the pecan or Persian walnut outside the peach area." Here our pecan
seems as hardy as the average apple, withstanding 25° below zero or more
with little or no injury. I find that the "Andrus" Persian walnut is
_much_ hardier than the "Pomeroy" as I planted two small one-year trees
that endured the following winter 20° below, with no injury to even
terminal buds. So twenty years may show a change of opinion as to the
value of the Persian walnut in the Middle West.
The Japanese walnuts here are often injured by winter at 15° below, but
there may be hardier types and varieties than those I have tried.
I have never been able to _graft_ the pecan successfully--annual or
budding has given me the only success I have had. And in years like this
and last, I find it very difficult to make a transplanted grafted pecan
live without watering.
I have failed, so far, in finding a practical method to keep chestnuts
in good eating and planting condition until spring. If stored in the
ground cellar or as peach pits, they mould, if kept in an ordinary
building they become too dry.
BENJAMIN BUCKMAN.
SOUTH WATERFORD, ME., November 21, 1914.
DEAR SIR:
I have just read in the last issue of the _Rural New-Yorker_ a very
interesting article on nut growing, giving your name.
For several years I have thought that it would be better for people in
the New England States to give more attention to nuts than so much to
apples, but I have not been in a position to start in with nut trees
much until now.
Although 65 years old and somewhat used up with rheumatism I am not
ready to give up yet....
When I started on this farm it did not produce a barrel of grafted
fruit. There were quite a lot of natural fruit trees that never had been
trimmed or cared for in any way. I grafted these trees and set out some
from time to time until now the farm produces from 500 to 800 barrels
per year.
This year apples at picking time sold slow for $1.00 per barrel for No.
1's, No. 2's not wanted at any price.
I often think that if I had set out a few acres of nut trees 25 years
ago they would have been more profit now than the whole 200-acre farm
is....
Last spring on account of my lameness and the scarcity and the high
price of farm help I sold my large farm and bought a small place....
Last spring I had about two acres of this land plowed up and during the
summer thoroughly worked over with the idea of next spring setting it
out to nut trees of some varieties that would do best here. Now I do not
know anything about nut growing or what varieties best to plant. If you
can help me out by putting me in a way to get this information you will
confer a great favor.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
BUREAU OF STATISTICS,
(Agricultural Forecasts)
Office of the County Correspondent.
ISLE LA MOTTE, GRAND ISLE, VERMONT, December 10, 1914.
MY DEAR SIR:
I wish to set out several nut trees next spring here on this island in
Lake Champlain. We have lots of hickory nuts, butternuts, hazelnuts and
beechnuts growing wild here and Champlain says in his narrative that
there were lots of fine chestnuts growing here 300 years ago. Now I want
to try some chestnuts, black walnuts, English walnuts, pecans, and
almonds. If you can tell me the hardiest varieties of each and where to
get trees I shall be greatly obliged. I have my doubts about pecans and
almonds but am willing to try them here. I am growing peaches here where
they never grew before.
RICHMOND, VA., December 13, 1914.
DEAR SIR:
I am just commencing an enterprise in propagation of nut trees here just
north of Richmond. I shall have plenty of time to do some experimental
work in planting of unknown varieties and would like to do some such
planting. I want any information I can get on varieties of English and
black walnuts, hazelnuts, hickories and persimmons, "sloes" and any
other varieties of currants. If I am not trespassing too much on your
time please put me in touch with parties who can give me information.
Please advise me if your association has any publications on the
subject.
I am a retired civil engineer and my hobby has been all my life the
study of forest trees. I am now in a position to do some planting and I
should be very glad to coöperate with your association. I am here
located exactly on the line of demarcation between northern and southern
forest growths and I think I have exactly the location for experimental
work....
NEW MILFORD, CONN., December 8, 1914.
MY DEAR DR. DEMING:
This morning I am sending, by parcel post, a sample of hickory nuts to
compete for the prize which I saw has been offered by the association,
of which you are secretary.
My father, while he was living, sent an exhibition of nuts to the
Pan-American, also to the St. Louis Fair, and received the highest award
given for nuts at both Expositions.
NEW LONDON, CONN., December 3, 1914.
DEAR SIR:
We are all elderly people, lacking energy to cultivate our farm land as
closely as we ought. Some of us are interested in nut culture and have
suggested that we plant some nuts and watch their growth from the very
beginning. Of course, we only wish nuts of the best varieties and
easiest culture. We only wish _hardy_ nuts, that do not need grafting,
and we prefer those that come into bearing early. We do not wish any of
the Mammoth dwarf, Japan chestnut. We bought a nice one, but it _will_
not mature its fruit, and is gradually dying. We find great difficulty
in purchasing nuts. Those who have _trees_ for sale, refuse to sell the
NUTS.
A person who has a few Japan walnut trees in connection with some other
business, very kindly offered to sell us some nuts, and these are all we
have been able to purchase so far. There are but very few nuts that we
would attempt to try. We wish to find some of the very best of filberts
or hazelnuts, that we shall probably cultivate in bush form. We are
interested in the _hardy_, hard shell almonds. Do you think we could do
anything with them? I _think_ they do not have to be grafted. Do you
know of any species of English walnut or Madeira nut, that are perfectly
hardy, and come into bearing early, that would serve our purpose?
I know we are asking quite a favor, for strangers, but if you will
kindly assist us a little, we will thank you very much.
BROADWAY METHODIST CHURCH,
FARGO, N. D., November 10, 1914.
DEAR SIR:
I saw your statement in the _Southern Planter_ this morning and am
writing, not to tell you where choice nut-specimens are to be obtained
but to ask a few questions relative to the obtaining the _best_
information possible to the growing of nuts. I have a ten-acre tract
about twelve miles straight south of Staunton, Va. When I purchased the
tract the chestnut and hickory were thriving. I have had about one half
of the property cleared and some trees planted. Among the trees are
twelve hardy English walnuts from Green's Nursery, Rochester, N. Y., 6
"Mayo" and 6 "Pomeroy" walnuts from Glen Brothers, Rochester, N. Y. I am
interested in nut-culture. I have inquired of Glen Brothers if the
Kentish Cob would thrive there. They assure me it will. If there is a
chance to make a success of nuts, I would turn my time and thought to
the raising of walnuts and Kentish cobs and filberts. What would you
advise? If you cannot give me the desired information, kindly give me
directions to the one who can. I was brought up among the walnuts and
filberts and cob-nuts in the County of Kent, England, and now my
thoughts are turning to the delights of earlier days and I intend coming
to the Shenandoah Valley in the near future and making my home there....
THE SECRETARY'S REPLY
GEORGETOWN, CONN., November 13, 1914.
MY DEAR MR. ----:
It gives me great pleasure to reply as well as I am able to your letter
of November 10th. You are in the position of many thoughtful men of the
present day in craving the peace and delight of a life that is nearer to
nature. You have also a small tract of land in a favored part of our
country, and you have been led to believe, by the statements that you
have run across in chance sources, that the returns from nut growing may
enable you to attain your ambition.
Our president has a place at Roundhill, Va., not very many miles from
yours. He is a professor of something like "Efficiency" in the
University of Pennsylvania. He is young, aggressive and very efficient
himself. His father was, and he himself is, an orchardist and fruit
grower. Both he and I have been for some years working at the problems
of nut growing. But it is only this year that we seem to have overcome
the difficulties of grafting and budding nut trees. We have the greatest
faith in the future success of nut growing, but we do not know how long
it will be before we shall know just what varieties of nuts to plant
ourselves, least of all to advise others to plant, with any certainty of
success. For the man, however, who realizes that nut growing in the
North is still in the experimental stage, we have no end of information
and advice.
The information you have had from interested sources is misleading.
Probably you would not live long enough to get satisfactory results from
the seedling trees you might plant, even if such results ever came. To
get reasonably prompt and certain results from nut trees it is necessary
to grow such trees grafted or budded from trees of known good bearing
record, just as the same thing is necessary with the common fruit trees.
Your information about the Kentish cob and the filbert is but half the
truth. The shrubs will thrive for a time in almost any place. But they
have nowhere in the East been a success because sooner or later they are
destroyed by a disease. One of our great nut growing wants is a filbert
or hazel of good size and quality that has the blight resistant quality
of our native hazel.
My advice to you then would be as follows. If it is your idea to make a
living by nut growing on your ten acres in Virginia within a reasonable
number of years, I do not advise you to attempt it. If you wish to take
up nut growing as offering an occupation of the greatest interest, with
opportunity for the solution of problems of great importance to mankind,
and a fair promise of eventual money profit to yourself or to your
heirs, then I should certainly advise you to take up nut growing.
I would not attempt to grow the hazel or the chestnut at present, except
in an experimental way. The nuts of best promise for you are the Indiana
or northern pecans and the English walnut. But it requires considerable
study of the subject before one may take up the practice of nut growing
without the probability of making unnecessary mistakes, and
unnecessarily losing time and money in repeating the experiences of
others.
The wilful misstatements of some nurserymen, and the ignorance or
carelessness of others, has hindered the progress of nut growing.
Fortunately we have several nurserymen who have made a study of the
subject, who are honorable and truthful men, and on whose statements you
may rely. The only possible qualification of this statement that I know
of is that an allowance for enthusiasm might be borne in mind without
risk of harm. I enclose a list of such nurserymen, accredited by this
association.
Your letter seems to call for this extended reply which I hope will be
of service to you. If I have left anything obscure that you would like
to know about, or if I can assist you in any other way, please let me
know.
With the hope that you may be able to take up this most fascinating
avocation with pleasure and profit, I am
Very truly yours,
W. C. DEMING.
PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE PERSIAN WALNUT
The secretary herewith presents a preliminary report on the
investigation of the Persian walnut. No attempt has been made to collect
information about the walnut on the Pacific Coast, which is quite
another matter. But the investigation reports very briefly on trees from
Canada to Georgia and from Massachusetts to Utah.
The result of the investigation so far is hardly more than a bare
catalogue of the trees which the secretary has been able to locate, and
is intended simply as an aid to further investigation. It is now
published with the hope that members and others may become informed of
Persian walnut trees that it may be possible for them to locate, observe
and report upon. It is manifestly impossible for any one person, unless
some paid agent of the government or other institution, to investigate
many of these trees personally, they are scattered over such a wide
area. Correspondence is usually unsatisfactory and personal
investigation is the only way to get good results.
Probably only a small part of all the existing trees is here catalogued.
But among them, and among the others that will come to light in the
constantly widening investigation by an increasing number of interested
persons, will certainly be found varieties of merit and adaption to
different sections of the country.
As the meeting next year at Rochester is to give especial attention to
the Persian walnut it is to be hoped that members and others will make
special efforts to send to the meeting specimen nuts and reports of
trees.
THE PERSIAN WALNUT
CANADA
Brantford--Dr. D. S. Sager. Knows at least 50 trees. Is top working
native walnuts and other work.
Grimbsy--H. K. Griffith. Bearing tree or trees.
Grimbsy--Louisa Neller. Bearing tree or trees.
Grimbsy East--Beverley Book. Bearing tree or trees.
St. Catherins--Miss Alice Berger, 251 Queenston St. Several bearing trees.
One tree 100-200 pounds annually.
St. Catherins--Harper Secord, R. 2. Twenty-eight young seedlings.
St. Catherins--James Titherington. Bearing tree or trees.
St. Catherins--J. J. Fee, Niagara St. Bearing tree or trees.
St. Catherins--F. D. Solvyne, Carleton St. Bearing tree or trees.
Toronto--G. H. Corsan, University of Toronto. Many young walnut and other
nut trees. "Hundreds of thousands being planted in Niagara Peninsula."
NEW YORK
Chappaqua--F. M. Clendenin. Just bearing few nuts after 8 years.
Lockport--A. C. Pomeroy. Bearing orchard, seedlings.
North Avon--Adelbert Thompson. Bearing orchard, seedlings, 225 trees.
Hilton--E. B. Holden. Bearing trees.
Rochester--B. F. Whitmore, 520 Park Ave. Three bearing trees.
Holley--W. E. Howard. Four bearing trees. Knows of others. "Hundreds of
trees."
Canandaigua--Bradley Wynkoop. Bearing tree.
Brockport--Marcus Cook, 90 Holley St. "Nearly 100 bearing trees within 5
miles of Brockport."
Fairport--Pickering Bros., Some Pomeroys.
Fairport--N. A. Baker.
Victor--E. Y. Shilling. Bearing tree.
Victor--A. B. Wood. Bearing tree.
Victor--Josiah Snyder. Bearing tree.
Watkins--Write E. C. Gabriel, Rock Stream. Tree reported by Prof. Corbett
at N. Hector, 2 or 3 more east side of lake.
Earlville--Francisco I. L. Mulligan. Twenty-nine Pomeroys and others.
Hoosick Halls--A. A. Baker, R. 2. Knows of bearing tree near Long Island.
Port Jefferson--Joseph Schriever. "Fine Specimen."
Huntington--Historical Society. "Fine Specimen."
Between Huntington and Centerport, on Gallows Hill, old Geo S. Conklin
place, occupied by "Peachy," as reported by Uncle Jerry Wockers of
the Ithaca _Journal_ office. Bearing tree.
Oyster Bay--Joseph H. Sears. Bearing tree, reported by Henry Hicks.
Oyster Bay--Mrs. W. H. Burgess. Bearing tree, reported by Henry Hicks.
Glen Cove--John T. Pratt. Bearing tree, reported by Henry Hicks.
Glen Cove--W. L. Harkness (Dosoris). Bearing tree, reported by Henry
Hicks.
Woodbury--L. Piquet. Bearing tree, reported by Henry Hicks.
Roslyn--Admiral Aaron Ward. Bearing tree, reported by Henry Hicks.
Hempstead--Rev. Chas Snedaker, St. George's Rectory. Bearing tree,
reported by Henry Hicks.
New York City, Westchester--Dr. Deming. Three Morris trees.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington--Barnes, Weaver, Kaingler, Stabler and other trees.
DELAWARE
Wilmington--Dr. Rumford.
Smyrna--Walter L. Marks.
Magnolia--J. B. Tisdale. One or more bearing trees. Reported by E. B and
J. M. Reed, Fredonia.
Millsboro--G. L. Ellis. Twenty miles away some trees.
NORTH CAROLINA
Carthage--I. W. Williamson. Few young trees.
Carthage--John A. McLeod, R. 3.
Pomona--J. Van Lindley. Several trees near Southern Pines.
OHIO
Cincinnati--I. B. Johnston. "About 50 trees near Cincinnati."
Gypsum--H. G. Miller, of Wm. Miner and Son, Elmwood Fruit Farm. Two
trees, 20 years old. Also young Pomeroy trees. "Several very large
bearing trees within a few miles of here."
Dayton--Fred Kircher, 221 S. McDonough St.
Amherst--O. F. Witte, R. 2. Bearing tree.
Middletown--Levi Leonard. One hundred seedlings. Knows of old trees in
Lancaster Co., Pa.
NEW JERSEY
Lumberton--C. S. Ridgeway. "Peerless Paper Shell," 25 years, 50-100
pounds.
Paterson--Thos. Rodgers, 236 W. 25th St., W. End. Bearing tree.
Salem--Weber; write D. Harris Smith, Att'y. Rep. J. L. Doan.
Haddonfield--J. Hutchinson.
Raritan--Philip Lindsley, Box 350. Bearing tree.
Flemington--Rev. Dr. Sonne. Bearing tree.
Marlton--C. D. Barton. Knows good bearing trees.
Moorestown--Charles Haines. Bearing tree.
Delanco--Frank Jones. Bearing tree.
VIRGINIA
Williamsburg--D. S. Harris, Box 416, 33 Febrey. "Grafted."
Williamsburg--J. A. Bechtel, R. 2.
Mint Springs--Williams place. Two trees; rep. _Am. Nut. Jour._ 8, 14,
p. 39.
Lynchburg--Crockett.
Roslyn--R. S. Carter, Box 41. Three trees.
Emporia--H. W. Weiss. "Fifty trees on different farms; English, Japanese
and black."
MARYLAND
Sandy Spring--Ava M. Stabler.
Colton's Point--James K. Jones. See Circular of J. F. Jones. "Eight or ten
bearing trees."
Forest Hill--Wilmer P. Hoopes.
Churchville--Alexis Smith. "Alexis."
Sharon--Mrs. S. J. Poleet. "Sheffield."
Berkeley--J. T. Smith. "Smith."
Janettsville--David Hildt. "Beder."
Vale--Kate Hooker. "Hooker."
Baltimore--Franklin-Davis Nurseries.
Princess-Anne--Ida M. Lankford. Bearing trees.
Cooperstown--L. J. Onion, P. O. Sharon. "Sir Clair."
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston--Mrs. Schultz, 335 Cornell St., Roslindale, Boston. Bearing tree.
Newburyport--Reported by C. F. Knight, Rowley. Bearing tree.
Winchester--Brackett (Bro. of G. B. Brackett). Bearing trees.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Keene--Reported by A. C. Pomeroy. Pomeroy trees.
Newmarket--Alfred C. Durgin. Six Pomeroy, 2 Rush, "Supposed to be
grafted."
Enfield--Forest Colby. Some trees.
MICHIGAN
Mt. Pleasant--Myron A. Cobb, Central State Normal School. Has been
distributing thousands of walnut seedlings.
Coloma--W. C. Reed, Vincennes, Ind.
Almont--F. P. Andrus. Bearing tree and seedlings.
Augusta--Orville I. Miller. Buds from Andrus.
ALABAMA
Huntsville--Mr. Mayhew, Westchester, New York City. Reports tree.
TENNESSEE
Greenville--Wm. H. Brown, 516 Main St. Reports 3 trees, El. 1500.
GEORGIA
Sharpe--Paul Dyer. Reported by Prof. McHatton.
IDAHO
Boise--S. A. Gehman. Local bearing trees. C. C. Vincent, Ag. Exp. Sta.
Moscow.
UTAH
Lehi--Mrs. J. T. Winn. Several trees.
Salt Lake City--J. T. Harwood (brother of above). Many bearing trees. Leon
D. Batchelor, Horticulturist, Ag. Exp. Sta. Logan.
CORRESPONDENTS AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN NUT CULTURE
CALIFORNIA
D. P. T. MacDonald, Horticultural Inspector, 418 20th Street, Oakland
CANADA
Albert H. Lawrence, Edmonton, Alberta, Box 142
COLORADO
Dr. J. W. Benners, Silver Plume
Albert E. Mauff, Secretary State Board of Horticulture, Denver
CONNECTICUT
P. G. Wallmo, Stony Creek, Box 314
Royal J. Barter, Farmington
Lester S. White, Collinsville
Noah Wallace, Farmington
C. K. Decherd, Meriden, Box 464
F. Perry Hubbard, care of The Rogers & Hubbard Co., Middletown
Clarence T. Hatch, New Milford
Chester Hart, Barkhamstead
Paul Steinmann, Waterbury, R. 3
Charles E. Chester, New London, Box 593
DELAWARE
M. L. Anderson, Lincoln City
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
William A. Taylor, Department of Agriculture
FLORIDA
C. E. Browne, Glen Saint Mary
IDAHO
Thomas Judd, St. George Crystal Springs Orchard Co., Twin Falls
John Gourley, Filer
Mr. Squires, Buhl, Rio Vista Fruit Ranch
ILLINOIS
Jacob Wyne, Lintner
Miss Maude Davidson, Lewiston
L. H. Calloway, Chapin
Benj. Buckman, Farmingdale
William E. Walsh, Sparta, R. 4.
Geo. R. Hemingway, 121 Marion Street, Oak Park
Mrs. R. Matthews, McClure
Mrs. Ida L. Rice, Disco
Chas. E. Graves, University of Illinois Library, Urbana
Mrs. Truman Sweet, Durand
Geo. Findlay, 102 So. Market Street, Chicago
J. C. Gibbs, Elmwood
Dr A. W. Foreman, White Hall
Editor Journal American Medical Association, 535 Dearborn Street, Chicago
INDIANA
John F. Woods, Utility Farm, Owensville, R. 19
W. E. McElderry, Princeton Nursery, Princeton
H. J. Berendes, 509 E. Pennsylvania Street, Evansville
Vickery Bros., Evansville
Jarodsky & Co., Mt. Vernon
Henry Titus, Grand View
J. W. Jeffries, Carbon
Indiana Pecan Co., 234 3d Street, Mt. Vernon
H. B. Hill, Knightstown, Henry Co.
R. R. Katterjohn, Boonville
E. Hicks Trueblood, Salem, R. 9, Box 62
H. B. Halloway, 1132 No. Illinois Street, Indianapolis
D. W. McFarland, No. Manchester
Thomas L. Kerth, 408 Second Avenue, Evansville
Leo H. Fisher, Huntingburg
Harry Gieseke, Patoka
C. A. Weilbrenner, Mt. Vernon
J. W. Gleichman, Evansville
H. M. Thurber, Rockport
Dr. F. L. Davis, 209 Dover Street, Evansville
John F. Woods, Owensville
L. P. Dorr, Howell, R. 9
Clarence Cook, Indianapolis
Robert J. Tracewell, Evansville
W. A. Graham, Enterprise
J. C. Haines, Lake
W. A. Taylor, Oaktown
Chas. F. Hartzmetz, Evansville
J. W. Strassell, Rockport
IOWA
Wendell P. Williams, Danville
KANSAS
H. S. Baker, Secretary Winfield Nursery Co., Winfield
G. H. Dodge, 1000 Kearney Street, Manhattan
J. H. Brown, Gridley
KENTUCKY
J. W. Blunk, Maceo
James Speed, Editor _Farm and Family_, Louisville
H. C. Hargis, Hebbardsville
C. F. Kleiderer, Henderson
Professor Carmody, Agricultural Experiment Station, Lexington
MAINE
G. I. Hamlin, So. Waterford
E. F. Hitchings, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture,
Orono
MARYLAND
Mrs. W. C. Taylor, 700 N. Broadway, Baltimore
I. S. Winfree, Salisbury
Frank J. Hoen, 213 Courtland Street, Baltimore
Wm. E. Little, Westminster
Mrs. W. C. Taylor, 700 No. Broadway, Baltimore
MASSACHUSETTS
Capt. William H. Dole, N. Dartmouth, R. 4
Prof. W. D. Clark, Department of Forestry, Agricultural College, Amherst
Leavitt Perham, Ludlow Center
Orrin C. Cook, Milford
Chas. Ripley, 173 Harvard Street, Dorchester
Harris E. Chace, Clifford
Wilfred Wheeler, Secretary State Board of Agriculture, 136 State House,
Boston
Chas. R. Green, Librarian Agricultural College, Amherst
John H. Chard, 263 Salem Street, Bradford
Prof. W. D. Clark, Department of Forestry, Agricultural College, Amherst
MICHIGAN
J. Arthur Whitworth, Michigan Desk Co., Grand Rapids
Dr. H. M. Dunlap, Battle Creek
William L. Davies, 1780 St. Aubin Avenue, Detroit
L. O. Cook, Litchfield
Miss Marie Palmer, Plymouth, R. 2
Daniel A. Edwards, Newaygo
B. W. Madill, Linden
J. J. Robinson, Lamont
Geo. W. Bolton, Sparta, R. 20
MISSISSIPPI
G. H. Sadler, Columbia, R. F. D., care of Yale Cany.
C. J. Hayden, Assistant Professor Horticulture, Agricultural College
MISSOURI
William A. F. Hain, 22 Tiffin Avenue, Ferguson
Frank Wild Floral Co., Sarcoxie
F. A. Chambers, Sherrill
E. A. Ester, 1102 Rogers Avenue, Springfield
MONTANA
J. L. Pfeiffer, Joliet
NEW HAMPSHIRE
C. W. Hoitt, 24 Odd Fellows Building, Nashua
NEW JERSEY
Thomas Rodgers, 236 W. 25th Street, Paterson
J. N. Jarvie, Beemerville
Dr. W. H. Pounds, Paulsboro
H. G. Taylor, Secretary State Horticultural Society, Riverton
Nobel P. Randel, The High School, Montclair
C. C. Doorly, Sussex, R. 2
Joseph S. Smith, Burlington, R. 3
Lemuel Black, Hightstown
Herman Tice, Westwood
Philip Lindsley, Raritan, Box 350
Rev. Dr. Sonne, Flemington
C. D. Barton, Marlton
Chas. Haines, Moorestown
Frank Jones, Delanco
John Hutchinson, Haddonfield
NEW YORK