Of the other hickories indigenous to this zone, all are omitted from the discussion for definite reasons, chief of which is the fact that few or no seedlings of promise have been found. The shellbark, H. laciniosa, which is much like the shagbark in many respects, occurs in this zone sparingly and only in the southernmost part. Nuts of this species, while very large, are thick-shelled and commonly more or less objectionable because of the frequency with which the kernels are imperfectly developed or entirely wanting. The pignut hickory, H. glabra, already mentioned, is omitted from further discussion because of being no better than the sweet hickory in any known respect, and because of the frequent bitterness of its kernel. The mockernut, H. alba, while indigenous practically everywhere that any other hickory grows, and producing a sweet, agreeable kernel, has too thick a shell to justify particular attention at this time. The bitternut hickory, H. cordiformis, is rarely palatable. The tree makes an attractive ornamental, but is relatively unimportant in so far as timber production is concerned.

Intermediate forms of hickory and hybrids originated from chance crosses under purely natural conditions are fairly common. Quite a good many belonging to one or the other of these groups have been brought to light during the last two decades, largely as a result of discovery by the Northern Nut Growers Association. Several of these will be discussed in alphabetical order along with varieties of pure species.

ANTHONY—The Anthony shagbark originated with a seedling tree discovered by Mr. A. B. Anthony, R. F. D. 6, Sterling, Whiteside County, Ill. It appears to be a particularly choice variety, and as the latitude of Sterling is practically the same as that of Chicago, it might do very well in the lower portion of the northernmost zone. In a cracking test of the 1932 crop the yield of quarters was 41.66, that of small pieces 0.60, making a total of 42.26 per cent. The nuts were large, averaging 74 per pound; attractive in appearance, clean, and of nearly white color. The cracking quality was good, the kernel plump, bright, rich in quality and medium sweet in flavor, but not being equal to some others in this last respect. This is believed to be one of the choicest hickory nuts yet brought to light.

CEDAR RAPIDS—This shagbark is from Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa, where the latitude is about 42 degrees north, or about the same as that of Chicago, Ill., Tecumseh, Mich., and the boundary line between Pennsylvania and New York. Like Anthony (of Sterling, Ill.) the merit of this variety is believed such as to justify its trial planting in the southern portion of the northernmost zone.

The Cedar Rapids shagbark was discovered and brought to light by the late S. W. Snyder, senior member of Snyder Bros., Inc., nurserymen at Center Point, Iowa. The exact or even approximate year of discovery and first propagation is not known to the writer, but a remark made by Mr. Snyder during the 1930 convention, and passed on to him by Dr. Deming, would indicate that grafts were made as early as 1914. It was, "a Cedar Rapids shagbark grafted on a hickory (probably meaning shagbark), bore in its third year and has borne every year since, but the same variety grafted 16 years ago on a bitternut has not borne." In various comments made by Mr. Snyder from time to time, especially in connection with the Iowa meetings of the State Horticultural Society and of the Mid-West Horticultural Exposition, he continued to rate this as one of the best varieties within his acquaintance. There are a number of grafted trees of this variety in various parts of the country, but very few yet in bearing. The department at Washington has had no opportunity to test the nuts in detail.

(There is also a variety of bitternut from Iowa known as Cedar Rapids, but the two are quite unlike and should not be confused.)

COMINS—The original tree of the Comins shagbark hickory, awarded eighth prize in the 1929 contest, is owned by Mrs. Nancy E. Comins, Amherst, Hampshire County, Mass. This variety is probably worthy of further investigation, although specimens of the 1929 crop examined at Washington did not appear to as good advantage as did many others.

CREAGER—The Creager hickory is a supposed shagbark and bitternut hybrid known since about 1925, when it was given a high rating, named, propagated and disseminated to a limited extent by Snyder Bros., Inc., of Center Point, Iowa. It was called to their attention by Mr. W. O. Creager, Sumner, Bremer County, Iowa, discoverer of the original tree. The nuts are quite small, averaging in a test made in Washington of the 1930 crop 149 per pound. The yield of kernel was 30.27 per cent quarters, 8.76 per cent small pieces, and the total 39.04 per cent. As this test was made in February, 1932, the nuts were more than a year old, and allowance should be made for this fact. The parent tree had been cut down in the meantime and nuts were not obtainable later.

The shells of the nut are quite thin, easy to crack, and the kernels fairly sweet. Like most others when their parentage involves a cross with the bitternut, a distinct bitterness of flavor hangs over in the mouth as an after-taste.

The grafted tree is said to be a rapid grower and so highly ornamental as to be well worth growing for its beauty alone. A few trees of such a hybrid as this should be in any variety test planting wherever they will succeed. As the latitude of Sumner is 43 degrees, this hybrid should be of interest as far north as Milwaukee, Wis.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Buffalo, N. Y., and the northern boundary line of Massachusetts. Being primarily an ornamental, the Creager might be grown with safety even farther north.

DENNIS—The Dennis shagbark hickory is another variety brought to light by Snyder Bros., Inc., of Center Point, Ia. The original tree was found near the City of Cedar Rapids and called to their attention by the late Dr. A. B. Dennis of that city. Information is lacking as to the exact year, but according to Mr. Bixby's address before the 1920 convention of the Association, Snyder Bros. used Dennis in 1916 in top-working.

No test of the nuts by the department has yet been possible. However, Mr. S. W. Snyder wrote in 1926 that he then considered the Dennis "... the best shagbark yet discovered in Iowa." He added further that "where the nuts are gathered and hulled promptly after ripening, the color of the shell is usually highly attractive." He also stated that the shell was quite thin, and owing to its inner structure the kernels could be extracted easily. He regarded the quality of the kernel as rich and the flavor sweet and pleasing.

This variety is represented in several known plantings and abundant nuts for testing should soon be procurable. Meanwhile, the variety should be included in further test plantings of the northernmost zone.

DREW—The Drew hickory is a shagbark named in honor of Mr. Arthur Drew of Howell, Livingston County, Mich., by whom it was called to attention in 1916. The parent tree stands on the Lyman Beach farm, Marion township, about six miles southwest from the post office. It was then one of many young seedlings less than forty feet tall standing in a cattle pasture. When first examined the nuts were unimpressive, but later specimens received high rating. The tree is difficult to reach and its exact identity probably known only to Mr. Drew.

The latitude of origin, the early age of bearing, and the superiority of nut, both with reference to cracking quality and merit of kernel, seem to call for further study.

EMERICK—This shagbark was discovered by Prof. L. H. MacDaniels of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. Specimens of the 1932 crop were submitted to him by Miss Etta Emerick, West Camp, Ulster County, New York. In Washington seven of these nuts averaged 67 per pound and yielded 33.33 per cent quarters, 2.22 per cent small pieces, and a total of 35.55 per cent kernel. The cracking quality was very good and the nuts otherwise appeared to be of considerable promise.

FAIRBANKS—This is a hybrid hickory, apparently the result of a chance cross between shagbark and bitternut. The parent tree was discovered by the late S. W. Snyder, of Center Point, Iowa, probably about 1912. It then stood near a line fence on the farm of Mr. C. A. Fairbanks, nine miles northwest of Anamosa, Jones County, Iowa. With reference to the merit of this variety, the late Mr. Bixby once commented, "A heavy bearer, nuts attractive, large, smooth and thin-shelled. The variety has about all the good points desirable except that its palatability is too low. It is the Ben Davis of the hickories."

The latitude of Anamosa is such that the Fairbanks should be hardy in the south three or four tiers of counties of Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and over much of Massachusetts. It has been widely disseminated, and because of the popular feeling in its favor, will likely continue to be planted in experimental orchards.

GREEN—The parent tree of the Green sweet hickory is owned by Mr. Steve Green, R. F. D. 9, Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Mich. It was brought to attention in 1929, when it was awarded fifth prize by the Association among the hickory entries that year. This variety is the first of its species (Hicoria ovalis) to have received a prize from the Association.

HUBER—The Huber shagbark hickory originated with a seedling tree owned by Mr. Ferdinand Huber, Cochrane, Buffalo County, Wisconsin. It came to light in 1929, when it was awarded second prize in the Association contest.

HUFF—Like Green, this variety is a sweet hickory, Hicoria ovalis. The parent tree is owned by L. S. Huff, White Pigeon, St. Joseph County, Michigan. Aside from the fact that it was awarded ninth prize in the Association contest of 1929, little is known as to its merits.

LANEY—This variety was brought to light by the late John Dunbar, First Assistant Superintendent of Parks in Rochester, New York, who wrote the department in Washington on March 13, 1916, that the original tree was on a farm owned by Mr. R. J. Sheard, superintendent of a cemetery in Webster County, New York. It appears to be the result of a natural cross between the shagbark and the bitternut hickories. It was given the species name Laneyi by Sargent in his Manual of the Trees of North America, in honor of Mr. C. C. Laney, Superintendent of Parks, in Rochester, by whom it had been called to his attention.

This variety is probably of chief value for ornamental and breeding purposes. The nuts are large, like those of Fairbanks, attractive, thin-shelled, easy to crack and of pleasing palatability to some people. Upon becoming thoroughly cured, especially after a few months, the disagreeable taste characteristic of bitternut usually becomes quite pronounced.

MANN—This shagbark hickory came to light when awarded first prize in the Michigan contest of 1932, held under the direction of Prof. James A. Neilson, East Lansing. The parent tree is owned by Mrs. Rae D. Mann, R. F. D. 3, Davison, Genesee County, Mich. In a cracking test of nuts from the crop of 1932, conducted in Washington, the average was 75 per pound; the yield of quarters was 43.52 per cent, that of small pieces 3.53 per cent, making a total of 47.06 per cent. The cracking quality was excellent, the kernels large, plump, of rich quality and particularly sweet flavor. The kernels were a trifle dark, but otherwise this hickory appears to be one of the most promising kinds yet discovered.

MILLER—This shagbark hickory is another apparently highly promising variety, brought to light as a result of Professor Neilson's efforts. It was awarded second prize in the 1932 state contest held under his direction. The parent tree is owned by Mr. D. P. Miller, Route 3, North Branch, Lapeer County, Mich. It and Mann are from adjoining counties, and the parent trees are probably not over twenty miles apart. The two are of about equal merit and much alike, although Miller nuts are somewhat smaller. In the cracking test of the 1932 contest, fifty nuts weighed one-half pound. Of these, two were spoiled, yet the percentage of quarters was 48.02, that of small pieces 1.32, thus making a total of 49.34 per cent kernel.

The cracking quality was excellent, the kernel a trifle dark, yet very plump, rich and sweet.

SANDE—The Sande shagbark hickory is from the farm of Elmer T. Sande, Story City, Story County, Iowa, about sixteen miles north of Ames. It was brought to light by the late S. W. Snyder as early as November, 1928, when he became responsible for having it mentioned (p. 24) in the premium list of the Seventh Mid-West Horticultural Exposition held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, November 14 to 17. It received seventh prize in the 1929 contest of the Northern Nut Growers Association.

Mr. Snyder commented on this variety, as recorded in the 1930 proceedings of the Northern Nut Growers Association (p. 15), to the effect that the cracking quality of the Sande excelled that of any other variety of Iowa origin known to him at that time. The variety has twice received awards during the State Fair of Iowa. Mr. Snyder stated that the parent tree was then rather young but bearing well.

As the latitude of Story City is slightly greater than 42 degrees, this variety should do well throughout much of the northernmost zone.

SWAIM—The parent tree of the Swaim shagbark hickory stands on Maplewood farm, R. F. D. 1, South Bend, St. Joseph County, Ind., and is now owned by Mr. I. H. Swaim. It is one of a number of seedlings growing from local nuts planted during the early sixties by the late J. M. Swaim, grandfather of the present Mr. Swaim. It was called to the attention of the department in 1912 by Mr. H. H. Swaim, father of the present owner of the tree, who is still living near by on the same mail route.

The Swaim was first propagated about 1914 by W. C. Reed of Vincennes, Ind., who has found it a highly satisfactory variety, with reference to regularity and size of crops and general merit of nuts.

The Swaim is one of three varieties to tie for fourth place in the contest of the Association held in 1919. In a cracking test conducted in Washington with one pound of the 1930 crop, the nuts averaged 84 per pound and yielded 44.73 per cent of quarters, 4.62 per cent small pieces, and 0.44 per cent of bad kernels, thus making a total of 49.78 per cent of kernel. The cracking quality that year was excellent, the kernels large, plump, and bright. The quality was rich and the flavor sweet and pleasing.

As the city of South Bend is but a few miles below the Michigan state line, this variety should be well worth considering for use in test plantings throughout the lower fringe of the northernmost zone.

WESTPHAL—The Westphal is a shagbark hickory from Mr. Otto Westphal, R. F. D. 2, Kendall, Monroe County, Wis. It was awarded fourth place in the 1926 contest of the Philadelphia Society of Agriculture. So far as known, no other examination has been made of the nuts. However, the place they received in this contest, together with its latitude of origin, which is nearly 44 degrees, should commend the Westphal to the consideration of all who are interested in hickories for the northernmost region.

The Filbert

The filbert situation in the north is difficult to characterize. Repeated plantings have been established in this part of the country, probably since colonial days, only to perish in due time. Filbert blight was responsible for much of this loss, but so also were destructively low temperatures. Western New York now seems to be particularly favored, as trees there, notably at Geneva, bear regularly. Mr. Bixby's trees at Baldwin, Long Island, failed significantly during practically the whole of their life. Similarly, a comprehensive collection of varieties in the orchard of Dr. F. L. Baum, Boyertown, Pa., fruits practically not at all. Trees at Arlington, Va., on the government experimental farm, suffer sufficient winter injury each late winter or early spring to be quite regular in non-bearing. The varieties of all these plantings are much the same, and failure is not due to winter killing of the trees, as there is normally very little of this. It appears to be due to destruction of the flowers wrought by low temperatures following weather in January, February or March mild enough to start the flowers into bloom. At the present moment it looks as though European varieties of filbert might do much better where the trees bloom in April, as in western New York, than where flowers come out in February, as at Arlington, or in March, as on Long Island.

For the present not a great deal of encouragement can be offered regarding the European varieties of filbert in the east, except in the most suitable sections. Certain hybrid varieties are now being developed, but they are not yet available for planting.

The Chestnut

No species of chestnut now available through the usual nursery channels can be recommended at the present time for planting in the northernmost zone except for experimentation along somewhat doubtful lines. The American sweet chestnut appears likely soon to be wiped out by blight. No chestnuts from the Old World, either European, Japanese or Chinese, have yet been found which are entirely hardy and otherwise satisfactory at this latitude. The European chestnut is quite as fatally subject to blight as is the American. The Japanese is mostly of too low degree of palatability to offer much promise, and horticultural varieties of Chinese chestnut are not yet available. Varieties of the Chinese hairy chestnut, Castanea mollissima, apparently of much promise, are now being developed, but trees are unlikely to become available for foundation stock to nurserymen for several years.

Other Species

The Persian (English) walnut, Juglans regia, and the Japanese walnut, J. sieboldiana, are both planted to some extent throughout the entire east and north, but neither promise to assume special prominence in this zone. Fine appearing trees in small numbers or occasional orchards of the former may be seen in many places. These are usually near large bodies of water, as within a mile or so, or two or three at most, of the shores of the lower Great Lakes, the Finger Lakes of New York, Long Island Sound, and various rivers and other smaller bodies of water within this general section. They are also to be found near buildings, especially in villages and small towns, but as orchard trees, or even single specimens out in the open, they are almost never met with except possibly while very young.

The Japanese walnut is likewise little more than a novelty in this region. It is probably somewhat more hardy than is the foregoing, but it is not its equal in desirability. It grows rapidly under favorable environment, often becomes a handsome ornamental, comes into fruit while young, and bears freely but seldom heavily. The nuts are small, variable in character, and not particularly popular on the market. In flavor the kernels resemble butternut, but are much more mild. The nuts of this species are of two distinct types, the larger being shaped like a guinea egg, having a rather thick shell, and of doubtful merit. The other, known as the heartnut, is small as a rule, distinctly heartshaped, and easily opened with a knife by splitting the shell in half. A number of varieties are available through nurserymen.

Between these two distinct types of Japanese walnut there are numerous intermediate forms hard to classify but invariably less desirable than heartnuts. There are also numerous offspring of marked vigor, producing nuts distinctly butternut-like in form but having even thicker shells. These last do not commend themselves for any purpose other than that of genetic use.

Summary

The black walnut, the shagbark hickory, the sweet hickory, the butternut and certain hybrid hickories are now believed to offer greater inducement to prospective planters of nut trees in the northernmost zone east of the Rocky Mountains than do other species. Varieties of strictly northern origin are now available to those who are capable of doing their own grafting. Many of these are of considerable promise, apparently, at least, equal in merit to any of the older varieties now being offered by nurserymen.



The Tour—September 11th

On Tuesday forenoon, September 11, the convention visited the Kellogg Factory and the Battle Creek Sanitarium and at noon returned to the W. K. Kellogg Hotel, where a delicious luncheon was served to the members and guests. Miss Mary I. Barber, Director of Home Economics of the Kellogg Company, in behalf of Mr. W. K. Kellogg, graciously acted as hostess at the luncheon.

On Tuesday afternoon the convention went to the Kellogg Company farm by motor bus and auto to visit the nut trees. They then proceeded to the Bird Sanctuary and the Kellogg estate. This was followed by a motor boat trip around beautiful Gull Lake and dinner at Bunbury Inn. A session followed the dinner.

THE PRESIDENT:

I wish to present Professor V. R. Gardner, the Director of the Experiment Station at Michigan State College, East Lansing, who has kindly consented to address us this evening.

PROF. GARDNER:

In the field of horticulture we have many problems and these problems may be classified in different ways. From one standpoint, at least, there is a typical group or class of problems that arises in connection with a crop like the peach or apple or pear. If you knew that tomorrow or next week or next month you were to attend a meeting of peach or pear growers, you would have a pretty good idea of the type of questions that would be raised. They concern variety, insect and disease control, fertilization, and many questions relating to harvesting, packing and marketing the crop. On the other hand, suppose you were to attend a meeting of peony, delphinium, or dahlia growers. You would find not only an entirely different type of question under discussion, but an entirely different atmosphere.

Now, are the problems of those who are interested in nuts more like those of the peach or the delphinium grower? You probably have your own answer to that question. At least, answers are coming to your mind. To my way of thinking—though of course I may be wrong—the kind of problem that presents itself to the person who is interested in growing nuts is more like the type that presents itself to those who are interested in dahlias or delphiniums or sweet peas than the problems that present themselves to the pear or cherry grower. In other words, it seems to me as though the problems of the nut grower are essentially the problems of the amateur. That does not mean they are less important or less interesting than they would be were the industry on more of a commercial basis like peach growing.

About a year ago I was talking with Dr. Magness of the U. S. Bureau of Plant Industry and the discussion happened to turn to nuts. I knew that within the preceding six months Dr. Magness had covered most of the southern states where the pecan is grown commercially and had occasion to give considerable attention to the problems of the pecan industry. I asked, "What percentage of the commercial pecan growers at the present time are producing 1,000 pounds of cured nuts to the acre?" He replied, "Don't ask me what percentage. We can't talk about it in those terms. You can probably list on the fingers of one hand the growers who, year in and year out, are producing pecans at the rate of a thousand pounds to the acre, and certainly you can on the fingers of two hands." To me that was a rather striking statement. Dr. Magness may not have been entirely correct in his answer, but he was probably not far off. Anyway, the percentage of commercial pecan growers obtaining really large yields is extremely small. In the Pacific Coast States, a larger number and a larger percentage of the walnut growers regularly produce a thousand pounds of cured walnuts to the acre, though there are more who average 500 or 600 pounds. As yet, in any of our retail markets you may purchase first class named varieties of pecans at from 25c to 40c a pound. The same thing is true of English walnuts. If the cultivated varieties of the black walnut, hickory and the chestnut are to be put on the market in quantity, they will come into competition with the pecan, English walnut, almond and Brazil nut. This means that they must sell at comparable prices.

Therefore, one of the principal problems of the nut industry, as I see it, just as with delphiniums or the peony or the dahlia or iris or in others that I might mention, is the problem of plant materials, more specifically, the breeding or discovery of varieties that are superior and that consequently can really compete with the English walnut and pecan and that likewise are productive and that can be produced at a low cost. As a matter of fact, in all of your meetings up to the present time the finding, testing, and the evaluating of chance seedlings that appear to be of promise has constituted not only an essential but one of the larger features to claim attention. Furthermore, I believe it will continue to claim attention for many years to come.

Practically all of your present materials, from the Fairbanks hickory to the Thomas or Stabler walnut, have just happened—that is, occurred as chance seedlings. They have been found and recognized as something a little better than the general run. Someone has brought them to the attention of the public, your Association placed approval on them, and they have been propagated and finally become more or less disseminated.

I presume that by a more thorough combing of the territory more good material will be found and brought to the front. However, after you do a certain amount of combing, you eventually exhaust the resources. Nevertheless, when that time comes in a matter of this kind, a good deal more can be done. If the plum or grape grower had stopped when he had scouted all of the territory where vines are native and had introduced into cultivation the best of the chance seedlings that nature had given us, we wouldn't have the grapes or plums or other fruits that we have today.

At this point I wish to make a suggestion as to one thing that this association, as an association, and perhaps some of its members as individuals, can give some attention to as a part of your program in the years to come. It is the job of breeding superior varieties of nuts, because much improvement is called for in walnuts, hickories, and the other kinds before they are all that you or the consuming public wants of them. The situation is essentially the same with nuts as with other fruit and ornamental plants. We have some pretty good peaches, but ten years from now the producers in Michigan will be growing very few of the varieties that they are growing today, and I dare say that twenty-five years from now they will be growing hardly any of them. We have some very attractive delphiniums and dahlias, but in 1950 few of today's favorites will be in cultivation. They will be superseded by new and superior varieties. In 1950, or 1975, we should be growing nut varieties that are far superior to what is available at the present time.

To say that there is room for much improvement sounds all right, but who is going to effect it? Nut trees are not the easiest things in the world to grow. They require a long time to come into bearing, and it is almost out of the question for a person of middle age to undertake a breeding project with a crop like the black walnut or northern hickory and expect to get anywhere. Even if an Experiment Station undertakes a problem of this kind, there is the likelihood that it may be dropped before much will have been accomplished, for the person who starts it may go somewhere else or be compelled to divert his attention to something else, while the person who succeeds him has no interest in the project. That has happened time and time again with investigations of many kinds, but it has been particularly true of breeding projects.

If we are ever to make any real progress in the breeding of nuts, one of the first things we need to know is the value of the different materials with which we have to work and the varieties that are used as parents. The Stabler, Thomas and Ohio are relatively superior black walnuts, but we do not know which is the best of these for breeding for size or vigor of tree or productivity or quality of nut or any other quality. We haven't the slightest idea. Yet before really scientific plant breeding work can be initiated, there is need of information as to which of these can be depended on for transmitting to its offspring certain specific qualities. Through experiment and experience we have learned some of these things with regard to some of the other fruit and ornamental crops. For instance, we know that the J. H. Hale is not only a wonderful variety in itself, but that it has the ability to produce superior progeny. Certain other varieties lack this ability. So, doubtless, it is with nuts. How are we to obtain this information? If your Association could get two or three growers, say here in Michigan, to inbreed the Stabler walnut and grow the resulting seedlings—perhaps a thousand in number—to fruiting age and someone somewhere else to do the same with the Thomas and with the Ohio and other varieties, it would not be long before a body of information would be collected that would furnish a definite basis for the scientific breeding of nuts. Incidentally, the chances are that some of this first group of seedlings would be superior and I believe that the chances are better than 50-50 that the resulting nut orchard would be a fairly good one.

Where are you going to get these inbred seeds? That probably is what you can put up to your experiment stations. For instance, I am inclined to think that Mr. Neilson, if he found out that there is a member of this organization that is willing to grow a hundred inbred seedlings of the Stabler or Thomas to maturity, would undertake to hand-pollenize the flowers for that number of seeds, you would have a start in the direction of developing superior varieties of nuts. I don't mean to say that by undertaking a thing like this you should pay less attention to looking for native trees that are superior, but your problem now, and for the next thirty years, with northern nuts, is one of materials and the method of procedure that I have suggested would put it on a basis of a fairly definite breeding project.

THE PRESIDENT:

I think it is self-evident that this association came here to Battle Creek for its convention this year principally because of the work that has been started by the Michigan State College. We think that the states and the national government ought to do just what you are doing here, and the power of the association is going to be back of those projects in the future. To our sorrow, and I'd say to the loss of the entire nation, several very valuable plantings have been started and the passing of the owner has made it necessary that they be abandoned, and in some cases lost entirely; in others a few of the trees have been transplanted. We feel that if these specimen trees can be maintained on state and national property, it will serve to call attention to this nation's potential resources, which are not appreciated at present.



The 1934 Ohio Black Walnut Contest

By CARL F. WALKER, Cleveland Heights, Ohio

The first prize contest confined to the state of Ohio to discover superior seedling black walnuts was conducted in the fall of 1933 by the Ohio members of the Northern Nut Growers' Association in co-operation with the farm paper, the Ohio Farmer. The original announcement was made in mid-September and several follow-up articles were published, including some illustrations. Further publicity was obtained by mailing press copy to the rural newspapers throughout the state.

The response was generous with 303 persons mailing in 423 samples of black walnuts. These came from all sections of the state, indicating a universal interest over the entire area. The first package of nuts arrived on September 25th and for the next six weeks few further sample lots were received. During the latter part of November and up to the date of close of the contest, December 15, the entries were mailed to the judges in quantity. This period coincided with inclement weather when outdoor farm work could not be carried on.

The growing season had been abnormal due to a lack of precipitation and it is believed that the nuts were not as large nor as well filled as could be expected in a normal season. Defoliation through caterpillar attack had been severe, especially in the northern third of the state, and this condition may also have affected the normal development. The kernels of many lots were shrunken and since these included some nuts which would otherwise be given a high score, the method of judging by points, partly mathematically determined, was used as a guide only, rather than an exact means of choosing prize winners. Shell structure, together with the shape and relative size of kernel cavity, was the determining factor in choosing the prize winners. No differential for kernel color was made, for it was recognized that this was dependent in part upon the method used in harvesting and in handling the nuts. The varieties that were poorly sealed were discarded.

All of the prize winners, on the basis of the merits of the nuts, are considered worthy of propagation for home or experimental orchard planting. The locations of the parent trees give a sufficiently general coverage for the entire state for the selection of a variety to propagate for almost all climatic and soil conditions in any part of the state. This, in itself, is considered the advantage and the justification of a contest confined to a single state or a limited region. Also, when residents of a state, through a contest, discover promising seedlings within their own state, it is believed that there is created in the sponsors more incentive to compile continuous data about the new kinds than would exist when the prize winners are chosen from regions quite removed. That so many examples were submitted was the result of excellent publicity by the Ohio Farmer.

The first prize was ten dollars, the second five dollars, the third three dollars and the remaining seven prizes were subscriptions to the Ohio Farmer of from five years to one year in length.

The prize winners were as follows:

First—Mrs. Willard Brown, Rock Bridge, O.

Second—Sam Tritten, Lisbon, O.

Third—B. A. Cowle, Defiance, O., Rt. 8.

Fourth—W. W. Janson, Jefferson, Ohio.

Fifth—Harmon Barnhart, Mt. Vernon, O., Rt. 6.

Sixth—R. E. Havice, Bellevue, Ohio, Rt. 1.

Seventh—C. H. Markey, Beallsville, Ohio.

Eighth—Kermit C. Hoover, Glenford, O.

Ninth—Ralph H. Miller, 300 Monroe St., Delta, O.

Tenth—F. C. Murphey, Sunbury, Ohio.

The final judging was done at the Ohio State Experimental Station by Dr. J. H. Gourley, Chief of Horticultural Department, Walter H. Lloyd, Editor of the Ohio Farmer, and Carl F. Walker, assisted by Homer L. Jacobs of the Davey Tree Expert Co., John T. Bregger, Editor of the American Fruit Grower, and Ray T. Kelsey of the Ohio Farmer.

THE PRESIDENT:

That concludes the program. There is just a little business to handle now. Before we go on to that I would like to call attention to Dr. Deming's remarks about some of the old timers, which I thought very touching, interesting and instructive. There are two foreign members of the association whom I have never met. One is Mr. Spence, an Englishman, and the other Mr. Wang of China. Mr. Wang was a life member. The reports that I sent to him came back. All letters came back. I took it upon myself to write the Commissioner General of the United States at Shanghai, China, and call his attention to the fact that some twelve years ago Mr. Wang secured through this association some black walnuts, wanting to plant them along a certain highway in China. The Commissioner General answered, saying they could find nothing about him, and that the trees had not been planted where Mr. Wang had planned. I think Mr. Wang must have died or moved away.

There is one item of business I think we should have, and that is a brief report from Mr. Ellis who was our delegate to the horticultural exposition at Paris.

MR. ELLIS:

In 1930 I was appointed your delegate to represent you at the Paris Horticultural Congress. I sent on the delegate's sheet. I received a reply making me a member of that congress. It went along about a month or two, then the terrible depression came on and before going I thought it better to investigate. So I wrote to Washington and found out that no one was going from there. I wrote to Canada and no one was going from there. They could not afford it. I said, "It's going to cost me $800 if I go." Then I found out that there was to be a similar congress in New York, so I switched off and went to the congress at Ithaca, New York, and I was very glad of it because I met a great many more men that I liked to meet than if I had gone to Paris. I wrote over to the congress at Paris and sent another fee of the same amount, because I knew they needed it, saying that I'd decided not to go.

They had the congress. The President was shot at about that time, and that kind of broke it up. I received accounts of all the proceedings. They treated me very fairly, in as much as they put me down as a delegate from the United States of America, and I was the only delegate from the whole United States. I don't suppose anyone else could afford to go, so if I had gone over, I should have been there all alone.

I said to myself, "It only cost me a hundred dollars to go out to Ithaca, so I saved $700. I'm not going to make anything out of this." So I took that $700 and I gave it away for charitable purposes. You know I gave you some. I got a letter from one person privileged, and I never had a more grateful and appreciative letter in my life. The balance of that $800 and more I gave to this purpose. I gave some to the Catholic Daughters of America, I gave some to the Parent-Teachers' Association, I gave some to the schools, and lots to the poor in one way or another. I've sent five girls to different summer schools of religious education, and a girl scout to a summer camp. I helped them all out all around, not only in my own district, but in other places in different parts of the country. So you got everything. You got your delegate over there duly enrolled, and you got some money when you most needed it, and so did all those other people. Not only to the amount of $800, but to a good deal more. I feel better satisfied and I think that you all ought to be better satisfied. If there is anyone that isn't satisfied, let him get up and I'll argue it out with him.

THE PRESIDENT:

I might state at this time that there will be another contest this year, at least for black walnuts and hickories. The prizes will be as follows: first prize $10, second prize $5, third prize $3, fourth prize $2, fifth prize $1, and honorary mention for others. Instructions will be issued and anyone desiring to enter this contest should write the secretary for instructions. It's understood, I might say, that the nuts will be sent to Mr. C. A. Reed of the United States Department of Agriculture at Washington, who has kindly consented to look after that work and report to a contest committee which will be named later.

THE PRESIDENT:

We will now have the report of the resolutions committee.

RESOLUTION

The Northern Nut Growers Association assembled in convention at the W. K. Kellogg Hotel, Battle Creek, Michigan, September 10 and 11, 1934, expresses its sincere appreciation of the courteous hospitality of the local committee on arrangements, headed by Prof. James A. Neilson. It would mention in particular Mr. W. K. Kellogg, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, and the W. K. Kellogg Hotel management. It appreciates the use of the splendid auditorium and is grateful for the attractive bouquets arranged about the room.

The association heartily commends the nut work being done in the state of Michigan with the aid of Mr. W. K. Kellogg and under the direction of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station and actively under the lead of Prof. Neilson. The association records its pride in the establishment and maintenance of 115 acres of nut trees for purposes of experimentation and variety testing. In so far as known to the association there is no other tract of equal area in existence for this purpose.

Be it resolved, that a copy of this resolution be spread upon the minutes of this meeting and that the secretary be instructed to send copies to Mr. W. K. Kellogg, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, the Kellogg Hotel management, Director V. R. Gardner and Prof. James A. Neilson.

The Northern Nut Growers Association records its extreme sorrow at the death of its active and able, although but recently elected, treasurer, Newton H. Russell of South Hadley, Massachusetts, on April 27, 1934. For many years Mr. Russell was a very active member of the association, a regular attendant at its conventions, and a loyal supporter of its various activities. The genial personalities of both Mr. and Mrs. Russell are greatly missed at this convention. Our deep sympathy is expressed to Mrs. Russell and her children in their bereavement.

Be it resolved, that a copy of this resolution be spread upon the minutes of this meeting, and that the secretary be instructed to send a copy to Mrs. Newton H. Russell.

Resolutions Committee,

G. L. Slate, Chairman C. A. Reed A. S. Colby.

DR. DEMING:

I think that the thanks of the association are especially due to our president, Mr. Frey, for having so successfully stepped into the breach for the completion of the arrangements for this meeting, and for the very excellent program which he completed. I think he should also be thanked for the separate notices which he sent out, directing the attention of the persons coming to and going from this meeting to the nut orchards and other things of interest that may be seen on the way.

THE PRESIDENT:

I thank you. I might say that the suggestion for visiting interesting trees and nut plantings came from Mr. Reed. I want to call to your attention again that next year's meeting will be held at Rockport, Indiana, on September 9 and 10, 1935.

The dues of this association are now only $2.00, and action taken at this convention will result in your receiving without additional charge the American Fruit Grower Magazine, which has been adopted as our official journal and included with the dues. You also have the privilege of joining the American Horticultural Society for the fee of $2 instead of $3.00. We are affiliated with that society and they allow to their affiliated associations the privileges of the members. Secure a membership and get the quarterly journal for the price of $2.00. We certainly recommend this association. We think that you get your money's worth many times over and it does a great deal of good.

The only other item of business is a report from the nominating committee.

DR. DEMING:

Your nominating committee reports through the chairman the nomination of the following members as officers for the ensuing year:

President—Mr. Frank H. Frey, Chicago, Illinois.

Vice President—Dr. G. A. Zimmerman, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Secretary—Mr. George L. Slate, of Geneva, New York.

Treasurer—Mr. Carl F. Walker, of Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

For Members of the Executive Committee—Mr. Frank H. Frey, Dr. G. A. Zimmerman, Mr. George L. Slate, Mr. Carl F. Walker, Professor J. A. Neilson and Mr. D. C. Snyder.

As Dean of the Association—Dr. Robert T. Morris, of Connecticut.

As Field Secretary—Mr. Zenas H. Ellis, of Vermont.

I move that the secretary be authorized to cast one ballot for the election of the ticket nominated.

The motion was unanimously carried, and the officers nominated by the committee were elected for the ensuing year.

THE PRESIDENT:

I might say that I won't, at least, have to sing a "swan song," and I'm not going to take the time to make any speech of acceptance. I appreciate your confidence in re-electing me and I am sure the other officers feel the same way. We'll all do what we can for your interest and what we are all interested in. Sometimes we may be a little slow in getting results but with your help I think we can make progress.

The twenty-fifth annual convention of the Northern Nut Growers' Association adjourned at 9:30 P. M. Tuesday, September 11, 1934.



Letter from J. U. Gellatly

British Columbia

I have just returned from a six weeks' trip to the B. C. Coast scouting for new nut trees and selling nut tree nursery stock. The outstanding discovery of the trip is the Rapier walnut tree. This young giant was planted 24 years ago by Mr. Rapier on Texada Isl. I estimate this tree to be 60 to 70 feet in height, the measured spread is 60 feet one way and 70 at widest point, and other measurements as follows: from ground to first limbs there is 8 feet of straight trunk with a girth of 7 feet one inch taken one foot above ground, and at 6 feet above ground girth is 69 inches. The tree has cropped regularly since it was about 6 years old. The largest crop to date was produced in 1931 totaling 500 pounds. The shape of nut is long oval, size medium. The flavor of those I tasted of the 1933 crop certainly was the sweetest I have tasted to date for this class of nut.

I have no definite information as to source of this tree, but judge it to be a Franquette seedling as that was the class of trees sold by the nursery from which the tree was purchased. I have made arrangements for sample nuts from this year's crop and will send you some later. This tree is well worth testing for hardiness as it is evidently self-fertile, there being no other nut trees of the same age near by.

Another discovery of interest from the nut breeding angle is the McDonald walnut. This is a hybrid English X. J. Sieboldiana, growing at West Vancouver, B. C. Nut large and heavy shell, but the best kernel cavity I have seen in any of these crosses. The tree is a nice tree and leaves show distinct crossing. This is the first year it has borne and it had 2 nuts. One shell I am sending you with other samples of new nuts.

The Watt English walnut at Penticton, B. C., is proving a regular cropper of uniform large round nuts of good flavor. This tree is a seedling from my own nursery. I do not know from what tree it grew, but it is worthy of testing for hardiness in districts north of present location as there is some evidence of hardiness. I know this tree to be a good cropper but have no definite record of any one year's crop as the tree is located where many persons help themselves to the nuts.

The Lindy walnut from the beaches at Kelowna, B. C., continues to make good tree growth and produce good crops of large round nuts with thin shells and well developed kernels of good flavor. This tree is a seedling grown from a nut brought from Kulu Hills, India, in 1912. This tree is also worthy of trial for hardiness in districts north of present locations. I do not know how this tree is as a self-pollenizer as there are two other trees near by of the same stock and planting. I do know that seedlings grown from this tree make a good growth and look alike in the nursery row and are very uniform as to color and growth of leaf, in striking contrast to seedlings from some other trees which vary a lot in every feature.

In heartnuts the newest I have of outstanding promise are from my own nursery. Two are now growing at Peachland, B. C. One, the MacKenzie, is a vigorous, well grown tree and bears regularly heavy crops of large, rough-shelled heartnuts that are easily cracked. The kernels are light in color and of good flavor.

The other, the Rover heartnut, is a young tree just carrying a record crop. Tree is in a poor location on the edge of wild timber competing for soil space. The nut is a big step in the elimination of the central division, so pronounced in most heartnuts. This is the outstanding feature of this nut. Cracking and other features are still undetermined but promising. I have a number of others that are promising. One is the Flavo Heart, a heartnut and butternut cross. This is a seedling of Callender heart and butternut. The outstanding features are the shape of nut, flavor of kernel and ease of extraction. This is its first crop.



From B. D. Wallace

Portage la Prairie, Manitoba

I will endeavor to give you a short account of our progress in the culture of butternuts and black walnuts.

Our success with butternuts has been due, very largely, to the method we adopted some twenty years ago and might be summed up in the following report. From one hundred pounds of butternut seed, which we secured in the fall of 1914, and which we planted the same season in October, we got in the following year a splendid stand of seedlings which gave great promise the first summer. During the winter of 1915 a great number of those seedlings were partially or altogether destroyed, through the climatic conditions of the country. But quite a number of them stood up in splendid condition. After about three years we eliminated everything that did not stand up 100 per cent and show a splendid growth. We had in the neighborhood of fifty trees and thus, through a survival of the fittest, the foundation of this industry became established. We distributed perhaps twenty or more trees to the Experimental Farm and other places. These have all stood up, as far as I can learn, with splendid success. This left about thirty of the original trees in our nurseries. These thirty have never shown any sign of frost killing nor are they in any other way affected.

Our trees commenced to bear in their sixth year, in 1920 and have increased in size and fruiting year by year, until today they are about thirty feet high with a spread of about thirty-six feet and are without question the most beautiful row of trees west of the Great Lakes. We have grown at least one hundred thousand trees from the nuts taken from these trees, which have been distributed over a very wide territory, reaching from the northern part of Ontario to the Rocky Mountains. Many of our customers have now their own trees bearing. In addition to our selling the trees, we offer to our customers one two-year-old butternut or horse chestnut with each ten dollar order sent in. We took this method to get our nut trees into the hands of a great number of the people.

We have followed practically the same line with black walnuts, but with less success than with butternuts, as a very much greater percentage of the black walnuts went down. Notwithstanding that we have a number of trees which have survived in splendid condition. One of these is bearing for its second year and one other is just bearing for the first time. However, we have a good deal of hardy wood, as our trees are growing bushy and we intend to use the butternut seedlings for stocks on which to graft the black walnut. By this method we will not have to wait so long to get a good supply of trees. There is no question whatever about the future success of the butternut, as we have this year the third generation of them bearing, which is ample proof that they have become entirely acclimated. The butternuts grow fully as large as in eastern Canada, as do also the black walnuts, and as far as I can see the quality is equal if not better.

In addition to the butternut and black walnut, we have made a complete success of the horse chestnut. Ours were planted in 1914, and commenced bearing about the same time as the butternut, and we have grown great crops of nuts continually from that date to the present. We are also trying out the heartnut, both from young trees and from seed. Out of three different plantings that is planted the same year but in different sections, one planting of six trees has stood up completely for the last three years, whereas the other two freeze back a little. In addition to these we are growing from seed the filbert, which seems to be hardy, but is not old enough to fruit yet. However, there is no question in my mind whatever that we shall succeed with all those different trees, following our own method of only using wood and seed from those trees which are proof against the most severe climatic conditions. We used this same method thirty-five years ago in laying the foundation for fruit growing. Out of twelve thousand of the hardiest fruit trees that we could buy from Dakota and Minnesota, after three years we eliminated all but fourteen trees. These were divided between standard apples, crab-apples, plums and plum hybrids. By using northern Russia plum seed and Siberian crab seed for roots, we have been able to lay a foundation for fruit growing in this western country that will live long after we are forgotten.



From Vera Nekiassena

Turkestan

My opinion is there are two kin species growing in Turkestan—Juglans regia L and J fallasc Dode; the first in the Kopet-Dag, the second in the Fansha mountains, in guissar and Darwas. The J. regia is further cultivated in Turkestan gardens and in the Lowawschan Valley. The J. Kamaonia Dode is occasionally to be observed likewise in gardens. I did not chance to see it personally and am in possession of only one of its nuts. Both species (the J. regia and the J. fallasc) produce a great variety of nuts as to shape, thickness of shell and size of kernel. Both these species have been united by some authors (Mr. M. Popof in Bull. of Applied Botany of Genetics and plant breeding XXII N3 (1929), p. 294) into one—that of J. regia but always distinguishing the Kopet-dog nuts in the jsp. turcomanica Popof; difference between them being certainly esctant. The number of leaflets of the J. fallasc amounts to 2-4, they are rounder and more obtuse, the shell of the nut is thicker and also rounder and smaller. The number of J. regia leaflets is 3-5, they are narrower and more pointed (lance shaped), the nuts more elongated, larger and their shell thinner.

Having been for my part mainly occupied with the geographical distribution of nuts without regard to the variation of the fruit shape, I would recommend you to apply for a choice of nuts to Mr. Gursey, (Caucasus, Pjabigorsx), who is making a special study of the problem.

For cultivation in the north you will be interested in J. Manshurica originating in the Far East and very hardy. It is cultivated and produces fruit in Leningrad, young specimens of it were planted on the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea and there outlived excellently.

Concerning the list of trees appended to your letter, I can give you the following information.

J. Regia grows well in the park of Botanic Institute in Leningrad, attaining 8-10 M.; in the southern part of Smolensk district the tree produces fruit as far as Minsk. There is a considerable number of fruit producing specimens in the Masir district in the north of White Russia.

J. Sieboldiana freezes up in cold winters in Leningrad.

J. cinerea is very hardy and effects self-polinasation in White Russia; near Kasan there is one specimen producing about 100 fruits yearly.

J. rigra produces fruits in Koslon.

Corylus Colurna—a large old specimen esctant in Leningrad rather frequently observed in many parks of European U. S. S. R.

C. Acellana is widely spread in a wild state attaining Ladoga-laxe.

C. Mascima frequently in the Crimea and the Caucasus.

Castanea Sabiva grows in the Caucasus only, and cultivated in Urraina. Castanea Henryii Corylus chinensis.

C. Lacquement and Cticstica I do not know in U. S. S. R.

C. Seguinu, C. Crensta and C. Mollissima, separate strains probably to be had in Suchum.



From Divisional Forest Officer

Utilization Division, Baramulla Kashmir

There are two distinct species of of walnut growing here. One which grows from 3,500 to 7,000 feet above sea level near about habitations and on rich fertile soil has got good big sized nuts which are very easy to break even with the pressure of hand, and about which you probably seem interested. The other species grows higher in the forest up to about 11,000 feet elevation. It has hard nuts which cannot be broken easily and have moreover very little kernel as compared to former species. Even the timber of both the species is distinctly different, in as much as the former has dark gray color and the latter has reddish gray. Regarding nomenclature the botanists differ. The former species is named Juglans regia hin. The latter species which is wild may be called Juglans fallax, Dode or Juglans Kamaonia, Dode, but actually it is a bit different from either and is something midway between the two and so is yet to be determined properly.

Corylus colurna is the only species of Corylus found here out of your list.

B. The altitudes of walnut zone has been stated above. Corylus Colurna also grows between 8,000 and 11,000 feet. Both the walnut species are confined to Kashmir and Chamba states, while Corylus Colurna grows all over the Himalayas.

C. The maximum height and girth of a tree I have felled was 100 ft. and 15 ft. respectively. This tree grew in a forest at 9,000 foot altitude amongst firs. Trees growing outside in the fields in the open are sometimes bigger in girth but their bole is very short and the height also is small compared with forest grown trees. The trees growing in the fields in the open are of soft rind species.

D. The trees growing in the fields and of soft rind species are generally fast grown and they have about 8 to 10 rings to an inch. The trees growing in the forest have about 16 to 20 rings to an inch.

E. The length of frost-free season depends upon the situation and locality, generally from May to September there is no frost, the rest of the season has frost.

F. The maximum temperature is 92 degrees, while the minimum is many points below zero when the country is snow-bound all over. There is snow in the forests for about six months.

G. The average annual rainfall is between 54 and 34 inches in the year, according to the locality.

H. All the walnut trees are grown for extraction of oil from their nuts. This oil is used for cooking purposes, in place of fats and butter. When the tree gets old or gets diseased, it is felled and timber is used for making furniture and carving. Kashmir walnut carving is well known.

I. Hazel trees grow wild in the forest, the hazel nuts are collected and are eaten. Sometimes these nuts are exported to British India, where kernels are used chiefly to adulterate almond kernels.

Corylus has not been grown here as a garden tree and so I do not know its requirements of germination. I will however be thankful to you if you could kindly send me a little fresh seed, C. Colema, to grow it here in Kashmir. Some years ago I had sent for the seeds of Rhamnus Purshiana from U. S. A. This was sown here but it did not germinate. I shall feel obliged if you could let me know the requirements of this species, that is, the situation, soil, et cetera, which this species demands. Rhamnus dahuricus grows wild here as a small shrub. Do you think I can get American species by grafting my species with Rhamnus Purshiana scions?



Communication from John W. Hershey, 1934

I called at the experimental nut planting place of the late J. W. Waite, at Normandy, Tennessee, on June 1st and found he had been dead about eight months. I talked with a native who told me he was one of the most plucky men he had ever seen, having had, because of some disease, both legs amputated, was all crippled up otherwise, and traveled in a wheel chair. He even use to milk cows and drive around in an old buggy.

This setting at the Waite place is going to be of immense value to the T. V. A. tree crop program. I met the daughter who knew very little about the trees, but the first thing she mentioned was the wonderful nuts they got off the McCalister tree.

I could identify a few of the trees but will not make much progress at it until this fall, when the nuts are ripe. They are heavily set with bloom now. To assist me in this work, I am wondering if the Association has anything in its files pertaining to the varieties that he has. As you know, one can identify a tree quicker if he knows what he is looking for.



Letter From Mrs. E. W. Freel

Pleasantville, Iowa, September 5, 1934

Yesterday, when coming home, we drove around (which was not out of our way) to see those walnut trees about which you made inquiry. The Freel tree has been topped and it has made a wonderful growth this year and is going to make a very pretty tree. The Marion has a few walnuts on this year, but they are falling off due to the dry weather this year. Last year it was loaded. The Metcalf tree has some on but, like the others, most all of them have fallen off. It was also full last year. The Worthington tree also had some on this year, but have all fallen off. It also had walnuts on last year.

I have never known any of these trees to be a complete failure unless it would be this year due to the drought which has been pretty severe with us. We have had no garden to speak of and the crops in this section have almost been a complete failure.

The Wheeling tree had walnuts on last year but I have been unable to get out there this year. It is off the gravel road and it has been raining here for the last two days.

I have not been able to get out to the hickory nut trees. They had some nuts on last year but not very plentiful. I have noticed along the highways, as we would be driving along, that some of the hickory nut trees were full and others would not have any on, but do not know as yet how the drought will affect them.

I wish we could attend the convention, but it will be impossible for us this year.



Letter From Geo. W. Gibbens

Godfrey, Illinois, September 6, 1934

The Mid-West Nut Growers' Association is not functioning.

There will be a normal crop of black walnuts in this section of the state. The hickory and pecan crop is very light. The chestnut crop will be light. Many of our chestnut trees were killed by the drought this summer. Some young trees on cultivated land will develop nuts, and a few of the older trees may do so.

For many years here (E. A. Riehl Farm) we have been trying to grow the English walnut to bearing size. This year we have a young tree that is bearing. It is the Alpine.

I wish we could attend the convention.



Letter From Fred Kettler

Platteville, Wisconsin

In regard to the Kettler walnut tree here: It seems to be gradually dying; has many dead branches, which is caused by the drought we have had the last few years. We should get 25 to 30 inches rainfall a year and we had only 8 or 10 last year and about that same amount this year. The ground is wet down only about 15 inches on top. Below that it is dry.

The old tree had quite a few nuts on this year. However, most of them were blown off by a cyclone six weeks ago. There is about a peck of nuts on the tree now.

All walnuts here are only half a crop on account of the June beetle and the weather conditions, and they are quite small nuts, the weather being so dry.

I grafted 150 of the Wisconsin No 1, or Kettler walnut. It was boiling hot here in April and May and it again spoiled it for me. We watered them every day and shaded them, but the heat and dry, hot dirt was too much. All were grafted on young yearling trees close to the ground where I covered them with dirt. Many started, but died later; anyway, I succeeded in getting six more nice trees started (one to three feet tall now). My tree from last year is about five feet tall and made some side branches; so you see I am getting started. I doubt if I can get any graft wood from the old tree next spring.

We are in the nursery business just in a small way. We have only the best of varieties.

I have discovered also a thin-shell hickory nut with a wonderful meat. I don't know if I will get any of the nuts this year as they have been stealing them every year, I am told by the man who owns it. I succeeded in getting one growing on a young pecan tree I had. I think it is even better than my walnut. I enclose one with a this year walnut sample. The hickory is a last year sample.

What our country needs is timber on every farm from one acre to ten acres, according to size of farm, all over the United States. Then we will get more rain. That would be a real crop control—instead of destroying crops like the New Deal is doing. Planting a strip of timber from Canada to the Gulf will not help anyone. We believe the "brain-trusters" need a doctor.



Telegram

Sept. 11, 1934.

Dear Dr. Morris:

The Northern Nut Growers' Association is in session in the W. K. Kellogg Hotel, Battle Creek, Michigan. The members present are reminded that this is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Association. It recalls with interest the first meeting held in New York City, which was called to order by Dr. Deming, at which you became charter President, Mr. T. P. Littlepage of Washington, charter Vice President, Dr. Deming, charter Secretary.

It is the unanimous feeling of the present membership that the society for which you and the others so ably laid the foundation at that time has been abundantly justified by the accomplishments of the organization. We are especially indebted to you for the able leadership from you which the Association enjoyed, not only while you served in an executive capacity, but during the many years which followed while you were an active leading member, and now for approximately ten years during which you have been Dean.

We regret that impaired health makes it impossible for you to attend meetings at present, but we assure you that your name is not being forgotten nor is the work which you inaugurated being allowed to lapse.

(Signed by the members present.)



Catalogue of Top-Grafted Nut Trees on the Kellogg Farm, Kellogg School Grounds, and Kellogg Estate.

Place and Variety Species Stock Year Grafted

Kellogg School— 1. Fairbanks Hybrid Hickory Pignut 1933 2. Pleas, Des Hicans Pignut 1934 Moines and McCallister

Kellogg Farm (Farm Lane) 1. Broadview English Walnut Black Walnut 1931 Crath English Walnut Black Walnut 1932 2. Allen Black Walnut Black Walnut 1932 Wiard Black Walnut Black Walnut 1933 3. Dennis Shagbark Pignut 1934 4. Creager Hybrid Hickory Pignut 1934

(Hickory Block) 1. Fairbanks Hybrid Hickory Pignut 1931 2. Rohwer Black Walnut Black Walnut 1932 3. Crath English Walnut Black Walnut 1933 (McIntyre) 4. Haviland Shellbark Pignut 1931 5. McCallister Hican Pignut 1931 6. Burlington Hican Pignut 1932 7. Des Moines Hican Pignut 1932 8. Creager Hybrid Hickory Pignut 1932 9. Dennis Shagbark Pignut 1932 10. Stanley Shellbark Pignut 1931 11. Wiard Black Walnut Black Walnut 1933 12. Ohio Black Walnut Black Walnut 1931 13. Des Moines Hican Pignut 1932 14. Pleas Hican Pignut 1934 15. Cedar Rapids Shagbark Pignut 1931 16. McDermid English Black Walnut 1933 17. Shinnerling Shagbark Pignut 1932 18. Stratford Shagbark Pignut 1932 19. Hand Shagbark Pignut 1932 20. Rockville Hican Pignut 1931 21. Rohwer Black Walnut Black Walnut 1933 22. Des Moines Hican Pignut 1932 23. Stratford Shagbark Pignut 1932 24. Beaver Hybrid Hickory Pignut 1932 25. Gerardi Hican Pignut 1934 26. Creitz Black Walnut Black Walnut 1931 27. Ohio Black Walnut Black Walnut 1930 28. Ohio Black Walnut Black Walnut 1930 Howell Black Walnut

Kellogg Farm (55 acre field) 1. Creitz Black Walnut Black Walnut 1932 2. Rohwer Black Walnut Black Walnut 1932 Stambaugh Black Walnut Black Walnut 1932 Wiard Black Walnut Black Walnut 1932 McDermid English Walnut Black Walnut 1932 Crath English Walnut Black Walnut 1932 3. Crath English Walnut Black Walnut 1932 4. Wilkinson English Walnut Black Walnut 1933 5. Wiard Black Walnut Black Walnut 1933 6. Adams Black Walnut Black Walnut 1934 7. Beck Black Walnut Black Walnut 1934 8. Wiard Black Walnut Black Walnut 1933 9. Franquette English Walnut Black Walnut 1933 10. Ohio Black Walnut Black Walnut 1931 Rohwer Black Walnut Black Walnut 1932

Pasture Field— 1. Ohio Black Walnut Black Walnut 1930 2. Ohio Black Walnut Black Walnut 1930 3. Des Moines Hican Bitternut 1933 and Pleas Hican 1934 4. Ohio Black Walnut Black Walnut 1931 5. Ohio Black Walnut Black Walnut 1931 6. Wiard Black Walnut Black Walnut 1933 7. Ohio Black Walnut Black Walnut 1930 8. Crath English Walnut Black Walnut 1932 9. Crath No. 2 English Walnut Black Walnut 1932 10. McDermid English Walnut Black Walnut 1932 11. Corsan Chinese Walnut Black Walnut 1932 12. Carpenter Black Walnut Black Walnut 1932 Beck Black Walnut Black Walnut 1933 13. Grundy Black Walnut Black Walnut 1932 Franquette English Walnut Black Walnut 1933

Kellogg Estate— 1. Fairbanks Hickory Hybrid Pignut 1931 2. Crath No. 5 English Walnut Black Walnut 1932 3. Burlington Hican Pignut 1932 4. Stratford Shagbark Nursery Tree 1932 5. Faust Heartnut Japanese Walnut 1932 6. Crath English Walnut Black Walnut 1932 7. Crath English Walnut Black Walnut 1932 8. Alpine English Walnut Black Walnut 1932 9. Turkish Hazel Tree Hazel (colurna) Seedling 1932 10. McDermid English Walnut Black Walnut 1932 11. Burlington Hicans Pignut 1932 Des Moines 1933 12. Fairbanks Hickory Hybrid Pignut 1931 Dennis Shagbark 1931 Des Moines Hicans 1933 13. Fairbanks Hybrid Hickory Pignut 1931 Burlington Hican 1931 Des Moines Hican 1932 Stratford Shagbark 1931



EXHIBITS

Mr. A. B. Anthony, Sterling, Ill.

Bitternut No. 1 Bitternut No. 2 Shagbark—Shellbark cross No. 1 Shagbark—Shellbark cross No. 2 Shagbark—Shellbark cross No. 3 Shagbark—Shellbark cross No. 4

Mr. J. F. Wilkinson, Rockport, Ind

Busseron pecan Indiana pecan Kentucky pecan Major pecan Greenriver pecan Butterick pecan Posey pecan McCallister Hican

Hican variety Mr. Wilkinson suggests calling Bixby in honor of the late Willard G. Bixby. Ohio black walnut Stabler black walnut Thomas black walnut

Mr. F. H. Frey, Chicago, Ill.

Wheeling black walnut, new find by Mrs. E. W. Freel, 1932 Worthington black walnut, from Mrs. E. W. Freel, 1932 Marion black walnut, Mrs. E. W. Freel, 1932 Freel black walnut, Mrs. E. W. Freel, Pleasantville, Iowa Metcalf black walnut, from Mrs. E. W. Freel Stabler walnut, "one lobe," O. H. Casper, Anna, Ill. Oklahoma seedling, black walnut, evidently J. rupestris (per Dr. Waite, pg. 61—1932) Rohwer black walnut, from John Rohwer, Grundy Center, Iowa Grundy black walnut, from John Rohwer, Grundy Center, Iowa Kettler or Wisconsin No. 1, from Fred Kettler, Platteville, Wisc. Shellbark hickory, seedling No. 1, Mrs. E. W. Freel, Pleasantville, Iowa Shellbark hickory, seedling No. 2, Mrs. E. W. Freel, Pleasantville, Iowa Cedar Rapids shagbark hickory, from S. W. Snyder, Center Point, Iowa Shinnerling shagbark hickory, from Chas. Shinnerling, Amana, Iowa Hagen shagbark hickory, from S. W. Snyder, Center Point, Iowa

G. H. Corsan, Echo Valley, Islington, Ontario, Canada

DuChilly and other European filberts grown on his place in Canada Jones hybrid filberts, corylus americana—corylus avellana Photograph of Corsan nut exhibit at Canadian National Exhibition Craxezy, butternut, from Union City, Mich. From Harry Burgart, Michigan Nut Tree Nursery Mitchel hybrid heartnut, from Scotland, Ontario Stratford hickory, exhibited by Mr. Snyder, Center Point, Iowa. Mr. Snyder says this is the best bearing hickory for his section in Iowa.

Prof. J. A. Neilson, Michigan State College, E. Lansing, Mich.

Harris black walnut, Allegan, Mich. Thomas black walnut Everett Wiard black walnut, Ypsilanti, Mich. Glen Allen black walnut, Middleville, Mich. Dan Beck black walnut, Hamilton, Mich. Ten Eyck black walnut Adams black walnut, Scotts, Mich. M. S. C. Campus heartnut, East Lansing, Mich. Crawford heartnut Mrs. Henry Hanel, heartnut, Williamsburg, Mich. Gellatly heartnut, Westbank, B. C. Lancaster heartnut, Graham Station McKenzie heartnut, B. C. Mitchell heartnut, Scotland, Ont. Fred Bourne, heartnut, Milford, Mich. W. S. Thompson heartnut, R. 2, St. Catherines, Ont. English, Chatham, Ont. Mitchell butternut, Scotland, Ont. Col. B. D. Wallace butternut, Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Can. Korean pine nuts, Abbotsford, P. Q. W. S. Thompson filbert, R. 2, St. Catherines, Ont. Harry Weber hazel, R. 2, Cleves, Ohio Beck English walnut, Allegan, Mich. W. S. Thompson English walnut, R. 2, St. Catherines, Ont. Larsen English walnut, Ionia, Mich. English walnut, from Broadview, B. C. McDermid English walnut, St. Catherines, Ont. Clyde Westphal pecan, Marcellus, Mich. Fairbanks hickory, grown at Grand Rapids, Mich. Haviland hickory, Bath, Mich. Green hickory, Battle Creek, Mich. Mrs. Ray D. Mann hickory, Davison, Mich. Hill hickory, Davison, Mich. Lyle House hickory, Fowlerville, Mich. Miller hickory, North Branch, Mich. Pleas pecan and bitternut hybrid hickory Burlington hican Rowley chestnut, Orleans, Mich. John E. Dunham, chestnut, Oshtemo, Mich. Chinese chestnuts, Ridgetown, Ont.



REGISTRATION

Frank H. Frey, Chicago, Illinois A. S. Colby, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois A. B. Anthony, Sterling, Illinois Mr. Harry Burgart, Union City, Michigan Mrs. Harry Burgart, Union City, Michigan Mrs. Charles Halder, Ceresco, Michigan Mrs. Anton Burgart, Union City, Michigan Mr. Gilbert Becker, Climax, Michigan Mrs. Gilbert Becker, Climax, Michigan Carl F. Walker, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Lennard H. Mitchell, Washington, D. C. Mrs. Lennard H. Mitchell, Washington, D. C. Homer L. Bradley, Kellogg Farm, Augusta, Michigan J. F. Wilkinson, Rockport, Indiana G. H. Corsan, Echo Valley, Islington, Ontario Dr. G. A. Zimmerman, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Mrs. G. A. Zimmerman, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Oliver T. Healy, Union City, Michigan Mrs. Anna H. Bregger, Bangor, Michigan John T. Bregger, Bangor, Michigan Mrs. John T. Bregger, Bangor, Michigan S. E. Monroe, Chicago, Illinois J. A. Neilson, East Lansing, Michigan Mrs. J. A. Neilson, East Lansing, Michigan Mrs. C. M. McCrary, Augusta, Michigan C. M. McCrary, Augusta, Michigan Mildred M. Jones, Jones Nurseries, Lancaster, Pennsylvania Mr. Harry R. Weber, Cincinnati, Ohio Mrs. Harry Weber, Cincinnati, Ohio D. C. Snyder, Center Point, Iowa W. K. Kellogg, Battle Creek, Michigan Dr. J. H. Kellogg, Battle Creek, Michigan Rollin H. Tabor, Mt. Vernon, Ohio George L. Slate, Geneva, N. Y. L. H. MacDaniels, Ithaca, New York. L. Housser, Cloverdale, Ontario Fae Noverr, Enquirer and News, Battle Creek, Michigan Zenas H. Ellis, Fair Haven, Vermont Joan Deming, Hartford, Connecticut Mrs. Oliver Healy, Union City, Michigan Mr. Howard W. Harris, Allegan, Michigan. R. D. No. 7 Mr. Scott Healy, Otsego, Michigan. R. F. D. No. 2 Mrs. Scott Healy, Otsego, Michigan. R. F. D. No. 2 Glen Grunner, Coldwater, Michigan. R. D. No. 3 Leon Ford, Battle Creek, Michigan Marshall Moon, Battle Creek, Michigan Dean Phillips, Battle Creek, Michigan Lawrence Poole, Battle Creek, Michigan Evelyn Alwood, Battle Creek, Michigan Martha Richmond, Battle Creek, Michigan Irene VaVn De Bogart, Vicksburg, Michigan Cleone Wells, Battle Creek, Michigan Herbert Bush, Battle Creek, Michigan Dorothy Jenney, Battle Creek, Michigan Cecelia Plushnik, Battle Creek, Michigan Vernice Fox, Battle Creek, Michigan Edward A. Malasky, Battle Creek, Michigan C. A. Reed, U. S. Dept, of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. T. V. Hicks, Battle Creek, Michigan. R. 3 Norman Crittenden, Galesburg, Michigan Arnold G. Otto, Detroit, Michigan Miss Mary Barber, Kellogg Co., Battle Creek, Michigan Professor V. R. Gardner, M. S. C., East Lansing, Michigan H. A. Cardinell, M. S. C., East Lansing, Michigan E. P. Gerber, Apple Creek, Ohio Lila M. Gerber, Apple Creek, Ohio Dora E. Gerber, Apple Creek, Ohio H. W. Kaan, Wellesley, Massachusetts R. S. Galbreath, Huntington, Indiana Mrs. R. S. Galbreath, Huntington, Indiana Dr. W. C. Deming, Hartford, Connecticut Everett Wiard, Ypsilanti, Michigan Mrs. E. Wiard, Ypsilanti, Michigan



BOOKS AND BULLETINS ON NORTHERN NUT GROWING

1. Nut Culture in the United States, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1896. Out of print and out of date but of great interest.

2. The Nut Culturist, Fuller, pub. Orange Judd Co., N. Y., 1906. Out of print and out of date, but a systematic and well written treatise. These two books are the classics of American nut growing.

3. Nut Growing, Dr. Robert T. Morris, pub. MacMillan, N. Y. 2nd edition 1931, price $2.50. The modern authority, written in the author's entertaining and stimulating style.

4. Farmers' Bulletin No. 1501, 1926, Nut Tree Propagation, C. A. Reed, to be had free from U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. A very full bulletin with many illustrations.

5. Tree Crops, Dr. J. Russell Smith, pub. Harcourt, Brace & Co., N. Y., 1929, price $4.00. Includes the nut crop.

6. Annual reports of the Northern Nut Growers' Association from 1911 to date. To be had from the secretary. Prices on request.

7. Bulletin No. 5, Northern Nut Growers' Association, by W. G. Bixby. 2nd edition, 1920. To be had from the secretary. Price 50 cents.

8. Farmers' Bulletin No. 1392, Black Walnut Culture for both Timber and Nut Production. To be had from the Supt. of Documents, Gov. Printing Office, Washington, D. C. Price 5 cents.

9. Year Book Separate No. 1004, 1927, a brief article on northern nut growing, by C. A. Reed, to be had free from U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

10. Filberts—G. A. Slate—Bulletin No. 588, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, N. Y., December, 1930.

11. Leaflet No. 84, 1932, Planting Black Walnut, W. R. Mattoon and C. A. Reed, to be had free from U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

12. Harvesting and Marketing the Native Nut Crops of the North, by C. A. Reed, 1932, mimeographed bulletin, to be had free from U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

13. Dealers in Black Walnut Kernels, mimeographed bulletin by C. A. Reed, 1931, to be had free from U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

14. Eastern Nursery Catalogues Listing Nut Trees, mimeographed leaflet to be had free from U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

15. Twenty Years Progress in Northern Nut Culture. A 48-page booklet of valuable information and instruction by John W. Hershey. Nuticulturist, Downingtown, Penna. Price 25 cents.

16. Files of The American Nut Journal, to be had from the publishers, American Nurseryman Publishing Co., 39 State St., Rochester, N. Y.

* * * * *

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