 |
I have omitted mentioning that there are certain limitations on the ability of the Interior officials to buy trees for Interior Department planting. It is a definite policy of the Interior Department that in all national parks they plant only American species. That automatically eliminated many trees of the Bixby collection. But the arboretum wanted a good many of those trees and so did we.
There are still in the Bixby collection several fine Persian walnut trees. We haven't been able to trace their source, but it is my impression that they are of Chinese origin.
DR. DEMING:
He had a row of Pomeroy trees.
PROF. SLATE:
He also had some trees from Chinese seed, because he sent some of them to Geneva.
MR. REED:
We have the Bixby correspondence. By the terms of the purchase Mrs. Bixby was to deliver to the Interior Department all of Mr. Bixby's records pertaining to those trees, and as far as she has been able to get things together they have been turned over to me.
DR. DEMING:
In addition to our annual reports I want to say a word about the reports of the National Pecan Growers' Association. Twenty-five years ago I took out a life membership in that association for $10.00, and I have been getting annual reports ever since. While they relate almost exclusively to the southern pecan they have also many scientific articles on the development of twigs, blossoms and fruit, on pruning and grafting and on fertilizing and cultivating, which are of importance to all nut growers.
I think perhaps I won't go into the subject which has been talked of so much today, the severe winter and summer we have had. But J. G. Rush in our third annual report has a paper which is entitled, "The Persian Walnut, Its Disaster, Etc.," which describes events twenty-two years ago very similar to those that have taken place in the last winter.
Nut Growing in Vermont
By ZENAS H. ELLIS, Fair Haven
In all my life of over seventy years I have never seen a time like the present. We have passed through the coldest winter and the dryest summer ever known.
I raise on my place in old Vermont every kind of tree that will grow there, and try many that will not, or only with more or less protection. I have apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches and figs, with berries of all kinds. I have nut trees of many different varieties, hickories, black and English walnuts, filberts, hazel-filberts, pecans, almonds and butternuts.
Which have stood the cold and drought the best? Strange as it may seem, my nut trees have stood the extreme temperatures the best. My hardiest apples like the Wealthy, Yellow Transparent, Wolf River, and Pewaukee have gone down to their death, or so near thereto that I never expect to see any fruit from them again. Whereas, on the other hand, my hickories, black walnuts, butternuts and hazel-filberts have not even lost a leaf. Wonderful to relate and almost unbelievable my large pecan tree, over forty feet in height, and a foot in diameter, is as hale and hearty as ever.
August 15th last I picked and cracked some of my improved butternuts and hazel-filberts, and found the kernels large, full grown and normal in every way. Whereas I have not an apple or pear fit to eat, no, not even a berry either.
I set out my butternut years ago in the position of honor in front of my house, and it has merited it ever since. The kernels came out in halves and often times whole. I have given away many of the nuts for planting, even as far away as Kew Gardens, England. Money could not buy the parent tree. I would not exchange it for the best cattle ranch in Colorado, the best wheat farm in Kansas, or the best cotton plantation in both the Carolinas. It is self-sustaining, does not require any subsidy from Uncle Sam, or any twenty-five thousand dollars a year official to regulate it. It is better than any dollar nowadays, always worth 100 per cent in gold instead of 61 cents, as is our government kind. The reason is, God rules it, instead of a mere man with any combination of the alphabet you can make.
It is the same with my improved hazel-filberts which grow tall and rank and bend down to the ground with their branches heavily laden with large, well-filled nuts.
My Thomas black walnuts are doing well, as also my Sier's hybrid hickories; both are perfectly hardy but not bearing this year as it is the off year for them. The butternut and hazel-filberts have never an off year but, like the "brook," go on forever. My English walnuts with some protection passed the winter in perfect safety. But the almonds, though protected as well, fared very poorly, showing that they are not near so hardy as the former.
The other kinds of nut trees that I have mentioned, even to the pecan, withstood the rigors of the winter with no protection whatever.
My true filberts fared rather poorly but are coming up lustily from below the snow line and will, I think, be as good as ever if the past winter does not repeat itself.
What does this all mean? It means that we should plant more nut trees instead of so many fruit trees, especially the apple, which has proven more liable to cold injury than even the pear, if we would have any of the delectable valuable products of the tree kind. Why, just think of it, a few nut trees planted around every home in the country would do more to relieve the present depression than all the other agencies and remedies put together. Frost does not impair their fruit. Nuts will keep through the year or longer. Insects do not injure them as they do the soft, unprotected fruits. Squirrels may take their toll but they are far easier to destroy than a bug. To hunt them is grand sport for young people, whereas to chase a bug is no fun at all.
The workman, the professional man, the merchant, should especially raise them as they would take no time from their business. Their children would think it no work at all to gather them, that is if they were like the children of my youth who looked forward to gathering nuts as one of the pleasantest pastimes of the year.
If all our city parks, public squares, playgrounds, roadsides, waste places and other like areas were planted with them, all children even to the poorest could have a sufficiency of the healthiest food that would build up their bodies into strong healthy adults who could go out into the country and build it up again as it was years ago, instead of the vast, desolate region it is now.
What makes children so puny and so unwilling to do any real work today? It is because emigration from nut-eating countries being shut off, and our native nut trees cut down or uncared for, there is nothing to keep up the supply of the best food for the body today. The remedy is to raise more nuts so the children and adults as well can again be fed on the most valuable, healthy and strength-giving food God ever made.
Then, too, crime would be greatly reduced, especially of the juvenile kind. The spare time of our youth would be taken up for about three months in a year with a clean, pure, pleasant, agreeable occupation instead of searching for mischief and quasi-vicious adventures. Have no juvenile crime and the adult crime is reduced to a minimum, or obliterated entirely.
God started man on a nut eating diet and kept him thereon for centuries. As long as he stuck to it he was all right. We do not hear much about that era, for happy is the nation that has no history. Then he had no diseases to speak of except extreme old age, no wars and hardly any troubles. But when, in the Garden of Eden, the Devil tempted him to switch off onto some other diet, he has been wrong ever since. So then, let us return to our old diet as far as possible and have something of an Eden again about us today.
Perhaps you people of Michigan would like to know what my town of Fair Haven is. It gave you James Witherell who, while congressman from Vermont, resigned to accept the supreme judgeship of the great territory of Michigan. In the war of 1812 he had command of the troops thereof and, when ordered by the cowardly General Hull to surrender them to the British, absolutely refused. After that war he laid out anew the war stricken city of Detroit.
His grandson, Thomas Witherell Palmer, the son of a native born Fair Haven girl, became your United States Senator, Minister to Spain and, in 1893, President of the World Fair commission at Chicago. He gave to Detroit that large and beautiful park named after him.
So you see Henry Ford is not the whole architect of that great city, as good Vermont blood had to relay its foundations and get it well under way for that great auto magnate to make it the fourth city in the Union.
A Roll Call of the Nuts
By DR. W. C. DEMING
Connecticut
In the report of the proceedings at the eighth annual meeting of this association, held at Stamford, Conn., September 5 and 6, 1917, is an address by the Vice President, Prof. W. N. Hutt of North Carolina, entitled "Reasons for Our Limited Knowledge as to What Varieties of Nut Trees to Plant." I quote from that address:
"In 1847 the American Pomological Society was formed as a national clearing house of horticultural ideas. The first work the society undertook was to determine the varieties of the different classes of fruits suitable for planting in different sections of the country. Patrick Barry of Rochester, one of the pioneers of American horticulture, was for years the chairman of the committee on varietal adaptation and did an immense amount of work on that line. At the meetings of the society he went alphabetically over the variety lists of fruits and called for reports on each one from growers all over the country. This practice was kept up for years and the resulting data were collected and compiled in the society's reports. A similar systematic roll call of classes and varieties of nuts grown by the members of this association would be of immense value to intending planters of nut trees. In northern nut growing, however, it may be questioned if we have yet arrived at the Patrick Barry stage."
These were the words of Prof. Hutt in 1917, seventeen years ago. I believe that nut growing has now arrived at the Patrick Barry stage. It seems right, therefore, that we should begin to have an annual roll call of the nuts. To this end I have prepared a list of nuts of the different genera, species and varieties grown in the northeastern United States. This list is long but by no means complete and this, by the nature of things, it can never be. It is evident that there will not be time enough to go over more than a small part of this list. It is, therefore, proposed to have the list mimeographed and sent to all members for their reports. Members are asked particularly to add to the list the names and performances of any varieties not listed of which they may have knowledge. In this way we shall soon be able to make our lists as nearly complete as possible.
In order to reduce bulk and expense it will be necessary to print the names in compact form. It is suggested that the lists be kept for reference and that any report be made on a separate sheet under the proper heading. I will go as far in it now as you want me to. As I call the names of the nuts on this list I will ask the members present to report, as briefly as possible, any knowledge they may have as to the performance of each nut, such as the earliness of its fruiting, size and regularity of crops, growth and vigor of tree and character of nuts.
HICKORIES
THE ANTHONY:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report.
THE BARNES (Shag. x Mock.):
Dr. MacDaniels: There are some at Itaca which bear.
Dr. Deming: This is undoubtedly a Shagbark—mockernut hybrid. It is entirely at home when grafted on the mockernut. This makes it of value for there are few of our named hickories that will do well when grafted on the mockernut. In 1933 I top-worked a mockernut with ten grafts of the Barnes. In 1934 it bore 30 fine nuts. It appears to be an excellent nut. There are three other nuts that I know do well on the mockernut. One is the Wampler from Indiana introduced by W. C. Reed. Another is the Minnie raised by Mr. S. W. Snyder. The fourth nut is the Gobble. The Barnes is mentioned in Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 23, 1932 proceedings. Carl Weschcke has it growing at River Falls, Wis.
THE BATES (pecan x Mock.):
Mentioned in Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 23, 1932.
THE BEAM:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report.
THE BEAVER (Shag. x Bitter.):
Dr. Deming: It grows rapidly. The nuts are not of very good quality, like most bitternut hybrids.
The Beaver is growing in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek and is mentioned in Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 19, 1932. Carl Weschcke has it growing at River Falls, Wis. E. C. Rice, Absher, Ky., has one one-year graft on bitternut, height 5 feet. J. H. Gage, Hamilton, Ont., has one Beaver tree planted in 1924 and moved in 1925 growing in light sandy soil on north shore at west end Lake Ontario. Diameter of the trunk is about three inches, tree fifteen feet high, bore first time in 1934. It is growing at the Riehl Farm, Godfrey, Ill., and in the Jones Nursery, Lancaster, Pa.
THE BEAM:
Is mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report.
THE BILLAU:
Is mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report.
THE BONTRAGER (Shag.):
Won third prize in 1929 contest, page 53, 1931. Tree owned by John D. Bontrager, Middlebury, Ind.
THE BROOKS (Shag.):
Is mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. It won ninth prize in 1929 contest, page 53, 1931, to Mrs. John Brooks, Ottumwa, Iowa. Carl Weschcke has it growing at River Falls, Wis.
THE BURLINGTON (Pecan x shell.):
Dr. Deming: The true name of the nut we call Marquardt. The Michigan Nut Nursery have trees bearing.
Miss Jones: A characteristic of all shellbark x pecan hybrids is that they don't fill well.
Mr. Corsan: Are they in exceedingly rich soil or just ordinary? I find that nuts respond to rich soil.
Miss Jones: They are in ordinary soil.
Dr. MacDaniels: We have two trees at Ithaca about ten years old which have borne but the nuts have not filled very well.
Dr. Deming: Is the Burlington worth growing? Does it fill so badly that it is not a success?
Miss Jones: The kernel fills out about three-fourths of the way. It fills better than the McCallister.
Mr. Corsan: I have never seen such a fine nut in my life.
Mr. Wilkinson: It is a good hybrid and a wonderful bearer.
Dr. Deming: Every year?
Mr. Wilkinson: Yes, and matures unusually early.
The Burlington is in the Riehl plantings at Godfrey, Ill. It is mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. Carl Weschcke has young trees growing at River Falls, Wis. Sargeant H. Wellman has some young trees at Topsfield, Mass. F. H. Frey has young tree in yard at Chicago, but it has not borne nuts as yet. Foliage is beautiful, leaves being rather broad but some kind of blight seems to turn them dark and they curl up about middle of the summer.
J. W. Hershey: Of the hybrid hickories the Burlington should be eliminated from the list and a great many others of the hickories should be thrown out as rapidly as possible.
THE BURTON (pecan x shell.):
Mentioned in Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 20, 1932. It is growing in Riehl plantings at Godfrey, Ill., and on Kellogg farm, Michigan.
THE CALDWELL:
It is growing in the Riehl plantings at Godfrey, Ill.
THE CASPER:
Mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. Parent tree in Illinois.
THE CEDAR RAPIDS:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report, also Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. It is growing on the Riehl farm at Godfrey, Ill., the Kellogg farm at Battle Creek, Mich., and in the Carl Weschcke plantings at River Falls, Wis.
THE CLARK (shag.):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's in 1931 report.
This hickory is growing on the Carl Weschcke place at River Falls, Wis., and in Sargeant H. Wellman's nut orchard at Topsfield, Mass.
THE COMINS:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report.
THE COOK (shag.):
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE CREAGER:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report. This hickory is growing in the Kellogg farm plantings at Battle Creek, Mich.
THE DENNIS (shag.):
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report and Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. This hickory is growing in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich., and in Carl Weschcke nut orchard at River Falls, Wis. W. R. Fickes, Wooster, Ohio, reports the Dennis promises to be a heavy, early bearer of fairly good quality.
THE DES MOINES (pecan x shell.):
Mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and by Dr. Zimmerman, page 20, 1932. Is growing in the Riehl and Kellogg farms plantings.
THE DREW (shag.):
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report and his paper in 1931 report.
THE EDABURN:
Mentioned by Mr. Bixby in his paper in 1926 report. Carl Weschcke has it growing in his orchard at River Falls, Wis.
THE EMERICK:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report.
THE EUREKA (shell.):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report.
THE EVERSMAN (shell.):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report.
THE FAIRBANKS (shag. x bitter.):
Mr. Corsan: I had eleven nuts on my tree last year. They are very small trees.
Dr. Neilson: A Fairbanks grafted on a pignut in the spring of 1931 at the Kellogg estate has quite a few nuts on it this season.
Miss Jones: They bear well and regularly.
Dr. Deming: Yes, they do at my place, too.
Mr. Corsan: What kind of a flavor has it?
Dr. Deming: It is bitter when you keep it but not when fresh.
Mr. Snyder: Don't judge them by one nut. They get better as you eat them. The more you eat the better you like them.
Miss Jones: People that try them at our place don't notice much difference between those hybrids and the shellbarks. I give them to people any time during the winter, and they don't notice the difference.
Mr. Reed: Mr. Bixby said at one of the conventions that the Fairbanks was a good grower, easy to propagate, bore well, not so good as to size, thin shelled and had all the desirable characteristics of a good nut except that it wasn't good to eat.
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report and Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. The Fairbanks is mentioned in Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 19, 1932. It is growing in the Riehl orchard at Godfrey, Ill., the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich., in the Carl Weschcke orchard at River Falls, Wis., and in the E. C. Rice plantings at Absher, Ky. Sargeant H. Wellman has some young Fairbanks trees at Topsfield, Mass. Mr. W. R. Fickes reports it is a very poor quality hickory at Wooster, Ohio, but may be valuable for double working.
THE FLUHR (shag. x shell.):
Awarded seventh prize in 1929 contest, page 53, 1931 report, to Edgar Fluhr, Kiel, Wis.
THE FREEL (shag.):
Entered in 1929 contest by Mrs. E. W. Freel, Pleasantville, Iowa.
THE FROMAN (shag.):
Awarded ninth prize in 1929 contest to Arlie W. Froman, Bacon, Ind.
THE GALLOWAY:
H. R. Weber: I notice the Galloway is not listed among the hickory hybrids. The parent tree is growing in Hamilton County, Ohio, and, is supposed to be a pecan x bitternut hybrid.
THE GERARDI (pecan x shell.):
A Member: It is like the Nussbaumer.
This hybrid is mentioned in Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 20, 1932. Also see description by Joseph Gerardi, page 45, 1932 report. It is growing in the Riehl plantings at Godfrey, Ill., and the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich.
THE GISSEL:
It is growing in the Riehl plantings at Godfrey, Ill., and in orchard of Carl Weschcke at River Falls, Wis.
THE GLOVER (shag.):
It is mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. It is growing in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich., the Carl Weschcke orchard at River Falls, Wis., and the Sargeant H. Wellman orchard at Topsfield, Mass. E. C. Rice, Absher, Ky., has two-year grafts on shellbark and bitternut stocks. It seems to do better on the shellbark stocks.
THE GOBBLE (shag.):
Mentioned on page 54, 1931 report. Tree owned by William Gobble, Holsten, Va.
THE GOHEEN (shag.):
Awarded sixth prize in 1929 contest to Mrs. Hamill Goheen, Pennsylvania Furnace, Penna. Sargeant H. Wellman has young trees growing at Topsfield, Mass.
THE GREEN:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report.
THE GREENBAY (pecan x shell.):
Mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and in Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 20, 1932.
THE GRIFFIN:
Mr. Bixby, page 15, 1928, report, states it is an early bearer. Dr. J. Russell Smith, Swarthmore, Pa., reports the Griffin is precocious when grafted on pecan but cracking test by Mr. C. A. Reed shows it to have a very low cracking value.
THE GRUPE:
Is mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. It is growing in the Jones Nursery at Lancaster, Pa.
THE HAGEN (shag. x shell.):
Mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. It was awarded ninth prize in 1929 contest. Parent tree owned by Mrs. C. E. Hagen, Guttenberg, Iowa. It is growing in the Snyder Bros.' plantings at Center Point, Iowa, the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich., and in the Carl Weschcke orchard at River Falls, Wis.
THE HALES (shag.):
Mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report.
THE HAND:
Mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. It is growing in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich., and in the orchard of Carl Weschcke at River Falls., Wis.
THE HILL (shell.):
Introduced by S. W. Snyder, Center Point, Iowa, and mentioned by Mr. Bixby in his paper in 1926 report.
THE HUBER:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report.
THE HUFF:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report.
THE IOWA (shell.):
Mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report.
THE KELSEY:
Mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. Carl Weschcke has it growing in his orchard at River Falls, Wis.
THE KENTUCKY (shag. x mock.):
Dr. Deming: This is said to be a shagbark x mockernut hybrid but I see no reason for the belief. It is a vigorous grower. One year my trees were liberally sprinkled with nuts. I know that they bear from year to year, but the squirrels get the nuts. I think it is a shy bearer.
Dr. Zimmerman: It bears regularly at my place but at Mr. Littlepage's it isn't bearing.
This hickory is mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and in Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 23, 1932.
THE KIRTLAND (shag.):
Mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and in Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. It is growing in the Jones Nursery at Lancaster, Pa., and in the orchards of Carl Weschcke, River Falls, Wis., and of Sargeant H. Wellman at Topsfield, Mass.
THE LAKE (shag.):
Awarded first prize in 1929 contest to Mrs. C. Lake, New Haven, Ind., R. R. 1.
THE LEONARD (shell.):
Mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report.
THE LANEY (shag. x bitter.):
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report and Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report.
Dr. Deming: I have never known them to bear anything yet at my place in Connecticut.
Dr. Zimmerman: They haven't borne at my place, either.
See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 19, 1932. The Laney hickory is growing in the Jones Nursery at Lancaster, Pa., the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich., and the Carl Weschcke orchard at River Falls, Wis.
THE LINGENFELTER (shag.):
Mentioned in Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. It is growing in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich.
THE MANAHAN (shag.):
Mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and in Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. It is growing in the Riehl orchard at Godfrey, Ill., and the Carl Weschcke orchard at River Falls, Wis.
THE MANN (of Michigan shag.):
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report.
THE MANN (of Ohio, shag. x shell.): Awarded ninth prize in 1929 contest to Howard Mann, Delta, Ohio.
THE McCALLISTER (pecan x shell.):
Dr. Deming: Has anyone any new information about the filling or bearing of the McCallister?
Mr. Wilkinson: It fills well but not heavily.
Mr. Reed: I have watched the McCallister for years and years and the nuts have failed to fill. But there is a tree that has the reputation of bearing a very considerable quantity of nuts. We went over to see the tree and we found that it stood where the soil was very rich. I have wanted ever since then to try some McCallisters and give them all of the plant food that they could possibly consume. I believe that that has a good deal to do with filling.
Dr. Deming: Heavy fertilization influences the filling of nuts.
The McCallister is mentioned in Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 20, 1932. It is growing in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich., the orchards of Carl Weschcke at River Falls, Wis., E. C. Rice at Absher, Ky., of Sargeant H. Wellman at Topsfield, Mass., and in the Government plantings at Beltsville, Md. It is also growing and doing well in the Waite Orchard at Normandy, Tenn., see page 34, 1932 report.
THE MILFORD (shag.):
It is mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. It is growing in the Jones Nursery at Lancaster.
THE MINNIE (shag.):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. Parent tree is growing in the yard of the Snyder farm at Center Point, Iowa. This hickory is growing in the Riehl orchard at Godfrey, Ill.
THE MORTON (pecan x shell.):
Mentioned in Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 20, 1932. Is growing in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich.
THE PESCHKE (shag.):
Awarded tenth prize in 1929 contest to Grace Peschke, Ripon, Wis.
THE PLEAS (pecan x bitter.):
Miss Jones: It has a very thin shell. You can crack it with your hand.
Mr. Reed: Miss Riehl has said that it is worth growing for ornamental effect. It has great long catkins that make it really a beautiful thing, and yet it is like all of the others as far as I know, it has that bitter principle. It is very much the same as the other bitternut hybrids.
The Pleas is mentioned in Mr. Bixby's paper in the 1926 report and is listed in Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 19, 1932. It is being grown on the Riehl farm at Godfrey, Ill., in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich., in the Carl Weschcke orchard at River Falls, Wis., and Sargeant H. Wellman has young trees doing well at Topsfield, Mass.
THE RENGGENBERG (shag.):
Awarded eighth prize in 1929 contest to Edward Renggenberg, Madison, Wis., R. 1, Box 142.
THE ROCKVILLE (pecan x shell.):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. Also mentioned in Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 20, 1932. Is growing at the Riehl farm, Godfrey, Ill., the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich., and in orchard of Carl Weschcke at River Falls, Wis., and in the Jones Nursery at Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
THE RODDY (shag. x shell.):
Awarded fourth prize in 1929 contest to John Roddy, Napoleon, Ohio.
THE ROMIG:
Is in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich., and Sargeant H. Wellman has some young trees in his orchard at Topsfield, Mass.
THE SANDE (shag. x shell.):
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report.
THE SAYER (shell.):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report.
THE SCHOENBERGER (shag.):
Awarded tenth prize in 1929 contest to Roy Schoenberger, Nevada, Ohio.
THE SEAVER (shag.):
Awarded ninth prize in 1929 contest to J. K. Seaver, Harvard, Ill.
THE SCHINNERLING:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. Is growing in Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich., and in orchard of Carl Weschcke at River Falls, Wis.
THE SHAUL:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. Is growing in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich.
THE SIERS (mock. x bitter.):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. Mentioned in Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 19, 1932. Is growing on the Riehl farm at Godfrey, Ill., in orchard of Carl Weschcke at River Falls, Wis., and in the Jones Nursery at Lancaster, Pa.
THE SOBOLEWSKI (shag.):
Awarded ninth prize in 1929 contest to Jos. Sobolewski, Norwich, Conn., R. 5, Box 56A.
THE SPRUNGER (shell):
Awarded ninth prize in 1929 contest to Caleb Sprunger, Berne, Ind.
THE STANLEY (shell.):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. Is growing in plantings on Kellogg farm at Battle Creek, Mich.
THE STRATFORD (shag. x bitter.):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 19, 1932. It is growing in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich., and the orchard of Carl Weschcke at River Falls, Wis. Dr. J. Russell Smith, Swarthmore, Pa., reports it is one of the most precocious and productive nuts he has when grafted on pignut. It has not missed bearing some nuts in the last four seasons.
THE SWAIN (shag.):
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report; Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE SWARTZ (shag.):
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE TAMA QUEEN (shell.):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report.
THE TAYLOR (shag.):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report; Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report, and Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 20, 1932. This hickory is growing in orchard of Carl Weschcke at River Falls, Wis., and Sargeant H. Wellman at Topsfield, Mass. W. R. Fickes, Wooster, Ohio, reports the Taylor is a light bearer but good in quality.
The Tiedke (pecan x shell.):
See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 20, 1932.
THE VEST (shag.):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE WAMPLER:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report.
THE WEED (shag. x bitter.):
See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 23, 1932.
THE WEIKER (shag. x shell.):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report; Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report and Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 19, 1932. Is growing in the Jones Nursery at Lancaster, Pa., and the orchards of Carl Weschcke at River Falls, Wis., and Sargeant H. Wellman at Topsfield, Mass.
THE WESCHCKE:
A hybrid hickory at Fayette, Iowa, owned by Carl Weschcke of St. Paul, Minn., who has grafted many bitternut seedlings at River Falls, Wis., with cions from this tree.
THE WESTPHAL:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report.
THE WRIGHT (pecan x shell):
Awarded eighth prize in 1929 contest to C. D. Wright, Sumner, Mo. See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 20, 1932. This hickory is growing in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich.
THE WOODS (shag. x shell.):
See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 19, 1932.
THE ZIMMERMAN (shag. x shell.):
See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 19, 1932.
THE ZURCHER:
Awarded sixth prize in 1929 contest to Menno Zurcher, Apple Creek, Ohio.
NORTHERN PECANS
THE BUSSERON:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. This pecan has been generally propagated by nurserymen and is widely distributed. E. C. Rice, Absher, Ky., reports it does better on shellbark stock than on pignut stock. Dr. J. Russell Smith, Swarthmore, Pa., reports the Busseron pecan has proved to be much the most precocious bearer, that ripened well filled nuts on top of the Blue Ridge mountains, elevation 1,300 feet, fifty miles from Washington, D. C., in a climate distinctly colder than Philadelphia.
THE BUTTERICK:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. This pecan has been generally propagated and distributed by nurserymen.
THE GREENRIVER:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. This pecan is also well distributed. E. C. Rice, Absher, Ky., reports Greenriver graft on shagbark stock grew eight feet tall in two years.
THE INDIANA:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. This pecan also generally distributed.
THE KENTUCKY:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report.
THE MAJOR:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. Dr. J. Russell Smith, Swarthmore, Pa., reports the major has ripened nuts on top of Blue Ridge Mountain, elevation 1,300 feet, fifty miles from Washington, D. C., in a climate distinctly colder than Philadelphia. The nuts are small.
THE NIBLACK:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. Mr. Hershey reports it should be put on the obsolete list.
THE NORTON:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. Sargeant H. Wellman, Topsfield, Mass., has some fine young trees but they are not yet bearing.
THE POSEY:
Is growing in the Jones and Riehl nurseries and in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich.
THE UPTON:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report.
THE WARRICK (Warwick):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. Dr. J. Russell Smith, Swarthmore, Pa., reports that on the Piedmont plateau, elevation 500 feet, forty miles from Washington, D. C., in a climate approximating that of Philadelphia, the Warrick has often not ripened its nuts although some seasons it does. John W. Hershey states the Warrick should be put on the obsolete list.
THE WITTE:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. The nut is very small but of good quality. Mr. John W. Hershey states the pecan should be put on the obsolete list.
BLACK WALNUTS
THE ADAMS:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report, also Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report, and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. The Adams is growing in the Kellogg planting at Battle Creek, Mich.
THE ALLEN:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report, also his paper in 1931 report. The Allen is growing on the Kellogg farm at Battle Creek, Mich. J. H. Gage of Hamilton, Ontario, has some young trees which have not yet borne nuts.
THE ALLEY:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report, also Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE ANGLIN:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. Is growing on the Riehl farm at Godfrey, Ill.
THE ASBURY:
Was in the 1926 contest. See Mr. Reed's paper in the 1931 report. It is growing in the Riehl plantings at Godfrey, Ill.
THE ATKINS:
See Mr. Reed's paper in the 1931 report.
THE AYGARN:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE BARLEE:
Is in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich.
THE BECK:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report, also his paper in the 1931 report. This walnut is growing in the plantings on the Riehl farm at Godfrey, Ill., and the Kellogg farm at Battle Creek, Mich. W. R. Fickes, Wooster, Ohio, states the Beck walnut is not promising there.
THE BECHTOLD:
Is growing in the Riehl planting at Godfrey, Ill.
BENGE:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
BLOSS:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report.
THE BOHANAN:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. This walnut is growing in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich.
THE BONTZ:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE BOOTH:
See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 22, 1932. This walnut is growing at the Riehl farm.
THE BOWMAN:
See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 22, 1932.
THE BOMBERGER:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE BROUGHAM:
See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 22, 1932.
THE BRUER:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report.
THE BURROUGHS:
This walnut is growing on the Riehl farm at Godfrey, Ill.
THE BURTON:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. This walnut is growing on the Riehl farm. It was entered in 1926 contest by Herbert Burton, Hartford, Kentucky.
THE CARPER:
See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 22, 1932.
THE COOPER:
This walnut is growing on the Riehl farm at Godfrey, Ill.
THE CREITZ:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. This walnut is growing on the Riehl and Kellogg farms.
THE CRESCO:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report and his paper in 1931 report.
THE DEMING (Ornamental):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE DEPENDAHL:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE EDRAS:
Parent tree owned by Gerald W. Adams, Morehead, Iowa, see page 51 of 1931 report. See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. Is growing in the Riehl plantings at Godfrey, Ill., and the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich.
THE FAYETTE:
Is growing on the Riehl farm at Godfrey, Ill.
THE FREEL:
Awarded first prize in 1929 contest to Mrs. E. W. Freel, Pleasantville, Iowa. See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE FRITZ:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE GALLOWAY:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. Is growing in the Jones Nursery at Lancaster, Pa.
THE GERMAINE:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report and his paper in 1931 report.
THE GLORY (curly wood):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report.
THE GRAHAM:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. Is growing in the Riehl and Kellogg plantings.
THE GRAYBILL:
See Mr. Stokes' paper with test record, page 108 of 1932 report, and Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 22, 1932 report. Is growing in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich.
THE GREGORY:
See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 22, 1932 report.
THE GRUNDY:
Awarded fifth prize in 1929 contest to Mr. Rohwer, Grundy Center, Iowa. See Mr. Reed's paper in this report and his paper in 1931 report. Is growing in the Riehl and Kellogg orchards.
THE HARRIS:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report.
THE HANCOCK:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE HARE:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. Is growing on Riehl farm. Was entered in 1926 contest by Frank H. Hare, Rushville, Schuyler County, Ill., and is mentioned on page 51, 1931 report.
THE HEPIER:
See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 22, 1932. Is growing on the Riehl and Kellogg farms.
THE HERMAN (Rush):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE HILTON:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report.
THE HINE:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report.
THE HOBBS:
Was entered in 1926 contest by C. T. S. Hobbs, Fort Blackmore, Va., R. 1. See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE HOMELAND:
Parent tree owned by Clinton Thomas, Troutville, Va. See Mr. Stokes' paper with tests, pages 108 and 109, 1932 report.
THE HOPWOOD:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE HOWELL:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. Is growing in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich.
THE HUBER:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report.
THE IMPIT:
Given eleventh place in 1929 contest. Submitted by J. U. Gellatly, West Bank, B. C.
THE JUMBO:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE KETTLER (Wisconsin No. 1):
Parent tree owned by Fred Kettler, Platteville, Wis. Has taken first prize in state fair contests. Dr. Zimmerman and Mr. Frey have young trees which have not yet borne nuts. See Mr. Kettler's letter in this report.
THE KINDER:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE KNAPBE:
Submitted in 1926 contest by J. J. Knapbe, New Weston, Ohio. See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE KURTZ:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE LAMB (curly wood):
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report and Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. Grafts from this tree are growing in several eastern orchards, including the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich. It is not as yet definitely known if the propagated trees will reproduce the curly texture of the wood of the parent tree.
THE LEE:
See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 22, 1932, and Mr. Reed's paper, page 151, 1932 report; also tests recorded in Mr. Stokes' paper, page 109, 1932 report.
THE LEWIS:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. Is growing in the Kellogg plantings at Battle Creek, Mich.
THE LUCAS:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE LUTZ:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE MARION:
Awarded second prize in 1929 contest to Mrs. E. W. Freel, Pleasantville, Iowa.
THE MARK:
Entered in 1929 contest by C. E. Mark, Washington Court House, Ohio. See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE MATTINGLY:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE McCOY:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE McMILLEN:
See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 22, 1932. Is growing in the Riehl and Kellogg plantings.
THE METCALF:
Awarded eighth prize in the 1929 contest to Mrs. E. W. Freel, Pleasantville, Iowa. In fair seasons has borne heavy crops each year. Is supposed to be the mother tree of the Freel and Marion.
THE MILLER:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. Is growing in the Kellogg plantings.
THE MINTLE:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. Is growing in the Riehl and Kellogg plantings.
THE MONTEREY:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report and Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 22, 1932 report. Is growing in the Riehl plantings at Godfrey, Ill. W. R. Fickes, Wooster, Ohio, reports it is not promising there.
THE MORRIS:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report.
THE MYERS:
Entered in 1926 contest by Elmer R. Myers, Bellefontaine, Ohio, R. 2. See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE NICHOLS:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE OGDEN:
Entered in 1926 contest by Mrs. Joe Ogden, Bedford, Ky. See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. Is growing at Riehl farm.
THE OHIO:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. Has been generally planted in all nut tree orchards. E. C. Rice, Absher, Ky., has few young trees doing fine and bore a few nuts in 1934; largest in hull he had ever seen. J. H. Gage, Hamilton, Ontario, planted one Ohio walnut in 1924, moved it in 1925. It started to bear in 1928 and has borne every year since except one. Tree now 25 feet in height, trunk six inches in diameter, is growing in light, sandy soil near west end of north shore of Lake Ontario. W. R. Fickes, Wooster, Ohio, reports the Ohio as not promising there.
THE PARADOX (hybrid):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 20, 1932 report. Is supposed to be a rapid grower but has not proved satisfactory in the east.
THE PATTERSON:
Submitted in 1926 contest by Mrs. William Patterson, Wever, Iowa.
THE PATUXENT:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. Is growing in the Riehl and Kellogg orchards.
THE PEANUT:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE PEARL:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE PINECREST:
See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 22, 1932, and Mr. Reed's paper, page 151, 1932 report; also Mr. Stokes' paper and tests, page 110, 1932 report.
THE POWERS:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE ROHWER:
Took second prize in 1926 contest. See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. J. H. Gage, Hamilton, Ontario, has young grafts of this walnut growing but not old enough to bear. W. R. Fickes, Wooster, Ohio, reports that the Rohwer there is probably next to the Thomas in quality.
THE ROYAL (hybrid):
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report. Is reported to be a rapid grower but has not proved satisfactory in the east.
THE RUDDICK:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE SCHIMMOLLER:
Entered in 1926 contest by Will T. Schimmoller, Fort Jennings, Ohio. See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE STABLER:
Parent tree in Howard County, Maryland. Has been generally planted in nut orchards but has not proved satisfactory. It is a fine cracker. E. C. Rice, Absher, Ky., reports it does fine there, better than Ohio. W. R. Fickes, Wooster, Ohio, reports it is not promising there. J. H. Gage, Hamilton, Ontario, has one tree four years of age, which bore a few nuts in 1934. Stood last winter's weather (-30 degrees F.) with no damage whatever.
THE STAMBAUGH:
Took first prize in 1926 contest. See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. It is being generally tested in nut orchards. J. H. Gage, Hamilton, Ontario, has some young trees growing which are not old enough to bear. W. R. Fickes, Wooster, Ohio, reports the Stambaugh there is heavily veined, is oily, soon shrivels and is not very good quality.
THE STANLEY:
See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 22, 1932, and Mr. Stokes' paper with tests, pages 108 and 110, 1932 report.
THE STEVENS:
See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 22, 1932, and Mr. Reed's paper, page 151, and Mr. Stokes' paper with tests, pages 109 and 110, in 1932 report.
THE STILLMAN:
Awarded third prize in 1929 contest to Mrs. J. A. Stillman, Mackeys, North Carolina.
THE STOUT:
Entered in 1926 contest by W. F. Stout, Hammersville, Ohio.
THE TASTERITE:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report and his paper in 1931 report. W. R. Fickes, Wooster, Ohio, reports the Tasterite is not promising there.
THE TEN EYCK:
One of the standards in past years. See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE THOMAS:
Considered the leading walnut in past years and still preferred to all others by many growers. See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report. The Thomas walnut seems to produce the same quality nuts from Oklahoma to New York. E. C. Rice, Absher, Ky., has young trees doing fine but not old enough to bear. J. H. Gage, Hamilton, Ontario, has two Thomas trees planted in 1924 and moved in 1925 which started to bear in 1928 and have borne every year since except one. Trunks of trees are 6 to 7 inches in diameter, trees are 25 feet high and growing in light sandy soil near west end of north shore of Lake Ontario. Temperature last winter reached -30 F. but no damage to the Thomas trees. W. R. Fickes, Wooster, Ohio, reports at the present time he considers the Thomas the best all-round walnut, good in quality, self-pollinating and a heavy early bearer.
THE THORP:
See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE TILLEY:
Submitted in 1926 contest by B. J. Tilley, Murfreesboro, N. C. Is growing in the Riehl orchard.
THE VANDERSLOOT:
Submitted in 1926 contest by C. E. Vandersloot, Muddy Creek Forks, Pa. See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE WASSON:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE WETZEL:
Awarded fourth prize in 1929 contest to Annie W. Wetzel, New Berlin, Pa. See Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE WHEELING:
A new excellent walnut located by Mrs. E. W. Freel, Pleasantville, Iowa, in 1932.
THE WEIDENHAMMER:
See Dr. Zimmerman's report, page 22, 1932.
THE WIARD:
See Mr. Reed's paper in this report.
THE WOODALL:
See Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report and Mr. Reed's paper in 1931 report.
THE WORTHINGTON:
An excellent walnut located by Mrs. E. W. Freel, Pleasantville, Iowa. See Mr. Reed's paper, page 151, 1932 report.
Mr. H. R. Weber, Cincinnati, Ohio, calls attention to the fact that he has a parent black walnut tree on his place, the nuts of which took second prize in the 1932 Michigan nut contest. He will later give more information concerning it.
PERSIAN WALNUTS
The following Persian walnuts are listed in Mr. Bixby's paper in the 1926 report:
Alpine Anderson Boston Eureka Franquette Hall Holden Lancaster Mayette Meylan Rush
Prof. Neilson's paper in this report covers the following:
Beck Broadview Crath Franquette Larson Mayette McDermid Pomeroy Seeando
In addition the Jones Nursery has growing the following:
Nebo Potomac Sinclair
Mr. John W. Hershey reports the Alpine and Lancaster are the same and that the Franquette, Hall, Nebo and Rush should be listed as obsolete for northern planting, and that the use of the Eureka in the north is questionable. W. R. Fickes, Wooster, Ohio, reports that the Franquette, Lancaster, Mayette, Pomeroy and Rush winter kill at his place.
BUTTERNUTS
The following butternuts are listed in Mr. Reed's paper in the 1931 report, pages 98 and 99:
Aiken Bliss Buckley Creitz Deming Devon Helmick Hergert Hostetter Irvine Lingle Mandeville Saugatuck Sherman Sherwood Simonson Thill Utterbock
The Alverson, Deming, Irvine, Love, Luther and Sherman are covered in Mr. Reed's paper in this report.
HEART NUTS
Mr. Bixby's paper in 1926 report covers the following Heart nuts:
Bates, Faust, Lancaster, Ritchie and Stranger. Mr. John W. Hershey reports the Lancaster should be classed as obsolete as it is practically a hopeless tree, and that the Stranger is a rather common-place nut and should be classed as such.
Mr. Hershey reports a new Heart nut, the Hershey, a seedling grown on his grounds at Downington, Pa. It is growing in a severe frost pocket but has never winter-killed or frost-killed. The nut is excellent. Bearing has been light due to crowding, which has been remedied by cutting down the trees around it.
CHESTNUTS
Most of the named Chestnuts are listed in Mr. Bixby's paper in the 1926 report and are growing on the Riehl farm at Godfrey, Ill. Experiments are still being carried on with hope of producing a blight resistant chestnut. Anyone desiring to plant chestnut trees should consult their local nurseryman or farm advisor.
HAZELS AND FILBERTS
The filberts have not proved entirely hardy for northern territory, but the native hazels and hybrids appear to be entirely satisfactory. The lists are too long to publish. Full and reliable information is contained in Prof. Slate's paper in this report.
Nut Culture in the North
By J. F. WILKINSON
Rockport, Indiana
There being other papers on the subject of nut culture I will confine this to Indiana and surrounding territory where nut trees of several kinds are native, and flourished before the coming of the white man.
Walnut and hickory trees are to be found growing on most kinds of soil, chestnut and hazels mostly on hill land, the pecan as a rule in the lowlands along the streams where vast groves of them are yet producing splendid crops of nuts.
One mile from my nursery, around Enterprise (which was the boyhood home of our worthy member Mr. T. P. Littlepage), are hundreds of these trees, including one of the largest in Indiana. This tree measures 16 feet in circumference at waist height and is estimated to be 125 feet high. It has produced more than 500 pounds of nuts in a season and other trees near here have produced as much as 600 pounds. One of these has a spread of over 100 feet. It is not unusual for a large size tree to produce from 300 to 400 pounds of a good season.
One of the largest groves near here is known as the Major grove near the mouth of Green River, containing about 300 acres, most of the trees on which are pecan trees. Some are of immense size and probably as large as can be found north of the cotton belt. A few trees in this grove are estimated to be more than 150 feet tall.
Along the Wabash River is probably the largest native northern pecan grove consisting of several hundred acres in which it is estimated there are more than 20,000 bearing-size pecan trees. At gathering time in the fall this is a very busy place. It is a source of revenue to many besides the owners.
I was at this grove two weeks ago and was told there that each year school begins the first of August so they can dismiss during October and November to allow the school children to gather pecans during those two months. School teachers in that territory are required to sign a contract to that effect. This grove lies between Shawneetown and New Haven, which are eighteen miles apart.
The town of New Haven has a population of about 400. I was told last fall by one of the three pecan buyers there that, in one day a few years ago, the three of them paid more than $15,000 for pecans for one day's delivery. This of course did not represent the total day's sales for this territory as many of them were sold at Shawneetown. So one can easily see why the people there are anxious for their children to help in this harvest, it being the chief source of fall income to many poor people, who are given one-half of all the pecans they gather. Often on or after a windy day the amount gathered by each one makes a splendid day's wages. Many make a practice of coming a distance each fall for this harvest. One party from St. Louis told me last fall that was his twenty-sixth year at that grove.
This grove is surrounded by smaller ones and many single trees growing on cultivated land. None of the native nut trees in this section have ever had any care whatever, except the ones growing in cultivated fields, and those only farm crop cultivation. Many of the native seedlings seldom bear and some others are shy or irregular bearers. But it is noticeable how much better as a rule those produce that have farm crop cultivation or stand in favorable locations.
This is plainly evident in many instances where trees in the last few years have been cleared around and cultivated, or where an individual tree is standing alone without cultivation, but has plenty of space, food and moisture. An excellent example of this is the Littlepage tree in Enterprise that is probably 35 years old, has never been cultivated but stands in a well used stock lot and has been an annual bearer since a small tree.
On the other hand, near here are a number of trees around which the land had been cultivated in farm crops until about ten years ago, and these trees produced well, but since that time the land has been abandoned and has grown up in a thicket and the production of these trees has been greatly reduced.
About twenty years ago propagation of the better varieties of northern nut trees was begun in southern Indiana. At that time I believe that most of us overlooked the needs of nut trees as we had been used to their taking care of themselves. Our attention to them was mostly at nut harvest time. We failed to take into consideration the conditions under which the best bearing trees were growing and too strongly condemned those not bearing so well, when it was often due to conditions instead of to the trees themselves.
The walnut and hickory will succeed and bear with less moisture than the pecan, though they will do better with plenty of moisture if on well drained land and having good cultivation. We failed to take in consideration that the best bearing pecan trees were growing on low land that was usually overflowed one or more times each season, leaving plenty of moisture and a deposit of plant food. Many articles have been written by nut tree enthusiasts in which the planting of nut trees on unproductive or waste land has been advised. In this the writers were sincere in their statements. This advice has been taken by many, causing more or less disappointment to the planter and no encouragement to his neighbor. No successful fruit grower would plant an orchard of peach or apple trees on poor or waste land, forget about them for a few years and expect to go back and harvest a crop of fruit, and neither need the nut grower expect to.
Since many trees of the named varieties have been in bearing for a number of years it gives a broad field for studying them, and their habits are very similar to the native trees, I do not know of a single tree that is not a testimonial to the care and attention it has been given.
In my first nursery planting trees were left growing to supply bud and graftwood for future use. These were left entirely too close together to remain until large trees, but I have never yet had nerve enough to remove all that should be taken out, with the result that they are now crowding and robbing each other of food and moisture retarding both growth and bearing. These are now from 15 to 19 years old and not producing as many nuts as they did several years ago, or as many as trees several years younger that have more space. My observations convince me that plenty of space, food and moisture are most essential for best results.
The past four years has been a splendid time to study this as our weather conditions have been unusual in that we have in this section had both wet and dry seasons. I am firmly convinced that weather conditions have a great deal to do with the nut crop not only with the quantity of nuts but quality as well. Moisture conditions in spring and early summer determine the size of the nut, and later in the season the quality of the kernel. Plenty of moisture in spring and early summer will make a large size nut. After the shell once forms the growth of nut is done. Then the plumpness of the kernel depends on the amount of moisture after the shell is formed. Lack of moisture the entire season spells a small, poorly filled nut. Trees growing in a crowded position, or on hard, dry ground, seldom ever have all the moisture they need to produce a good crop of well filled nuts. This has been plainly demonstrated with my own and my neighbors' trees in the past few years.
The weather of the previous season also may have much to do with the crop the following season, especially with trees growing under adverse conditions. These conditions can often be largely overcome by the owner, with fertilizers and cultivation.
In planting a tree be sure to give it plenty of space. If the soil is lacking in plant food feed the tree, remembering it can draw food only from a given space. No one would expect to grow the same farm crop on a plot of ground for many years without fertilizer. Prepare to conserve moisture for the hot, dry season either by cultivation or mulching. One of the thriftiest best bearing nut tree plantings I know of is on very sharp, hilly clay ground in Rockport, but the owner fertilizes these trees annually and gives splendid cultivation.
A non-bearing nut tree is no better than any other kind of a tree, so it is not a question of how many nut trees you have, but how many good bearing nut trees you have. To get the best results provide your trees with space, food and moisture.
Varieties of Nut Trees for the Northernmost Zone
By C. A. REED, Bureau of Plant Industry United States Department of Agriculture
The northernmost zone of the eastern part of the United States, within which conditions appear at all encouraging for the planting of the hardiest varieties of nut trees now available, may be outlined as covering the milder portions of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota. Beyond the Canadian border this zone should perhaps include the fruit belt of Ontario known as the "Niagara Peninsula," which skirts Lake Ontario from the City of Hamilton to the Niagara river. No doubt it should also include considerable Canadian territory immediately adjacent to Lakes Erie and St. Clair, and north to the lower end of Lake Huron.
In each American state within this general zone there are numerous localities to which several species of edible nuts are indigenous, others where the butternut alone is found, and still others to which none of the common kinds appear to be adapted. Climate and soil are both limiting factors within this general section. No nut trees are likely to prove hardy to the extent of bearing heavily where winter temperatures are extremely trying or where soils are not of high grade. A fundamental principle involving plant ecology, which with reference to planted nut trees is too often lost sight of, is that, regardless of species, plants are unlikely to be altogether hardy in any locality where minimum temperatures of winter are appreciably lower, or growing periods much shorter, than at the place where the variety in question originated. For example, it is often assumed that a pecan tree native to southern Texas, the lowest point of the range of this species in the United States, should do well in southeastern Iowa, the northernmost point within the range. Likewise, it is also sometimes assumed that a black walnut variety originating in Arkansas, Texas or Tennessee should be hardy in the black walnut belts of New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, or wherever the species is indigenous or has been successfully transplanted.
There are definite degrees of hardiness which must not be overlooked. A species or variety may be hardy enough to grow thriftily for many years, and to make a splendid tree, hundreds of miles north of the latitude at which it will mature occasional crops; or it may be able to produce crops that are frequent in occurrence yet indifferent as to character; or there may be occasional crops of first-class nuts; but good crops of good nuts are exceedingly rare when the minimum temperatures of winter or the length of the growing period are appreciably more adverse than in the locality where the variety originated.
A few illustrations may help to make these points clearer. On the Experimental Farm of the U. S. Department of Agriculture at Arlington, Va., directly opposite Washington, on the Potomac, there are five pecan trees of the Schley variety which originated on the Gulf coast of Mississippi. These trees have grown splendidly since being planted more than 20 years ago. They blossomed and set nuts more or less regularly after they were about eight or ten years of age, but it was only in the eighteenth year that a season was late enough in fall for a single nut to mature. Another case is afforded by a pecan seedling, probably from Texas, called to the writer's attention by Dr. W. C. Deming, Hartford, Conn., which stands near the outskirts of that city. This is a large, beautiful tree. It rarely sets crops of nuts, and when it does the nuts fail to become more than half or two-thirds normal size by the time of autumn frosts. The kernels are then quite undeveloped and the nuts therefore worthless each year.
In another case, near Ithaca, New York, the Stabler walnut from Maryland and the Ohio from Toledo, of the state after which it was named, all appear to be congenially situated insofar as environment is concerned until the nuts are actually harvested and cured. The nuts of each variety appear normal when they drop from the trees, but during the process of curing, the kernels wither up too badly to be marketable. The Thomas from southeastern Pennsylvania is somewhat better able to adjust itself to Ithaca conditions, but it is far from being a commercial success in that region.
Kinds of Nuts
The kinds of nuts suitable for this northern zone naturally divide themselves into three main groups, viz., native, foreign and hybrid. The last might well be divided into three sub-groups, as native hybrids, foreign hybrids, and hybrids between native and foreign species. It is perhaps true that there should also be a fourth subgroup to which chance hybrids should be assigned when there is uncertainty as to which of these three others a given variety may belong.
The Native Group
Of these three main groups that of the native species is at present by far the most important. It includes the black walnut, Juglans nigra; the butternut, J. cinerea; the shagbark hickory, Hicoria ovata; the sweet hickory, H. ovalis; the pignut hickory, H. glabra; the American sweet chestnut, Castanea dentata; the American beech, Fagus americana; and two species of native hazelnut, Corylus americana; and the beaked hazelnut, C. rostrata.
Black Walnut
The black walnut is placed at the head of the native group because of its great all round usefulness. Wherever it grows well its timber is of leading value among all American species. It is a splendid ornamental and the nuts are highly edible. The black walnut range does not extend as far north as does that of the butternut, yet wherever it grows well it is much more useful as a tree, and is successful under a greater variety of conditions. It is probably a more dependable bearer and, upon the average, the nuts yield a higher percentage of kernel. Many more varieties of black walnut than of butternut have been brought to light and more trees have been propagated. Enough varieties of promise have originated in Michigan alone (largely as a result of the work of Prof. James A. Neilson of East Lansing) to preclude any obvious need, at present at least, of bringing varieties from farther south into this zone. In addition to these, a number of other varieties have been recognized from equal latitudes, as in New York and, west of Lake Michigan, in Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota and northern Iowa.
ADAMS—The Adams black walnut is a rather small variety with an approximate size range of from 34 to 48 nuts per pound, and an average of 39. In a cracking test of the 1930 crop, conducted after the kernels had become too dry for most satisfactory cracking, the yield of quarters was 16.75 per cent; that of small pieces 7.81 per cent, and the total 24.56 per cent. The nuts are much elongated in form, being sharply pointed at each end. Many are quite symmetrical, thin-shelled and, when not too dry, of excellent cracking quality. The kernels examined have been notably bright in color, firm in texture, very sweet and highly pleasing to the palate. The quarters are long and slender.
The Adams was first called to public attention in 1920, when the late Henry Adams of Scotts, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, was awarded first prize for an entry of nuts from the original tree which he made in a contest held that year by the Northern Nut Growers Association. In an article published in the Michigan farmer of Detroit, on July 7, 1922, he stated that this tree grew as a sprout in a corn row on land which he cleared in the spring of 1869. When the tree was seen by the writer in 1929, and again in 1932, it gave the impression of having been a moderate or slow grower. Such facts as have been obtainable from time to time indicate that it is but a moderate bearer. However, the character of the soil in which it stands is not of the best, although it is far from being poor. In better soil it would doubtless produce heavier and more uniform crops.
As nearly as it can be ascertained, the Adams was first propagated by the late W. G. Bixby of Baldwin, Long Island, who procured scions in 1922. It was again grafted six years later by J. F. Wilkinson of Rockport, Ind., with scions procured by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. In April, 1930, one of the resulting trees was shipped by the Department to the Kellogg Experimental and Demonstration Farm, Augusta, Mich. Trees are now growing on the grounds of the United States Department of Agriculture Horticultural Field Station at Beltsville, Md., and records in the Bixby file show that a tree was shipped by him to Mr. Harry R. Weber, Cleveland, Ohio, probably about 1930. No doubt the variety is growing in other plantings.
An entry of Adams black walnut won third prize in the Michigan contest conducted under the direction of Professor Neilson of East Lansing at the end of the 1929 crop year. During the same year Dr. W. C. Deming, Chairman of the Contest Committee for the Northern Nut Growers Association, made the following comments regarding the Adams: "Shell thin, cracking quality good to perfect, color of kernel light, condition plump, texture tender, quality rich, flavor high." His summary was put tersely, "An excellent nut."
In the event that this variety would do better in a richer soil than that where the parent tree stands, it might prove to be one of the most desirable of all kinds now known for use in the northernmost zone. The parent tree is now owned by a son of the late Henry Adams, Mr. H. R. Adams of Scotts, who now lives on the old homestead.
ALLEN—The Allen black walnut is another Michigan variety which appears to be of considerable promise. It has been under observation by the U. S. Department of Agriculture at Washington since the summer of 1923, when it was called to the attention by the Honorable Charles W. Garfield of Grand Rapids. The parent is a healthy double tree standing some twenty rods from Thornapple Creek on the farm of Mr. Glenn W. Allen, R. F. D. 1, Middleville, Barry County. The local conditions of soil and moisture are highly favorable. The tree frequently bears heavy crops, although, like most others of the species, it tends more to alternate rather than to annual bearing.
Five pounds of the 1931 crop tested in Washington showed a range of from 31 to 37 nuts per pound and an average of 34. The percentage of quarter kernels was 22.45, that of small parts 1.10, and that of bad, O.31 per cent, making a total kernel yield of 23.86 per cent. The cracking quality was good, the kernels were plump, the quality of the kernel rich and the flavor medium sweet.
The Allen was awarded first prize by Professor Neilson in the Michigan contest of 1929. It should be well worthy of test planting in the northern zone. It has been disseminated to a very considerable extent for use in small plantings.
ALLEY—The Alley is a New York variety from the farm of Miss Amy A. Alley, Lagrangeville, Duchess County. This farm is within fifteen miles of the Connecticut line and some 50 to 75 miles above New York City. The Alley was first brought to attention by Miss Alley in 1918, when she was awarded first prize in the contest for that year of the Northern Nut Growers Association. The late W. G. Bixby, in reporting for the committee in charge, said that the Alley had a shell thinner than that of Stabler and that the cracking quality was "100 per cent."
In none of the tests conducted by the department has this variety ranked with the best of the more recent kinds, yet because of its latitude of origin and the fact that in general merit it is well above the average seedling, it is believed that it should be included in northern trial plantings.
Three pounds of the 1931 crop tested by the department counted 39, 41 and 42 nuts each, respectively. The range was 36 to 45. The percentage yield of quarter kernels was but 13.96, for out of 122 nuts cracked 15, or 12.29 per cent, were bad. The total yield of kernel amounted to 25.57 per cent. The kernels that year were neither particularly plump nor especially well filled.
BECK—The Beck is another Michigan variety of black walnut which in many respects has compared favorably with the best varieties yet brought to light from any source. The parent tree was called to the attention of the U. S. Department of Agriculture in March, 1929, by Mr. Howard Harris, R. F. D. 7, Allegan, Allegan County, Michigan. It was on a farm then owned by Mr. Daniel Beck, R. F. D. 2, Hamilton, also of Allegan County. It is a double tree standing in an open field some 20 rods back of the barn. Like many other northern varieties of black walnut, the nuts are rather small, ranging in 1930 from 28 to 49 per pound, and having an average of 37. In that year it had the high percentage of quarter kernels of 25.36, and a total percentage of kernel of 33.08. The shell was thinner than that of the average black walnut, the cracking quality very good, and the kernel bright-colored, plump, rich and sweet.
The Beck has been successfully grafted in the Bixby nursery at Baldwin, Long Island, and at the E. A. Riehl Farm and Nursery at Godfrey, Illinois; by J. W. Arata, Mishawka, Ind.; by Professor Neilson, and probably by others. It is growing in the government test orchard at Beltsville, Md.
BLOSS—The Bloss black walnut was called to the attention of this department in January of 1934 by Mr. Joe Bloss, R. F. D. 2, Box 65, Bristol, Indiana, who at that time forwarded 23 specimen nuts to Washington. These averaged 33 per pound and had a range of from 29 to 36. In the test which followed they yielded 21.05 per cent of quarters and 3.35 per cent of small pieces, making a total of 24.40 per cent of kernel. The cracking quality was very good, the kernel bright, medium sweet, and fairly rich. On the whole this appeared to be a very good nut.
Because of the very creditable showing made by these nuts, it is believed that the Bloss should be investigated further. It may prove valuable in the general locality of its origin, and as Bristol is but a few miles below the Michigan state line, it would seem that the variety should be given careful consideration in plantings throughout the milder portions of the northern zone.
BRUER—The Bruer black walnut first came to attention in 1926 when Mr. Milo Bruer of East Main Street, Sleepy Eye, Minn., sent specimen nuts to Dr. W. C. Deming, Hartford, Conn., for entry in the contest being conducted that year by the Northern Nut Growers Association. Dr. Deming reported that he found the shell thin, the cracking quality good, the kernel white, plump, medium rich in quality, and of mild, nutty "pecan-like" flavor. Later examination in Washington of 20 specimens of the same crop showed that the nuts averaged 37 per pound. By that time they were dried beyond the most satisfactory point for cracking, and, consequently, in this respect, the quality was medium only. The kernels were then but medium plump.
In other respects they appeared to be about as had been observed by Dr. Deming.
As this is the best variety yet brought to attention from Minnesota, it is believed that it should be used in all northern plantings until superseded by others of superior merit.
CRESCO—The parent tree of the Cresco black walnut stands in a creek bottom, on what is known as the Patterson farm, two miles southwest of Cresco, Howard County, Iowa. It is probably within ten miles of the Minnesota state line. So far as known, with the exception of Bruer (of Minnesota), the latitude of its place of origin is greater than that of any other variety originating west of Chicago. It was discovered by Mr. W. A. Bents, proprietor of Cresco Nurseries, Cresco, Iowa, by whom, in 1929, specimen nuts of the 1928 crop were sent to the late S. W. Snyder, of Snyder Bros., Inc., of Center Point, Iowa. Scions of this variety were also sent to Mr. Snyder, by whom it was first grafted in 1929. The Cresco has since been disseminated to a considerable extent and is now growing in a number of widely remote plantings, including those of the E. A. Riehl Farm and Nursery, Godfrey, Ill., and the U. S. Department of Agriculture at Beltsville, Md.
Seventy-three nuts of the 1930 crop examined in Washington averaged 35 per pound and yielded 24.55 per cent of quarter kernels, 4.09 per cent small pieces and 0.73 per cent bad, making a total kernel percentage of 29.18.
The latitude of origin, together with the apparent general merit of the Cresco black walnut, makes this variety appear to be of special promise in the northernmost zone.
EDRAS—This is a particularly promising variety, brought to light by Mr. Gerald W. Adams, of Moorhead, Iowa, in connection with the 1926 Association contest; when it was No. 3 of three entries made by Mr. Adams. (It was No. 1 that was designated by the Association as "Adams" at that time and awarded twelfth prize. This variety received no prize.) The variety was first called "Adams" in his honor, but as a Michigan variety had previously been so designated, the name was changed to Edras, after the first name of Mrs. Adams.
The Edras was rated as being "Outstanding" by the late S. W. Snyder of Iowa (Iowa State Hort. Soc. Ann. Rep. 1924, p. 49). Prof. N. F. Drake, of Fayetteville, Ark., in the Proceedings of the Northern Nut Growers Association (p. 24) for 1930, stated: "I think this variety should be kept in mind, especially for breeding purposes where it is desired to develop a strain with a high percentage of kernel."
In a test of nuts from the 1930 crop, the Department of Agriculture obtained a percentage yield of 20.98 for quarters and a total kernel yield of 34.31. That year, 0.43 per cent of the kernels were found bad, and 12.91 per cent were of small parts. It is not improbable that another test would result in an even higher total yield and appreciable improvement in the yield of quarters.
This variety has been quite widely disseminated. It is known to be growing on the Riehl Farm and Nursery grounds at Godfrey, Ill.; at the Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Ill.; on the Kellogg Experimental and Demonstration Farm, Augusta, Michigan; on the farm of Mr. Harry W. Weber, Cleves, Ohio; and on the governmental test orchard at Beltsville, Md.
The latitude of Moorhead is somewhat below that of the southern boundary of the northern zone, yet climatic conditions of extreme western Iowa are probably no less severe than those of southern Michigan. For this reason, and because of the excellent rating that this variety has received, it is believed that the Edras should be included in further test plantings of the northernmost zone.
GERMAINE—The Germaine black walnut, named in honor of Mr. John W. Germaine, R. 6, Allegan, Mich., owner of the original tree, was called to the attention of the U. S. Department of Agriculture in March of 1929 by Mr. Howard Harris, R. F. D. 7, also of Allegan, when he forwarded a few specimen nuts of the 1928 crop to Washington. These were found to have very good cracking quality and plump kernels of rich quality and pleasing flavor.
Scions have been placed in the hands of various individuals and agencies. Trees of this variety are now growing at Beltsville, Md., and at Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Ill.
GRUNDY—The Grundy black walnut originated with a thrifty young seedling owned by Mr. John Rohwer, Grundy Center, Iowa. It was brought to light in 1927, when it received first prize in a private contest conducted by Prof. N. F. Drake, Fayetteville, Ark., and by him given the temporary designation of "Iowa."
According to President F. H. Frey of the Northern Nut Growers Association, in a statement appearing in the Proceedings for 1932 (p. 158), Mr. Rohwer exhibited this variety during the Missouri State Fair of 1928 and was given first prize. The same year, according to this statement, the Grundy was awarded second prize during the meeting of the Mid-West Horticultural Show held in Cedar Rapids. In the opinion of Mr. Frey, the Grundy is superior to Rohwer in flavor of kernel and its equal in cracking quality. An entry of Grundy made in the 1929 contest of the Association was awarded fifth prize.
Little is known of the bearing habits of this variety, although Mr. D. C. Snyder, the surviving member of Snyder Bros., Inc., of Center Point, wrote to Washington on July 31, 1933, that he was "afraid" that both this variety and Rohwer might not prove to be "reliable bearers."
An opinion of Ex-President of the Association, C. F. Walker, expressed July 16, 1933, by letter to the writer, was to the effect that the Grundy walnut was "fair" only.
Three pounds of the 1931 Grundy walnuts tested by the Department at Washington yielded 27.74 per cent quarters, 1.57 per cent bad, and 2.35 per cent small pieces, making a total of 31.66 per cent kernel. The nuts averaged 35 per pound and had a range of from 28 to 36. The cracking quality was very good, the kernels bright, plump, rich in quality and of agreeable flavor.
Considering the good points in favor of this variety, even though its latitude of origin is somewhat below that of the south Michigan border, it would seem that until worthier nuts are found, this should be included in test plantings of the northernmost zone.
HARRIS—The Harris walnut first became known to the department in December of 1924, when Mr. Howard Harris, R. F. D. 7, Allegan, Mich., owner of the original tree, submitted specimens for examination. The feature which attracted immediate attention was the superior cracking quality, due to the largeness and openness of its kernel chambers. The kernels were not as plump as might have been desired, but this is assumed to have been due to the light, sandy soil where the parent tree grows.
In examining specimens of the 1927 crop, Dr. Deming noted that the nuts were "small, clean," the shell "thick," the cracking quality "good to perfect," and the kernel "not plump, light (in weight) and texture hard." He placed the flavor at "fair to sweet," yet felt that the variety should be given further consideration. Many of the kernels of the nuts which he examined, like those from this tree during most years, were "shrunken."
Two pounds of the 1930 crop tested in Washington yielded 10.91 per cent of quarters, 3.30 per cent of bad kernels, and 4.41 per cent of small pieces, making a total of but 18.63 per cent.
This is a much lower rating than that of any other variety included in this list, and were it not for the superiority of its cracking quality and the latitude of its origin, it would hardly now be included. However, it should probably be included in all test plantings in the northernmost zone, especially if breeding is contemplated. The soil where this original tree stands is of a light, sandy nature. Allowance for this should be made in evaluating the merits of the variety.
HILTON—The Hilton black walnut came to the attention of the U. S. Department of Agriculture in early March of 1933, when specimens were received through the courtesy of Prof. L. H. MacDaniels of Ithaca, New York, by whom its propagation had already been successfully begun. Professor MacDaniels wrote that he did not feel that it was "outstanding," except that "apparently it does succeed rather far north and is much above the average in general merit."
The nuts sent to Washington averaged 25 per pound, had a range of from 21 to 28 per pound, and were therefore quite large, especially for that latitude. The yield of quarters was 20.46 per cent, that of small kernel parts O.66 per cent, and the total 21.12 per cent. The cracking quality was very good, the kernel quality rich and the flavor very good.
The original tree, according to Professor MacDaniels, is tall and difficult to climb. It stands on the lot of a next-door neighbor of Mr. D. C. Wright of Hilton, through whom it came to the attention of Professor MacDaniels.
As the town of Hilton is within ten miles of the shore of Lake Ontario, the origin of the variety was practically on the extreme northern edge of western New York. In view of this, it is felt that the Hilton variety should be carefully considered in connection with any planting in the northernmost zone.
HUBER—The Huber black walnut was brought to light by Mr. Ferdinand Huber, Cochrane, Wis., in 1929, when he made an entry in the Association contest. Although the nuts were awarded no prize, the Bixby report made special mention of these nuts as being "notable for the high percentage of kernel (1930 Proc. N. N. G. A., p. 108), having yielded 32.8 per cent of total kernel."
The variety has not been tested by the department, although several attempts have been made to procure specimens for the purpose, but each such effort has been coincident with a crop failure by this particular tree.
LAMB—The Lamb black walnut is a variety propagated and grown for its wood only. The parent tree stood on a farm one-quarter mile east of Ada, Kent County, Michigan, perhaps ten miles due east of Grand Rapids. After the log had been cut and shipped to a mill, discovery was made that the wood of the original tree had a highly figured grain. Mr. George Lamb, then Secretary of the American Walnut Manufacturers Association, 616 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, traced the origin of the log back to its source, where the top was found to be still green, although the tree had been cut two months previous. Scions were cut and sent by Mr. Lamb to the Department of Agriculture in Washington, and also to Dr. Robert T. Morris, Merribrooke Farm, Stamford, Conn. At the suggestion of Dr. Morris, Mr. Lamb also sent scions to Mr. Ford Wilkinson, Rockport, Ind.
Some of the scions received by the Department were placed in the hands of others, including the late Messrs. Jones, Bixby and Snyder, also Prof. V. R. Gardner, Director of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station at East Lansing, and Dr. G. A. Zimmerman, Piketown, Pa. Drs. Morris and Zimmerman, Professor Gardner, and Messrs. Wilkinson and Bixby, were all successful in their efforts at grafting. Mr. Bixby made new grafts as soon as the original could be cut for scions, and also made some distributions of scions. At the time of his death in August, 1933, there were a dozen or more nursery trees of various sizes and degrees of condition among his stock at Baldwin. From these, scions were sold to a number of Association members during the spring of 1934.
While it has not yet been established that the character of figured grain is transmissible with scions, the value of such wood is so great that anyone interested in producing walnut trees of outstanding value would do well to investigate this variety to the extent of growing a few trees. In all likelihood the combined results from tests made by a large number of persons would be of great value to science.
TASTERITE—The parent tree of the Tasterite walnut, owned by Everl Church, R. F. D. 3, Ithaca, New York, was discovered and named by Mr. S. H. Graham, a neighbor, living on Route 5, also out of Ithaca. The latter submitted specimens to the department in Washington in 1929, where they made a highly favorable showing. Tasterite nuts entered that year in the contest of the Northern Nut Growers Association, although receiving no award by the committee were given the rating of "excellent" by Dr. Deming. In 1930, Prof. N. F. Drake of Fayetteville, Ark., gave Tasterite nuts a rating of "100 per cent on cracking quality." He obtained a total of 28.05 per cent of kernel. Nuts of the 1930 crop examined in Washington averaged 36 per pound, ranged from 34 to 38, and yielded 20.92 per cent of quarters and 7.22 per cent of small pieces, making a total of 28.14 per cent.
The shell of the nut is thinner than the average and the cracking quality distinctly superior. The kernels of nuts promptly harvested, hulled and cured have been bright, plump, rich in quality, and especially pleasing in flavor. The one weak point of the Tasterite appears to be in the matter of size, but this smallness is well offset by superiority in the points just mentioned, and also in what is perhaps more important, the latitude and altitude of the place of origin. Any variety which will yield heavy crops of nuts distinctly superior to the average black walnut in cracking quality and kernel merit at a 42-degree latitude plus, and a 2,000-foot altitude, should be potentially very valuable in the northernmost zone.
WIARD—This is another Michigan variety, apparently of much merit. Vague bits of information regarding it have reached the department at Washington from time to time since June, 1926, when Greening Bros., of Monroe, stated to the writer that Mr. Everett Wiard, a fruit grower near the eastern outskirts of Ypsilanti, was grafting a promising seedling of his own origin. This clue was not successfully followed up until 1932, when a few specimen nuts were obtained. These were found to be of medium size and of excellent cracking quality. The kernels were plump, bright, rich in quality, and of pleasing flavor.
On February 12, 1934, Professor Neilson wrote the department that this seedling had come to his attention during Farmers' Week, held shortly before, at East Lansing. He stated that to him this appeared to be one of the best seedlings thus far discovered and that he was recommending it for propagation. He added that the nut was "of medium size, somewhat diamond-shaped, thin-shelled, easy to crack and of excellent extractive quality." Very likely more will be learned of this variety in the future.
Butternut Varieties
The American butternut, Juglans cinerea, although commonly held to be a slow grower, a tardy and light bearer, and a producer of thick-shelled nuts hard or impossible to crack without extreme difficulty, is frequently quite the opposite in one or more, or all, of these respects. Under favorable environment the trees grow rapidly, bear early, and oftentimes the nuts may be easily cracked and the kernels extracted in perfect halves. Probably more than a dozen varieties from various portions of the North have been named. A few of these appear to be of considerable promise.
The northern range of the butternut extends from Nova Scotia over Maine, across New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, the upper peninsula of Michigan, and through Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota to South Dakota south to Georgia and Arkansas.
Butternut flavor is preferred by many people to that of any other nut. Throughout New England the kernels are used to no inconsiderable extent in the making of highly pleasing food products. Oftentimes the ground kernels are used in the home manufacture of pastries and confections which are either consumed at home or sold on roadside markets at good profit.
The butternut is not without certain weak points which must not be forgotten. The timber is less valuable than that of black walnut, the trees grow to smaller size and seldom live more than 75 or 100 years; outside of the best growing sections of the North, it is possible that the majority succumb under 40 years.
Being less symmetrical, butternut trees are not as suitable for ornamental planting as are nut trees of many other kinds. Nevertheless, a tree or two of each of the best varieties now available should be included in all nut planting as far south as the species is indigenous, and perhaps farther down.
ALVERSON—The parent tree of this variety is owned by Mr. M. E. Alverson, Howard City, Montcalm County, Michigan. It was first called to public attention when it was awarded third prize in the 1932 State contest held at East Lansing under the direction of Prof. James A. Neilson, of Michigan Agricultural College. A one-pound lot tested in Washington during April of the same year counted 47 specimens. It yielded 14.44 per cent of quarters and 1.11 per cent of small pieces, making a total of 15.55 per cent kernel. The cracking quality was found to be good. The kernels were large, long, plump, medium bright, and the flavor distinctly pleasing.
DEMING—This variety was called to attention by Olcott Deming, a son of Dr. W. C. Deming, Hartford, Conn., to whom it was awarded first prize in the 1918 contest of the Northern Nut Growers Association. Dr. Deming sought to have this variety called Olcott, but the name became fixed when it appeared in the Jones catalogue of 1920, and later in various reports of the Association.
The Deming butternut is probably an early bearer, as in notes prepared by the late J. F. Jones for use during the 1926 convention held at Lancaster, reference was made to two trees (Nos. 88 and 89), which were in "bearing while still quite young," the latter of which "bore two nuts the next year after being grafted," and which was then "bearing its third consecutive crop." Mr. Jones began its propagation in 1920, commenting to the writer at the time that it was "larger and had a thinner shell than Aiken."
IRVINE—This variety was awarded first prize ($50.00) in the Northern Nut Growers Association contest of 1929. The parent tree is owned by Mrs. L. K. Irvine, Menominee, Dunn County, Wis. In a Washington test of three pounds, conducted in 1931, the nuts averaged 53 per pound and had a range of from 44 to 59. The kernel yield was 22.13 per cent quarters, 3.90 per cent small pieces, and 0.38 per cent bad. The cracking quality was excellent, the kernels large and highly attractive, the quality good, and the flavor mild. This is apparently one of the finest although not the richest or sweetest, of any variety of butternut yet discovered. It is known to have been successfully propagated but to a limited extent only.
LOVE—This butternut originated on the farm of Mr. Frank Love, R. F. D. 2, Howell, Livingston County, Mich. It was discovered by chance, when the large size and generally sound condition of the parent tree caught the attention of the writer in 1931. In a cracking test conducted later that year the nuts averaged 53 per pound, had a range of from 44 to 71, and yielded a total of 27.32 per cent kernel. The yield of quarters was 24.68 per cent, and that of small pieces 2.64 per cent.
The Love butternuts are considerably smaller than those of some other varieties, and in comparison with Irvine of that year the kernels were much less attractive in appearance, but richer in quality and of more pleasing flavor. On the whole, these nuts now stand among the very best yet called to attention, although during a test made a year later of nuts also from the parent tree, the result was but 17.19 per cent of kernel, composed of 16.86 per cent quarters and 0.33 per cent of small pieces.
These nuts have not appeared in any contest, and in all probability they would have received no award during any but the most favorable years. However, their record of 1931 placed the variety in a class at that time quite by itself.
Scions from the original tree, purchased by the department in 1933, and placed in the hands of several commercial propagators, have resulted in at least one living grafted tree. This is being carefully guarded, and as soon as possible others will be grafted from it. As Mr. Love is quite averse to having the tree cut for scions, it may not be possible to obtain new scions from the original source.
LUTHER—This butternut came to light as a result of the contest held by Professor Neilson at the end of the 1932 crop year, when it received second prize. The entry was made by Mr. F. Luther of Fairgrove, Tuscola County, Mich.
In Washington, nuts of the 1932 crop averaged 52 per pound and yielded 15.45 per cent of quarters and 2.21 per cent of small pieces, making a total of 17.66 per cent of kernel. This test was made in April, after the nuts were rather too dry to crack to the best advantage. At that time the cracking quality was fair only.
SHERMAN—The Sherman butternut first became known in 1929, when Mrs. E. Sherman, Montague City, Mass., was awarded ninth prize in the Northern Nut Growers Association contest of that year. Tested twice in Washington, it has at neither time rated with the best in so far as cracking quality is concerned. In 1931 it made the high kernel yield of 29.41 per cent. However, only 11.76 per cent was of quarters. Exactly the same percentage was of small pieces, and 5.88 per cent of kernels were bad. In 1932, the total per cent of kernel dropped to 15.31, that of quarters to 4.78, and that of kernels to 0.96, while that of small pieces rose to 9.57.
Further studies will be made to see if under optimum conditions of handling after proper harvesting and curing the record of cracking quality cannot be improved upon.
Hickories
According to Alfred Rehder, of Harvard, in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, six species of hickory are indigenous to that region east of the Rocky Mountains here discussed under the term of the northernmost nut zone. These are the shagbark, the shellbark, the sweet hickory, the pignut, the mockernut and the bitternut. The shagbark hickory, Hicoria ovata, and the sweet hickory, H. ovalis, are the principal ones among this group offering promise as sources of varieties fit for cultivation in this zone. The former is well known as a rich-land species, having shaggy bark and a more or less sharply angled sweet nut; the latter, often called pignut, has recently been listed as "sweet hickory" to distinguish it from H. glabra, also called pignut, yet which is sometimes better. The sweet hickory is less exacting in soil requirements than the shagbark, although often nearly or quite as good a nut, popular prejudice notwithstanding. When shelled the kernels can be distinguished only with difficulty. |
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