I brought up the point, because I think +cutting so short would be too severe. + +Mr. Hutt: The cambium is the only part of the tree that maintains +growth. Every wound kills the cambium to a certain extent, so I always +cut off roots of any size with sharp shears as smoothly as possible. I +cut far enough back to find good, fresh, living tissue. In moist soil +that will callous over. In the South the soil is moist and we have +growing conditions in the winter time, so it will callous over during +the winter. In the North, I understand, you make a practice of planting +in the spring, because of the weather conditions. + +Mr. Harris: In Western Maryland we have in the mountains a deep, sandy +soil; there doesn't appear to be any water bottom to it; what would the +tap-root do in that case? + +Mr. Hutt: It will go down until it finds what it wants, finds sufficient +moisture. + +Mr. Harris: Gravelly bottom? + +Mr. Hutt: If you have ever seen the roots of a long leaf pine, you've +seen where the roots go to when they get a chance. + +Prof. Smith: I should like to ask Dr. Deming if he would give us his +experience in propagating the walnut and hickory? + +Dr. Deming: A very important thing indeed for us nut growers in the +North is to learn how to propagate. Dr. Morris has had some success; I +haven't had any. I have tried it summer and spring, year after year. I +believe there are a few pieces of bark, without buds, still growing. +Chestnuts I haven't found very difficult, but with the walnut and +hickory I have had no success whatever, although I have practiced the +best technique I could master. I think one reason why I have had no +success is that I haven't had good material. I have had good stocks, but +I haven't had good scions, not the sort of scion that the successful +southern nurserymen use. Still, Dr. Morris has had success with the same +kind of material that I have failed with. + +The Chairman: Not very much success. + +Mr. Lake: Dr. Deming said that the land ought not to be too dry nor too +wet. Would you feel like saying that a water-table at 24 inches was +neither too low nor too high? + +Mr. Hutt: It depends a great deal on the nature of the soil, the +water-pulling capacity of the soil. Take a soil like that I mentioned, +in Hyde County, near the ocean; you can see it quake all around you. + +Mr. Lake: But would you say that the northern nut grower might safely +put his orchard on soil that had a water-table within two or three feet +of the surface? + +Mr. Hutt: I could tell if I saw that soil. If it is craw-fishy, or soil +that is ill-drained or won't carry ordinary crops, I'd say keep off of +it, but if it will bear ordinary crops it's all right; in some cases +where the soil is very rich the plant does not need to go down into that +soil anything like the depth it would in a poor soil. The poorer the +soil the further the roots have to go to find nourishment. + +Mr. Lake: I think that is an extremely exceptional case in relation to +northern nuts. There is very little such North Carolina land in this +section of the country, if I judge right. We don't plant nut-growing +orchards up here in peaty soils, so Dr. Deming's recommendation was +rather for very good agricultural soil. A water-table here must be eight +or ten feet deep; in that event, it would not make any difference +whether you left three feet of tap-root or 15 inches. + +Mr. Hutt: No. + +The Chairman: In the soils of some parts of New England, a tree would +have to have a root three or four hundred feet deep to get to flowing +water, but nevertheless trees flourish there. + +Mr. Lake: But the capillarity of the soil provides water for the tree +above the water-table. + +Mr. Corsan: It all depends on the kind of nut. At St. Geneva I came +across a butternut that was growing in a soil that would kill a chestnut +very quickly. The soil was very springy and wet and the butternut just +loves that soil. I found that while other butternut trees bore nuts in +clusters of one to three, this butternut tree was bearing them in +clusters of ten and eleven. At Lake George, right in front of the +Post-Office, there was one tree twenty-four years old, two feet through, +that grew butternuts in clusters of ten and you could get a barrel of +nuts from it. It bore again this last summer heavily, not in clusters of +ten but in clusters of seven or eight. When we have damp soil we can't +grow the chestnut but the hickory nut will grow in a swamp, and so will +the butternut. + +The Chairman: And the beech. + +Mr. Corsan: The beech wants clay; it won't grow unless there is clay. + +The Chairman: Our beech will grow where it has to swim. + +Mr. Reed: Before we get away from this discussion I think that we ought +to commend Dr. Deming in the selection of this subject and in the +handling of his paper. In my position in the Government, we have a good +many inquiries about nut matters, and they are usually from people who +want to know how to start. The great call for information at the present +time is from the beginners, not from the advanced people, and I am glad +that Dr. Deming took that subject and handled it as he did, and I am +glad that he proposes to issue it as a circular from this Association. +It will be a great relief to others who are called on for information. + +I should like to have a word, too, about this tap-root question. From +what has been said it is pretty clear that there is quite a difference +of opinion. We sometimes think we can improve on nature in her ways by +harsh methods and, while I know it is customary in the nurseries of the +South to cut the tap-roots back pretty severely, I wonder, sometimes, +whether that is always the best thing. + +I haven't had any personal experience, but I have observed quite a good +deal, and the tendency, it seems to me, is to try to develop as much as +possible the fibrous root. Sometimes that is brought about by cutting +the tap-root, or putting a wire mesh below where the seed is planted, so +as to form an obstruction to the tap-root, so that it necessarily forms +a fibrous root. Where the tap-root is the only root I doubt very much +the advisability of cutting back too severely. + +Col. Van Duzee: I have heard this subject discussed all over this +country, in meetings of this kind, and a great deal of energy has been +wasted. I do not think any of us know anything about it, but I do wish +to say this, that when you come to transplant a tree from the nursery to +the orchard, there are things of infinitely more moment than how you +shall hold your knife between your fingers when you cut the roots. The +exposure of the roots to the air, the depth to which the tree is to be +put in the ground, the manner in which it shall be handled--those things +are of infinitely more importance, because we know we can transplant +trees successfully and get good results when the tap-root has been +injured or almost entirely removed. I do not consider that the question +of cutting the tap-root is of very serious importance, but I do think we +should insert a word of caution as to the exposure of the roots of trees +to the atmosphere, and make it just as strong as we are capable of +writing it. + +The Chairman: That is a very interesting point, that we have fixed our +eye on the tap-root and talked too much about it. Not long ago one of +the agricultural journals decided finally to settle the question about +the time for pruning grapes, whether it should be done in the fall, +spring, winter or summer, and after summing up all the testimony from +enthusiastic advocates for each one of the seasons, the editor decided +that the best time is when your knife is sharp; and that is very much +the way with the tap-root. Be very particular in getting the root in and +caring for it. + +Mr. Pomeroy: Prof. Close, in a bulletin issued two years ago, spoke as +does Col. VanDuzee about protecting the roots of the trees; he said +"when the trees are taken from the box that you receive them in, don't +expose them to the sun or air, puddle every tree, and plant as soon as +possible." I think that is pretty good advice. It doesn't cost any +money, and takes very few minutes, to puddle the trees and it saves many +of them. + +The Chairman: I have tried the Stringfellow Method of cutting back top +and root until my men asked me if I didn't want to transplant another +tree instead, and they have grown just as well as trees on which I took +great pains to preserve fine branching roots. + +The Secretary: The last thing in my thought was to start a discussion of +this perennial subject of the tap-root, but I should like criticism of +this little circular, no matter how severe, because I am not finally +committed to it and want to make it as useful as possible. + +Prof. Smith: Every man likes to ride his own hobby horse. Would it not +be wise to suggest that some of these seedlings be put in odd corners? +Certainly the hickory and walnut are adept in making themselves a home +in the roughest kind of land. + +The Secretary: I have tried that, but I don't think, as a rule, the +trees do well when stuck around in fence corners and odd places. To be +sure the trees I put behind the barn or pig pen have grown beautifully, +so that at one time I thought of building barns and pig pens all over +the farm to put trees behind, but where they were set in fence corners +and out of the way places they have not done very well. I think the +experience of others is about to the same effect. + +Prof. Smith: My experience has been different from yours. I have some +chestnut and walnut trees, on an unploughable hillside in the corner of +my father's farm in Virginia which I stuck there ten or a dozen years +ago and have done very little to them. Of course they are native. They +have thriven. Nature does it exactly that way. + +The Secretary: It seems to me there is no question that they will do +better under cultivation. Of course they may do fairly well in odd +places if they can dominate the other growth. + +Prof. Smith: A man could take a pocketful of the various kinds of nuts +and go around his fence corners and plant a few. In an hour he can plant +fifty, and if he gets one to grow it is good return for that hour's +work. + +The Secretary: I have advised people to take a handful of nuts and a +cane when they go out walking and occasionally stick one in. + +The Chairman: In our locality, people would ask, "Why is that string of +squirrels following that man?" + +Mr. Corsan: I have been planting nuts in that way for years. + +The Chairman: If a man planted trees which belonged in his neighborhood, +nuts that were already in the dominant ruling group, then his chances +for success would be very good, but if he introduced in fence corners +trees that had to adjust themselves to a new environment, he would find +very few growing and the squirrels, other trees and various obstacles to +development in the midst of established species, would wipe out most of +them. Nevertheless, as it isn't much trouble, I would advise anybody to +take a pocketful of hickory nuts out with him when he goes for a walk +and plant one every little way. + +A Member: The idea is good; let us follow it up. + +Mr. Rush: I don't think it is feasible at all to plant trees around +fence corners. + +The Chairman: In our locality it would not do at all. + +A Member: It won't do in any locality. The sods and grass around the +tree will dwarf it and cause a very slow growth. Our time is valuable +and we can't wait on that kind of a tree to bring results. Cultivation +is the main need. Sometimes trees will do well where the soil is rich +and competition absent. In Burlington, N. J. we found a walnut tree +bearing enormous crops in a back yard. I have seen the same thing in +this county, and also in Carlisle, and the Nebo tree, famous for its +wonderful productiveness, has a similar environment. But it is high +cultivation that usually is necessary for the best results in all trees, +and walnut trees particularly. + +The Secretary: Here is a note relating to this subject: + +"The women of Sapulpa, Okla., who recently organized for city and county +improvement and advancement, have determined to plant pecan, walnut and +hickory trees on both sides of a road now being constructed through +Creek County, basing their action on the theory that two pecan trees +placed in the back yard of a homestead will pay the taxes on the +property. They believe that when the trees begin to bear they will +provide a fund large enough for the maintenance of the road." + +The Chairman: That's all right if you can look after them. + +Mr. Littlepage: It is very interesting to listen to these discussions of +roadside trees and I have until recently been a strong advocate of them, +but I have changed my opinion. I don't think there is anything in the +planting of trees in fence corners or along the roadside, for several +reasons. The first reason is that nobody knows how long it is going to +take that tree to amount to anything. I wouldn't give two cents a piece +for trees stuck out where you cannot cultivate them and get to them to +fertilize them. Another thing, we are right up against the problem of +the insect pests of these trees and who is going to take care of them +along the roadside? The insect pests will get on them and come into the +fields of the man who is cultivating and raising trees legitimately. +Down in southern Indiana, now, we find along the roadside hundreds of +walnut trees that are every year eaten up with caterpillars. They love +those trees and come over on to my trees. I keep my trees cleaned off +pretty well. There's that problem. Up to a short time ago I was an +advocate of roadside trees. It would be all right if there was some +means of cultivating them. If there is land somewhere that is of no use, +so that it doesn't make a bit of difference whether the trees on it have +insect pests or not, you can go out there and scatter nuts and let it +alone and wait the length of time you've got to wait. I don't think it's +of much value, however, even then. I don't think there is a thing in it. +I used to pride myself on the fact that I had set out more trees than +anybody else in the State of Indiana. I haven't bragged about that for a +long time, though I have set out, perhaps, in the last eight or ten +years, or had set out under my direction, about 750,000 trees; I am not +particularly proud of that any more, but I am proud to meet the fellow +who has set out twenty or thirty acres of trees on good land, the best +he's got, and cultivated them and kept the insects off of them and +burned them up instead of letting them prey on the neighborhood. I think +there should be a law passed that these trees along the roadside must be +cut down or that somebody will have to take care of them. + +The Chairman: The original idea of roadside trees was constructive in +its nature but failed to include the idea that, with the increase of +orchard trees, or trees of any one species, we increase the insect pests +because we disturb the balance of nature; and by disturbing the balance +of nature we give advantage to insects which then remain on neglected +trees to prove a menace to our own orchards. It we have various towns +setting out roadside trees and detailing the children to look after +them, asking the children to report on them, I believe the thing can be +made a success and that the taxes of many a small town can be paid from +the nut trees along the roadside, provided you have one boy or one girl +for each tree, their services to be given free and the profit from the +tree to be given to the town. + +Mr. Corsan: How about the cattle? Let them keep grazing around? + +The Chairman: Oh, my, yes. + +Prof. Smith: I think we sometimes let our feelings make us say things +that our brains would scarcely approve. I believe Mr. Littlepage's +charge against the tree on the roadside is not necessarily +substantiated. I don't know just how he is going to take care of his +trees, but if it requires a vehicle carrying spray, I submit that a +roadside tree is about as well fixed as one in his field. If it requires +a man with a stick or a hoe or a ladder, the tree on the roadside is in +about as eligible a location as one in the field. If care implies the +idea of turning over the soil, the roadside is handicapped, but nature +has got along without having the soil upturned. My point is this; there +is on nearly every farm in the East a little patch of land somewhere, a +little row between a road and stream where a few trees can grow, and if +fertilization is required, a few barrels of manure can go there as well +as anywhere else. The fact that a tree is put in a place that is not +ploughed doesn't mean that it is beyond all care. My point is that with +care we can get trees in fence rows without tillage and that, in +addition to Dr. Deming's formal and carefully cultivated plot, there is +about every farm a place where a man can stick a few trees and give them +such care as can be given without tillage. + +Mr. Littlepage: I agree heartily with Prof. Smith's theory, but having +had some experience, I find those things that he describes are not done; +there is just that difference, always, between theory and fact. I read a +beautiful book once, written by a woman, entitled, "There is No Death," +and I found on inquiry that she had already buried four husbands. +(Laughter.) I was much interested in reading, once upon a time, +Rousseau's beautiful story of domestic life and I found that while he +was writing it, his children were in an orphan asylum. A fellow teaching +in the high school in Terre Haute, Indiana, married one of the beautiful +attractive young ladies of that town. Shortly after they were married he +was busy writing and turned and told her that he didn't love her any +more and he wished she'd go home. She was heartbroken and left and it +turned out later that he was writing a book on how to get to Heaven. +(Laughter.) There's just the difference between theory and fact. This +is a beautiful theory. I used to be the strongest advocate of it, but +all you've got to do is to go on a farm and try it. The trees won't get +big enough to amount to anything in our lifetime, because these things +you say you will do to them you don't do; at least, that has been my +experience, and I would like to ask anyone to point to any section in +the United States today, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, where +this theory is carried out successfully; and yet I know it has been +advocated for fifty years. + +The Chairman: How about school children reporting on trees under their +care? + +Mr. Littlepage: Whenever you give the proper care to them you solve the +problem--whenever anyone will convince me that that will be done. There +is no reason, of course, why the tree won't grow in these places, but my +experience is that they don't thrive. + +The Chairman: I've put out thousands of them for public-spirited +citizens, but it would be difficult to find one of them today. + +Mr. Rush: In France and in Germany the land is very valuable and they +take a great deal of pride in their nut trees. The nuts we have here in +the Lancaster market, Persian walnuts, are largely brought from France, +Spain, Italy and Germany. The land being so valuable there, they devote +much of their waste land to nuts, like Mr. Smith's idea of planting +along the wayside, and they plant and cultivate them in their yards and +in all corners. They would not, under any consideration, plant a maple +tree just for the shade; the tree must serve for both fruit and shade, +and those are some of the sources of foreign wealth. + +Mr. Harris: I don't think the question is so much one of planting in +fence corners as that we have a great deal of waste land on which the +soil is very well adapted to growing nut trees. I know that sometimes in +growing peach trees it is almost impossible to cultivate them. I know +places in western Maryland where the rocks are lying so that you can +hardly plough, and yet the soil is fertile and particularly adapted in +some places for peach trees, and would be for chestnut trees. They have +there a system of cultivation much as if you used the plough, and yet +they are on steep hillsides. There is no reason, I think, why nut trees +shouldn't grow there as well as on the level field where you can +cultivate every inch of soil. + +The Chairman: They are looked after, that's the whole thing. + +Mr. Gowing: I come from New Hampshire and we have what used to be an old +farm, but it is now a pasture and the soil is quite a potash soil, I +think, amongst the rocks, and there's some apple trees planted there by +the original man that worked this place. It was too rough to plough, but +they have borne us as good apples some years as we have had on the +place; and on this same piece of twenty acres or so, there's some +chestnut trees more than two feet through that were cut off when the +land was cleared, and they must have done well, for they grew to be such +enormous trees. + +The Chairman: The trees are planted on this same old stump land? + +Mr. Gowing: Yes, sir. + +The Chairman: A great deal of stump land can be planted in this way. + +Mr. Corsan: That wouldn't be planting them along roadsides and in fence +corners. + +The Chairman: No, they would be looked after; the whole thing is looking +after them. + +A Member: My idea is that there would be very few nut trees planted if +every one was to start his own trees. They put off planting the trees +even when they can get them at the nurseries, and if they had to start +their own nurseries there wouldn't be one planted to where there's +10,000 now; and I think that in the end the nurserymen are going to +attend to the planting of trees and the other people are going to attend +to growing them. Maybe I'm mistaken but did this Government ever produce +any trees? Prof. Smith spoke of appropriating money and letting the +Government get us some new variety. Hasn't it always been private +individuals who get the new varieties? I have been trying to think of +some fruit tree, apple or something, that a state or the Government has +propagated. + +The Chairman: In this country I believe the Government has never done +it, but in some parts of Europe, especially Switzerland, the taxes of +some towns are paid by the trees along the roadside; but there every man +has to report on his own trees and the proceeds go to support the town, +and the taxes of certain small towns are actually paid today by roadside +trees; but this is in a country where land is valuable, and every tree +is under the direct supervision of a citizen who must report on it, and +the product of that tree goes to the Government, he giving his labor +instead of paying taxes. + +Prof. Smith: I was merely pleading for the continuation and spread of +that work, both geographically and in increasing the varieties of trees. + +Mr. Lake: I am heartily in favor of that, but I think it ought to be +referred to a committee. I want Prof. Smith to write it out in the form +of a letter. + +Prof. Smith: I am glad you called my attention to that. + +Mr. Lake: The Government and the states are now engaged in such work and +this ought to give it impetus. I think that the time and labor of the +Nut Growers Association, since its organization, will have been well +spent if we succeed in bringing to fructification this one resolution. I +want also to suggest that Prof. Smith include among the nuts, the +beechnut, because there's more meat in beechnuts for the amount of shell +than any other nut we grow. + +The Chairman: If there is no further discussion, we will have now to +spend a short time in Executive Committee work. I think we will ask to +have a Nominating Committee appointed first. Mr. Rush, will you kindly +read the list of the names of the men you proposed to act as a +Nominating Committee? + +Mr. Rush then moved that the Nominating Committee consist of Messrs. +Lake, Hutt, C. A. Reed, Smith and Deming, and the motion was adopted, +after which the Nominating Committee reported as follows: For President, +Mr. Littlepage; for Vice-President, Mr. C. A. Reed; for Secretary and +Treasurer, Dr. Deming. On Executive Committee: Dr. Robert T. Morris, in +place of Mr. C. A. Reed. On Hybrids, Prof. J. R. Smith, in place of Mr. +Henry Hicks. On Membership Committee, Mr. G. H. Corsan, in place of +Prof. E. R. Lake. On Committee on Nomenclature, Dr. W. C. Deming in +place of Prof. John Craig; the other committees to stand as heretofore. + +Mr. Lake: I move that the secretary be instructed to cast the ballot of +the association for these nominations. + +The motion was seconded and adopted and the ballot cast in accordance +therewith. + +The Chairman: Now I will appoint as a Committee on Resolutions relating +to Prof. Craig, Dr. Deming and the Chairman; Committee on Exhibits, Col. +VanDuzee, Mr. Roper and C. A. Reed, and they will be here this evening +to report on exhibits. Committee on Resolutions, Prof. J. Russell Smith +and Mr. T. P. Littlepage. There is no Committee on Incorporation. Will +someone propose that we have such a committee? + +The Secretary: Isn't it a desirable thing that the society should be +incorporated? It was mentioned to me by a wealthy man that if anyone +wished to leave, or give, some money to this association, they would be +much more likely to do it if the society were incorporated. + +The Chairman: I think it would be better for someone to make a motion. + +Mr. Lake: I move that a Committee on Incorporation be appointed by the +chairman; a committee of three. + +(Motion seconded and adopted.) + +The Chairman: The Committee on Incorporation will consist of Mr. +Littlepage and Prof. Close. This evening we will meet informally here at +about eight and tomorrow at ten we have the meeting at the Scenic to +hear the papers of Mr. Rush and Prof. Lake and Prof. Reed, and see the +lantern slides. We will first meet here at nine o'clock for an executive +meeting and to look over the exhibits. The Committees will report at +that time. + +(After discussion, on motion of Prof. Smith, seconded by Mr. Littlepage, +the selection of the place of the next meeting was left to the Executive +Committee.) + +The report of the Secretary and Treasurer was then read. + +(SEE APPENDIX) + +The Chairman: You have heard the Secretary's report. We had better take +up, first, the question of deficit. What are we going to do about the +$66.00? What prospects have we for the balancing of that account? + +The Secretary: That account will be easily balanced, and more than +balanced, by the dues coming in and then I will proceed to run up a +deficit for next year. + +The Chairman: You have heard the Secretary's report. If there is no +discussion, a motion to adjourn will be in order. + +(Adjourned till December 19th.) + + * * * * * + +The Convention met, pursuant to adjournment, December 19th, 1912, at +9:30 A. M., President Morris in the Chair, and went into Executive +Session. + +It was moved and carried that the President be empowered to appoint a +committee to attend the conference at Albany, called for the +consideration of the hickory bark borer, by the Commissioner of +Agriculture of the State of New York. + +The question of the publication of reports of the Convention proceedings +in the American Fruit and Nut Journal, was next taken up and it was +moved by Mr. Lake and carried that the papers and discussions of this +Society shall be used for its own publications exclusively, except as +the Executive Committee deems it to the best interests of the industry +to furnish them for separate publication. + +The Secretary: On November 8th, I received a letter from Calvin J. +Huson, the Commissioner of Agriculture of New York, to this effect. + +Dear Sir: + +At the coming land show in New York this department proposes to have, as +a part of its exhibit, a collection of native and introduced New York +grown nuts. + +Can you give us the names of growers of the better strains of nuts who +might be able to furnish material for such an exhibit. Perhaps your +association would be able to assist in the matter. The Department will +be able to stand a reasonable expense for cost of nuts, expressage, etc. +Perhaps a few seedling trees would add interest.... By the exhibit as a +whole we wish to show the variety and quality of nuts that may be grown +in this state.... + + Very truly yours, + CALVIN J. HUSON, + Commissioner. + +He wished me to assist in getting up an exhibit, but as he only gave us +a week I was unable to do anything. I do not know that there is any +action to be taken on that, but I read the letter simply to show that +the interest in nut growing is increasing and that this is an +opportunity for us to make an exhibit another year. + +Mr. Lake: Would the secretary take the trouble to make a collection of +nuts covering the territory of the association and submit it for exhibit +at a meeting of this character, this land show, giving credit to the +donors for material, somewhat as Mr. Reed has done in pecans for the +National Nut Growers Association? + +The Secretary: I think I'd have a few minutes to spare to do that. + +Mr. Lake: I think it would be an admirable thing. + +The Chairman: Yes, it would advertise the organization extensively and +be a constructive step in agriculture. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Littlepage, have you any report from the Committee on Incorporation? + +Mr. Littlepage: That is a matter that will require considerable thought +and attention. It will require attention from several standpoints, as +for example under what laws we might wish to incorporate, so I think the +committee will reserve its report to make to the Executive Committee at +some later meeting. + +The Chairman: We have no other business, I believe, and will now retire +to the hall where we will have the lantern slide exhibition. The morning +session closes the meeting and we are to meet at two o'clock at the +Monument and from there go out to see certain trees in the vicinity. Mr. +Rush and Mr. Jones are to show us these and their two nurseries. + +Mr. Lake: I would like to offer as a resolution, that the secretary be +instructed to make arrangements with the publishers of the American +Fruit and Nut Journal for the distribution of one copy to each member as +a part of his membership fee. The secretary will then be able to reach +the members in his published notices without special printers' troubles +of his own, and the members will be able to get some live matter right +along. + +The motion was seconded and adopted, after which the executive session +closed and the members adjourned in a body to the Scenic Theatre, where +the regular program was resumed as follows: + +The Chairman: We will have Mr. Rush's paper first. + + + + +THE PERSIAN WALNUT, ITS DISASTER AND LESSONS FOR 1912 + +J. G. RUSH, PENNSYLVANIA + + +The year just closing has been full of disasters both on land and sea, +though I do not wish it to be understood that I am inclined to be a +pessimist on account of these occurrences. + +I wish to speak of a disaster which overtook the walnut industry in the +northern states. Early in the year we had an arctic cold wave which put +the thermometer from 23 to 33 degrees below zero. This cold wave +apparently did no injury to the walnut trees at the time but late in the +spring it was discovered that the wood cells were ruptured though the +buds and bark were uninjured. In cutting the scions in early April the +bark and buds seemed in good condition for grafting; but as the time +approached to do the work it was readily seen, by its changed color, +that the wood was injured, some scions of course more than others. Those +that were only slightly discolored were used in grafting. But as time +passed the unhappy result came to light that out of about 2,000 nursery +trees grafted only one graft grew. After climbing an 80 foot walnut tree +to get our scions, and paying a good price for them besides, this was +rather discouraging. + +This cold wave, which was unprecedented for the time, had wrought other +injuries to the nut industry. That was especially to the young trees +that were transplanted the fall previous and last spring. The +transplanting with a frost injury already was too great a strain on the +feeble life of the trees. The consequence was that some of them died +outright, and others made only a feeble growth. But where low and severe +pruning was practised good results followed and such trees as were +established on the original root system escaped the frost injury +entirely. The young nursery trees with dormant buds were not affected in +the least but made a strong growth of from three to seven feet this last +summer. + +The intense cold wave was such that some old and young seedling Persian +walnut trees were killed outright, and not only the Persian walnut but +in a few instances the American black was very much injured; likewise +the Norway maple, magnolia, California privet and roses. Also the peach +both in tree and fruit. + +Now in conclusion let me say, what is the lesson to be learned? First, +as to the propagation of the Persian walnut, great care should be taken +that only trees that are hardy should be propagated from, as well as +having good bearing qualities with a first class nut. Second, after a +freeze such as we had last winter, a special effort should be made to +save the newly planted tree by close and severe pruning. As, for +example, I had a very fine two year old Hall Persian walnut which was +referred to me as dead. I cut the tree off about 4 inches above where it +was budded on the black walnut stock. It was not long after that signs +of new life appeared and eventually it made a very fine, handsome tree. +Nature does indeed some wonderful tricks in this respect by which we can +learn valuable lessons; and chief of these is close pruning. + +Such a cold wave may visit us only once in a lifetime and should not +discourage us from carrying nut culture to its highest development. We +must not think for a moment that other walnut sections are exempt from +similar visitations. They have them in the Pacific Northwest, and in +France and Germany. + +As regards the walnut industry for Lancaster county or Pennsylvania in +general, I am safe in saying that a fair percentage of the farmers are +taking hold of it. This is because of the fact that the San Jose scale +has practically destroyed all the old apple trees around the farm +buildings, and, not wishing to have the building denuded of the +customary shade and fruit, nut trees are planted instead. This is in +reality the practice prevalent in France and Germany where they utilize +every foot of ground to profitable account. + +The life of an apple tree is from fifty to sixty years whereas a walnut +tree is just in its prime at that age and destined to live for hundreds +of years afterwards. Then again the ravages of the chestnut tree blight +are destroying the cultivated paragons just as freely as the chestnuts +in the forests, which in a few years will be things of the past, thus +giving still more room for walnut and other nut trees. + +The Northern Nut Growers Association was organized for a grand and noble +purpose, that is to stand together shoulder to shoulder to devise ways +and means to bring nut culture to a grand and glorious success. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Corsan: The temperature Mr. Rush spoke of rather surprises me. Last +year at Toronto it did not fall lower than 9 degrees below zero. We had +summer almost until New Year's and then a very severe winter until +April. I didn't notice any evergreen trees killed, but at Detroit, the +Bronx and various other places, I never saw a winter so disastrous for +killing evergreens. + +The Chairman: Not only that but nurserymen all over eastern New England +said they suffered greater losses last winter than ever before. + +Prof. Smith: I would like to ask Mr. Rush if it would be possible to cut +scions by December 1st, so as to escape danger from such great freezes. + +Mr. Rush: I really have little experience in keeping scions. This fall I +put some in the moist cold earth in the cellar. I think the experiment +will be successful because I have known chestnut scions cut in the fall, +to be kept under leaves in the grove till spring. + +Prof. Smith: I should like to suggest that you try the following +experiment; bury them, wrapped up in a gunny-sack or something, entirely +underground where they will have absolute moisture and be shut away from +the air. I have found that very successful. + +Mr. Rush: Sometimes the trouble is they get too moist. + +The Chairman: There is a principle here, and we had better keep down to +principles as much as we can. That principle is that if the cells of the +scions are distended with water a certain chemical process is going on +all the while, because a scion is just as much alive as the red +squirrel; it is a living organism. Now then, if the cells are a very +little below normal dryness the chemical processes mostly cease, and +that is better. We have to use nice judgment in avoiding having a scion +so dry that its cells perish or so moist that its cells are undergoing +chemical processes too rapidly. Our scions are cut, say, the last of +November, then covered with leaves enough to prevent freezing and +thawing. That will carry scions pretty well through the winter and +perhaps is the best way, but we must never forget that in dealing with +scions we are dealing with living red squirrels just as when we are +dealing with pollen. + +A Member: Are the leaves moist or dry? + +The Chairman: The driest leaves in the woods contain more water than you +think they do. They carry enough to maintain the life of the cells, if +they are packed pretty firmly about your scions, and at the same time +the scions are still allowed to breathe. I keep them above ground. I put +a layer of shingles on the cellar floor, if I've got a bare ground +cellar floor, and then a layer of very fine leaves like locust leaves, +then a single layer of scions and then a good big heap of leaves over +those, packed tight, a good big heap of apple leaves or anything you +have at hand. Try it on the basis of principles. It is a complex +question. You can't settle any of these questions off-hand. Every man +who has had much experience has learned that he needs a whole lot more. + +Prof. Smith: Have you had any experience in fixing up a bed of scions +like that and putting it in cold storage? + +The Chairman: Yes, but you must tell the cold storage people not to let +them get too dry. Tell them you want them in moist cold storage, and to +keep the temperature about 40. + +A Member: We have found with walnuts that if you have the scions too +damp they won't keep very long. If you have them just moist enough to +hold them you can keep them all winter, maybe indefinitely. + +The Chairman: If your cell is full of water the scion will work as hard +as an Irishman. + +A Member: I find that we have to graft them above ground, in the North, +and if they are too moist when grafted they will dry up, but if kept dry +they will grow, because they will remain in good condition until the sap +comes up in the stock. + +The Chairman: Yes, you must choose a position midway between too dry and +too moist. + +Mr. Littlepage: That is very important; they won't stand dampness. + +Mr. Pomeroy: Wouldn't it be well to dip the cut end of the walnut scion +in wax to hold the sap? + +The Chairman: I am afraid that would stop its breathing. You are dealing +with a red squirrel all the while, remember that. + +Col. Sober: My method is this: I have a little room about six feet wide +with ice packs on both sides and double doors. In that I pack my scions +in this way: I take carbide cans made of iron and put damp sawdust, +about an inch or so, on the bottom and then I pack my scions in the +cans, cut end down, then I put the top on loosely. I have carried them +over the second year in that way. + +The Chairman: But you let them breathe all the while? + +Col. Sober: Certainly, and they have but very little moisture. They are +kept in a temperature of about 40 degrees. + +Prof. Smith: How often do you wet that sawdust? + +Col. Sober: Not once. + +The Chairman: Well, that's in keeping with our theoretical basis. + +Col. Sober: I cut scions any time between now and March. I don't take +them out of storage until we use them. We graft up to the middle of +June. + +The Chairman: I found some hickory scions that had been accidentally +overlooked, kept under leaves, and the buds in the cambium were +perfectly good after two years. In regard to winter injury--in the +vicinity of Stamford, Conn., the nurserymen reported greater losses of +all kinds in nursery stock than they had had before in their experience. +I noticed that some small branches of the Persian walnuts had been +injured, and particularly where grafts had started a little late and had +not lignified quite thoroughly I lost whatever grafts had not had time +to lignify. Last winter the injuries in our vicinity consisted chiefly +of two kinds; occasional killing of the small branches--this does little +harm because, where the branch is killed and dies back for a certain +distance, we have three or four more branches starting up, so that +perhaps it is not sophistical to say that it does the tree good. We get +a larger bearing area than if it were not for this occasional freezing +of small branches. Another form of injury occurs in the spring. The sap +will start to ascend when we have warm days in February and March; then +a few cold days come and, if we have absolutely freezing temperature at +night, this sap freezes and when it freezes it expands, as water does +everywhere, and the result is a bursting of the bark. That is an +occasional happening with all trees but particularly with exotics. One +kind of winter injury has been overlooked in connection with the walnut. +The very last thing which the tree does in the autumn is to complete its +buds for female flowers. That is the very last job the tree has on hand +and if the tree cannot complete the buds for female flowers perfectly, +then a very little wood killing will make that a barren tree, although +it appears to be a good strong tree. That covers the kinds of winter +injury I have seen in the vicinity of Stamford, Conn. + +(Here Col. C. K. Sober of Pennsylvania showed lantern slide views of his +orchards of paragon chestnuts and his methods.) + +The Chairman: We will have now Mr. Reed's address with lantern views. + + + + +A 1912 REVIEW OF THE NUT SITUATION IN THE NORTH + +C. A. REED, WASHINGTON, D. C. + + +In taking up the question of the present status of the nut industry of +the Northern States, we have to do more with what has not been +accomplished than with what has been. Very little has been done toward +developing the northern chestnut. What has been done has been mostly +with the European species and so far that has not been very +satisfactory. The European species is quite subject to the blight. The +Japanese nut is not ordinarily of a quality equal to that of the +American. It is thought, too, that with the Japanese chestnut the +chestnut blight has been introduced, which has been so serious to our +native species. The walnut has not become well established in the +eastern states. So far, most of the European nuts that have been +imported have been too tender to adapt themselves to our climatic +conditions, and the filbert, when brought from Europe, proves quite +subject to a blight that prevails everywhere with our native species, +but with them is not so serious. In running over these slides, I will +begin first with the chestnut. That is perhaps the best known species in +this locality. That shows one of our native chestnut trees as it is +familiar to you all in a great part of this territory under discussion, +that is, the part of the United States east of the Mississippi River and +north of the Potomac. That photograph was taken some time last June or +July when the tree was in full bloom. The chestnut is one of the most +beautiful of our native nut trees. This tree has the blight in one of +the earlier stages and it is shown here merely to call attention to the +disease, because no discussion of the chestnut industry at the present +time can be complete without at least calling attention to the +seriousness of that blight. That tree, perhaps, has not been affected +more than two years, possibly one. Is that right, Mr. Pierce? + +Mr. Pierce: About two. That's an 18 or 20 inch tree, isn't it? + +Mr. Reed: Yes, sir. + +Mr. Pierce: It must be an 18 or 20 inch tree to be so badly blighted at +the top. + +Mr. Reed: Two years, but you see it's pretty well gone. We come now to +the Paragon, one of the first trees of that variety ever propagated. It +was planted where it stands, by the introducer, Mr. Henry M. Engel, at +Marietta, where they had quite an orchard at one time, but the blight is +so serious that there are only a few specimens of the trees left. That +tree is probably in the neighborhood of twenty-five years old. The next +slide shows two trees of the same variety that we may possibly see this +afternoon. They are on the farm belonging to Mr. Rush and they are about +twenty years old. + +Prof. Smith: What have those trees yielded? + +Mr. Rush: They yield four, five, six and seven to eight bushels. You can +see that they are not far from the barn and the roots run under that +barnyard manure pile. + +Mr. Reed: What would you consider an average crop? + +Mr. Rush: They grow five or six bushels per tree. + +Mr. Reed: The greatest attention that has been paid to developing the +paragon chestnut in orchard farming has been on the plan Mr. Sober has +just shown, by clearing away the mountain side and cutting down +everything but the chestnut sprouts. This photograph was taken in a +thicket where the underbrush had not been cleared away. Those are a good +age now or perhaps a little bit older than we usually graft, aren't +they, Mr. Sober? + +Mr. Sober: Yes, sir; one or two years old. When they get to be three +years old they are past grafting, according to my method. + +Mr. Reed: This photograph was taken at Mr. Sober's a little over a year +ago, taken in the rain and is not very clear, but it shows the distance +between the trees at the time when these trees were four or five years +old--is that right? + +Mr. Sober: They are eleven year old trees. + +Mr. Reed: Do you thin them out after they get that size? + +Mr. Sober: Yes, sir, they should be thinned out more, but I hesitated on +account of the blight; I have thousands that I could spare, but for fear +the blight will take them out. + +A Member: Do you cultivate the ground? + +Mr. Sober: I don't cultivate it, I just pasture it. The land is +fertilized, but not cultivated. + +Mr. Reed: That is a photograph of a large chestnut orchard in this +county. It is not many miles from here. I understand that owing to the +blight and to the weevil, that orchard has not been satisfactory, and I +was told two or three days ago that it was being cleared away. + +The Chairman: What varieties? + +Mr. Reed: Paragon and native stock. + +A Member: Was that the old Furness Grove? + +Mr. Reed: Yes, sir. That slide shows the congeniality, ordinarily, +between the stock of the native chestnut and the paragon. The next slide +shows a typical instance of malformation between the Japanese and native +chestnut. I understand that this is not unusual at all. The Japanese, +ordinarily, does not make a good union with the American sweet chestnut. +That slide was taken in Indiana. It is a twenty-five acre paragon +orchard owned by Mr. Littlepage and Senator Bourne of Oregon, planted in +the spring of 1910. The next slide shows one of the trees in the orchard +during its first season. Mr. Littlepage had to have them all gone over +and the burs removed. They were so inclined to fruit during the first +season that they would have exhausted themselves if the burs had not +been removed. They made a very promising start, but I understand from +Mr. Littlepage that a number of the trees have since died. Is there +anything you'd like to add to that, Mr. Littlepage? + +Mr. Littlepage: I haven't yet quite determined the cause of the trouble. +Last winter I lost perhaps one-third of the trees with a peculiar +condition. The wood under the bark was darkened. I sent some of them to +Washington the year before to see if there was any blight or fungus and +they reported there was none on any of the trees, but this winter +perhaps one-third of the trees died down to the graft. A few, however, +would sprout from the scion, giving me, of course, the grafted top +again. It seemed to indicate, perhaps, a winter killing and yet I would +not undertake to assert that that was the cause, but it was very +serious. + +Prof. Smith: Was the land low or high? + +Mr. Littlepage: High land along a hillside, very excellent land for +chestnuts. + +Mr. Reed: Sandy loam? + +Mr. Littlepage: No, it's a hilly clay with a considerable humus and set +in clover. + +The Chairman: Which way does it face? + +Mr. Littlepage: South. + +The Chairman: That is rather bad. + +Mr. Littlepage: I don't know. I have some over on the other side of the +hill and I don't know whether the killing was greater on the other side +or not. + +Mr. Reed: We have before us a view of the original Rochester and its +originator, Mr. E. A. Reihl, of Alton, Ill. Over in the Court House we +have on exhibition nuts of that variety which most of you have seen. You +are aware, probably, that it is a native chestnut. It is one of the +largest and best of the native chestnuts and originated in southern +Illinois, where so far the blight has not spread. It gives considerable +promise for the future. We come back now to Lancaster county to a +chinkapin tree, a hybrid chinkapin. The original tree stands in a forest +in this county, and as you notice there, it is a very good sized tree. +You might think from the looks of the photograph that that is a +chestnut, but the nuts are small and borne in racemes, so they are +typical chinkapins. + +Mr. Lake: One parent was a chestnut? + +Mr. Rush: We don't know; it's a native tree; it's a hybrid. + +Mr. Lake: It's a supposed hybrid. + +Mr. Reed: Yes, the chestnut and chinkapin grow close together. + +The Chairman: What is the form of the nuts? + +Mr. Rush: Round like a chinkapin. I think it was a chestnut on a +chinkapin. + +Mr. Lake: If it is a chinkapin, what is there to indicate that there is +any chestnut blood in it? + +Mr. Rush: The size of the tree and the fact that the nut matures with +the chestnut. The chinkapin is about three weeks earlier than this +variety of chinkapin. + +Mr. Reed: That photograph is typical of the Rush hybrid chinkapin. We +take up the butternut now. So far as we know, there are no named +varieties of the butternut; there cannot be until some good individual +tree is found which is of sufficient merit to entitle it to propagation +by budding and grafting. It is one of the best known nuts in our field, +especially in New England; it is more common there than it is further +south. + +This slide shows the native butternut in the forests of southern Indiana +near the Ohio River. Of course, those trees in forests like that don't +mature many nuts. It is not in the forests, ordinarily, that you will +find individual trees of sufficient merit to entitle them to +propagation. It is the tree in the open that has had greater +opportunities than are afforded in the forest. + +Mr. Lake: Are there any coniferous trees in that forest? + +Mr. Littlepage: No, that's an alluvial bottom, Mr. Lake. There is quite +a long bottom by the creek where the butternut grows profusely. We have +the same tree on the farm that Senator Bourne and I own. Hundreds of +those trees grow in the woods there. It's rich alluvial soil. + +Mr. Lake: The fact that it is rich alluvial soil does not usually bar +coniferous trees; it may in your section. + +Mr. Littlepage: There are none there. + +Mr. Reed: The slide before us shows typical black walnuts that are +almost as common, perhaps more so, in many parts of the area under +discussion, than the butternut. This photograph was taken in Michigan +where the trees are growing along fence rows without cultivation or +special attention. No one knows whether the nuts of those trees are of +special value or not. It merely shows the starting point for improvement +in the walnut. We come now to the Persian walnut, which Mr. Lake will +discuss more fully in a few minutes. This is one of the trees we will +probably have an opportunity to see this afternoon. It is between Mr. +Rush's nursery and the station, on the right hand side as you are going +out. Just above the top of the fence you will notice a dark line which +indicates the point of union. The Persian walnut was grafted on the +black stock. The Persian is of slightly greater diameter. Now we have +Mr. Rush in his walnut nursery. These are seedling walnuts in their +third year. + +Mr. Rush: Second year. + +Mr. Reed: Second year from the time of planting. You will notice the +luxuriant growth. The next slide shows the methods of propagation. This +is the first step in the operation. The knife is similar to those on the +tables in the Court House. The next slide shows the second stage in the +operation where the bark has been lifted and Mr. Rush holds the bud of +the Persian walnut in the fingers of his left hand, and the next slide +shows the bud in position and being held firmly by a finger of the left +hand. As soon as it is in position like that, Mr. Rush lifts the +pencil--the instrument that he holds in the right hand and folds the +bark back over the new bud and then cuts it on the outside, so that he +makes a perfect fit. If anything, the bark of the black walnut overlaps +slightly the bark of the bud, and the third step in the operation is the +wrapping. Below, right at this point, is a completed operation. That was +done in August, using buds of the present season's growth, and in about +how many days is it that you take off the wrapping? + +Mr. Rush: About two weeks. + +Mr. Reed: In about two weeks take off the wrapping; and about how much +longer is it before you get a growth like that? + +Mr. Rush: About two weeks more, three weeks more. + +Mr. Reed: In about four or five weeks from the time of the operation a +growth like that is not uncommon. + +Prof. Smith: When is the top cut off? + +Mr. Rush: When I see that growth is taking place I cut the top off in +order to encourage the growth to get strong enough for the winter. Of +course our object is to keep the bud dormant until the following season, +perfectly dormant, but sometimes they do make a growth and, if they do, +cut them off at the top and force them. You will not get that bud to +grow next summer, but another bud starts out below that branch and gives +you your tree. + +Mr. Reed: That one dies then? + +Mr. Rush: Yes, sir, invariably dies. + +Mr. Reed: There is one of Mr. Rush's own growing of the Rush walnut, a +little tree which, in its second season, matured two nuts. That +photograph was taken just about the time the nuts were ready to be +gathered. + +Mr. Corsan: I noticed in the nurseries at the Michigan Agricultural +College, a lot of black walnuts that were sun-scalded. They were too far +apart. Can anyone tell us anything about this danger of sun-scald to the +trunk? + +Mr. Reed: Well, in this particular instance, the tree stands right next +to a fence, so it is protected from the hot sun during a large part of +the season. Perhaps Mr. Rush could tell us whether he has had any +trouble with sun-scald. + +Mr. Rush: Not at all, none whatever, never. + +The Chairman: There is, in some localities, a great deal of danger from +sun-scald. In the vicinity of Stamford, Conn., most of the English +walnuts will sun-scald more or less unless we look out for that and give +them shade; mostly in the trunk below the branches. + +Mr. Lake: How about the nuts? + +The Chairman: I haven't seen any scalding there. + +Mr. Reed: These are all interesting points and I am glad to have them +thrown in. Mr. Rush can tell us about this slide. It is one of the +cut-leafed varieties of walnut from California that he is propagating. +It is more of an ornament than it is a commercial nut, isn't it? + +Mr. Rush: It is both combined. It is very productive and very hardy. The +nut is not quite as large as the Nebo. It is the cut-leafed weeping +walnut. The first tree that came from California cost twenty dollars. It +is very ornamental. + +Mr. Reed: This is a view of a seedling Persian walnut orchard in Bucks +county, this state, some twenty or thirty miles north of Philadelphia. +It is now about ten years of age and is owned by Mrs. J. L. Lovett, of +Emilie. Some of the nuts of this orchard are on exhibition over in the +Court House. The orchard was not given any special cultivation at the +time this photograph was taken. The nuts from the trees, of course, are +very ununiform, being seedlings, and the bearing of the trees is not +especially large, but the apparent thrift and vigor of these trees gives +a good deal of ground for looking forward to a walnut industry in the +eastern states. + +Prof. Smith: Do you know the origin of the seed? + +Mr. Reed: No, sir, we do not. The nuts from which those trees were +planted were obtained and planted by Mr. Lovett who is now deceased. + +The Chairman: One of the most important features, it seems to me, of +grafting, is the idea that we can graft from prolific trees. The +majority of trees, of walnuts, hickories, anything you please, are not +remarkably prolific, but in grafting you select a tree that is prolific +as one of the most desirable of its qualities. + +A Member: You say that this grove was given no particular cultivation; +are they careful to allow all the foliage to remain on the ground where +it drops? + +Mr. Reed: I couldn't answer as to that. + +A Member: Mr. Sober, do you do that? + +Col. Sober: Yes, sir. + +A Member: The point I wanted to make is that that is probably very much +better than any cultivation that could be given. + +The Chairman: The matter of cultivation is one we have got to settle in +this country. I have been over the walnut orchards on the Pacific coast, +in the East and in Europe, and I find three entirely separate and +distinct methods of treatment. On the Pacific coast, the rule is to +cultivate every year and irrigate where they can, but to cultivate, at +any rate, whether they irrigate or not. In the East, where people are +supposed to be very industrious, we have adopted the lazier way of +letting the trees grow in sod; but that is not so bad if we follow the +principle brought forward by Stringfellow of letting the leaves all +decompose, and adding more fertilizer and more leaves and taking away +nothing. In France and Germany and England, where the trees are +cultivated, particularly in France, where they are best cultivated, we +find two methods; first, keeping up clean cultivation and adding a +little lime every year and, second, add lime without the cultivation. +One great feature of the treatment of the tree in France, where the best +walnuts come from, is the addition of a little lime every year, even if +it's a limestone ground, and that may possibly account for the delicate +character of the French walnuts and the reason why they have the first +call in the market. I don't know that that is true, but it seems to me, +at least, a collateral fact, and collateral facts often mean something. + +Mr. Pomeroy: Judging from my own experience I think that that orchard +would be producing now two or two and a half bushels per tree each year +if put under cultivation and given the care of an ordinary peach +orchard. + +Mr. Reed: These are seedling trees, you understand, in that orchard we +showed. This is a Persian walnut tree in Mr. Rush's front yard. I've +forgotten the variety. + +Mr. Rush: That is the Kaghazi. + +Mr. Reed: Now we come to the original hickories. This is one of the +earliest hickory nuts propagated, in fact, it's about the only one so +far. That tree is owned by Mr. Henry Hales of Ridgewood, N. J. + +Prof. Smith: Have they fertilized it? + +Mr. Reed: No, not especially. It stands on good, fertile soil but I +think no attention has ever been paid to it in the way of cultivation. + +Prof. Smith: Have you its yielding record? + +Mr. Reed: It never made large records; as I recall it now, it has never +borne more than a few bushels at any one time, perhaps two bushels. + +The Chairman: One reason is because it has been cut back regularly every +year for scions? + +Mr. Reed: Yes, that's true. + +Prof. Smith: Over two hundred years old, then? + +The Chairman: I doubt if that tree is over fifty or sixty. + +Mr. Reed: That's what I should say,--somewhere in the neighborhood of +fifty or sixty years old. + +Mr. Reed: That slide shows a typical grafted tree in Mr. Hales' garden. +It's a nice shapely, thrifty tree about seven years old and only +recently came into bearing to any extent. The nurserymen have had great +difficulty in propagating it until recently. Now that Mr. Jones has come +up from the South and he and Mr. Rush are getting down together +earnestly in the propagation of these northern trees, we will probably +have more of them, but in all the years that Mr. Hales has been working +with that particular variety, he has never been able to get more than a +few trees grown in the nursery, so it is not disseminated to any extent. + +The Chairman: Do you think that this will be like the pecan and hickory, +that some varieties will bear fifteen years after grafting and other +varieties two years after grafting, for instance, as extremes? + +Mr. Reed: Probably so, the same as it is with other fruits. + +The Chairman: It seems to me that that is what we may fairly anticipate. + +Mr. Corsan: Like Northern Spy apples and other apples. + +Mr. Reed: This slide is a little bit out of order. It's a native Persian +walnut tree that stands in this county. It is owned by Mr. Harness. Mr. +Rush has propagated it under the name of Geit. That photograph was taken +in the fall of 1911. Last year it suffered greatly during the extreme +weather, but it came out again and made a very good growth. This is the +original Rush tree that we may be able to see this afternoon. And this +is the original Nebo that we had hoped to be able to see but will +probably not succeed. It is some seven or eight miles from Mr. Rush's +home and we will hardly be able to make it this afternoon. The slide +before us shows some European filberts that were planted by Mr. Hales +and up to the present time they are doing nicely although they have +never fruited especially heavily; but there is no blight. + +The Chairman: How many years? + +Mr. Reed: I think those are ten to twelve years old. Perhaps you have +seen them. + +The Chairman: Yes. There are two features connected with the filbert +that we ought to discuss right here. One is the tendency to its being +destroyed by the blight of our American hazel, which extends to Indiana, +and another is the fact that it blossoms so early that the female +flowers or the male flowers are both apt to be killed by the frost. All +the members of this Association ought to get to work to bring out a +variety which will have the blight-resisting features and the later +blooming of the American hazel. + +Mr. Reed: This slide shows a filbert we will probably be able to see +this afternoon. It is in Mr. Rush's door yard and is still pretty young. +I believe it has not borne of any account. + +Mr. Rush: It has borne a little. + +The Chairman: How old is it? + +Mr. Rush: I think it's about five years old. It is a Barcelona. + +Mr. Reed: The next slide is taken in the orchard of Mr. Kerr at Denton, +Md. At one time he had a very nice orchard of these filberts, but the +blight has gotten in and has about wiped out everything. In a letter +from him this fall he said he had very few nuts of any variety, although +he did have a few. A letter that came this week from J. W. Killen, of +Felton, Md., said he had found filberts to be about as unprofitable a +nut, as any he could have grown. + +We will spend a few minutes now running over the pecan situation. We can +hardly omit it altogether because there are so many people in the +northern states who are interested in the pecan in a financial way. The +chart before us shows first the native area. This part here is the +portion of the United States in which the pecan is a native. You notice +how far upward it extends, almost to Terre Haute, Indiana, and across +southern Indiana along the Ohio River, and it is right in here, about +where the pencil indicates that some of our best northern varieties have +originated. Mr. Littlepage and W. C. Reed and others have shown us nuts +over in the Court House that originated there. The Busseron and the +Indiana are the two most northern. They are a little way north of +Vincennes. No varieties so far of any merit have originated in Illinois. +While we have the map of Illinois before us, I would like to point out +the place where Mr. Riehl originated the variety of chestnut we referred +to some time ago. Down in more southern Illinois is where we find Mr. +Endicott. This darkened area along the southeastern part of the United +States, and extending away up into Virginia, shows the area to which the +pecan has been planted with more or less success. This area extending +down over the Piedmont and up into Virginia and West Virginia, is the +mountain area to which the pecan is not adapted. You never find pecans +on the uplands. This thick, heavy area shows the territory within which +the pecan has been most extensively planted. It is not common down in +southern Florida. You notice, too, that over here in Texas there have +been very few orchards planted to pecans. North of these shaded areas, +anywhere up in Ohio or Pennsylvania or New York, the pecan has not shown +any adaptability or has not shown sufficient adaptability to justify +commercial planting. Whatever planting of pecans is done in the area +north of the shaded portions there must be considered as experimental. + +The Chairman: The southern part of Texas is actually in the tropical +zone. It would be interesting to know if we have the pecan actually +growing in the tropics. + +Mr. Reed: We have more or less vague reports that it is growing down +near Brownsville. I think Mr. Littlepage told us the other day of a +friend of his who is planting pecans. + +The Chairman: Brownsville is very close to the tropics. + +Mr. Littlepage: Mr. Yoacum told me he had a grove down there that had +not been a success so far. I know that quite a number of people have +discussed the question of planting pecans in that section. + +Mr. Reed: This is one of the largest of pecan trees; it is the largest +that it has ever been my personal privilege to see. It has a +circumference of between 18 and 19 feet and a spread of about 125 feet. +We estimated that it was about the same height. It stands on the west +side of the Mississippi River, some distance south of Baton Rouge. + +Mr. Littlepage: What is the approximate water level below the ground? + +Mr. Reed: It is quite near the surface. + +Mr. Littlepage: I thought so. There are conditions you will observe that +are unusual. In lands where the water level is near the surface, there +is a tendency in the tree to shove out a lot of surface roots. You can +travel all over the pecan belt of Indiana and will never see a pecan +tree that does not look as if it had been driven in the ground with a +pile-driver, but I have noticed that you find those spreading roots +where the water level is near the surface of the ground. + +Mr. Reed: It is interesting to know that right near this tree were other +large trees, nearly as large, that were blown over, and they showed no +tap-roots, but merely the surface roots, This slide shows a pecan bloom. +The pistillate bloom is clear up on the terminate growth; the staminate, +like other nut trees, is on the growth of last season and comes out +somewhat in advance of the pistillate, necessarily. + +We come now to the wild pecans of Texas. The recent census figures show +that fully three-fifths of all the pecans produced in the United States +come from Texas. This photograph shows the native wild pecans along the +Colorado River. Here is the pecan as a park tree. This picture was taken +in Llana Park, New Braunfels, in west Texas. One of the nuisances in +pecan trees is illustrated in the upper part of this photograph; you +will notice the Spanish moss that grows so densely on the pecan trees if +neglected. Unless the moss is kept out it gets so dense that it smothers +the fruiting and leafing surface, so trees that are densely covered with +that are able to make leaves only on the terminals. You notice in the +rear the leaves of bananas that grow there throughout the entire year. + +The Chairman: I have noticed that the mistletoe was a bad parasite on +the pecans in some regions. Have you found that? + +Mr. Reed: Yes, that is true; that is one of the pests of the pecan. This +slide shows a typical Texas scene. The wild pecans have been gathered +and are brought into town and are waiting the buyers. You will notice +right here is a bag that has been stood up and opened, waiting for a +buyer, the same as we see grain in the streets of northern towns, and +here are pecans on their way from the warehouse to the car. The next +slide shows another step; they are on their way now from Texas to the +crackery or the wholesalers. The crop of pecans in Texas alone usually +runs from 200 cars to 600 or 700 cars. This year the crop is small and +probably not over 200 cars, so the prices are going up. This is the +pecan crackery in San Antonio, having a capacity of 20,000 pounds a day. +The pecans are cracked by machinery and the kernels are picked out by +hand. This slide shows a native pecan tree. The one in the foreground +was from across the river near Vincennes. It is one of the first +northern varieties that was introduced, but it is now superseded. The +next is the original tree of the Busseron. The nuts from that tree are +on exhibition over at the Court House brought here by Mr. Reed. The tree +was cut back quite severely several years ago to get budwood and has not +made sufficient top yet to bear normal crops again. This is the original +tree of Indiana. Beside the tree is the introducer, Mr. Mason J. +Niblack, the gentleman with his hand by the tree. Now we come to the +original Green River, one of the northern Kentucky pecans. It is in a +forest more than twelve miles from Evansville across the Ohio River in +Kentucky. The trunk of that tree is typical of others in the forest. +There is a pecan forest of perhaps 200 acres, from which everything but +pecan timber was removed several years ago. + +The slide before us shows the trunk of a supposed chance hybrid between +hickory and pecan. The next slide shows a grafted tree of that variety. +It is interesting to note the vigor of this hybrid. It is quite the +usual thing to get added vigor with hybrids. This is one of the most +beautiful, dense, dark green trees that I have ever seen in the hickory +family. This tree is in northern Georgia, but it is not so prolific as +the parent tree. + +The Chairman: Does the shell fill down there? + +Mr. Reed: No, it does not. + +The Chairman: It grows very vigorously in Connecticut. It is a perfectly +hardy hybrid, but I am afraid I shall only be able to use the crop for +spectacle cases. + +Mr. Reed: This shows one of the most common methods of propagating the +pecan, the annular system. It is a slight modification of the system Mr. +Rush applies to the propagation of the walnut. This shows one of the +tools designed especially for annular budding, the Galbraith knife. The +rest of the operation you already understand. It is merely placing the +bud in position and wrapping the same as Mr. Rush does. + +The Chairman: I would like to ask, does it make a great deal of +difference whether the bud ring is half an inch long or an inch and a +quarter long? + +Mr. Rush: It does not make any difference. The union takes place on the +cambium layer. It is not made on the cut. + +The Chairman: Then the length of the bud is not of great importance? + +Mr. Rush: No, it is of no importance at all. + +Mr. Reed: This slide may be a little bit misleading. Two nuts matured in +the nursery on a scion that was inserted in February. The scion was +taken from a mature tree and the fruit buds had already set and had +enough nourishment to carry them through the season so that they +matured. That is no indication of what may be expected in the way of +bearing. It is one of the freaks. This is merely a view of a +fourteen-year old pecan orchard in south-western Georgia, a 700-acre +orchard owned largely by one person. That is the orchard belonging to +Mr. G. M. Bacon, a name probably familiar to some of you. Those trees +are set 46 feet, 8 inches apart, each way. There are twenty trees to the +acre, just beginning to bear now. That photograph was taken some two +years ago showing the first step in topworking. The top has been +removed, as you notice, and the next slide shows the subsequent +water-sprouts which are later budded. The lower branches were left in +the first place to take up the sap while the new head was in formation. +They have now been removed. Our next point might be brought out in +connection with this slide. One of the typical, sub-tropical storms, not +unusual in the Gulf States, swept over this area in September, just as +the nuts were beginning to mature and defoliated the trees and whipped +off the nuts. The sap was still in circulation, and the varieties that +respond most readily to warm weather, that start earliest in the spring, +sent out new leaves, so that foliage was foliage that ought to have come +on the next year, that is, it was exhausting next year's buds. The same +year the tree sent out its blossom buds, so it had no fruit the +following season. This slide shows one of the pests in the pecan +orchard, the twig girdler, at work. The insect deposits its egg under +the bark up at about that point, then goes down below girdles the twig, +and it breaks off, goes to the ground, and the insect comes out, goes +into the ground and comes out the next season. There are a good many +drawbacks that are occurring and more are to be expected the same as +with other fruit. There are probably no more setbacks to pecan growing +than there are to the growing of other fruit, but this is one of the +things. This orchard was set in land bordering the Flint River and at +the time this picture was taken the water stood at the depth of three +feet. It probably did no harm, because it didn't stay more than a week +or ten days. Sometimes it stays longer and in such cases it is a serious +matter. In Texas, floods come up like that into the branches of the +trees, so high in some seasons after the nuts are formed, that the nuts +deteriorate and fall to the ground. In such cases it is a pretty serious +thing. (Applause.) + +The time for which the "scenic" was engaged having expired, the +delegates returned to the Court House and the regular program was +resumed. + +The Chairman: We will next hear from Mr. Lake. + +Mr. Lake: My topic, aside from the slides, was concerning the result of +the work at Arlington this year. It is all written out but I don't +propose to read the paper at this stage. I have not been a teacher and +lecturer for 25 years for nothing, and I don't propose to kill the few +friends I have among nut growers by talking them to death when they are +hungry and want to see something interesting. I will send this paper in +due time to the secretary, and give way now to Mr. Jones. I did want to +show you on the slides a few illustrations of cross fertilization +between the Japanese and the American walnut, but we will put those in +engravings and put them in the Northern Nut Growers' Journal, so that +you will see them there with better satisfaction. Now one or two words +about these Persian walnuts. These are eastern grown seedlings, the best +that I have been able to pick out. Here is an Oregon grown nut. That is +the ideal type for dessert walnuts. This is the Meylan. There is only +one better, and that is the real Mayette, of which we grow very few in +the United States, but we are growing considerable of the Meylan. +Whether we can grow this successfully here or not, I am not certain, but +it is well worth trying. The better type of our nut seedlings in the +east are from the Parisienne. We must get a nut something like this that +you can crack between your fingers, not one that is sealed so hard that +it requires a hammer, and must get one with a very good quality of meat. +One great advantage to the walnut grower in the East will be that he can +get his crop on to the Thanksgiving market, which is the cream of the +market--something the Western or European nut grower cannot do. So if we +can grow a nut reasonably fair in quality we can expect excellent +results. + +The Chairman: Mr. Jones, will you give us your points now? + +Mr. Jones: Dr. Deming yesterday asked me to give a little demonstration +of grafting and I have brought along a sort of transplanted nursery on a +board, so that I might do so. + +(Here Mr. Jones demonstrated methods of grafting the pecan.) + +The Chairman: Tell us about the wax cloth, Mr. Jones. + +Mr. Jones: We use that over the cut. + +The Chairman: How do you make your wax cloth? + +Mr. Jones: We take a roll of this, possibly three or four yards long, +very thin muslin, roll it up and drop it in the melted wax. + +The Chairman: How do you make that wax? + +Mr. Jones: We don't measure the ingredients, but I think it varies from +four to six pound of rosin, to one pound of beeswax and a tea cup full +of boiled linseed oil and about a tablespoon of lamp black. + +Prof. Smith: What do you use the lamp black for, Mr. Jones? + +Mr. Jones: To toughen the wax so that it will not crack and so that it +will adhere better. + +A Member: How do you get your excess of wax off the cloth? + +Mr. Jones: We just throw the rolls on a board and press them. + +Mr. Reed: I believe you would find it easier to tear it up into strips +than to put it in rolls. We have been using that method. We ran short of +cloth and I went to town and got some and tore off a piece about 8 or 9 +yards long and folded it up into strips that wide and dipped it in the +pure beeswax and pressed it on a board and it was ready for work. + +Col. Sober: I take just a common corn cob and wind it on as you would on +a spool, then, while the wax is warm, I dip it in; you can have the +cloth half an inch wide or an inch wide just as you please. My way of +making wax is, I take two pounds of rosin, one pound of beeswax and half +a pound of tallow. I find that stands all kinds of weather. + +Mr. Jones: You prefer the tallow? + +Col. Sober: Yes sir, I do. + +The Chairman: Beef tallow or mutton tallow? + +Col. Sober: I prefer mutton tallow; two pounds of rosin, one of beeswax +and half a pound of tallow. Then you want to boil it very slowly and +thoroughly, and pour it in cold water. + +A Member: Do you unroll this roll of cloth? + +Col. Sober: I have a machine to turn it on just the same as you would on +a spool. + +Mr. Jones: The strip goes through the wax? + +Col. Sober: No, you wind that, then when your wax is warm, you drop this +in but secure the ends, then take it out and lay it by till it's all +saturated; then I tear it off as I use it. I find that is the most +convenient thing, and I generally get calico, that is pretty closely +woven, but is rotten so that it tears easily. + +Mr. Jones: Did you ever use raffia for tying your grafts? + +Col. Sober: No sir, I have not. + +Mr. Jones: We have used it on pecans and walnuts for the reason that it +doesn't have to be untied as it bursts off with the growth of the tree. + +Col. Sober: This wax I have tried on thousands and thousands of grafts +and it stands all kinds of weather. You can get wax that's been there 8 +or 10 years and you can take it off now and use it. + +Mr. Jones: That is one advantage of using the tallow; linseed oil will +dry out. + +Col. Sober: Tallow is the best; that's been my experience. + +A Member: If linseed oil is not used immediately or very soon, it gets +hard. + +Mr. Jones: It's all right in wax and all right in cloth, too, if you +keep it in a damp place till ready to use. + +Mr. Hutt: Can you use parafine in place of beeswax? + +The Chairman: Have you tried this method on the other hickories besides +the pecans? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir. + +The Chairman: You've got shagbark to catch fairly well, have you by this +method? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir. + +The Secretary: How did your pecans and hickories do last summer? + +Mr. Jones: I've forgotten the exact percentage that grew. Some died +after they had made a growth of several inches. I think I left too many +limbs growing on the hickories. Some of them made quite good growth. + +A Member: When is this kind of grafting done? + +Mr. Jones: We wait until the sap is up. + +The Chairman: What do you cover the top with? + +Mr. Jones: With wax. We leave this open at the bottom, for the reason +that the sap can get out and not ferment. If it holds the sap, it will +sour you know. + +The Chairman: How far down does your wax go, Mr. Jones? + +Mr. Jones: Far enough to cover up the wrapping. + +A Member: Does that work on pecans as well as hickories? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir. To show the value of this patch, we have grafted +rows side by side and got 80 per cent where we used this patch and 34 +per cent where we waxed it over solid and left no ventilation or exit +for the sap. + +A Member: Isn't that to keep the wax out of the cambium layer? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir, it does that too. + +Prof. Smith: Are there any fine points about this trimming, other than +mere wedge? + +Mr. Jones: No sir, only it's thick on one side, as you will see so that +it wedges tightly. + +A Member: Isn't it a fact that you can use three and four year pecan +wood just as well? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir, two year wood or three will give you better results +than one year. + +Col. Sober: What time in the season do you graft? + +Mr. Jones: The 20th of April to the 20th of May here. + +Prof. Smith: What stage of stock do you prefer? + +Mr. Jones: Well it doesn't matter, you can graft these after they have +made a foot of new growth, if you've got a good dormant scion; you could +put in a graft any time in the summer, perhaps. + +A Member: How long do you leave on the paper bags? + +Mr. Jones: Until the scion begins to grow. Sometimes I have made a +mistake and left them on until they grew up and curled down. + +Prof. Smith: What is the superiority of that over plain cleft grafting? + +Mr. Jones: You can do better work and do it quicker. I have put in 1200 +grafts in a day. + +The Chairman: You don't mind this arch being left up? + +Mr. Jones: That ought to go a little deeper, maybe, but it don't make +much difference, so long as it is well waxed. + +Prof. Smith: The paper bag protects the scion? + +Mr Jones: Yes sir. The object is not to protect the scion so much as to +keep it dry. You want to keep the scion dry until it gets sap from the +stock to start it into growth. + +Prof. Smith: Is it necessary that this should be waxed cloth? + +Mr. Jones: No sir, we use paper ordinarily, of course we run wax over +the paper in waxing the scion and then the paper is as good as cloth. + +Col. Sober: Do you find it apt to curl up in windy days--the paper? I +tried that and had all kinds of trouble until I got on to the tape. + +Mr. Jones: We don't try to tie with the paper; the paper is only to let +the surplus moisture or sap out. + +A Member: Does this tend to hold that in or is it all held in by the +patch there? + +Mr. Jones: This doesn't really need any tying, as it is large. + +The Chairman: Would you carry the patch around to the other side? + +Mr. Jones: No sir, just fill it up with wax. + +The Chairman: And the juice runs out of there and will escape anyway. + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir. + +A Member: Do you wax in addition to the paper you put on? + +Mr. Jones: We don't wax the scion all over. We used to take hot wax and +run a thin layer over the whole scion, but we quit that and used the +bag, because if you wax over a scion tight and it happens to have +sufficient moisture, it will start growth with that moisture before it +makes the union. + +Prof. Smith: Do you wax the tip end? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir. + +Prof. Smith: Do you wax this in here? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir; we fill that over with liquid wax. It is possible to +have your wax too hot, and burn the scion. + +Prof. Smith: Have you found that all the species of hickory take grafts +with equal ease? + +Mr. Jones: We grafted some here last spring that started very nicely and +then died. I don't know whether it was in the hickory stock or whether +they were robbed by the sprouts; we didn't pull off any sprouts. There's +a whole lot of things we don't know about grafting yet, but will know +more in time. + +The Chairman: How about using scion wood more than one year old? + +Mr. Jones: We prefer two or three year old wood for the scion. We have +coming now, 3,000 walnut scions from California and they are all to be +two and three years old. I have put in rows of 100 with large two year +scions and you could count 100 and not find one dead among them and some +of the scions were almost as big as my wrist. It's a job to cut them. +You see that scion, being large, has enough vitality to hold it until it +can make a union. + +A Member: You want one bud on this? + +Mr. Jones: We generally have two buds. + +A Member: Do you use the same method on the Persian walnut? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir; we got a little stingy one year and cut these all to +one bud and hardly got any out of them. You've got to have wood enough +to hold the scions dormant; of course there may be one or more buds on +the scion. + +The Chairman: And got to have food enough in them. + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir. Col. Sober grafts chestnuts that way, but I have +never been able to graft pecans and walnuts with very short scions. + +The Chairman: I have caught chestnuts with one bud, but most of the nut +trees want more food and you've got to have a lot in the scion. + +Prof. Smith: Have you used that with pecans in the North? + +Mr. Jones: Yes sir, this will be our method of propagation. + +After Mr. Jones had given further illustrations of the process of +grafting, the convention adjourned. + + + + +SOME PERSIAN WALNUT OBSERVATIONS, EXPERIMENTS AND RESULTS FOR 1912 + +E. R. LAKE, WASHINGTON, D. C. + + +The Arlington work for 1912 in the propagation of the Persian walnut +consisted in top-grafting three and four year old nursery stock by +several methods, as ordinary cleft, side cleft, bark cleft, prong, whip +and modified forms of these. For wrapping we tried bicycle tape, waxed +cord and cloth, with wax and plasticine for covering. + +The work was done during the latter part of April and first part of May. +The stocks averaged from 3/4 to 1-1/4 inches diameter, and were cut off +from 16 to 30 inches above the surface of the ground. In a few cases +bark grafting by modified whip form was performed upon the branches at a +height of about 4 feet. + +Later in the season from June 12th to August 25th buds were placed by +varying methods. In the earlier instances the buds were taken from +left-over grafting stock. Of the scion wood received last year all the +wood from Eastern growers was frost bitten and wholly failed to take +with one or two exceptions. + +The Pacific Coast wood was received in excellent condition and +operations with it were gratifying, especially with the ordinary cleft +graft, and patch bud. + +Next year's work in grafting will be confined to the cleft, and the +bark-whip processes. This latter is very simple and under careful +treatment promises to be a convenient and successful process. + +In the budding operations we resorted to a number of methods largely for +the benefit of the information obtained from the practice, and not so +much for the returns in propagated trees. + +However, for 1913 in the work of propagating for stock results we shall +confine our practice to the patch method, though we may find from later +tests that the hinge method so favorably looked upon by Oregon is better +suited to the work. + +Various experiments with tying material were tried. Raffia, cotton cord, +waxed cloth and bicycle tape were used. The raffia and cord gave best +results. A tight tie is needed. + +June-budding from the left-over graft-wood gave a very low percentage of +"takes." Most of the buds appeared to be drowned. Buds from the current +year's growth inserted from early to middle of August are at present +apparently in good dormant condition. + +Some July buds from the left-over graft-wood placed in the younger +branches of a twelve year old American black took well and made from +three to six inches growth. The branches were cut back as soon as the +buds appeared to be set, a course that would not be advocated if one +were doing the work for re-topping. The young wood from these buds is +delicate and soft and in order to insure their living through the +winter, so far as our efforts may avail, they have been enclosed in +strong paper bags. In our budding and grafting operations we had no +success with the Japanese or Chinese stocks. We expect to try them +further as their rapid growth makes them much to be desired if a +permanent union can be effected. So far as we have been able to learn +from the southern propagators who have worked along this line, no +difficulty has been encountered in effecting a short-life union,--four +to six years on an average, though a few have kept alive for twelve +years. + +The growth of the successful grafts has been very variable. In several +instances in which both scions upon a stock grew, the growth was from +two to three feet. In other cases the young wood was scarcely a foot +long. + +The fact that the stocks and scion-wood varied widely in size and vigor +and the further fact that the scions were from several varieties of +western stock are quite sufficient causes for no uniform results in this +respect. + +The wood of all successful grafts appears to be in excellent condition +for the winter season and we are looking forward to an interesting +further growth of these next year, though the trees have just been +transplanted. In order to doubly insure ourselves against loss of the +varieties now growing one half, or even more in a few instances, of the +young wood has been removed and placed in a cold room so that further +grafting or budding of these varieties may be made next year. + +Nursery trees of the Franquette, Pomeroy, Parisienne and unidentified +others, on their own roots are making a pitiable effort at successful +growth, while all wood on the black stock is making excellent growth. + +In one instance the wood of Mayquette a cross between Mayette and +Franquette formed two nutlets. Lack of pollen was all that prevented the +fruiting of one-year-old grafted trees. A splendid point for the unit +orchard booster, but a point of no value to the real walnut grower. + + +CROSS FERTILIZATION + +Owing to the very vigorous weather of the past winter the catkins on the +older Persians at Arlington Farm were killed. In order to study the +conduct and product of these trees we sought pollen elsewhere to +fertilize their liberal display of pistils. We were successful in +obtaining some from the trees of Messrs. Killen and Rosa, and Miss Lea, +but though this and some pollen of black, butternut and the Japanese was +used no pollenation was successful. + +In the case of sieboldiana, however, we succeeded in securing what +appears to be fruit of certain definite cross-fertilization, as +sieboldiana x nigra; sieboldiana x cinerea and possibly sieboldiana x +regia. + +Only in one instance did the nuts appear to have other than the usual +characters of sieboldiana. + +The nuts of the cinerea cross were longer, more tubular and somewhat +deeper furrowed and darker. + +Unfortunately some conflicting results in the fruiting of the +sieboldiana places the possible cross-fruits under a cloud. + +A peculiarity of the blossoming of the sieboldiana at Arlington this +year was that the stamens and pistils of an individual tree opened at +dates of six to ten days apart, and with the tree used for crossing the +catkins were all off before the pistils opened. As no two trees are near +together, perhaps two to three hundred feet being the closest, +natural cross-pollenating was not expected. However, after the +cross-pollenations by hand were made and fruits set, and even matured, +it was found that some clusters had from one to three more nuts than +were hand treated. Many of the clusters had less nuts than the number of +pistils treated, which was to be expected. + +But how to account for the extra sets is a problem not clear for it is +possible that pollenation might have occurred in one of two ways--by +stray pollen grains from the hand operations by wind-carried grains from +the trees. In any event only the fruiting of the trees from the nuts +under consideration will settle it, and as these have been planted we +are on the way to the solution. + + + + +THE INDIANA PECANS + +R. L. MCCOY, INDIANA + + +The pecan is probably the best nut that grows. It belongs to the hickory +family which is indigenous to North America. Since water is its natural +distributing agent it is most generally found growing intermixed with +the large hickory nut or shagbark in creek and river bottoms. While the +hickory is hardy enough to thrive even into the Canadian provinces the +pecan is not so hardy and is seldom found in the northern tier of +states. It thrives well as far north as the northern boundary of +Illinois. The writer has seen a transplanted tree in bearing in Branch +County, Michigan, and native trees along the Mississippi River near the +mouth of the Wisconsin. + +The nuts in the extreme northern limit are not much larger than a hazel +nut. But the nuts that grow in Indiana and Illinois from the Ohio River +on the south to Rock Island on the northwest and Lafayette on the +northeast are much larger. Here are found many superior nuts worthy of +propagation. In fact, the writer has before him a great many nuts of +named and un-named varieties which he and Mr. Littlepage and others have +discovered in their search for worthy nuts in the native pecan woods. +There are many thousand acres of these groves on the Ohio, Green, Wabash +and Illinois rivers where many trees are found which bear nuts as large +as some of the varieties which are being propagated in the Gulf Coast +country. + +The nuts of the Evansville group are especially noted for their fine +flavor. The people of this section will not eat southern pecans if they +can get native nuts. This year several carloads of these native wild +nuts will be shipped to the Cleveland, Boston, and New York markets. +While the finer nuts seldom get into the markets at all but are bought +by wealthy men in the locality where they grow. Many men buy from a +special tree year after year--its flavor suiting their taste. + +The yield from some of these larger trees (and there are many of them +four feet in diameter and some as large as nineteen feet four inches in +circumference at shoulder height) is very good. The writer has seen a +number in the last few days which were estimated to have from four to +six hundred pounds, the most of the crop having not yet been gathered. +He knows of one tree which bore (17) seventeen bushels and Mr. Louis +Huber of Shawneetown gathered 718 pounds from another tree. Two hundred +and eighty-five pounds of nuts were gathered and weighted from the Luce +tree. These nuts were gathered green for fear of their being stolen and +it was estimated that fifteen pounds were left on the tree. Also that +the hail storm in early September destroyed fifty (50) pounds more. +Hence the Luce bore approximately eight bushels. The Kentucky tree had +four and one-half bushels by measurement. The Warrick tree had, the best +we can estimate, about 150 pounds. The Grayville, or Posey as Mr. +Littlepage wishes to call it, bore at least two hundred pounds by +weight. One hundred and sixty pounds were gathered from the Major and +two hundred and fifty pounds from the Green River tree. We do not think +the Hinton bore to exceed two pounds of nuts. We do not know the amount +of nuts gathered from the Indiana and the Busseron trees. The Buttrick +tree had some three or four bushels of nuts this year but as a dredge +ditch was recently constructed by it, destroying half of its root +system, it did not mature its crop. This tree has been in bearing since +1817 and it has not been known to miss a crop previous to this year. + +In our search for nuts worthy of being propagated we have found several +nuts as yet un-named that are in our opinion much superior to any +northern nut that has been brought to public notice. But as we know +little of their bearing record and do not wish to burden the nurserymen +with too many varieties we will keep these trees under observation for a +year or two before naming them. + +We have been trying to propagate some of the best varieties at our +nursery for about three years. Our first attempt was root-grafting in +which our success varied from 15 per cent to 75 per cent under the best +conditions. We found after some experience that it was not difficult to +root-graft. But last winter, 1911-12, was the coldest winter for some +years, the thermometer registering as low as 20 degrees below. Most of +our root-grafts were killed back to the ground but few if any of them +were killed outright. When spring came they started new growth and are +now about four feet high. The fall of 1911 was very warm and wet and +they were in vigorous growth until the first week in November when we +had a hard freeze which killed the wheat, causing the worst failure in +that crop ever known in this section. The winter then following being +very cold we had two conditions against spring root-grafted pecans. But +we failed to see any budded ones that were injured. However, we only had +pecans budded to hickory which was done by Mr. Paul White in May, 1911 +and, so far as we know, this was the first hickory top-worked to pecan +in Indiana. However, he now has quite a number top-worked last spring +that have made a growth of three or four feet. We also have both budded +and root-grafted pecans from last spring and summer so that in the +spring we will have a better opportunity to see what effect the winter +will have on them. + +So far as we are able to determine from our observation of a few +orchards all pecan trees bought from southern nurserymen and planted in +this section have either died out or made very feeble growth. Although +some large Texas nuts have been planted here and grown, yet they have +either not fruited at all or the nuts have proved no better than our +native nuts. + +The northern pecan timber is not brash like the southern pecan but is +very elastic and tough. An axe-handle made from northern pecan sells for +ten cents more than one made from hickory and pecan timber is much +sought after by axe-handle makers. + +The people in this section have in the last few years awakened to the +fact that their swamps studded with pecan trees are about the most +valuable lands they possess and many are the inquiries: "Where can we +get good budded or grafted pecans?" + +The idea of propagating the northern pecan is of very recent origin and +while the few attempts at propagation have not as yet met with any very +great success, yet we are hoping that the time will be when many acres +of our lands shall be set in valuable pecan orchards and our highways +lined with long rows of fine pecans, chestnuts, and English walnuts +which shall serve the three-fold purpose of beautifying Mother Earth, +yielding delicious food, and furnishing a place of rest for the weary +traveler. + + + + +APPENDIX + +REPORT OF THE SECRETARY AND TREASURER + + Bal. on hand, date of last report $ 48.73 + Annual dues and life membership 178.00 + Advertisements in Annual Report 25.00 + Sale of report 18.00 + Dr. Crocker, paid for list of names 2.00 + Prof. Collins, paid for reprints 8.00 + ________ + + Total receipts $279.73 + + Expenses: + + Expenses of Prof. Collins $ 20.85 + Printing report and reprints 195.16 + Other printing 38.00 + Postage 35.75 + Typewriting 16.24 + Stationery 4.50 + Miscellaneous 14.30 + _______ + + Total expenses $324.80 + + Bill receivable 1.00 + Bill payable 22.00 + _______ _______ + $346.80 $280.73 + Deficit $66.07 + + Our first annual report, embodying the transactions at the first + and second annual meetings, was issued in May, and copies were sent + to all members, to the principal libraries of the country, to + officials of the Agricultural Department at Washington, and to some + state agricultural officials, to several agricultural and other + periodicals for notice and review, and to various persons + especially interested. Eighteen copies have been sold. + + About 1,000 copies of each of the two circulars, "Why Nut Culture + is Important" and "The Northern Nut Growers Association and Why You + Should Join It", have been sent to members and correspondents, and + also revised circulars on the literature of nut growing and on + seedsmen and nurserymen. + + An illustrated article about nut growing and the association + appeared in the Literary Digest and many agricultural and other + periodicals have had notices of our association and our meeting. + + * * * * * + + Besides the regular notices sent to members and papers, different + notices and brief statements about nut growing, were sent weekly + for five weeks before the meeting to 80 different newspapers + published in the country about Lancaster in the hope of getting a + good local attendance. The Pennsylvania Chestnut Blight Commission + assisted in this publicity campaign by sending postal card notices + to about a hundred persons in the eastern part of Pennsylvania who + were known to have from a few to thousands of cultivated chestnut + trees. + + The secretary's correspondence has increased so as to become, if it + were not for enthusiasm, burdensome. Often several inquiries a day + are received and they come from all parts of the United States and + Canada. + + The following figures are brought up to date of going to press. + + Our membership has nearly doubled since the last report was issued, + increasing from 60 to 113. We have lost 1 member by death and 2 by + resignation. Our present membership standing at 110. + + We have members in 27 states, the District of Columbia, Panama, and + Canada. New York heads the list with 37 members and Pennsylvania + comes next with 12. + + + + +REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS + +READ BY PROFESSOR SMITH + + +RESOLVED: + +1. That we extend our thanks to the Mayor and citizens of Lancaster for +the welcome and entertainment they have afforded us while here and for +the excellent auditorium they have placed at our disposal. + +2. That we extend our thanks to Messrs. Rush and Jones and their +entertainment committee. + +3. That we extend our thanks to the Pennsylvania Chestnut Tree Blight +Commission for the attendance of their representatives. We note with +keen interest their expressions of hope for the control of this +cyclopean menace. + +4. That we express our deep appreciation of the great interest and +valuable services of Dr. Morris, the retiring President, and Dr. Deming, +the Secretary and Treasurer, two officers to whose untiring efforts this +Association is largely due. + +5. That we express the thanks of the Association to those members and +others who have enriched this meeting by their interesting exhibits. + +6. That the following letter be sent from this Association to the,-- + + Secretary of Agriculture, + Persons in authority in the United States Bureau of Plant Industry, + The Presidents of Agricultural Colleges, + The Directors of Agricultural Experiment Stations, + And leading Teachers in Agriculture Colleges. + +The Northern Nut Growers' Association, by resolution passed at its third +annual meeting, held at Lancaster, Pa., in December 1912, calls your +attention to the importance of, and need for, the breeding of new types +of crop yielding trees. We now have the possibility of a new, but as yet +little developed, agriculture which may (A) nearly double our food +supply and also (B) serve as the greatest factor in the conservation of +our resources. + +(A) Our agriculture at the present time depends chiefly upon the grains +which were improved by selection in pre-historic times, because they +were annuals and quick yielders. The heavy yielding plants, the engines +of nature, are the trees, which have in most cases remained unimproved +and largely unused until the present time because of the slowness of +their generations and the absence of knowledge concerning plant +breeding. + +We now know something about plant breeding, and its possibilities as +applied to the crop yielding trees seem to be enormous. They certainly +warrant immediate and widespread effort at plant breeding. A member of +this Association has shown that the chinquapin can be crossed with the +oak; that all the walnuts freely hybridize with each other and with the +open bud hickories, a class which includes the toothsome and profitable +pecan. There is in California a tree which is considered to be a cross +between the native walnut and the live oak. The Mendelian Law in +connection with past achievements in plant breeding, and the experiments +of Loeb in crossing the sea urchin and the star fish are profoundly +suggestive. + +The possibilities of plant breeding as applied to crop yielding trees +seem to be enormous. They certainly warrant immediate and widespread +effort toward the creation of useful strains which may become the basis +of a new agriculture yielding food for both man and the domestic +animals. + +(B) The time for constructive conservation has come. Our most vital +resource is the soil. It is possibly the only resource for which there +is no substitute. Its destruction is the most irreparable waste. So long +as the earth remains in place the burnt forest may return and the +exhausted field may be restored by scientific agriculture. But once the +gully removes this soil, it is the end so far as our civilization is +concerned--forest, field and food are impossible and even water power is +greatly impaired. Our present system of agriculture, depending upon the +grains, demands the plowing of hillsides and the hillsides wash away. +This present dependence upon the plow means that one-third of our soil +resources is used only for forest, one-third is being injured by +hillside erosion, and only one-third, the levelest, is being properly +used for plow crops. + +The present alternative of Forestry for hillsides is often impossible +because the yields are too meagre. Almost any land that can produce a +forest, and much that has been considered too dry for forest, can +produce an annual harvest of value to man or his animals when we have +devoted sufficient attention to the breeding of walnuts, chestnuts, +pecans, shellbarks, acorn yielding oaks, beech nuts, pine nuts, hazel +nuts, almonds, honey locust, mesquite, screw bean, carob, mulberry, +persimmon, pawpaw, and many other fruit and nut trees of this and other +lands. + +The slowness and expense of the process of plant introduction and tree +breeding limits this work to a few individuals with patience and +scientific tastes and to governmental and other institutions of a +permanent nature. The United States Government and each state experiment +station should push this work vigorously and we appeal to you to use +your influence in that direction. You may find material of interest in +our published proceedings and in the Fruit and Nut Journal, the organ of +the industry, published at Petersburg, Virginia. + + + + +REPORT OF COMMITTEE + +ON THE DEATH OF PROFESSOR JOHN CRAIG + +Read by Dr. Morris + + +"The Northern Nut Growers' Association suffered very great loss in the +death of Professor John Craig, at Siasconset, Massachusetts, on August +10, 1912. + +"Professor Craig, from his many responsible positions in the +horticultural world, had acquired a wealth of information which was +always at the disposal of his friends and students. His training as a +teacher gave such facility in expression of view, that his part in our +discussions inspired the audience and called forth the best that others +had to offer. + +"His type of mind was essentially scientific, and combined with this +type of mind there was a rare quality of critical faculty in relation to +the relative practical values of horticultural ideas and methods. His +interest in the Northern Nut Growers Association belonged to a natural +fondness for everything that promised new development, and he +established at Cornell University the first course in nuciculture,--so +far as we are aware,--that has ever been formulated at an educational +institution. + +"The personality of Professor Craig, characteristic of that of the +scientist, was marked by simplicity and directness of manner, impatience +with error due to carelessness or intent, but unlimited benign tolerance +of all men who honestly expressed views opposing his own or who made +conscientious mistakes. Professor Craig possessed that broad humanity +which found quite as large interest in his fellow man as it found in his +special study of plants, and his charming personality, strong manly +bearing, scholarship, and active interest in whatever engaged his +attention at all, will be ever remembered by those of us who had the +pleasure and the profit of his acquaintance." + +Mr. Littlepage: I would just like to say, in connection with the very +appropriate and excellent words which the President used in reference to +Prof. Craig, that it certainly meets the most hearty approval of all of +us who knew Prof. Craig, that this association go on record in this +manner. At the first meeting that was held, by the few of us who met in +Bronx Park Museum at New York, to start this organization, you will +remember the enthusiasm and the words of encouragement that Prof. Craig +gave us at that time. He was there among the first and there was always +intermingled with the scientific phase of the subjects that he +discussed, the practical, genial good fellowship that made everyone like +him; and after all, it is but proper that we stop for a moment and +express our deep appreciation. In this life of turmoil and business +hustle, I think that we sometimes do not quite realize the shortness of +life, the shortness of the time that we have to accomplish any of those +things in which we are interested; and it is the men who are giving +their time to these scientific subjects, the results of which will inure +to all humanity, who are certainly entitled to consideration and a +kindly remembrance. That is why it was that I heard with such +gratification the words of the President about Prof. Craig. + + + + +REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EXHIBITS + +Read by Professor Hutt + +By J. G. Rush, West Willow, Pa. + + Persian walnuts, four varieties: Hall, Burlington, Nebo, Rush; + plate of mixed, imported varieties; Seedling walnuts, Paradox + walnut, black walnuts and rupestris, (Texas); two plates + Chinquapins; chestnuts, Giant Japanese; shellbarks: LaFeuore, very + good, large, Weiker, fair; two seedlings: Paradise nut; two plates + filberts; Lancaster Co. pecans; budding knives. + +By Wilmer P. Hooper, Forest Hill, Md. + + Seedling Persian Walnut; Sir Clair; tree probably fifty years old, + vigorous, hardy, annual bearer. On farms of L. J. Onion, + Cooperstown, Md. P. O. Sharon, Md. 1911 crop one bushel; 1912 crop + one and one half bushels. + + Alexis; tree twenty-eight years old; vigorous, hardy, annual + bearer, flavor good. Farm of Alexis Smith, Churchville, Md. Crop + 1911 one bushel; crop 1912 one bushel. + + Sheffield; tree six years old; bought of Hoopes Brothers & Thomas; + hardy, vigorous; 6 to 18 feet high; on farm of Mrs. S. T. Poleet, + Cooperton, Md., P. O. Sharon, Md. + + Smith; tree forty to forty-five years old; large, hardy; on farm of + J. T. Smith, Berkeley, Md. + + Beder; fifty to fifty-five years old; large, annual bearer; grown + from nut on farm of David Hildt, Janettsville, Md. + + Hooker; tree twenty-two years old; origin Franklin Davis; vigorous, + hardy, annual bearer, hard shell, fine butternut flavor; from farm + of Mrs. Kate Hooker, Vale, Md. + +By Mr. Knaub. + + Shellbarks, five varieties: three black walnuts, two butternuts; + one chestnut. + +By Mrs. J. L. Lovett, Emilie, Pa. + + Six varieties of Persian walnuts. + +By E. B. Holden, Hilton, N. Y. + + Holden walnut. + +Stock Seed Nuts from J. M. Thorborn & Co., 33 Barclay St., New York +City. + + Juglans Californica, Juglans cordiformis, Juglans Sieboldi, Juglans + nigra, Juglans cinerea, Juglans sinensis, Carya alba (shellbark), + Carya porcina (pignut), Carya tomentosa (mockernut), Carya sulcata, + Corylus rostrata, Corylus amara, Castanea Americana. + +By E. A. Riehl, Alton, Ill. + + A plate of Rochester nuts and thirty seedlings of it, showing + tendency to reversion; eight varieties of shagbark; eight varieties + of shellbark; eight plates of Sieboldi; eight plates black walnuts + (Thomas); Rush Chinquapin. + +Collection of walnuts by Professor Lake, of Washington, D. C. + + Royal Hybrid, California x nigra; Paradox, California x regia; + Meylan, Glady, Sypherd, Stabler, Milbank, St. Clair. + +By A. C. Pomeroy, Lockport, N. Y. + + Pomeroy walnuts and seedlings of the original tree. + +By T. P. Littlepage, Washington, D. C. + + Indiana pecans, six varieties: Warwick, Posey, Major, Kentucky, + Indiana, Hodge; Hinton, McCallister hican, Barnes walnut from + Washington, D. C., four varieties shagbark. + +By W. C. Reed, Vincennes, Ind. + + Indiana pecans, thirteen varieties: Luce, Beard, Busseron, Porter, + Squires, Kentucky, Hall, Sullivan (2), Warwick, Indiana, Wilson. + +By Col. C. K. Sober, Lewisburg, Pa. + + Photograph of his chestnut orchard and nursery. + +By C. A. Reed, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. + + Exhibition jars of Holden walnut, Warwick pecan, Kentucky pecan, + Luce pecan, Hales shagbark, Kirtland shagbark, Weiker shagbark. + Exhibition of Squirrel, Perfection and Great Grip nut crackers; + White, Jones and Galbreath budding tools. + +By Arrowfield Nurseries, Petersburg, Va. + + Seedling pecan trees. + + +THE HICKORY BARK BORER + +That our correspondence with the New York State Commissioner of +Agriculture, as published in the annual report, has borne fruit is shown +by the calling of a conference at the office of the Commissioner at +Albany on February 24th, "to consider methods of control of the hickory +bark borer". + +Among those present were the following: + + Frederick Allien, representing Riverdale Park Association. + + H. W. Merkel, Forester, New York Zoological Park; representing Bronx, + Valley Parkway Commission. + + Dr. W. A. Murrill, Acting Director, New York Botanical Garden. + + J. J. Levison, Forester, Department of Parks, Brooklyn. + + Wesley B. Leach, Consulting Arboriculturist, Boro of Queens. + + Clifford R. Pettis, Superintendent of State Forests, Albany. + + Dr. E. P. Felt, State Entomologist, Albany. + + Dr. W. C. Deming, Sec., Northern Nut Growers' Ass'n, Westchester. + + George G. Atwood, Chief, Bureau of Horticulture, State Dept. of + Agriculture, Albany. + + B. D. Van Buren, Assistant Chief. + + Dr. W. H. Jordan, Director, State Experiment Station, Geneva. + + George L. Barrus, Conservation Commission, Albany. + + S. H. Burnham, Assistant State Botanist, Albany. + + Dr. Donald Reddick, Professor of Plant Pathology, College of + Agriculture, Ithaca. + + Glenn W. Herrick, Professor of Entomology, College of + Agriculture, Ithaca. + + W. H. Rankin, Conservation Commission, Albany. + + P. J. Parrott, Entomologist, State Experiment Station, Geneva. + + F. C. Stewart, Botanist, State Experiment Station, Geneva. + +After a prolonged discussion the following resolution was unanimously +adopted: + +WHEREAS, the hickory bark borer is at present extremely injurious and +destructive to hickory trees in and around New York City, and has +already destroyed and is threatening the destruction of thousands of +valuable trees; and + +WHEREAS, it has been demonstrated in several instances, on a large +scale, that the hickory bark borer can be practically controlled; +therefore, be it RESOLVED, that we hereby respectfully request the +commissioner of agriculture to take such steps as may be necessary to +bring about the enforcement of the provisions of the agricultural law +relative to insect pests and diseases with particular reference to +control of the hickory bark borer; and be it further + +RESOLVED, that the thanks of the conference are hereby tendered to +Commissioner of Agriculture Huson for his courtesies and the calling of +the conference. + +The following "News Items" of no date, but received in the early part of +June, shows what action has so far been taken: + + +STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE + +News Items + +Commissioner Huson of the State Department of Agriculture is receiving +considerable information relative to a serious outbreak of the hickory +bark borer in the vicinity of New York and on Long Island. This borer is +the principal cause of the death of thousands of hickory trees. The +greatest infested area is in the northern part of New York City, in +Westchester County, in Queens and Nassau Counties, though much injury +has been observed throughout Suffolk County, particularly along the +northern shore of the island. The area of infested hickories is about +the same as the territory where the chestnut trees have succumbed to the +attacks of the chestnut bark disease. Now that the chestnuts have so +nearly disappeared and the fact that the hickory trees are also +threatened with entire extermination because of the hickory borer, +requests have been made by many citizens, that the Commissioner of +Agriculture should exercise such authority as the law gives him in the +control of this pest. That the hickory trees that have not been attacked +may be saved, or in a very large measure protected has been proven in +the Zoological Park and in the parks of Brooklyn. The able +superintendents of these two parks have for the last two or three years, +been cutting out every infested hickory tree and in that way the other +trees are found at this time to be free from insects and they have been +saved from certain destruction. + +The hickory borer eats its way into the bark of the hickory trees in +mid-summer. Eggs are laid which hatch and the grubs feed in peculiar +galleries in the bark and between the wood and the bark is such a way as +to cut off the flow of the sap, thus causing the death of the trees. +These grubs are in these galleries at this time of the year and will +remain so until about the middle of June. It is, therefore, necessary +that the infested trees be cut and destroyed before that time in order +to prevent further widespread of the insects. The Commissioner has been +promised the hearty cooperation of many influential and interested +citizens in this movement and agents of this Department are on the +ground with authority to inspect trees to ascertain the limit of +infestation and they have been directed to mark such trees as should be +removed and destroyed at once. + +All persons are requested to inform the Department of the location of +infested hickory trees and to extend to the inspectors such assistance +as may be desired. + +Department Circular Number 64 on "Dying Hickory Trees" will be sent to +all applicants. + + CALVIN J. HUSON, + Commissioner of Agriculture + + Albany, N. Y. + + +MISCELLANEOUS NOTES + +Members present: + + Dr. R. T. Morris + Mr. T. P. Littlepage + Dr. W. C. Deming + Mr. C. A. Reed + Mr. W. N. Roper + Prof. E. R. Lake + Mr. E. S. Mayo + Mr. A. C. Pomeroy + Mr. J. F. Jones + Mr. J. G. Rush + Col. C. A. Van Duzee + Prof. J. Russell Smith + Prof. W. N. Hutt + Mr. G. H. Corsan + Mr. C. S. Ridgway + Mr. H. N. Gowing + Mr. W. C. Reed + Mr. W. F. McSparren. + +Others present: + + Mrs. C. A. Reed + Mrs. A. C. Pomeroy + Mrs. J. F. Jones + Mrs. C. S. Ridgway + Prof. F. N. Fagan, Dept. of Horticulture, State College of Pennsylvania + Mrs. Fagan + Mr. Roy G. Pierce, Tree Surgeon, Penn. Chestnut Blight Commission + Mr. Keller E. Rockey, Forester in Charge of Demonstration Work, Penn. + Chestnut Blight Commission + Col. C. K. Sober, Lewisburg, Pa. + Mr. S. V. Wilcox, Rep. Thos. Meehan & Sons, Germantown + Mr. H. Brown, Rep. Thos. Meehan & Sons, Germantown + Mr. Wilmer P. Hoopes, Forest Hill, Md. + Dr. A. H. Metzger, Millersville, Pa. + Mr. Amos M. Landis, Lancaster, Pa. + Mr. Blair Funk, Pequea Creek, Pa. + Mr. David S. Herr, Lancaster, Pa. + Mr. Edward Harris, Sr., Cumberland, Md. + Mr. Edgar A. Weimer, Lebanon, Pa. + Mr. Benj. H. Gochnauer, Lancaster, Pa. + Mr. C. G. Reese, Elizabethtown, Pa. + And others. + + +CORRESPONDENTS AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN NUT CULTURE + + +ALABAMA + + Williams, P. F., Prof. of Horticulture, Ala. Polytechnic Institute, + Auburn + Alabama Farm Journal, Montgomery, Ala. + +ARIZONA + + Biederman, C. R., Garces, Cochise Co. + Huntzinger, H. G., Teviston + Rodgers, Robt. A., Forest Service, U. S. Dept, of Agric, Canille + +ARKANSAS + + Wilson, B. N., Prof. of Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of Ark., + Fayetteville + Powers, R. C, 414 So. Trust Bldg., Little Rock, Ark. + +CALIFORNIA + + McNeil, Anna, 2154 Center St., Berkeley + Baker, W. A., Greenfield + Leonard Coates Nursery Co., Morgan Hill + Smith, R. E., Agric Exp. Sta., Whittier + Burbank, Luther, Santa Rosa + +CANADA + + Cleugh, H. H., Castlegar, British Columbia + Secord, Harper, St. Catherin's, Ontario + Porter, W. T., 1520 St. Clair Ave., Toronto + Sager, D. S., Dr., Brantford + Moyle, Henry, 84 Bedford Road, Toronto + Ross, Malcolm N., Dept. Public Works, Regina, Saskatchewan + Saunders & Co., W. E., London, Ontario + Hubbell, W. S., Spanish River Lumber Co., Little Current, Ontario + Peters, E. W., 742 Somerset Bldg., Winnepeg + Graham, Wm., Hagensburg, British Columbia + +COLORADO + + Bell, Bessie, Miss, 156 S. Sherman, Denver + Morgan, J. W., Dr., 85 S. Penn. Ave., Denver + +CONNECTICUT + + Cleveland, E. S., Hampton + Buttner, J. L., Dr., 763 Orange Street, New Haven + Jewell, Harvey, Cromwell + Gorham, Frederick S., 48 Holmes Ave., Waterbury + Jenkins, E. H., Agric. Exp. Sta., New Haven + Spring, Sam. N., State Forester, New Haven + Pratt, C. M., Newtown + Hale, Geo. H., Mrs., Glastonbury + Miles, H. S., Dr., 417 State St., Bridgeport + Ives, E. M., Sterling Orchards, Meriden + Cook, Harry B., Orange, Ct. + Allen, G. Wilford, M.D., Boardman, Ct. + Smith, Geo. W., Elm Fruit Farm, Hartford + Lane, W. S., Norfolk + Werle, Jos. A., Merwin's Beach, Milford + Williamson, Robert, Greenwich + Stauffer, W. F., No. 81 S. Burritt St., New Britain + Boyd, Wm. A. Dr., Westport + Lewis, Elmer H., Central Village + Frothingham, Channing, New Canaan + Fletcher, Albert E., Box 67, Farmington + Morre, R. D., Colchester + Wolcott, C. B., P. O. Box 39, Plantsville + +DELAWARE + + Killen, J. W., Felton + McCue, C. A., Prof., Newark + Cowgill, L. P., Dover + Cannon, Miss Lida, Dover + Kosa, J. J., Milford + Sypherd, C. D., Dover + Whitehead, F. Houston, Lincoln + Studte, M. H., Houston + Knipe, T. E., Delaware City + Dunn, Thos. F., Dover + Webb, Wesley, Dover + +FLORIDA + + Simpson Bros. Nurseries, Monticello + Curtis, J. B., Orange Heights + Floyd, W. L., Prof. of Horticulture, University of Florida, Gainesville + Baldwin, Ed. S., DeLand + +GEORGIA + + Wight, J. B., Cairo + Wilson, J. F., Dr., Waycross + McHatton, T. H., Prof. of Horticulture, Athens + Edwards, B. H., Macon, Ga. + Southern Ruralist, Atlanta + +IDAHO + + Vincent, C. C., Prof., College of Agriculture, Moscow + Ackerman, W. B., P. O. Box 184, Twin Falls + Hays, L. H., Mace + +ILLINOIS + + Lindholm, E., 9139 Commercial Ave., Chicago + Stoll, Wm. Paul, 1264 Glenlake Ave., Chicago + Schafer, J. F., Mt. Pulaski + Koonce, Geo. W., Greenville + Watson, Bloomington + Banning, Thos. A., Mrs., Chicago + Graham, R. O., Bloomington + Karstens, Peter J., Chicago + Leslie, A. M., 201 Main Street, Evanston + Fisher, Mr., "Cairo Citizen", Cairo + Endicott, H. W., Villa Ridge + Hektoen, H., Memo. Inst. for Infectious Diseases, Chicago + McVeigh, Scott, 1208 Wrightwood Ave., Chicago + Evans, Homer W., R. F. D. 6, Plainfield + Buckman, Benjamin, Farmingdale + Horner, H. Clay, Chester + Burt, Frank A., 115 1-2 So. Race St., Urbana + Somer, George W., No. 106 N. La Salle St., Chicago + Spalding, C. W., No. 1851 Byron St., Chicago + Strawbridge, A. N., No. 533 E. 33rd St., Chicago + Remley, Mrs. Grace, Franklin Grove + Prochnow, I. W., No. 1127 Second Ave., Rock Island + McFarlane, H. W., Chicago + Graham, W. H., Fort Gage + Fink, Wm. H., No. 4030 N. Pauline St., Chicago + Crandall, C. S., Urbana + Campbell, T. W., Elgin + Badgley, B. H., No. 2241 Greenleaf Ave., Chicago + Millroy, W. L., Quincy + Sweeney, Jno. M., No. 1636 Manadnock Block, Chicago + Krossell, C. F. P., Dr., No. 5502 Indiana Ave., Chicago + Weeks, E. F., No. 143 N. Dearborn St., Chicago + Heald, Prescott, No. 107 So. Glen Oak Ave., Peoria + Riddle, F. A., Mrs., No. 1441 Jackson Boulevard, Chicago + Kennish, F. H., No. 124 East Oak St., Kewanee + Finley, J. B., Care of Moline Polo and Shaft Co., Moline + Braden, E. S., No. 10 S. LaSalle St., Chicago + Kemp, E. F., No. 108 S. LaSalle St., Chicago + Peterson, Albert J., No. 3448 Hayes St., Chicago + Hewitt, R., No. 149 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago + Hopkins, A. M., R. 710, 167 W. Washington St., Chicago + Hemingway, Geo. R., Oak Park + Rut, Z. D., Park Ridge + Dietrich, J. J., Arlington Heights + Hansell, E. F., No. 5654 W. Lake St., Chicago + +INDIANA + + Leiber, Richard, Indianapolis + Garden, Daniel A., Elnora + Cathcart, Alva Y., Bristol + Strassell, J. W., Supt. of Schools, Rockport + Howard, W. T., R. F. D. 19, Indianapolis + Boos, E. M., R. F. D. 2, Milan + Boss Co., John C, Elkhart + Green, Frank, No. 811 So. St., Newcastle + House, M. M., 1664 College Ave., Indianapolis + Simpson & Sons, H. M., Vincennes + Woodbury, C. G., Lafayette + Ray, Elgin H., Winamac, R. F. D. 1 + Fellwock, P. B., 3 Up. Fourth St., Evansville + Hooke, Ora G., Albany, Delaware Co. + Smith, Oren E., Dr., Traction Terminal Bldg., Indianapolis + Whetsell, Edward, 107 Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington + Swain, W. H., South Bend + Knapp, Dr., Evansville + Yoder, A. C., Dr., Goshen + Knaub, Ben., R. 1, Box 99, North Vernon + Lukens, B., Mrs., Anderson + +IOWA + + Dennis, A. B., Dr., Cedar Rapids + Ruppersberg, E. A., Miss, Charles City College, Charles City + Patten, C. G., Charles City + Sawyer, L. H., Des Moines + Thompson, Harry French, Forrest City + "Successful Farming" Des Moines + "Kimball's Dairy Farmer" Waterloo + +KANSAS + + Godfrey, F. M., Holton + Skinner & Co., J. H., Topeka + +KENTUCKY + + Matthews, Clarence W., State University, Lexington + Horine, E. F., M.D., 1036 Bardstown Rd., Louisville + "Inland Farming", Louisville + Brislin, John A., Cash. Farmers' Bank of Ky., Frankfort + Kiefer, Louis W., 901 N. Elm St., Henderson + +LOUISIANA + + Hinton, E. G., Weeks + +MAINE + + Soule, Sidney S., Mrs., South Freeport + Hitchings, Edson F., College of Agriculture, Orono + Peardon, J. H., Matinicus + Stryker, D. J., Rockland + Chase, Dr. Walter G., Wiscasset + +MARYLAND + + Michael, Jesse J., Frederick + Little, William E., Westminister + Bunting, J. T., Box 137, Marion Station + Benkert, George, Baltimore + Heron, Benj. F. L., Box 58, Mt. Ranier + Coad, J. Edwin, Drayden, St. Mary's Co. + Munter, D. M., No. 22 Virginia Ave., Cumberland + Daingerfield, P. B. K., Maryland Club, Baltimore + Bachrach, Walter K., No. 16 W. Lexington St., Baltimore + Hewell, John, No. 2028 W. Lexington St., Baltimore + Hays, Amos H., Parkton + Stem, C. W., Sabillasville + Tyler, John Paul, No. 344 W. Preston St., Baltimore + Munter, D. W., No. 1642 Runton Ave., Baltimore + Kerr, J. W., Denton + Overton, W. S., R. F. D. 2, Silver Spring + Harris, Edward, Sr., 31 S. Liberty St., Cumberland + Strite, S. M., 52 Broadway, Hagerstown + Harrison's Nurseries, Berlin + Hoopes, Wilmer P., Forest Hill + Irwin, Arthur J., 226 E. Main St., Frostburg + McDaniel, Alex H., North East P. O., Cecil Co. + +MASSACHUSETTS + + Blood, W. H., Mrs., Jr., 147 Grove Street, Wellesley + Reed, Orville, Rev., Granville, Centre + Deroo, Frank B., Box 363, Needham + Fox, Jabez, 99 Irving Street, Cambridge + Hall, James L., Kingston, Box 31 + Adams, Norris W., Box 323, Worcester + Mass. Agric. Coll., Amherst + Crosby, Fred, Bolton + Bailey, Thos. W., Kingston + Griffin, W. E., Cor. Central St. & B. & M. R. R., Worcester + Dawson, Jackson, Mr., Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain + Dowse, Granton H., Wrentham + Ellsworth, J. Lewis, Sec'y Mass. State Bd. of Agric., Boston + Fleming, Charles B., Norwood + Brounell, Lewis, 1030 High Street, Fall River + Portmore, J. M., 7 Denison Av., So. Framingham + Humphrey, F. A., Worcester + Waugh, F. A., Prof., Amherst + Beebe, E. Pierson, Boston + Mead, H. O., Lunenburg + Torrey, John P., Dr., Andover + Affleck, G. B., 287 Hickory St., Springfield + Deming, Grove W., Mt. Hermon School + Elder, David, Harwich, Mass. + James, Gorton, 492 So. Station, Boston + Sturtevant, E. L., Brookline + Brown, J. Frank, The Corey Hill Hospital, Brookline + Willwerth, A. H., No. 21 Greenwich Park, Boston + Day, W. Taylor, No. 313 Main St., Great Barrington + Coney, Harriet M., Miss, No. 106 Church St., Ware + +MICHIGAN + + Brauer, H. A., 810 W. Huron St., Ann Arbor + Cobb, Myron A., Central State Normal School, Mt. Pleasant + Ilgenfritz's Sons Co., T. E., Nursery, Monroe + Haines, Peter S., Detroit + Kidder, Samuel, Ann Arbor + Paul, Irwin, Muskegon, R. F. D. 7 + Garfield, Chas. W., Hon., Grand Rapids + Wermuth, Burt, Assoc. Ed. "Michigan Farmer", Detroit + Eustace, H. J., Prof., State Horticulturist, E. Lansing + Carmichael, Milton, 281 Yard Bldg., Detroit + Richardson, A. H., Dr., The Martha Washington, Mt. Clemens + Baker, N. I., Dr., + Himebaugh, Clayton D., Sheffield Mfg. Co., Burr Oak + Spring, O. L., 728 Wabash Ave., Detroit + Reshore, L. T., Dowagiac + Adams, Rollo K., Middleville + Montgomery, R. H., 46 Jefferson Ave., Detroit + "The Gleaner", Detroit + Davis, R. J., Lock Box 753, Buchanan + Simpson, Wallace N., No. 379 W. Main St., Battle Creek + Palmer, A. C., Ellsworth + Faurote, Fay L., Lord Bldg., Detroit + Andrus, F. P., Almont, Lapeer Co. + Gamble, M. D., E. F., Coldwater + Horner, E. E., Eaton Rapids Woolen Mills, Eaton Rapids + Stryker, F. A., Buchanan + Lake, Geo., Northville + Hanes, P. S., No. 730 Sheridan Ave., Detroit + Handy, J. W., M.D., No. 105 West 1st St., Flint + +MINNESOTA + + Fairchild, D. H., St. Paul + Husser, Henry, Minneiska + Wedge, Clarence, Albert Lea + Cutting, Fred, Byron + Underwood, Roy, Lake City + Alford, E. F., 2390 Woodland Ave., Duluth + Latham, A. W., Sec'y State Hortic. Soc'y, 207 Kasota Bldg., Minneapolis + Woodbridge, Dwight E., U. S. Bureau of Mines, Duluth + Tillinghast, E. G., Leetonia Mining Co., Hibbing + Lake Sarah Specialty Farm, Rockford + Farm Stock & Home, Minneapolis + +MISSOURI + + Bostwick, Arthur E., 70 Vandeventer St., St. Louis + Stark Bros.' Nurseries and Orchards Co., Louisiana + Williams, F. V., D.D.S., 3720 Virginia, Kansas City + Born, H. H. Dr., Park & Compton Sts., St. Louis + Bailey, B. A., Versailles + Wallace, E. S., Office of City Chemist, Kansas City + Cummings, C. C., Dr., Joplin + Wilcox, Walter H., 433 Forth Ave., Webster Groves + Mosher, H. G., Schell City + +NEW HAMPSHIRE + + Dillingham, Thos. M., Dr., Marlboro + Clement, Ruth E., Miss, E. Deering + +NEBRASKA + + Rolder, C. A., Dr., Hedde Bldg., Grand Rapids + +NEVADA + + Swingle, C. G., Hazen + Gregory, E. R., Dr., Reno + +NEW JERSEY + + Lovett, J. T., Little Silver + Pomona Nurseries, Palmyra + Bobbink & Atkins, Rutherford + Speer, Lester W., 401 Passaic Ave., Nutley + Black, Son & Co., Jos. H., Hightstown + Chevrier, Chas. S., P. O. Box 579, Trenton + Rice, John J., Almonnesson + Parry, John R., Parry + Totten, A. B., Middlebush + Hartt, Wm. S., Box 366 Toms River + Dantun, A. P., Walsted Farm, Freehold + Shoemaker, Wm. E., Bridgeton + Miller, Jessie E., Miss, 204 W. Passaic Ave., Rutherford + Hall & Robert Tubbs, Willowwood Farm, Pottersville P.O. + Mount, T. S., Hamilton Sq. + Schulze, Edward H., Elizabeth + Spindler, M., No. 316 Halsey St., Newark + Sonders, Geo. B., P. O. Box 204, Mays Landing + Palmer, H. C. H., Main Road, Vineland + Putnam, G. H., Vineland + Parkin, J. W., No. 576 E. 23rd St., Paterson + Martin, Geo. W. R., No. 47 Chestnut St., Newark + Lintner, Geo A., Summit, New Jersey + Kirkpatrick, F. L., No. 35 E. Chestnut St., Merchantville + Gilmore, Jr., Thos. J., No. 219 Montgonery St., Jersey City + Haddon, Chas. K., Camden + Black, Walter C, Hightstown + Parkin, John M., No. 576 E. 23rd St., Paterson + Bailey, G. W., Kenilworth + Eyferth, Adolph, No. 554 Tenth St., N.E., West New York, N. Y. + Matlack, C. L., No. 47 Potter St., Haddenfield + Wellborn, C. E., Weston + Somers, A. F., No. 187 Warren St., Jersey City + Turner, H. J., Box 356, Montclair + Woodruff, Leon, No. 27 Jefferson St., Bridgeton + Davis, H. H., No. 113 Chestnut St., East Orange + Butler, F. W., Mrs., Plainfield + Kevitt, T. C, Anthonia + Maurer, E. H., No. 309 S. Broad St., Elizabeth + +NEW MEXICO + + Thompson, W. M., Dr. Logan + +NEW YORK + + Hedrick, U. P., Prof., Experiment Station, Geneva + Murrill, W. H., Botanical Museum, Bronx Park, New York City + Bailey, Liberty H., Cornell Agric. Coll., Ithaca + The Rochester Nurseries, Rochester + L'Amoreaux Nursery Co., Schoharie + Green's Nursery Co., Rochester + Lewis, Roesch & Son, Nurserymen, Fredonia + Burnette, F. H., Phelps + Wheatcroft, S. F., Brooklyn + Irwin, Chas., 116 Rosedale St., Rochester + Garrison, H. F., Westfield + Benney, Wm. H., 30 Church St., N. Y. City + Harris, C. F., 211 Blandina St., Utica + Thew, Gilmore E., 2006 Fifth Ave., N. Y. City + Yoakum, B. F., 71 Broadway, N. Y. City + Trimble, J. H., 1255 St. Paul St., Rochester + McNair, E. O., Erie Co., Bank Bldg., Buffalo + Baruch, H. B., 55 New Street + Studley, Frank P., Matteawan + Bostwick, Henry J., Clifton Springs Sanitarium, Clifton Springs + Wyckoff, C. H., Aurora + Slocum, J. F., 29 Park Street, Buffalo + Sunnyfield Nursery Co., Poughkeepsie + Morgan, H. E., Pittsford + Williams & Co., Rose, Miss, Newark + Hechler, C. H., Harbor Hill, Roslyn + Piccard, L. M., 705 Fulton St., Brooklyn + Bardin, A. G., Mr., 29 Brevoort Pl., Brooklyn + Townsend, 257 Broadway, N. Y. City, Room 703 + Hunter, Wm. T., Jr., 32 Rose St., N. Y. City + Gage, Stanley A., 72 Mahlstedt Place, New Rochelle + Robertson, C. G., 39 Ormond Pl., Brooklyn + Sackman, Karl Bever, 92 Williams Street + Younkheere, D., 3320 Bailey Ave., Kingsbridge, N. Y. City + Foster, E. W., Central Park, L. I. + Hemming, H., Mrs., 59 Walworth St., Brooklyn + Powell, E. P., Clinton, Otsego Co. + Merkel, Herman W., Forester, Bronx Zoological Park + Powell, Geo. T., Pres. Agric. Experts Assoc, 5 E. 42 St., N. Y. City + Britton, N. L., Dr., Director Botanical Gardens, Bronx Park, N. Y. City + Walker, Roberts, 115 Broadway, N. Y. City + Sullivan, W. F., 154 E. 74th St., N. Y. City + Rosenberg, Max, Pleasantville, Box 91 + Bridgman, A. C., The Standard Union, Brooklyn + Voorhis, Ernest, Rev., 1047 Amsterdam Ave., N. Y. City + Buckbie, Annie, Miss, Wisner, Orange Co. + Knight, Geo. W., Mrs., 28 Cambridge Pl., Brooklyn + Hickox, Ralph, Williamsbridge, N. Y. City + Armstrong, M. E., Miss, 10 St. Francis Place, Brooklyn + Perry, C. J., 18 Fulton St., Auburn + Holden, E. R., Jr., 34 W. 33 Street, N. Y. City + Charlton Nursery Co., Rochester + Jones, L. V., Miss, St. Luke's Hospital, Newburgh + Hichcock, F. H., 105 W. 40th St., N. Y. City + Vickers, H. W., Dr., Little Falls + Shepard, W. E., New Paltz, Ulster Co. + Mendelson, D., 1825 Pilkin Ave., Brooklyn + Hopkins, W., 15 Dey St., City + Smith, H. P., Center Moricrifs, Suffolk, Co. + West, Dr., 51 E. 25th St., N. Y. City + Grimmer, John W., Armour Villa Park, Bronxville + Leipziger, H. A., Dr., Hotel Empire, Broadway & 63rd St., N. Y. City + Engesser, Jas., 513 N. Washington St., Tarrytown + Kepke, John, Dr., 488 Nostrand Ave., Brooklyn + Manning-Spoerl, J. O. O., Dr., 151 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn + Langdon, H. P., Maple Ridge, Farm, Constable + Wainwright, John W., Dr., 80 Wash. Sq., E., N. Y. City + Teele, A. W., 30 Broad St., N. Y. City + Grot, Henry, 201 E. 116th St., N. Y. City + Graham, S. H., Ithaca + Teter, Walter C., 10 Wall St., N. Y. City + Jewett, Asabel, Berkshire + Thompson, Adelbert, East Avon + Wiggin, Thos. H., Scarsdale + "Ridgewood Times", Myrtle & Cypress Aves., Brooklyn + Schubel, Geo., Lit. Ed., Myrtle & Cypress Aves., Brooklyn + Kelly, Julia Z., Miss, College of Agriculture, Ithaca + Caldwell, R. J., 374 Broadway, N. Y. City + Lincoln, Egbert P., 429 Lincoln Pl., Brooklyn + Reynolds, Walter S., Dr., 66 W. 71st St., N. Y. City + Davidson, Charles Stewart, 60 Wall St., N. Y. City + Slosson, Richard S., 140 Carolina St., Buffalo + Leutsch, Nina, Clinton Corners + Armstrong, Rob. P., N. Y. State School of Agric., Canton + Manning, J. M., 1002 Third Ave., N. Y. City + Righter, J. Walter, 156 Fifth Ave., N. Y. City + Reynolds, H. L., 50 Palace Arcade, Buffalo + Spencer, W. F., No. 106 Bond St., Brooklyn + Sauer, Arthur W., Broadway & Driggs Ave., Brooklyn + Mezger, L. K., M.D., No. 186 Clinton Ave., North Rochester + Williams, Olive G., Miss, No. 341 Garfield Ave., Troy + Austin, Nichols & Co., New York + Bearns, J. H., Jr., No. 198 Broadway + Dupree, Wm., No. 83 Halsey St., Brooklyn + Thomas, A. E., No. 105 Windsor Place, Brooklyn + Holt, Frank L., No. 220 Broadway + Greffe, Joseph A., Box 105, Boonton + Holden, E. R., Jr., No. 34 W. 33rd St + Hendrickson, B. W., Care of J. K. Armsby Co., No. 87 Hudson St. + Hoyle, Louis C., Middletown + Hall, John, Sec'y, Rochester + Miller, Francher, L., No. 605 Kirk Block, Syracuse + Mitchell, F. J., No. 44 W. 98th St. + Leggett & Co., Francis H., Franklin, Hudson & Leonard Sts. + Krizan, Jos., No. 521 E. 72nd Street + Jaburg Bros., No. 10-12 Leonard St. + Mathans, J. A., White Plains + Nicholson, J. E., Care of Messrs. Wassermass, No. 42 Broadway + Nicholson, J. E., No. 83rd St. & 24th Ave., Bensonhurst + Mills, W. M., No. 397 Goundry St., N. Towanda + Sullivan, Warren, No. 44 Morningside Drive + Sweizer, Karl, No. 40 Exchange Place + Shook, F. M., Dept. of Tropical Medicine + Randolph, Lewis C., No. 357 Delaware Ave. + Riley, R. M., Garden City + Rogers, G. M., Apt. 44. No. 605 144th St. + Williams & Co., R. C., Fulton & South Sts. + Turner, Fred. C., R.F.D. No. 7, Box 115, Schenectady + Tuthill, W. C., No. 245 Water St. + Sanford, A. E., No. 18 Bowman St., Rochester + Smith, Howard K., No. 323 Webster Ave., Brooklyn + Hewitt, R., Ardsley on Hudson + Evans, J. C., Lockport + Hessinger, M. A., No. 102 West 102d St. + Wetbeck, J. B., Care of Worcester Salt Co., No. 71 & No. 73 Murray St. + Scott, Thomas C., No. 372 Chenango St., Binghamton + Dye, Walter A., Garden City + Ellison, E. T., No. 1272 Jefferson Ave., Brooklyn + Brown, Carl W., Ripley, Chautauqua Co. + Teran, T. Mrs., Hotel Calvert, New York City + Power, Alice B., Miss, No. 203 St. Paul St., Rochester + Banks, E. M., No. 342 West 45th St., New York City + Anderson, Bryon Wall, No. 79 Franklin Ave., New Rochelle + Mesner, E. D., No. 34 Carlton St., Buffalo + Gawey, Gerald, No. 347 W. 19th St. + Maynard, A. R., Waterloo + Johnson, M., No. 540 W. 146th St. + Strawn, T. C., No. 355 W. 55th St. + Bruce, W. Robert, Brick Church Institute, Rochester + Broughton, L. D., No. 304 Lewis Ave., Brooklyn + Ouilshan, H. W., N. E. Cor. 125th St. and 8th Ave., Bishop Building, + Rooms 207-210, New York City + Wadsworth, M. A., No. 423 E. 4th St., Brooklyn + +NORTH CAROLINA + + Blair, Wm. A., V. P. People's Nat. Bank, Winston-Salem + +OHIO + + Wise, P., Maumee + Schuh, L. H., Columbus + Rich, E. L., No. 3063 Edgehill Road, Cleveland Heights, Cleveland + Neff, W. N., Martel + McEwen, Will J., No. 755 Wilson Ave., Columbus + Miller, Wm., Gypsum + Marshall, Robert, No. 23 Hollister St., Cincinnati + Longsworth, I. R., Lima + Kiser, Frank A., Fremont + Goetz, C. H., Columbus + Draine, F. J., 2411 Detroit Ave., Toledo + Cochran, J. H., Napoleon + Bundy, C. C., No. 1356 Mt. Vernon Ave., Columbus + Penrod, A. M., Camp Chase + Poston, E. M., President, New York Coal Co., Columbus + Rodgers, A. S., Springfield Gas Engine Co., Springfield + Jeffers, F. A., Monroe Bank Building, Woodsfield + Kennedy, C. S., No. 412 Monroe St., East Liverpool + Crawford Co., M., Cuyahoga Falls + Hoyt, C. H., Cleveland + Ashbrook, Wm. A., Hon., Johnstown + Johnston, I. B., Station K., Cincinnati + Stasel, A. A., No. 25-1/2 S. Third St., Newark + Book, G. M., Bloomdale + Smith, E. R., No. 132 S. Collett St., Lima + Rader, Hal, No. 125 Chestnut St., Nilec + Watt, Frank E., No. 116 Show Ave., Dayton + Anderson, A. J., "Ohio Farmer", Cleveland + Scarff, W. U., New Carlisle + Durant, A. T., German-American Ins. Co., Akron + Daugherty, U. G., R. D. 13, Dayton + Miller, Chas. D., 60 N. Garfield Ave., Columbus + Doren, Jane M., Bexley, Columbus + Prickett, J. D., 727 Plymouth St., Toledo + Zerkey, M. Allen, Justus, R. D. 1 + Lohman, E., Greenville + Ewart, Mortimer, Mogadore + Schumacher, Arlin, Pandora + Yunck, Ed. G., 710 Central Ave., Sandusky + Nellis, A. S. Byrne, Dr., Cor. Third & Webb Sts., Dayton + Rogers, W. B., St. Stanislaus' House of Retreat, Cleveland + Parrott, Frances, Miss, R. D. 12, Dayton + Rector, J. M., Dr., Columbus + Lauder, Ed., Dr., 1012 Prospect Ave., S. E., Cleveland + +OREGON + + Robinson, C. A., R.F.D. 1, Carlton, Yamhill Co. + Oregon R. R. & Navigation Co., Portland + Power, Frank W., Sec'y State Horticultural Society, Orenco + Gardener, V. R., Associate Prof, of Horticulture, Corvallis + McDonald, M., Oregon Nursery Co., Orenco + Magruder, G. M., Medical Building, Portland + Fishback, P. L., Monmouth + +PANAMA + + Deer, G. N., Ancon, C. Z. + +PENNSYLVANIA + + Le Fevre, B. W., 251 Elm St., Lancaster + Harris, D. S., Williamsburg, P.O. Box 416 + Wright, M. H., Penn. Shafting Co., Spring City + Hutchinson, Mahlon, 138 South 15th Street, Philadelphia + Taylor, C. B., Philadelphia + Townsend, C. W., Pittsburg + Allen, Carl G., Williamsport + Hall, L. C., Avonia + Sober, C. K., Lewisburg + Foley, John, Forester Penn. R. R. Co., Broad St. Sta., Philadelphia + Mann, Chas. S., Hatboro, Montgomery Co., R. D. 1 + Springer, Willard, Jr., Forest Asst. Pa. R. R. Broad St. Sta. + Philadelphia + Peck, Wm. H., Care of Third Nat. Bank, Scranton + Riehl, H. F., Manheim + Hildebrand, F. B., Duquesne + Wolford, C. H., Prin. Duquesne Public Schools, Duquesne + Motts, Sarah E., 533 S. Hanover St., Carlisle + Watts, R. L., Prof. of Horticulture, State College + Hebbin, T. T., McKeesport + Ballou, C. S., Potter Co. + Marsden, Biddle R., Dr., Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia + Fenstermacher, P. S., Care of Harry C. Tripler, Young Bldg., Allentown + Keeler, Asa S., Tunckhannock + Hess, Frank P., Jr., 31 N. Walnut St., Mt. Carmel + George, W. H., Edgewood, Bucks Co. + Scott & Hill, Erie + St. Francis, J., 21 Scott Block, Erie + Wilt, Edwin M., No. 816 Brooklyn St., Philadelphia + Wright, W. J., State College + Scott, W. M., No. 824 Centennial Ave., Sewickley + Small, Norbert, Edgegrove + Schotte, T. B., Kittanning + Kirkpatrick, F. L., No. 273 Eleventh St., Philadelphia + Gochnauer, Benj. H., Lancaster, R. F. D. No. 7 + Engle, E. B., Marietta + Cook, Dr., George R., Johnston + Chalmers, W. J., Vanport, Beaver Co. + Cahalan, Jno. A., No. 1524 Chestnut St., Philadelphia + DeWeese, D. M., No. 51 Logan Ave., Sharon + Doan, J. L., School of Horticulture, Ambler. + Keystone Wood Co., Williamsport + Fleming, H. N., No. 410 Downing Bldg., Erie + Hassell, H. W., Dr., Medical Department, Eastern State Penitentiary, + Philadelphia + Pease, H. E., No. 1111 Lamont St., Pittsburgh + Palmer, C. L., Dr., P. O. Box, Mt. Lebanon + Spear, James, Jr., Wallingford + Hoerner, William S., Chambersburg + Hazel, Boyd E., Box No. 57, Madisonburg + Stover, C. J., Ambler + Davis, Thos. D., No. 267 Shady Ave., Pittsburgh + Hill, V. J., No. 4215 Chestnut St., Philadelphia + Richards, A. C., Schellsburg + Stocks, George, No. 1128 Heberton, Pittsburgh + Rhoads, Dr., J. N., No. 1635 S. Broad St., Philadelphia + Quimby, C. S., R. F. D. 3, Phoenixville + +RHODE ISLAND + + Peckham, F. H., Dr., 6 Thomas St., Providence + Collins, Franklin J., Prof., 468 Hope St., Providence + Heaton, H. W., M.D., No. 2 Iron's Block, Providence + Winslow, Ernest L., Providence + Bronsdon, M. H., Chief Engineer, The Rhode Island Co., Providence + Pleger, John J., Box 686, Manila + +TEXAS + + Blair, R. E., U. S. Exper. Farm, San Antonio + Edward, Chas. L., Dallas + Kyle, E. J., Prof, of Horticulture, College Station + Anderson, J. H., Brighton + Canada, J. W., Houston + +UTAH + + Hansen, O. K., Dr., Provo + Hughes, M. A., Dr., Judge Bldg., Salt Lake City + +VERMONT + + Woodman, J. S., So. Royalton + Cummings, M. B., Sec'y State Horticultural Society, Burlington + Parrish, John S., Eastham, Albermarle Co. + Blue, C. E., Ridgeway, Charlottsville + Haynes, I. J., Manakin + +VIRGINIA + + Emerson, J. S., Dr., Red Hill + Catlett, Carter, Gloucester + +WASHINGTON + + Washington Nursery Co., Toppenish + Shomaker, Joel, Nellita + Moody, Robert, Everett + Stuart, John A., Christopher Nurseries, Christopher + Davis, Pauline, Miss, Box 415, Pullman + May, Walter, 456 Empire Bldg., Okanogan + Western Farmer, Spokane + March, G. L., Kennewick + +WEST VIRGINIA + + Bennett, Louis, Mrs., 148 Court Ave., Weston + +WISCONSIN + + Kirr, A. R., Box C, R. D. 6, Fond du Lac + Harold, Geo. E., Maiden Rock, R. D. 3 + +DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA + + Van Deman, H. E., Washington + Swingle, Walter, Prof., Bur. Plant Industry, Washington + Coville, Fred. V., Prof., Bur. Plant Industry, Washington + Clinton, L. A., Prof., Dept, of Agric., Washington + Stabler, Albert, Ins. Agt., Washington + Bick, Wm. H., 1403 H. St., Washington + Hendrick, A. J., 609, 3rd St., Washington + Life & Health, Takoma Park Sta., Washington + + + +EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS FROM STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS AND OTHERS + + +A well-known nut grower in Delaware writes: "We have given the filberts +a thorough test and found them one of the most unprofitable nuts ever +tested. At one time we had under test about 15 distinct varieties. After +several years tests they all succumbed to the blight; a blight that +attacked the old wood and killed it. Some of our bushes or trees got as +much as six inches in diameter before they were entirely killed back. +Possibly by thorough spraying from the setting of trees a success might +be made. Some varieties tested were very prolific and of fine quality. +We succeeded in getting a fine lot of walnuts from the tree southeast of +the potato house by applying pollen. They are as fine and as well filled +and as large as any I have ever seen. Several of our crosses had a few +nuts this year, most of them are rather thick shelled. The trees though +seem to be perfectly hardy. We have several Japan walnut trees bearing +this year some of which I consider first class, equal to the best +shellbarks or pecans in cracking quality; besides they are so very +prolific, producing as many as a dozen in a cluster. We can show +specimens from several distinct varieties or types. The Cordiformis +seems to be one of the best. We also have some very fine black walnuts. +One of our seedlings from the select nuts produces the largest walnuts +that I have ever seen. The tree did not have very many on it this year. +Several of the other seedlings from the same planting produced fine nuts +with good cracking qualities. We also had several pecan trees to bear a +few nuts this year; most of the nuts were rather small but of fine +quality, very thin shells and well filled. Our Japan chestnuts bore +quite full. + +I think it possible to produce Persian walnuts successfully in our +locality. I also think the Japan walnut offers a good field for +investigation." + + +FROM THE STATE VICE-PRESIDENT FOR COLORADO + +Dec. 11, 1912. + +So far as I can learn only two attempts have been made in this state to +grow nuts. The first one consists in the setting out of about one +hundred Japanese walnuts by the Antlers Orchard Co. Their place is on +the western slope in the fruit district and I am informed that the first +winter the tops were killed but new shoots put out from the roots and +the trees did well this year. + +The other attempt is one I made last spring. I set out a few pecan trees +as an experiment near Colorado Springs. Six of the seven trees lived and +put out some leaves but did not make much growth. If they survive the +winter I purpose planting more pecans and some other nuts,--chestnuts, +black walnuts and possibly Persian walnuts. + + * * * * * + + Hilton, N. Y. + Nov. 29, 1912. + +Dear Sir: + +In reply to your inquiry I am inclosing notes on walnut culture in this +locality. This noble fruit is not generally known here. I do not know of +more than twelve or fifteen bearing trees in my county. Of these all are +without doubt seedlings, and are located in places where the peach will +thrive. The soil in which they grow is varied: Dunkirk fine sand, +Dunkirk silt loam, Ontario fine sand loam, and Ontario loam. (See soil +survey of _Monroe county_, N. Y. U. S. Dept. Agriculture.) The altitude +is comparatively low. The highest point in the county is only 682 ft. +above lake Ontario, and the average elevation is not more than 300 ft. +The "Holden" walnuts are growing at a still lower level. This tree, +considering its surroundings and location, had a good crop this year. +Standing on the lawn uncultivated and unfertilized, hemmed in on three +sides by other trees, it gave us at least three bushels of fine nuts. + +The wood showed no injury after last winter's intense cold. Growth +started in the spring just as the apple blossoms came out. The catkins +are very large, at least much larger than those on the other trees we +have, and hang on longer. One of our trees loses its male blossoms +before the female bloom appears, but the "Holden" is the last to lose +them. About half of the clusters of fruit have two or three nuts in +them. We began harvesting the nuts Sept. 15th, just four months from the +blossom. The dropping continued for a month, prolonged on account of +lack of frost. + +Last week the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported the appearance +of the first load of English walnuts ever brought on the local market. +They were grown on fifteen year old seedlings, at East Avon, N. Y., by +Adelbert Thompson. His orchard is said to contain 200 trees. It seems +very probable that the next twenty-five years will see the development +of Persian walnut growing, to commercial proportions, in those +localities in the state where the peach will grow. + +I had a little experience last spring with southern grown walnut trees. +Last spring I received from Louisiana eleven trees of the "Holden" +variety grafted on black walnut stocks. They were fine trees, the +largest at least eight feet tall. Six of these I set out in my own +orchards and gave them intensive care and cultivation, but alas, growth +was weak and at last they died. If I were to deduce any conclusions it +would be that there is too great a difference between Louisiana and New +York conditions. + + +FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY + +Dear Sir:-- + +I am addressing you as secretary of the Northern Nut Growers' +Association in hopes that you can refer me to some one, perhaps a member +of your society, in this part of the country to whom we can appeal to +take part at the coming annual meeting of this society as champion of +nut growing. While in our state we cannot successfully grow pecans, nor +perhaps the sweet chestnut and some other nuts, yet some varieties do +well with us and a larger interest in their growing should be +stimulated. + + Yours very truly, + + A. W. Latham, Sec'y. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Northern Nut Growers Association, +Report of the Proceedings at the Third Annual Meeting, by Northern Nut Growers Association + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NNGA REPORT, 1912 *** + +***** This file should be named 23656.txt or 23656.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/6/5/23656/ + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Janet Blenkinship +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://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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