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NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION
(INCORPORATED)
REPORT
OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE
FIFTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING
NEW YORK CITY SEPTEMBER 3, 4 and 5, 1924
CONTENTS
Officers and Committees of the Association 3
State Vice-Presidents 4
Members of the Association 5
Constitution 10
By-Laws 13
Proceedings of the Fifteenth Annual Convention 15
Secretary's Report 15
Treasurer's Report 18
Address--Dr. Britton 19
Reports from State Vice-Presidents 20-30
Top Working Hickories in the North--W. C. Deming 32
Notes on Mediate and Immediate Grafting at All Times of the
Year--R. T. Morris 44
Stocks For Hickories--W. G. Bixby 48
The Search for Blight-resisting Chestnut Sprouts--J. F. Collins 57
Protection of Wounds in Nut Trees--J. F. Collins 61
A Harangue on the Nut Situation in Iowa--S. W. Snyder 65
Some of the More Important Insects Attacking Northern
Nuts--Fred E. Brooks 68
Developing a Nut Industry in the Northeast--G. A. Zimmerman 75
Transplanting Nut Trees--W. G. Bixby 78
Heredity in Trees and Plants--A. F. Blakeslee 81
Progress Report on Nut Culture in Canada--J. A. Neilson 88
Notes by Professor A. S. Colby 93
Address by Prof. MacDaniels 99
Nut Tree Crops as a Part of Permanent Agriculture Without
Plowing--J. R. Smith 103
Notes at Mr. Bixby's Nut Orchards and Nurseries, Baldwin, N. Y. 107
Exhibits at the House of W. G. Bixby 113
Notes Taken at Merribrooke, Dr. Morris' Estate Near
Stamford, Conn. 114
Amendment to By-Laws 121
Nuts--R. S. Copeland 125
Hardiness in Nut Trees--C. A. Reed 127
Walnut Grafting Investigations--T. J. Talbert 135
Care and Preparation of Nuts for Seed Purposes--E. R. Lake 137
Exhibits 140
Members Present 142
OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
_President_ HARRY R. WEBER, Gerke Building, Cincinnati, Ohio
_Vice-President_ MRS. W. D. ELLWANGER, 510 East Avenue,
Rochester, N. Y.
_Secretary_ C. A. REED, Box 485 Pa. Ave. Station,
Washington, D. C.
_Assistant Secretary_ MRS. B. W. GAHN, 485 Pa. Ave. Station,
Washington, D. C.
_Treasurer_ H. J. HILLIARD, Sound View, Conn.
_DIRECTORS_
HARRY R. WEBER, DR. ROBT. T. MORRIS, WILLARD G. BIXBY, DR. W. C. DEMING,
JAMES S. MCGLENNON
_COMMITTEES_
_Auditing_--MRS. KARL W. GREENE, P. H. O'CONNOR
_Executive_--HARRY R. WEBER, MRS. W. D. ELLWANGER, C. A. REED,
H. J. HILLIARD, W. S. LINTON, J. S. MCGLENNON
_Finance_--T. P. LITTLEPAGE, W. G. BIXBY, DR. W. C. DEMING
_Hybrids_--DR. R. T. MORRIS, J. F. JONES, W. G. BIXBY, HOWARD
SPENCE
_Membership_--HARRY R. WEBER, H. D. SPENCER, DR. J. R. SMITH,
R. T. OLCOTT, W. G. BIXBY, J. A. NEILSON, DR. W. C. DEMING,
J. W. HERSHEY
_Nomenclature_--C. A. REED, DR. R. T. MORRIS, J. F. JONES
_Press and Publications_--DR. W. C. DEMING, W. G. BIXBY, M. G.
KAINS
Program--HARRY R. WEBER, F. A. BARTLETT, C. A. REED, DR. ROBT.
T. MORRIS, A. S. COLBY
_Promising Seedlings_--C. A. REED, J. F. JONES, W. G. BIXBY, J. A.
NEILSON, S. W. SNYDER
STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS
Arkansas Prof. N. F. Drake Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville
California Will J. Thorpe 1545 Divisadero St., San Francisco
Canada James A. Neilson Hort. Exp. Sta., Vineland, Ontario
China P. W. Wang Sec'y Kinsan Arboretum, 147 N. Sechuan Road,
Shanghai
Connecticut Dr. W. C. Deming 983 Main St., Hartford, Conn.
Dist. of
Columbia Karl W. Greene Ridge Road, N. W., Washington
England Howard Spence The Red House, Ainsdale, Southport
Georgia J. M. Patterson Putney
Illinois Henry D. Spencer Decatur
Indiana J. F. Wilkinson Rockport
Iowa S. W. Snyder Center Point
Kansas James Sharp Council Grove
Maryland P. H. O'Connor Bowie
Massachusetts C. Leroy Cleaver 496 Commonwealth Ave., Boston
Michigan Dr. J. H. Kellogg Battle Creek
Missouri P. C. Stark Louisiana
Nebraska William Caha Wahoo
New Jersey C. S. Ridgway Lumberton
New York L. H. MacDaniels Cornell Univ., Ithaca
North Carolina H. M. Curran N. C. Dept. of Agriculture, Raleigh
Ohio James L. Brooke Pleasantville
Oregon Knight Pearcy Salem
Pennsylvania John Rick 438 Penn Square, Reading
Tennessee J. W. Waite Normandy
Utah Joseph A. Smith Edgewood Hall, Providence
Vermont F. C. Holbrook Brattleboro
Virginia D. S. Harris Roselawn, Capital Landing Road,
Williamsburg, R. F. D. 3
Washington Richard H. Turk Washougal
West Virginia Dr. J. E. Cannaday Box 693, Charleston
MEMBERS OF THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION
(Compiled November 12, 1924)
ARKANSAS
*Drake, Prof. N. F., Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Dunn, D. K., Wynne
CALIFORNIA
Thorpe, Will J., 1545 Divisadero Street, San Francisco
CANADA
Neilson, Jas. A., Ontario Hort. Exp. Sta., Vineland.
CHINA
*Wang, P. W., Sec'y, Kinsan Arboretum, 147 No. Szechuan Road,
Shanghai.
CONNECTICUT
Bartlett, Francis A., Stamford
Deming, Dr. W. C., 983 Main St., Hartford
Hardon, Mrs. Henry, Wilton
Hilliard, H. J., Sound View
Hungerford, Newman, Torrington, R. F. D. No. 2, Box 100
Ives, E. M., Sterling Orchards, Meriden
Montgomery, Robt. H., Cos Cob, Conn. (1924)
*Morris, Dr. Robt. T., Cos Cob, Route 28, Box 95
Pomeroy, Eleazer, 120 Bloomfield Ave., Windsor
Sessions, Albert L., 25 Bellevue Ave., Bristol
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Agriculture, Library of U. S. Dept. of
Close, Prof. C. P., Pomologist, Dept. of Agriculture
Greene, Karl W., Ridge Road, N. W.
Gravatt, G. F., Forest Pathology, B. P. I. Agriculture
*Littlepage, T. P., Union Trust Building
Reed, C. A., Dept. of Agriculture
Williams, A. Ray, Union Trust Bldg.
Von Ammon, S., Bureau of Standards
Gahn, Mrs. B. W., U. S. Department of Agriculture
ENGLAND
Spence, Howard, The Red House, Ainsdale, Southport
GEORGIA
Patterson, J. M., Putney
Steele, R. C., Lakemont, Rabun County
Wight, J. B., Cairo
ILLINOIS
Brown, Roy W., 220 E. Cleveland St., Spring Valley
Casper, O. H., Anna
Flexer, Walter G., 210 Campbell St., Joliet
Foote, Lorenzo S., Anna
Illinois, University of, Urbana (Librarian)
Mosnat, H. R., 10910 Prospect Ave., Morgan Park, Chicago
Mueller, Robert, Decatur
Nash, C. J., 1302 E. 53rd St., Chicago
Potter, Hon. W. O., Marion
Riehl, E. A., Godfrey, Route 2
Rodhouse, T. W., Jr., Pleasant Hill, R. R. 2
Shaw, James E., Champaign, Box 644
Spencer, Henry D., 275 W. Decatur St., Decatur
Swisher, S. L., Mulkeytown
Vulgamott, Chas. E., Cerro Gordo
INDIANA
Clayton, C. L., Owensville
Copp, Lloyd, 819 W. Foster St., Kokomo
Gilmer, Frank, 1012 Riverside Drive, South Bend
Staderman, A. L., 120 South 7th St., Terre Haute
Wilkinson, J. F., Rockport
IOWA
Adams, Gerald W., Moorhead
Armknecht, George, Donnellson. (1923)
Bricker, C. W., Ladora
Snyder, S. W., Center Point
KANSAS
Bishop, S. L., Conway Springs, Route No. 1
Fessenden, C. D., Cherokee
Hardin, Martin, Horton
Hitchcock, Chas. W., Belle Plaine
Gray, Dr. Clyde, Horton
Sharpe, James, Council Grove
MARYLAND
Jordan, Dr. Llewellyn, 100 Baltimore Ave., Takoma Park
Keenan, Dr. John F., Brentwood
O'Connor, P. W., Bowie
Wall, A. V., Baltimore
Watkins, Asa H., Mount Airy. (1924).
MASSACHUSETTS
*Bowditch, James H., 903 Tremont Bldg., Boston
Bowles, Francis T., Barnstable
Cleaver, C. Leroy, Hingham Center
Sawyer, James C., Andover
MICHIGAN
Bonine, Chester H., Vandalia
Charles, Dr. Elmer, Pontiac
Graves, Henry B., 2134 Dime Bank Bldg., Detroit
Kellogg, Dr. J. H., 202 Manchester St., Battle Creek
*Linton, Hon. W. S., Saginaw
Penney, Senator Harvey A., 425 So. Jefferson Ave., Saginaw
Michigan, University of, Ann Arbor. (1924).
MISSOURI
Stark, P. C., Louisiana
Tiedke, J. F., R. F. D., Rockville. (1924).
Youkey, J. M., 2519 Monroe Ave., Kansas City
NEBRASKA
Caha, William, Wahoo
Thomas, Dr. W. A., Lincoln
NEW JERSEY
Clarke, Miss E. A., W. Point Pleasant, Box 57
Gaty, Theo. E., 50 Morris Ave., Morristown
*Jaques, Lee W., 74 Waverly St., Jersey City
Landmann, Miss M. V., Cranbury, R. D. No. 2
Ridgeway, C. S., Lumberton
NEW YORK
Abbott, Frederick B., 1211 Tabor Court, Brooklyn
Ashworth, Fred L., Heuvelton
Bennett, Howard S., 851 Joseph Ave., Rochester
Bethea, J. G., 243 Rutgers St., Rochester
Bixby, Willard G., 32 Grand Ave., Baldwin, L. I.
Bixby, Mrs. Willard G., 32 Grand Ave., Baldwin
Brinton, Mrs. Willard Cope, 36 So. Central Pk., N. Y. City
Buist, Dr. G. L., 3 Hancock St., Brooklyn
Clark, George H., 131 State St., Rochester
Cothran, John C., 104 High St., Lockport
Corsan, G. H., 55 Hanson Place, Brooklyn
Diprose, Alfred H., 468 Clinton Ave., South, Rochester
Dunbar, John, Dep't. of Parks, Rochester
Ellwanger, Mrs. W. D., 510 East Ave., Rochester
Gager, Dr. C. Stewart, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn
Gaty, Theo. E. Jr., Clermont
Gillett, Dr. Henry W., 140 W. 57th St., New York City
Graham, S. H., R. D. 5, Ithaca
Hart, Frank E., Landing Road, Brighton
Haws, Elwood D., Public Market, Rochester
Hodgson, Casper W., Yonkers, (World Book Co.)
*Huntington, A. M., 15 W. 81st St., New York City
Johnson, Harriet, M. B., 40 Irving Place, New York City
Krieg, Fred J., 11 Gladys St., Rochester
Liveright, Frank I., 120 W. 70th St., N. Y. C.
MacDaniel, S. H., Dept. of Pomology, New York State College of
Agriculture, Ithaca
Motondo, Grant F., 198 Monroe Ave., Rochester
Nolan, Mrs. C. R., 47 Dickinson St., Rochester
Nolan, M. J., 47 Dickinson St., Rochester
Olcott, Ralph T. (Editor American Nut Journal), Ellwanger and Barry
Building, Rochester
Paterno, Dr. Chas. V., 117 W. 54th St., N. Y. City
Pomeroy, A. C., Lockport
Rawnsley, Mrs. Annie, 242 Linden St., Rochester
Rawnsley, James B., 242 Linden St., Rochester
Reinold, O. S., Yonkers-on-Hudson, (1924).
Schroeder, E. A., 223 East Ave., Rochester
Shutt, Erwin E., 509 Plymouth Ave., Rochester
Solley, Dr. John B., 968 Lexington Ave., New York City
Teele, Arthur W., 120 Broadway, New York City
Tucker, Geo. B., 110 Harvard St., Rochester
Vollertsen, Conrad, 375 Gregory St., Rochester
Waller, Percy, 284 Court St., Rochester
Wile, M. E., 955 Harvard St., Rochester
Wissman, Mrs. F. de R., Westchester, New York City
Wyckoff, E. L., Aurora
NORTH CAROLINA
Hutchings, Miss L. C., Pine Bluff
Matthews, C. D., North Carolina Dept. of Agriculture, Raleigh
OHIO
Beatty, Dr. W. M. L., Route 3, Croton Road, Centerburg
Coon, Charles, Groveport
Dayton, J. H., (Storrs & Harrison), Painesville
Fickes, W. R., Wooster, R. No. 6
Hinnen, Dr. G. A., 1343 Delta Ave., Cincinnati
Neff, Wm. N., Martel
*Weber, Harry R., 123 East 6th St., Cincinnati
PENNSYLVANIA
Althouse, C. Scott, 540 Pear St., Reading
Baum, Dr. F. L., Boyertown
Bohn, Dr. H. W., 24 No. 9th St., Reading
Boy Scouts of America, Reading
Davis, Miss E. W., Walnut Lane and Odgen Ave., Swarthmore,
Pennsylvania. (1923).
Druckemiller, W. H., 31 N. 4th St., Sunbury
Fritz, Ammon P., 35 E. Franklin St., Ephrata
Gribbel, Mrs. John, Wyncote
Hershey, John W., E. Downingtown
Hess, Elam G., Manheim
Hile, Anthony, Curwensville
Jenkins, Charles Francis, Farm Journal, Philadelphia
*Jones, J. F., Lancaster, Box 527
Kaufman, M. M., Clarion
Leach, Will, Cornell Building, Scranton
Mellor, Alfred, 152 W. Walnut Lane, Germantown, Philadelphia
Minick, C. G., Ridgway
Paden, Riley W., Enon Valley
Patterson, J. E., 77 North Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre
Pratt, Arthur H., Kennett Square
*Rick, John, 438 Penn Square, Reading
Rose, William J., 55 North West St., Carlisle
Rush, J. G., 630 Third St., Lancaster
Smedley, Samuel L., Newton Square, R. F. D. No. 1
Smith, Dr. J. Russell, Swarthmore
Wilhelm, Dr. Edward A., Clarion
*Wister, John C., Clarkson and Wister Sts., Germantown
Zimmerman, Dr. G. A., Piketown
RHODE ISLAND
Allen, Philip, Providence
TENNESSEE
Waite, J. W., Normandy
UTAH
Smith, Joseph A., Edgewood Hall, Providence
VERMONT
Aldrich, A. W., Springfield, R. F. D. No. 3
Ellis, Zenas H., Fair Haven
Holbrook, F. C., Battleboro
VIRGINIA
Gould, Katherine Clemons, Boonsboro, Care of C. M. Daniels, via
Lynchburg, R. F. D. 4
Harris, D. S., Roselawn, Capital Landing Road, Williamsburg, R. 3
Hopkins, N. S., Dixondale
Jordan, J. H., Bohannon
Moock, Harry C., Roanoke, Route 5
WASHINGTON
Berg, D. H., Nooksack
Turk, Richard H., Washougal
WEST VIRGINIA
Brooks, Fred E., French Creek
Cannaday, Dr. J. E., Charleston, Box 693
Hartzel, B. F., Shepherdstown
Mish, A. F., Inwood
WISCONSIN
Holden, Dr. Louis Edward, Beloit
* Life Member.
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I
_Name._ This society shall be known as the NORTHERN NUT GROWERS
ASSOCIATION.
ARTICLE II
_Object._ Its object shall be the promotion of interest in nut-bearing
plants, their products and their culture.
ARTICLE III
_Membership._ Membership in the society shall be open to all persons
who desire to further nut culture, without reference to place of
residence or nationality, subject to the rules and regulations of
the committee on membership.
ARTICLE IV
_Officers._ There shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary
and a treasurer, who shall be elected by ballot at the annual
meeting; and an executive committee of six persons, of which the
president, the two last retiring presidents, the vice-president,
the secretary and the treasurer shall be members. There shall
be a state vice-president from each state, dependency, or country
represented in the membership of the association, who shall be
appointed by the president.
ARTICLE V
_Election of Officers._ A committee of five members shall be elected at
the annual meeting for the purpose of nominating officers for
the following year.
ARTICLE VI
_Meetings._ The place and time of the annual meeting shall be selected
by the membership in session or, in the event of no selection
being made at this time, the executive committee shall choose
the place and time for the holding of the annual convention.
Such other meetings as may seem desirable may be called by
the president and executive committee.
ARTICLE VII
_Quorum._ Ten members of the association shall constitute a quorum,
but must include two of the four elected officers.
ARTICLE VIII
_Amendments._ This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote
of the members present at any annual meeting, notice of such
amendment having been read at the previous annual meeting, or
a copy of the proposed amendment having been mailed by any
member to each member thirty days before the date of the annual
meeting.
BY-LAWS
Article I
_Committees._ The association shall appoint standing committees as
follows: On membership, on finance, on programme, on press
and publication, on nomenclature, on promising seedlings, on
hybrids, and an auditing committee. The committee on membership
may make recommendations to the association as to the
discipline or expulsion of any member.
ARTICLE II
_Fees._ Annual members shall pay three dollars annually, or four dollars
and a half including a year's subscription to the American
Nut Journal. Contributing members shall pay ten dollars annually,
this membership including a year's subscription to the
American Nut Journal. Life members shall make one payment
of fifty dollars, and shall be exempt from further dues. Honorary
members shall be exempt from dues.
ARTICLE III
_Membership._ All annual memberships shall begin either with the
first day of the calendar quarter following the date of joining
the association, or with the first day of the calendar quarter
preceding that date as may be arranged between the new member
and the Treasurer.
ARTICLE IV
_Amendments._ By-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members
present at any annual meeting.
ARTICLE V
Members shall be sent a notification of annual dues at the time they
are due, and if not paid within two months, they shall be sent a
_second notice_, telling them that they are not in good standing on
account of non-payment of dues, and are not entitled to receive the
annual report.
At the end of thirty days from the sending of the second notice, a
_third notice_ shall be sent notifying such members that unless dues
are paid within ten days from receipt of this notice, their names
will be dropped from the rolls for non-payment of dues.
REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS
at the
FIFTEENTH ANNUAL CONVENTION
of the
NORTHERN NUT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, INC.
September 3, 4 and 5, 1924
Held in the
MUSEUM OF THE BOTANICAL GARDENS
BRONX PARK, NEW YORK CITY
EXCURSIONS
Baldwin, Long Island, Sept. 4 Stamford, Connecticut, Sept. 5
_Chairman_--PRESIDENT HARRY R. WEBER
FIRST DAY--MORNING SESSION
THE PRESIDENT: The meeting will please be in order, and we will have the
secretary read his report.
THE SECRETARY: Secretary's Report for 1924.--Fourteen years ago, on
November 17, 1910, two women and ten men, seers and prophets, met for
organization in this building at the invitation of Dr. N. L. Britton, at
that time and now, Director of the New York Botanic Gardens. We meet
here again today by reason of his unfailing kindness.
Of the twelve persons present at that first meeting, three are here
again, Dr. Britton, Dr. Morris and myself, and two are known to be dead,
Prof. Craig of Cornell University, and Mr. Henry Hales, of Ridgewood,
New Jersey.
The association has held an annual convention each year of its
existence except during the war, in 1918, when no formal meeting was
held. An annual report has been published every year, except that the
report of the proceedings of the first meeting was incorporated in the
report of the second meeting, and the ninth report, that for 1918, has
not yet been issued.
The present secretary has held the office every year except in 1918 and
1919, during military service, when Mr. Bixby took his place.
From an educational and scientific standpoint I think the association
may be said to have fulfilled creditably its original declaration of
purpose, "the promotion of interest in nut-bearing plants, their
products and their culture." Many choice nuts have been brought to
notice and perpetuated. The establishment of nurseries where grafted nut
trees of choice varieties may be obtained has been encouraged. The art
of grafting and propagating nut trees has been brought to a high degree
of success by members of the association. Experimental orchards, both of
transplanted nursery trees and of topworked native trees, have been
established in widely separated parts of the country.
Acting on the suggestion and request of members of the association, Mr.
Olcott established the American Nut Journal, one of the most important
of our accomplishments. Finally, and perhaps best of all, a number of
horticultural institutions have taken up seriously the study of nut
culture and the planting of experimental orchards. Testimony to this
will be found in letters to be read by the secretary and in the presence
on our program today of representatives of several horticultural and
other institutions of learning. I believe that the association can take
credit to itself for having, by its publications and other means of
influence, in large degree brought about this interest and action.
As for any commercial success in nut-growing, brought about by our
activities, when we compare nut-growing in our field with pecan-growing
in the South, and with walnut, almond, and perhaps filbert-growing, on
the Pacific Coast, our results are meagre indeed. Of course commercial
production, the building of a new industry of food supply for the
people, is our ultimate goal. Why are our results in this direction,
after fourteen years of effort, so small? Is it because we have devoted
ourselves too exclusively to the scientific and educational aspects of
our problems and neglected, either from over-cautiousness or from
inertia, to encourage commercial plantings? There are some of our
members who think that we have. They say that we should have been
bolder in assuring people of success to be attained in nut tree
planting.
As for me I do not think that we have been too cautious. We who are so
accused, can point to the disastrous results of following the advice of
commercially interested persons, results which have had much to do with
retarding and discouraging nut planting and counteracting the labors of
our association.
But now, however, I believe that we have reached a state of knowledge
where we can confidently recommend the commercial planting of nut
orchards. We recommend the Indiana pecan in many states; the improved
black walnuts over a much wider area, and the chestnut in many
localities where it is not a native tree. The top-working of native
hickories and black walnuts also can be confidently recommended. In
every case, however, the adaptability of the kind of nut to the locality
should be passed upon by an expert. In every case, also, even in that of
top-working native hickories and walnuts, intelligent and generous care
is essential for any degree of commercial success.
It is probable also, that the planting of the European filbert can be
recommended under conditions of intelligent care.
Now what of the association's future? The field is boundless but the
working cash is wanting. Faith is unlimited but works are conditioned by
want of appeal to commercial powers. It is almost a vicious circle, no
commercial appeal no money, no money no development to appeal to
commerce. But we do make progress and it is accelerated progress. In
time we must necessarily arrive at our goal. Our lines of advance are
sketched out and our progress along these lines depends on the energy of
the workers and the means with which they have to work.
I shall ask the association to establish a rule as to when members are
in good standing and when they should be dropped from the rolls for
non-payment of dues.
I shall also ask for a clear understanding, in the form of an amendment
to the by-laws, on the question of annual dues and their combination
with the American Nut Journal.
It is desirable that we have a ruling as to a fiscal year.
The delay in the issuance of the annual report was due to my
unwillingness to contract debts for the payment of which funds were not
in sight.
The treasurer's report will show that we have a surplus in the treasury
to date of about $50. The report of the treasurer is too long to be read
at this time, so I will simply repeat that it shows on hand a cash
surplus of $50. I will turn the detailed report over to the auditing
committee for their action.
TREASURER'S REPORT
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS OF THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION FROM OCT.
3, 1923, TO AUG. 31, 1924, BOTH INCLUSIVE
NOTE--Owing to delay in mails, the report given below is a later one
than that used by the secretary. The one here included should have
reached the secretary previous to convention, and it is the final,
correct statement.
RECEIPTS
Membership--Plan No. 1 $ 2.00
Membership--Plan No. 2 19.25
Membership--Plan No. 6 111.00
Membership--Plan No. 7 149.50
Membership--Plan No. 9 8.25
Membership--Plan No. 10 7.75
-------
Total receipts from membership $297.75
Transfer of Funds from Former Treasurer 104.13
Contributions 235.00
Sales of Literature 10.01
Interest .10
-------
Total $646.99
EXPENDITURES
Cash on hand $ .80
Middletown National Bank, Middletown, Conn. (Deposit) 170.64
Litchfield Savings Society, Litchfield, Conn. (Deposit) 4.23
Charged to Loss. 2 Subs, to Amn. Nut Journal on former
Treasurer's account 3.00
Expenses:
Postage, Express and Insurance $ 9.79
Government Envelopes and Stamps 15.63
Adhesive Stamps 8.54
Postal Cards 1.25
Postal Cards and Printing 3.25
Registry Fee and Money Order Fee .18
Telegrams 1.18
Reporting Proceedings of Rochester Convention 50.00
Transcript of Proceedings of Rochester Convention 85.00
Reporting, etc., Proceedings of Washington Convention 60.00
Blank Account Book for the Association 5.00
Seal for the Association 7.00
1000 Letterheads 8.50
1500 Letters 8.50
500 Letters, double sheet 8.00
1500 Circulars 6.50
500 Reports, (92 pp., including cover) 184.00
500 Manila Envelopes 2.00
Printing 1.50
Addressing and Mailing 2.50
------
$468.32
-------
$646.99
Respectfully submitted,
H. J. HILLIARD, Treas.,
Northern Nut Growers Ass'n, Inc.
* * * * *
THE PRESIDENT: We will now be addressed by Dr. Britton, Director of the
Botanical Gardens in which we are assembled.
DR. BRITTON: Mr. President and Members of the Northern Nut Growers'
Association: By curious coincidence, in looking over the records of the
New York Botanical Society's reports, I find the printed account of the
organization meeting of your association. It is printed in the Journal
of the New York Botanical Gardens, No. 132, for December, 1910. The
article is written by George B. Nash. I believe I will read this report
and if, perchance, the document is not in your files, I will turn this
copy over to your president for preservation.
ORGANIZATION MEETING, NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION
A meeting was held in the museum building on November 17, (1910) for the
purpose of organizing an association devoted to the interests of
nut-growing. The meeting was called to order shortly after 2 p. m. by
Dr. N. L. Britton, who welcomed those present and wished them success in
their undertaking. During his remarks he referred to a recent visit to
Cuba where he succeeded in collecting nuts of the Cuban walnut, _Juglans
insularis Griseb_. Specimens of these were exhibited and some of them
presented to Dr. R. T. Morris for his collection of edible nuts of the
world, deposited at Cornell University.
Dr. W. C. Deming was made chairman of the meeting and a temporary
secretary was elected. The chairman read a number of letters from
various parts of the country expressing an active interest in the
formation of an organization such as was proposed. A committee of three
was appointed by the chair to draft a constitution. This committee,
consisting of Mr. John Craig, Dr. R. T. Morris and Mr. T. P. Littlepage,
submitted a report recommending that the name of the organization be the
Northern Nut Growers' Association, that residents of all parts of the
country be eligible to membership, and that the officers be a president,
a vice-president and a secretary-treasurer. An executive committee of
five was also provided for, two of said committee to be the president
and secretary-treasurer. The annual dues were placed at $2.00, and life
membership at $20.00. The recommendations of the committee were adopted.
An interesting exhibition of nuts, and specimens illustrating methods of
grafting, formed a feature of the meeting. Chestnuts, walnuts, and
hickory nuts, including the pecan, were illustrated in much variety. Mr.
T. P. Littlepage had a series of nuts of the pecan which he had
collected from a number of selected trees in Kentucky and vicinity. One
of these, almost globular in form, was of particular excellence, being
of clean cleavage and delicious flavor.
Dr. R. T. Morris was elected president; Mr. T. P. Littlepage,
vice-president; and Dr. W. C. Deming, secretary-treasurer.
George V. Nash.
DR. BRITTON: May I say to you that our good wishes for your association,
expressed at that time, are simply repeated now, and we hope that you
will make yourselves at home and as comfortable as possible. We have
made arrangement for the convention to leave here about one o'clock, for
luncheon at Sormani's as guests of the Botanical Society. The autos will
be at the door promptly, so I trust that you will adjust the session so
as to be free to leave then.
THE PRESIDENT: We wish to extend our thanks to Dr. Britton for his kind
remarks and for his hospitality.
We will now have the secretary read reports from our state
vice-presidents.
THE SECRETARY: These are very interesting. The first one is from Mrs.
Ellwanger, our state vice-president for New York.
(Reading in part) "My walnut trees are doing well and have many more
nuts than ever before. The filberts planted two years ago, also have
some, and the chestnuts, those the blight have left me, are covered with
burs. There are beech nuts, too.--I intend to keep on planting chestnut
trees, in spite of the blight."
Mr. C. S. Ridgway, Lumberton, New Jersey, writes as follows:
"There are very few nut trees in our vicinity. In fact, very few except
what I have--some large old pecans at Mt. Holley, but the fruit is so
small they are not gathered."
The next letter is from Mr. Howard Spence, of Ainsdale, Southport,
England. Mr. Spence writes:
"During the last year I have got one of our horticultural research
stations interested in the subject of walnut culture and just recently
the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries also. The
latter are using a small pamphlet on nut culture generally, to which I
have contributed some facts. But a point of more definite interest at
the moment is that the Minister has agreed to instruct all their
inspectors over the country to make a collection of all walnuts of merit
and forward them to me for classification and identification of
varieties which may be worth perpetuating. As almost all the large
number of trees in this country are seedlings I am hopeful that some
interesting material may be located."
Here is a letter from Mr. Richard H. Turk, Vice-President for the state
of Washington:
"Your request for a report from this Pacific Coast state came as a
surprise. The Western Walnut Growers' Association is very strongly
organized as regards Oregon and Washington, and it is difficult to
persuade our nut growers here to join an association with its base of
operations so far removed as the Northern Nut Growers' Association. I
believe that I have been responsible for an additional membership of at
least one or two which I think can be considerably augmented this fall.
Filbert growing has firmly caught hold of the enthusiasm of the people
here. The acreage has reached 2,000 acres as compared to a bare 150
acres of six years ago. I estimate a planting of 1,500 additional acres
to this quick bearing nut, this season. I have trees enough in my
nursery to plant 600 acres but regard the majority of the plants as
being too small. Planters plant even the smallest one-year layers out a
distance varying from ten to twenty-five feet. I regard this as a waste
of time, money and energy. Trees with two year old roots are none too
big. The variety most planted is the Barcelona, closely followed by Du
Chilly, and is supported by pollinizers for these two varieties at the
rate of one pollinizer to every nine of the commercial sort. Intent eyes
are watching every new seedling in search of new and superior varieties.
Some have been found and will be propagated. Nut growers are but warming
to the idea. I am putting out eight thousand four-year old seedling
filbert trees in orchard form to be tested for qualities desired in a
better filbert.
Tree filberts instead of bushes is a new idea that is fast gaining
headway against the old method of removing the suckers by hand each
season. _Corylus colurna_, the Turkish species, and _Corylus chinensis_,
the Chinese tree hazel, are most favored as stocks. It has been found
that these trees are easily grafted to filberts, that they are extremely
hardy and grow twice as fast as the filbert, and that the vigor of the
stock enlarges the size of the nut, regardless of variety. Foremost in
the recommendation of grafted tree filberts, I have correspondents in
many foreign countries and have arranged for the delivery of several
thousand pounds of these nuts to grow seedlings of.
The tree hazel is of the future as yet, and one must recognize the
demand for layered stock until replaced by what appears to be better. To
add at least thirty acres to my present filbert plantings this year is
my desire. I am planting at least 400 trees to the acre as interplants
in a grafted walnut orchard. No use in wasting time before the trees
begin to bear profitable crops. Three and four years at most for
man-sized returns when using a ten foot planting.
One planting of Du Chilly filberts last year produced an average of
close to 40 pounds per tree on nine-year-old trees and an average of 10
pounds on four-year-old trees. The spread of the latter trees was scarce
four feet, and I counted 22 nuts on a branch eight inches in length. Mr.
A. W. Ward reports an average crop of 200 nuts to each two-year-old
filbert tree in his four-acre planting this season. These are also Du
Chillys that are fast building up a sentiment favoring them before the
lower-priced Barcelona variety. The Barcelona is a more vigorous tree
and shells out of the husk 75% whereas the Du Chilly is but 40% self
husking, but that will not offset the differential of five to ten cents
per pound in favor of the great, oblong nuts.
The _walnut_ acreage of Washington and Oregon is approximately 12,000
acres and is now taking a new hold with all the additional planting
being made up of _grafted_ trees. The VROOMAN FRANQUETTE variety grafted
on the California black walnut stock is the tree used in these
plantings. Formerly, seedlings of the so-called second generation type
were quite popular, but when it became evident that seedlings would not
transmit the superior qualities of the parent, that method of
propagation was thrown into the discard. Eight thousand acres of the
acreage now out, are seedling trees that must be topworked before Oregon
will be truly famous for the quality of the nuts it produces. These
seedling trees are paying at present under our present high prices after
many years of barrenness.
My own 900 seedling trees I top-worked last year to the Vrooman
Franquette variety, placing as many as thirty grafts in some trees and
obtained an average of 70 per cent successful grafts. These grafts have
made wonderful growth this season, and are quite capable of bearing
large quantities of nuts next season. My crew of walnut grafters are
becoming well known over a radius of 100 miles, and the work they are
doing is a road to profit for many an owner of unproductive nut trees.
This fall I intend publishing some of the leading articles of the
nut-growing authorities of this section, in conjunction with a catalogue
well illustrated and containing my experience as a nut grower. Anyone
contemplating planting walnuts or filberts may well send in their
reservation of copy. Generally speaking, nut tree nurserymen and nut
tree planters have not had time nor desire to add to the literature on
this subject. I believe that when the nurserymen get behind the move to
plant nut trees there will be some very interesting developments. There
is one good thing in sight, and that is that it will not be the
old-fashioned seedling that they will push this time. I think that you
people of the East have got to make another determined effort to drive
home the impossibility of seedlings ever being satisfactory. Outside the
association a nut tree is a nut tree regardless of seedling and grafted
trees, and one is expected to bear just as many fine large nuts as the
other and just as soon. After losing twenty to thirty thousand dollars
in delayed returns from a seedling walnut orchard, is it any wonder that
I oppose the planting of more seedlings by the unwary?
In concluding this report I wish to state that I have talked nuts before
a score of different meetings during the last year, and in the press of
Oregon and Washington have done much to encourage the prospective
grower."
THE SECRETARY: It seems to me that this report is one that will be very
useful to nut growers in the East and very suggestive to beginners in
nut growing. I would like to ask Mr. Reed if he has any comments to make
on the report.
MR. REED: As I know conditions in the Pacific Northwest Mr. Turk has
given an accurate report. The one criticism that I might make would be,
perhaps, that there seems to be a probability of over-enthusiasm. This
often occurs in any part of the country with respect to new things. It
has been most conspicuous with the pecan in the South, and the almond
industry in the West. As the pioneers in the nut industry in Oregon and
Washington are acquiring greater experience they are increasingly more
cautious with regard to such matters as varieties, planting sites,
planting distances, interpollination, and others of kindred nature.
The industry in the Northwest is still comparatively small. It is
centered mainly in the Willamette Valley of Oregon and to some extent in
a narrow strip running north towards Seattle. The best informed are
planting only in fertile, moist, properly drained soils so situated that
air drainage is good. The local soils are much more variable than would
be suggested by casual observation. Also, greater attention is being
paid to air drainage in that part of the country than in the East.
Several years ago there was a sudden drop in temperature from 32 degrees
above to 24 degrees below zero, at McMinnville, Oregon. This proved
fatal to trees and plants of many kinds, particularly those on flat
bottoms or on hillsides from which, for any reason, the cold air was
prevented from blowing to lower levels.
In addition to the species of nuts discussed by Mr. Turk, something
might be said regarding the possibilities of chestnut culture in the
Pacific Northwest. Numerous trees, planted singly or even in small
groups found there, grow so well as to indicate plainly that the genus
is capable of adapting itself to existing environment. However, both
planters and consumers are generally prejudiced against the chestnut.
This is easily explained for the reason that either sufficient numbers
of varieties have not been planted together to ensure interpollination,
or Japanese chestnuts have been planted. Early planters were evidently
not aware that most varieties are largely self-sterile, and they did not
know that the average Japanese chestnuts are fit for consumption only
when cooked. Had these two facts been taken into consideration by them,
it is not improbable that there would now have been an entirely
different situation regarding the chestnut in that part of the country.
THE SECRETARY: I have a few more reports. Is it the sentiment of the
meeting that I go on reading them?
MR. REED: I would like to hear the reports.
* * * * *
THE SECRETARY: _Knight Pearcy, from Salem, Oregon_, writes:
"Both filbert and walnut planting have continued in Oregon during the
past year. There has been a steady increase in the acreage of these two
nut crops during the past five years but, fortunately, no planting boom.
The older walnut orchards are almost all seedling groves and many of
these seedling groves are producing a very attractive revenue.
Practically all of the new plantings are of grafted trees, it having
been amply demonstrated that, while seedlings are often revenue
producers, the grafted orchards bring in more revenue and at no greater
cost of operation. Seedling orchards are offered for sale, but very few
grafted plantings are on the market. The Franquette continues to be the
principal tree planted; probably 95% of the new plantings being of this
variety.
A co-operative walnut marketing association has been formed, and this
year for the first time carlot shipments of Oregon nuts will be sent
East.
The filbert, a younger member of the Oregon horticultural family than
the walnut, is being planted as heavily as the walnut, if not more
heavily. Probably 60,000 trees were planted in the Willamette Valley of
Oregon last year. Production of filberts has not yet become heavy enough
to supply home markets. It will probably be some time before Oregon
filberts reach eastern markets.
No other nuts are grown commercially in the state, although the chestnut
does well here."
_Mr. T, C. Tucker, State Vice-President from California_, writes:
"The principal consideration in relation to the California nut situation
is a recognition of the tremendous increase in planting within the last
ten years. Many of these newly planted orchards have already come into
bearing. The marketable almond tonnage of California has increased until
it is now over three times that of ten years ago. The walnut tonnage has
doubled during the same period.
New plantings are going forward very slowly at the present time due to
the conditions prevailing in the fruit industry in general.
Economic conditions, coupled with the keenest kind of foreign
competition have interfered materially with the sale of almonds in this
country, with the result that almond growers have been losing money
every year for the past four years. At the same time the tremendously
increased domestic tonnage has resulted in keeping the prices to the
consumer very low in relation to pre-war prices and costs. The consumer
has been getting the benefit of maintaining the domestic almond
producers in the business. The fact that domestic tonnage cannot be kept
down, as soon as a profit is in sight, warrants the American public in
maintaining a sizable industry in this country by means of a protective
tariff, even though it may appear on the surface as though it might mean
increased prices. The experiences of the last four years have
demonstrated beyond a doubt that increases in import duties have not
resulted in increased prices to the consumer. They have, in fact,
increased the competition to a point where prices have dropped rather
than risen.
The same situation applies to walnuts, except possibly as regards losses
to growers during recent years. The fact that walnuts ordinarily take
longer to come into bearing than almonds has prevented any rapid
increase in production such as has taken place with almonds. They are,
however, facing many of the same conditions of keen competition from
countries where costs of production are very, very low.
Conditions this year point to both almond and walnut crops of
approximately the same size as last year. That means the walnut crop
will be around 25,000 tons and the almond crop around 10,000 tons. The
condition of the walnut crop seems to be about normal. Where irrigation
is not available they are suffering from lack of water. Almonds this
year are showing in many districts the disastrous effects of the
unusually dry season. This will show up most strongly, however, in
reduced tonnage for next year, and stick-tights for this year. These
latter, however, are not saleable, so the consumer need not worry but
that the almonds received in the markets will be good, edible almonds.
What the final outcome of the drought will be it is a little too early
to tell.
Pecans and filberts are produced in such small quantities in California
that they do not affect the market in any way except possibly locally.
There is nothing to indicate any abnormal condition affecting either of
these in the few places where they are grown. No large plantings of
either of these nuts are being made, since there seems to be
considerable question as to how successful they will be from a
commercial standpoint.
Chestnuts are not being planted as fast as they might be, especially in
those sections of the state to which they are well adapted. With the
rapid disappearance of the chestnut forests of the eastern states,
through the ravages of the chestnut bark disease, there is no reason why
chestnuts could not be grown in California, especially in many of the
foot-hill districts. This, of course, presupposes that the chestnut bark
disease can be kept out of the state, and we believe it can be. The
general price situation, however, is such as to discourage any extensive
plantings at this time. The interest that is being taken in possible
future plantings, however, is such that it appears reasonable to believe
that the next few years will see materially larger plantings made,
provided there is any improvement in agricultural economy conditions."
_Mr. James Sharp, Vice-President from Kansas_, writes:
"The only nut native here is black walnut, and the crop is heavy. There
are some Stabler and Thomas planted here, and some grafted on native
black are bearing. We have something like fifty grafted pecans planted
of all varieties, but none bearing yet. The pecan is a native south and
east of here in Kansas, and the crop is good, I understand. We also have
a few grafted sweet chestnuts growing in Kansas which are bearing well,
and more are being planted. I have one English walnut growing near my
house, which had male blooms last spring, but no nuts. We do not think
they will be a success in Kansas but we hope to grow some nuts on our
tree next year, the first in Kansas."
_Mr. U. H. Walker, Nacla, Colorado_, who says he is probably the only
one in that state attempting to grow nut trees, instead of fruit, writes
of his attempts. His place is at an altitude of 5,800 feet, where he can
at times look down into the clouds, and on clear days can look up into
perpetual snow. Mr. Walker has black walnut trees that have produced
crops each year for the last ten years, three pecan trees and two
persimmons. He has been experimenting with nut trees obtained from the
government for the last ten or twelve years, and is willing to plant and
care for any trees which the members of the association would like to
have tried out in the center of the Rocky Mountain district.
_Prof. V. R. Gardner, Michigan Agricultural College_, in a letter to C.
A. Reed, says: "We are getting a very nice collection of hardy nuts
started on our Graham Station grounds near Grand Rapids. These are for
the most part young trees being planted in orchard form. We are also
doing some top-grafting and as soon as we shall be able to accumulate
more data upon which to base recommendations, I am inclined to think
that we will put on a number of nut grafting demonstrations in the
state. I am sure there will be a demand for it.
If your meetings could be held later in the year, perhaps some time
during the winter, I think it would be easier for some of the station
men to attend them."
MR. REED: Might I add that Prof. Gardner was at one time Assistant in
Horticulture at Corvallis, in the heart of the walnut district of
Oregon. From there he went to Missouri as State Horticulturist. During
the three years at that place he top-worked a considerable number of
walnut trees with scions of supposedly hardy varieties of Persian
walnuts, especially the Franquette, and such varieties of Eastern black
as he could obtain. The Persian practically was killed out during the
first winter. The black walnut tops are now coming into bearing, and
considerable attention is being attracted to them throughout the
Mid-West. Prof. Colby may know something further regarding the work in
Missouri.
THE SECRETARY: I hope you notice how many more reports we are getting
from the men connected with the horticultural departments of the state
institutions. Here is a letter from H. H. Bartlett, Director of the
Botanical Gardens at Ann Arbor, University of Michigan:
"Our Botanical Garden in its present location is relatively new, having
been established only in 1914. The development of permanent plantings
has been mostly in the last two or three years, so you see we have as
yet done nothing with nut trees other than to assemble what varieties we
could get hold of. I must confess that the poor little things look much
as if the wrath of heaven had overtaken them. We had 8 degrees of frost
on the night of May 22d, when all the trees were in young leaf. All the
nut trees were badly killed back, some below the graft, so I've had to
pull some out. Since they had only a miserable start last year, they
look pretty sad now. However, I'll replace where necessary, and hope for
better luck next time.
If there should be an opportunity in the course of the discussion to
state that we are prepared to receive and take care of nut trees that
originators wish to try out in this region, I shall appreciate it. We
are receiving occasional nut-bearing plants from the Office of Seed and
Plant Introduction of the Department of Agriculture, and are very glad
to act as a testing station for new introductions or productions.
In order not to give a false impression as to the extent of our work, I
feel impelled to say that we haven't yet a nut tree in bearing, and only
one over three feet high."
_Mr. Conrad Vollertsen_ writes that he will not be able to be here as he
had planned. He states that all of his 31 varieties of filbert trees,
except one, have fairly good nut crops. His place, as you know, is in
Rochester, N. Y.
_Mr. F. A. Bartlett, of Stamford, Conn._, writes: