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|The articles published in the Annual Reports of the Northern Nut Growers|
|Association are the findings and thoughts solely of the authors and are |
|not to be construed as an endorsement by the Northern Nut Growers |
|Association, its board of directors, or its members. No endorsement is |
|intended for products mentioned, nor is criticism meant for products not|
|mentioned. The laws and recommendations for pesticide application may |
|have changed since the articles were written. It is always the pesticide|
|applicator's responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current |
|label directions for the specific pesticide being used. The discussion |
|of specific nut tree cultivars and of specific techniques to grow nut |
|trees that might have been successful in one area and at a particular |
|time is not a guarantee that similar results will occur elsewhere. |
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NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION (INCORPORATED)
REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE FOURTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING
WASHINGTON, D. C. SEPTEMBER 26, 27 and 28, 1923
CONTENTS
Officers and Committees of the Association 3
State Vice-Presidents 4
Members of the Association 5
Constitution and By-Laws 11
Proceedings of the Fourteenth Annual Convention 15
Report of the Secretary 19
Some Further Notes on Nut Culture in Canada, Jas. A. Neilson 24
Address by Dr. L. C. Corbett 28
Address by C. A. Reed 33
Commercial Nut Culture, T. P. Littlepage 36
Notes by Mr. Bixby 39
Address, Mrs. W. N. Hutt 41
Report of Chairman of the Committee on Incorporation 47
Minutes of First Meeting of Directors 50
Report of the Finance Committee 51
Address by Dr. Oswald Schreiner 51
Address by Dr. W. E. Safford 54
Extension Work in Nut Growing, Professor C. P. Close 60
Roadside Planting vs. Reforestation, Hon. W. S. Linton 61
Encouragement from Failures in Grafting, Dr. G. A. Zimmerman 64
Letter from F. H. Wielandy 76
The Chestnut, C. A. Reed 77
Report of the Committee on Nomenclature 81
Notes from an Experimental Nut Orchard 81
Appendix 88
OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
_President_ HARRY R. WEBER, Cincinnati, Ohio
_Vice-President_ J. F. JONES. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
_Secretary_ WILLIAM C. DEMING, 983 Main St., Hartford, Conn.
_Treasurer_ H. J. HILLIARD, Sound View, Connecticut
DIRECTORS
JAMES S. MCGLENNON, DR. ROBERT T. MORRIS, WILLARD G. BIXBY, HARRY R.
WEBER, DR. W. C. DEMING.
_COMMITTEES_
_Auditing_--C. P. CLOSE, C. A. REED.
_Executive_--HARRY R. WEBER, J. F. JONES, W. C. DEMING, H. J. HILLIARD,
W. S. LINTON, J. S. MCGLENNON.
_Finance_--T. P. LITTLEPAGE, W. G. BIXBY, W. C. DEMING.
_Hybrids_--R. T. MORRIS, C. P. CLOSE, W. G. BIXBY, HOWARD SPENCE.
_Membership_--H. R. WEBER, H. D. SPENCER, J. A. SMITH, J. S. MCGLENNON,
R. T. OLCOTT, W. G. BIXBY, J. A. NEILSON, W. C. DEMING.
_Nomenclature_--C. A. REED, R. T. MORRIS, J. F. JONES.
_Press and Publication_--R. T. OLCOTT, W. G. BIXBY, W. C. DEMING.
_Programme_--H. R. WEBER, R. T. OLCOTT, C. A. REED, R. T. MORRIS, W. G.
BIXBY.
_Promising Seedlings_--C. A. REED, J. F. JONES, W. G. BIXBY, J. A.
NEILSON.
STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS
Arkansas Prof. N. F. Drake University 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 Ernest M. Ives Sterling Orchards, Meriden
Dist.
of Columbia Prof. C. P. Close Pomologist, Dept. of Agriculture,
Washington, D. C.
England Howard Spence The Red House, Ainsdale, Southport
Georgia J. M. Patterson Putney
Illinois Henry D. Spencer Decatur
Indiana J. F. Wilkinson Rockport
Iowa D. C. Snyder Center Point
Kansas James Sharp Council Grove
Maryland P. J. 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 Mrs. W. D. Ellwanger 510 East Ave., Rochester
North Carolina C. W. Matthews N. C. Dept. of Agriculture, Raleigh
Ohio W. R. Fickes Wooster, R. No. 6
Oregon Earl C. Frost Gates Road, Portland, Route 1,
Box 515
Pennsylvania John Rick 438 Penn Square, Reading
South Carolina Thomas Taylor 1112 Bull St., Columbia
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 Fred E. Brooks French Creek
MEMBERS OF THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION
ARKANSAS
*Drake, Prof. N. F., Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Dunn, D. K., Wynne
CALIFORNIA
Thorpe, Will J., 1545 Divisadero Street, San Francisco
CANADA
McRitchie, Prof. A. R., Arthur, Ontario.
Neilson, Jas. A., Ontario Hort. Exp. Sta., Vineland.
CHINA
*P. W. Wang, Sec'y, Kinsan Arboretum, 147 No. Szechuan Road, Shanghai.
CONNECTICUT
Barrows, Paul M., Stamford, R. F. D. No. 30
Bartlett, Francis A., Stamford
Bielefield, F. J., South Farms, Middletown
Deming, Dr. W. C, 983 Main St., Hartford
Gotthold, Mrs. Frederick, Wilton
Hardon, Mrs. Henry, Wilton
Hilliard, H. J., South View
Hungerford, Newman, Torrington, R. F. D. No. 2, Box 100
Ives, E. M., Sterling Orchards, Meriden
*Morris Dr. R. 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
ENGLAND
Spence, Howard, The Red House, Ainsdale, Southport
GEORGIA
Killian, C. M., Valdosta
Parrish, John S., Cornelia, Box 57
Patterson, J. M., Putney
Steele, R. C., Lakemont, Rabun Co.
Wight, J. B., Cairo
ILLINOIS
Brown, Roy W., 220 E. Cleveland St., Spring Valley
Buckman, Benj., Farmingdale
Buxton, T. C., Stine Bldg., Decatur
Casper, O. H., Anna
Clough, W. A., 929 Monadnoch Bldg., Chicago
Falrath, David, 259 N. College St., Decatur
Flexer, Walter G., 210 Campbell St., Joliet
Foote, Lorezo S., Anna
Holden, Dr. Louis Edward, Decatur
Illinois, University of, Urbana (Librarian)
Marsh, Mrs. W. V., Aledo
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
Powers, Frank S., 595 Powers Lane, Decatur
Reihl, E. A., Godfrey, Route 2
Rodhouse, T. W., Jr., Pleasant Hill, R. R. 2
Shaw, James B., Champaign, Box 644
Spencer, Henry D., 275 W. Decatur St., Decatur
Swisher, S. L., Mulkeytown
Vulgamott, Chas. E., Cerro Gordo
White, W. Elmer, 175 Park Place, Decatur
INDIANA
Clayton, C. L., Owensville
Copp, Lloyd, 819 W. Foster St., Kokomo
Gilmer, Frank, 1012 Riverside Drive, South Bend
Reed, W. C, Vincennes
Staderman, A. L., 120 South 7th St., Terre Haute
Wilkinson, J. F., Rockport
IOWA
Adams, Gerald W., Moorhead
Bricker, C. W., Ladora
Pfeiffer, W. F., Fayette
Snyder, D. C., Center Point
Snyder, S. W., Center Point.
KANSAS
Bishop, S. L., Conway Springs
Fossenden, 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. J., Bowie
Perkins, H., 401 Nat. Marine Bank Bldg., Baltimore
Wall, A. V., Baltimore
MASSACHUSETTS
*Bowditch, James H., 903 Tremont Bldg., Boston
Bowles, Francis T., Barnstable
Cleaver, C. Leroy, Hingham Center
Collins, Geo. D., 388 Union St., Springfield
Johnstone, Edward O., North Carver
Sawyer, James C., Andover
Wright, G. F., Chelmsford
MICHIGAN
Banine, Chester H., Vandalia
Charles, Dr. Elmer, Pontiac
Copland, A. W., 670 E. Woodbridge St., Detroit
Graves, Henry B., 2134 Dime Bank Bldg., Detroit
Kellogg, Dr. J. H., 202 Manchester St., Battle Creek
*Linton, W. S., Saginaw
Penney, Senator Harvey A., 425 So. Jefferson Ave., Saginaw
Wallace, Henry, Detroit
MISSOURI
Crosby, Miss Jessie M., 4241 Harrison St., Kansas City
Stark, P. C., Louisiana
Youkey, J. M., 2519 Monroe Ave., Kansas City
NEBRASKA
Caha, William, Wahoo
Thomas, Dr. W. A., Lincoln
NEW JERSEY
Brown, Jacob S., Elmer, Salem Co.
Clarke, Miss E. A., W. Point Pleasant, Box 57
Franck, M., Box 89, Franklin
Gaty, Theo. E., 50 Morris Ave., Morristown
*Jaques, Lee W., 74 Waverly St., Jersey City
Landmann, Miss M. V. Cranbury, R. D. No. 2
Marston, Edwin S., Florham Park, Box 72
Parry, T. Morrel, Riverton
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
Culver, M. L., 238 Milburn St., Rochester
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
Henshall, H., 5 W. 125th St., N. Y. C.
Hoag, Henry S., Delhi
Hodgson, Casper W., Yonkers, (World Book Co.)
*Huntington, A. M., 15 W. 81st St., New York City
Jewett, Edmund G., 16 S. Elliott Place, Brooklyn
Johnson, Harriet, M. B., 15th St. & 4th Ave., New York City
Krieg, Fred J., 11 Gladys St., Rochester
Lattin, Dr. H. W., Albion
Lauth, John C., 67 Tyler 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
McGlennon, J. S., 28 Cutler Building, Rochester
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
Pierce, H. Gordon, 103 Park Ave., N. Y. City
Pirrung, Miss L. M., 779 East Ave., Rochester
Pomeroy, A. C., Lockport
Rawnsley, Mrs. Annie, 242 Linden St., Rochester
Rawnsley, James B., 242 Linden St., Rochester
Schroeder, E. A., 223 East Ave., Rochester
Shutt, Erwin E., 509 Plymouth Ave., Rochester
Snyder, Leroy E., 241 Barrington St., Rochester
Solley, Dr. John B., 968 Lexington Ave., New York City
Teele, Arthur W., 120 Broadway, New York City
Tucker, Arthur R., Chamber of Commerce, Rochester
Tucker, Geo. B., 110 Harvard St., Rochester
Vick, C. A., 142 Harvard St., Rochester
Vollertsen, Conrad, 375 Gregory St., Rochester
Waller, Percy, 284 Court St., Rochester
Wile, M. E., 955 Harvard St., Rochester
Williams, Dr. Chas. Mallory, 4 W. 50th St., New York City
*Wisman, Mrs. F. de R. Westchester, New York City
Wyckoff, E. L., Aurora
NORTH CAROLINA
Hutchings, Miss L. G., Pine Bluff
Matthews, C. D., North Carolina Dept. of Agriculture, Raleigh
Van Lindley, J., (J. Van Lindley Nursery Co.), Pomona
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
OREGON
Frost, Earl C., Route 1, Box 515, Gates Rd., Portland
PENNSYLVANIA
Althouse, C. Scott, 540 Pear St., Reading
Anders, Stanley S., Norristown
Baum, Dr. F. L., Boyertown
Bohn, Dr. H. W., 34 No. 9th St., Reading
Bolton, Charles G., Zieglerville
Boy Scouts of America, Reading
Druckemiller, W. H., 31 N. 4th St., Sunbury
Fritz, Ammon P., 35 E. Franklin St., Ephrata
Gribbel, Mrs. John, Wyncote
Hershey, John W., Ronks
Hess, Elam G., Manheim
Hile, Anthony, Curwensville
Horst, John D., Reading
Jenkins, Charles Francis, Farm Journal, Philadelphia
Jockers, Fred'k J., 4 E. Township Line, Jenkintown
*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
Rittenhouse, Dr. J. S., Lorane
Rose, William J., 413 Market St., Harrisburg, "Personal"
Rosenberry, W. H., Box 114, Lansdale
Rush, J. G., West Willow
Smedley, Samuel L., Newton Square, R. F. D. No. 1
Smedley, Mrs. Samuel L., Newtown Sq., R. F. D. No. 1
Smith, Dr. J. Russell, Swarthmore
Taylor, Lowndes, West Chester, Box 3, Route 1
Weaver, William S., McCungie
Whitner, Harry D., Reading
Wilhelm, Dr. Edward A., Clarion
*Wister, John C., Clarkson and Wister Sts., Germantown
Wolf, D. D., 527 Vine St., Philadelphia
Zimmerman, Dr. G. A., Piketown
RHODE ISLAND
Allen, Philip, Providence
SOUTH CAROLINA
Taylor, Thos., 1112 Bull St., Columbia
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
+Dodge, Harrison H., Mount Vernon
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
* Life Member
+ Honorary 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 five
dollars, 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.
PROCEEDINGS
AT THE
FOURTEENTH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION
New National Museum, Washington, D. C.
September 26-27-28, 1923.
(In making up this report the transcript of the stenographer's full
report has been unsparingly cut, in accordance with the vote of the
convention. Copies of the full report are in the possession of the
secretary.)
The Convention was called to order at 2 p. m., Sept. 26, 1923, in the
New National Museum.
In his opening address the president spoke of the need for increased
membership and improved financial condition. He also recommended a
return to the old method of combining the secretary and treasurer in one
office and that the secretary-treasurer should have a fair salary,
suitable quarters, and adequate help. He spoke of his own efforts to
increase the usefulness of the association and expressed his fears that
they had amounted to very little. He quoted the statement of the editor
of the American Nut Journal that what people want to know is whether
they can make any money by the cultivation of nut trees. That statement
led to a campaign to try to locate in the territory of the association
groups of nut trees in profitable bearing. He felt satisfied that there
are numerous paying nut orchards, and he recommended a continuance of
the campaign for locating such orchards.
The president then went on to instance the experience of Mr. Frederick
G. Brown of Salisbury, Mass., at whose place, about two miles from the
ocean, there are two Persian walnut trees, 12 to 15 years old, one of
them about a foot in diameter and twenty feet high, that have borne for
two years. Peach trees will not live at this place. Two miles away at
Newburyport is a tree a year or two younger that bore a half peck of
nuts last year, and another tree 35 years old in bearing for 15 or 20
years. The nuts were spoken of as of high quality.
He referred to Edward Selkirk of North East, Pa., who has a grove of 250
trees about 22 years old of the Pomeroy variety. Last year the crop was
one ton and brought in a little over $500.00. This year the crop is much
larger. For best development of the trees the land should be given over
entirely to their culture.
The president quoted a letter from E. A. Riehl of Godfrey, Illinois as
follows:
My nut plantings are mostly young, many just coming into bearing, while
many others have been top-worked to better varieties, so that money
returns are not what they would be had I started out planting improved
varieties. Part of my aim was to originate better varieties than we had
when I began. In this, I think, I have been fairly successful.
My plantings consist mostly of chestnuts. These have sold readily at 35
to 40 cents per pound wholesale. It is rather a hard matter to give any
idea as to profit, except that we gathered 23 pounds from one tree five
years after topworking on a tree then about three inches in diameter. In
1920, the net return was $1,172.54, in 1921, $1,019.44, in 1922, which
was about a half crop, $1,196.81. All this on land so rough no crop
could be grown on it but pasture. This year's crop promises to be a full
one.
As to walnuts, we have made no record of single trees. The Thomas, by
actual test, gives ten pounds of meat to the bushel, which we sold to
dealers last season at $1.00 per pound, and could not nearly supply the
demand.
Walnut crop here a failure this season. Only a few Thomas trees have a
crop.
If the meeting was after nut harvest, I would send the best chestnut
exhibit that has ever been shown at any meeting.
H. C. Fletcher of Clarkson, N. Y., was quoted as estimating the nuts
produced from two trees each year from 1911 to 1915 as $25 worth.
(Presumably these were Persian walnuts, but this was not stated.) In
1916 and 1917 there were about six bushels of nuts, probably $75 worth.
In 1918 a market basket full. In 1919 and 1920 about $40 worth,
including some trees sold. In 1921 about $50 worth were produced and in
1922 $60 worth of nuts and $30 worth of trees.
In the president's own filbert nursery at Rochester over 300 pounds of
fine nuts were produced for which 30 cents a pound were offered by
grocerymen.
Mr. W. R. Mattoon of the Forest Service of the U. S. Dept. of
Agriculture spoke as follows:
Two years ago, when the Forest Service was planning to get up a bulletin
on growing walnut trees for timber, we found the need to include
information on the nuts also. Mr. C. A. Reed and I together prepared a
manuscript on growing the walnut tree both for timber and for nuts.
It pays to grow walnuts in small groups and singly, rather than in large
blocks, for while they have not proven altogether failures when planted
in large quantities they have been disappointing. Many of the trees
which we planted as close as 6 x 8 feet several years ago, have not
given very satisfactory results because they have not had enough light
and air. The black walnut grows singly in the forest, although there may
be full stands of other trees around it. Our idea is to recommend
planting the black walnut in spots around on the farm, in little
inaccessible places and on the hillsides, where the soil is good; for
the black walnut requires good soil, and we cannot find that quality in
large patches, nor is it usual on slopes of ground. So we must put it
here and there on the farm, along the fence rows and in various places,
but not in groups. The farmer planting in this way becomes its wood
which is used in the most expensive furniture. I believe that mahogany
is the only other wood so valuable. On the other side of the world they
have the mahogany tree for cabinet use, and here in America we have the
black walnut, a cabinet wood that is not surpassed.
The present available publications on this subject are limited but we
are referring people who inquire about it to Department of Agriculture
Bulletin No. 933, "The Black Walnut, Its Growth and Management." That is
midway between a technical and a popular bulletin, and it comprises
about the only available publication that we have at the present time on
the subject of growing the tree. Farmers' Bulletin No. 1123, "Growing
and Planting Hardwood Seedlings on the Farm", deals with the black
walnut along with other trees. Another publication is Department of
Agriculture Bulletin No. 153, "Forest Planting in the Eastern United
States," which considers the black walnut along with the other available
trees for planting.
MR. OLCOTT: For a small orchard would it be proper to plant 160 to 180
feet apart?
MR. MATTOON: When planted in that way you would get nut production and
at the same time, a timber growth. If pruned you get a good log at the
base. The small, ten-foot logs from these trees pay as much as you would
get for an 18 foot log of a taller tree. For forestry purposes, pruning
is a desirable practice.
THE PRESIDENT: But for nut-bearing, what is your opinion?
MR. MATTOON: I should suppose that you would want your orchard trees to
be as low-branched as possible, and with as full foliage as possible.
Mr. Bixby (acting as secretary) then read a paper by H. R. Mosnat of
Morgan Park, Illinois in which he spoke of the number of doctors
interested in nut growing and the need of all men of that character
having a hobby of that kind. He thought that the taxes on many farms
might be paid out of the profits of nut trees planted on the farms and
along the highways. But these nut trees should not be seedling trees.
The apple and the black walnut are said to be the only trees that grow
in every state of the Union. Nuts were one of the staple foods of our
ancestors. We should not be discouraged if we have not yet found the
right nut for the East and the Middle West. We should seek them promptly
because of the rate at which nut trees are being converted into logs. By
next year, he said, he expected to have 25 varieties of black walnuts in
his collection including some hybrids. Machines for cracking black
walnuts by power are now practically perfect and one firm in that
business has cracked about a million pounds in the last few years and
expects to treble or quadruple its business this season if supplies can
be secured. The trouble with most walnut cracking machines is that they
crush instead of crack and small bits of shell are apt to stick to the
meats. But there is machinery now to remove these bits of shell. There
are wild black walnuts that run 16 to 18 per cent kernels, though the
average is only 12-1/2%. It is not always the largest nuts that produce
the greatest proportionate weight of kernels. The picking and cracking
expense with black walnuts is very little greater than with pecans, but
the final cleaning to render the meat absolutely free of shells has been
very expensive. Cultivated black walnuts will of course give better
results, because they have been selected for easy cracking, have kernels
that separate readily from the shell, the product is uniform, and the
nuts require much less grading before cracking than the wild black
walnuts, where every tree bears nuts differing in size, as in almost
every other quality. Figuring 50,000 pounds to the carload it will take
about eight carloads of wild black walnuts to make one carload of
kernels of the same weight. More and more English walnuts and pecans are
being sold in the form of kernels, and black walnuts also will best be
sold in kernels. These can be canned in vacuum glass or metal cans, and
the housewife will use more nuts when she can get the shell-free meats
with her favorite cooking utensil, the can-opener. Confectioners and
bakers will take black walnut meats by the carload in preference to
other nut meats because they have more flavor, and so "go further."
The growing of black walnuts in a commercial way will require education,
but already there is a growing interest. Several of the large weekly
publications have, within the last couple of months, carried full page,
illustrated articles on black walnuts. One of these, in a magazine of
general circulation which is over half a million, within a month
resulted in almost one hundred letters asking for additional
information, which shows that a great many people want to know more
about the possibilities of black walnuts. This interest will certainly
increase when profitable black walnut orchards are actually growing and
paying good profits. Already men are putting in black walnut orchards or
groves of several hundred acres, and one such planting of 1,600 acres is
proposed, but it will be partly hardy pecans. This shows rapid
development into a real industry of magnitude.
Report of the Secretary.
On March 1, 1923, the treasurer, Mr. W. G. Bixby, handed over to the
secretary the funds and books of the association, saying that his time
had become so much taken up that he was able to give too little of it to
the duties of his office. Thus it became necessary for the secretary to
assume the functions of the treasurer as well.
These functions were, in the first place, the payment of the obligations
of the association from the funds available. The funds available for
current expenses were not sufficient for the payment of these
obligations. The secretary therefore took it upon himself to pay these
obligations with funds of the association put aside for other purposes.
These funds were money received from life membership payments that had
been deposited in the Litchfield Savings Society, as a sort of
contingent fund, and other funds from the same source held by the
treasurer and handed over by him to the secretary. These two funds were
completely used up in the payment of current expenses, as will appear in
the detailed statement of the secretary.
These funds, however, were still insufficient to pay the current
expenses, which were, chiefly, the expenses of the stenographer's report
and transcripts of the thirteenth annual convention, at Rochester, and
the cost of printing the annual report. The cost of printing the report
was paid out of the available funds. The stenographer's bill, amounting
to $169.00 originally, but reduced to $135.00 by the stenographer on
representation by the officers of the association that the amount was
excessive, was paid by Mr. Bixby personally, and the association is
indebted to Mr. Bixby in that amount at this moment.
The second function that developed upon the secretary was the management
of the membership lists and matters relating thereto, which, though
perhaps essentially a duty of the secretary of an association such as
this, had been managed by the treasurer since the time when he took over
the duties of the secretary in 1918. This had involved quite an
expenditure for clerical work. This clerical work would still be an
expense to the association, had not one of our members, Mr. H. J.
Hilliard, of Sound View, Connecticut, volunteered to do it. Mr. Hilliard
was formerly connected with a bank, is entirely familiar with the
keeping of accounts, is a man of means and leisure, and I shall take
pleasure in offering his name to fill the vacant treasurership.
Heretofore, this association has had to pay little or nothing for
clerical work which has been done either by the secretary, or by the
treasurer and his personal clerical force.
In accordance with the vote of the Rochester convention the secretary
drafted two letters, one entitled, "To the State Vice-Presidents of the
N. N. G. A. and All Members of the Association"; the other, "To All
Women Members of the N. N. G. A. and to All Women Interested, or
Interestable, in Nut Culture." Both of these letters were sent to all
members of the association, and the letter to women was sent also to a
considerable list of women not members. The results of these letters
were, so far as the secretary has means of knowing, not over a half
dozen letters of appreciation from members, one new woman member, and a
letter of appreciation from another woman.
The secretary has reason to believe, however, that the letters were the
means of stimulating several of the state vice-presidents to activity
in the matter of getting new members, in writing articles for the press
and in giving illustrated talks on nut growing. Among those who are
known to have given such talks or articles, are Dr. Morris, Mr. Weber,
Mr. Spencer, Mr. Smith, Mr. Turk, Mr. O'Connor, Mr. and Mrs. Corsan, Mr.
Reed, Mr. Neilson, Wilkinson, Snyder, Matthews, Kains, MacDaniels,
Fagan, Kaufman, Rick, Bixby, the secretary, and, doubtless, a number of
others.
The secretary has a collection of slides on nut growing which he has
lent two or three times to members for illustrating their lectures. It
was necessary to provide a box for the safe transportation of these
slides which the secretary purchased, at a cost to the association of
$8.85. The secretary also furnished a typed, running commentary for
these slides and, in one or two instances, has furnished negatives and
photographs for making slides and illustrations. The secretary also
offers to furnish outlines for lectures or articles, and has a small
collection of nuts which is available for lectures.
If the funds were available, it would be possible to enlarge the
collections of slides, illustrations and nuts for the use of members who
wished to give talks or write articles.
Possibly the suggestion of the secretary was responsible for the
formation of a subsidiary association in Rochester. On this a report is
desirable from President McGlennon or Mr. Olcott. One or two other
members have written of their intention to form subsidiary associations.
A leaflet was also issued by the secretary announcing Mr. Jones' offer
to give seedling nut trees as a premium to new members. The demand for
these trees not being up to expectation, Mr. Jones very generously sent
out five such trees in place of the original offer of one or two. I hope
that Mr. Jones will make a report of the number of trees thus
distributed. Although the circular distinctly stated that these trees
were premiums for new members, many members understood it as an offer
for renewal of membership as well, and I think that in every such
instance, Mr. Jones himself forgot and sent the trees. A few members,
whose names came in too late, were disappointed in not getting trees.
Mr. Jones has intimated that it may be possible to correct these
omissions this fall. I hope that Mr. Jones will make a statement about
this, and I hope also, that the association will not overlook Mr. Jones'
liberality in distributing these trees entirely at his own expense.
There have been expressions of regret, and I am sure that many more
have felt it, that it has not been possible to go on with the nut
contests and the giving of prizes for new and valuable nuts. As there is
not likely to be any one else willing to assume the really immense labor
involved in the nut contests, conducted as Mr. Bixby has conducted them,
I suppose that all we can do is to hope that circumstances will sometime
again make it possible for Mr. Bixby to resume these very valuable
services for the development of nut culture in the United States. I say
intentionally "the United States," because I believe that these services
have benefitted the whole country. This fact makes me the bolder in
uttering the daring suggestion that perhaps, now that Mr. Bixby has
shown the way, and developed exact methods that may be safely followed,
which, if I do not misapprehend, is what it states that it desires
before presuming to take up any new line of work, the Department of
Agriculture itself might consider it a matter worthy of its attention.
Professor J. A. Neilson, of the less cautious Canadian Department of
Agriculture, is rendering very valuable services of this kind for the
Dominion of Canada.
There is evidence that several more state agricultural institutions are
giving attention to nut growing. (MacDaniels, at Ithaca; J. C.
Christensen, University of Michigan).
There is no need of taking your time now to recapitulate the many things
that ought to be done to promote the planting of nut trees and the
scientific investigation of nut growing. Dean Watt's address, published
in the 12th annual report, and the letter of the secretary to state
vice-presidents, contain outlines for these things. The attention of the
present convention is more particularly to be given to advocating nut
tree planting on a production basis.
Regarding the campaign for new members, perhaps the chairman of the
committee on membership will make some remarks. The present membership
of the association is 337, if we drop no names this year for non-payment
of dues. Of course, those who do not pay their dues should be dropped.
But the association has never made any ruling as to how long names
should be carried on the rolls. The secretary has been easy in sending
copies of the annual reports to members in arrears, hoping that the
conscience-stricken recipients would hasten to pay up. But there is no
proof that such has been the case, and the secretary would recommend
making a rule as to when a member is no longer in good standing, when he
should be dropped from the rolls, and what members are entitled to
copies of the annual report. The secretary would make the suggestion
that there be an amendment to the by-laws to the effect that members
who have not paid their dues within three months from the time of their
first notification, be sent a second notification to the effect that
they are not in good standing on account of non-payment of dues and are
not entitled to receive a copy of the annual report; but that all
privileges may be restored on payment of dues. At the end of three
months from the sending of the second notice, the names of members not
in good standing should be dropped. The annual report should be sent
only to members in good standing.
Mr. Hilliard asked me what our fiscal year was. I answered that I did
not think we had any. It would undoubtedly be a convenience if we are to
have a bank man for a treasurer, and a ruling by the association would
be in place.
Our accredited list of nut nurserymen is out of date and a new list
should be issued. Recommendations as to changes in or additions to that
list, should be considered by the members.
It is desirable that the annual reports of the association should be
indexed and bound, but no hand has yet been found to do it.
Our ambitions have so far outstripped our sources of revenue that we
have come to look on an annual deficit as a normal and defensible thing.
I think it is indefensible. I think it is going to have a bad effect on
our attendance and our morals if the members have to look forward to
what amounts to a good big assessment at every convention. A deficit is
not inevitable. The secretary-treasurer was able to report a surplus at
the first, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh meetings. The income from
membership dues should be enough to enable the printing of the annual
report. But if not I should be in favor of not printing the report until
funds were on hand to pay for it.
In rendering an account of the funds of the association I will first
state that there is on hand, cash in bank, $84.89. This amount must be
charged with the Bowditch hickory prize fund, $25, which leaves $59.89,
cash on hand. We owe Mr. Bixby for paying the stenographer's bill,
$135.00, and Mr. Olcott for printing, $24.58, a total of $159.58. This
makes our deficit $99.69, practically just one hundred dollars.
It should be recalled that in arriving at this result it was necessary
to use up our reserve fund from life memberships, amounting to $225.00.
If we count that in with the deficit, it amounts to $325.00.
A detailed account of receipts and expenditures is herewith submitted.
At the present moment, on account of a rush of other work, on account
of difficulties of other kinds, and because of a division of the work
between Mr. Hilliard and myself, I am unable to give the exact amount
received from memberships and sale of reports and bulletins. This I hope
to correct before the annual report goes to press.
RECEIPTS
Turned over by the Treasurer, Mar. 1, 1923:
Money for current expenses $ 89.66
From life memberships 95.00
Bowditch hickory prize 25.00
From Litchfield Savings Society 130.00
Membership dues
Sale of reports and bulletins
EXPENDITURES
Printing report $378.00
Misc. printing and postals 7.50
Clerical hire and postage 47.65
Postage, telegrams, carriage 38.09
Box for lantern slides 8.85
-------
$480.09
Due Mr. Bixby, stenographer's bill $135.00
Due Mr. Olcott, printing 24.00
-------
$159.58
The report of the secretary was adopted.
The following paper was read by the acting secretary as Mr. Neilson was
unable to be present:
SOME FURTHER NOTES ON NUT CULTURE IN CANADA.
JAS. A. NEILSON, B. S. A., M. S., Extension Horticulturist, Hort. Expt.
Station, Vineland Sta., Ont.
The nut culture activities outlined in the paper presented by the writer
at the convention in Rochester were carried on as much as time and means
would permit during the past year. The search for nut trees has been
continued and has yielded some interesting results. Several valuable
trees of kinds already noted have been located and additional species
discovered. Among these were five pecan trees which have been growing on
the farm of C. R. James at Richmond Hill, a small town fifteen miles
north of Toronto. These trees were about fifty years old and appeared to
be perfectly hardy, as far as growth was concerned, but owing to the
northern location (43.45") seldom produced ripened nuts. The season of
1919, however, was longer and somewhat warmer than most seasons, and a
fully ripened crop of nuts was gathered. The nuts are small with a thin
shell and a fine sweet kernel. The largest tree in the lot is about 35
feet tall with a trunk diameter of 16" and a spread of branches equal to
its height. Another small plantation of pecans was found at
Niagara-on-the-Lake on the fruit farm of John Morgan. Some of these
trees were of grafted sorts and others were seedlings. Both grafted and
seedling trees were making a good growth and appeared to be perfectly
healthy.
In as much as the pecan is native to a country having a longer growing
season and higher average summer temperatures than southern Ontario, it
is quite encouraging to find that these trees will even grow here, to
say nothing of bearing nuts. This would seem to indicate that there are
possibilities for some of the pecan-bitternut and pecan-shagbark hybrids
in southern Ontario where the shagbark and the bitternut grow quite
freely.
I also located two excellent shagbark hickories which have fair-sized
nuts with thin shell and fine kernels. One of these trees grows about
twelve miles west of Simcoe, Ontario, and produces quite a large nut
with a shell so thin that it can be easily cracked with the teeth. This
particular tree is about seventy feet tall and bore ten bushels of nuts
in one season. I have records of several other good hickories and plan
to inspect these at the earliest opportunity.
Several more good English walnuts have been located and examined. Among
these there is one tree over seventy-five years old which at one time
bore thirty bushels of ripe nuts.
A few good heartnut trees have been located at various points. One of
these trees is about thirty-five feet tall, with a spread of nearly
sixty feet from tip to tip of branches. The present owner harvested
several bushels of good nuts in one season from this tree.
I bought with my own funds a bushel of nuts from this tree and sent them
in lots ranging from six to thirty to interested parties in various
parts of Ontario. Of course I know that this is not in accordance with
the best nut cultural principals, but I thought it was one way of
getting nut trees started. If these nuts do not reproduce true to type,
they will serve as a good stock for budding or grafting with the best
introduced heartnuts later on. Another good heartnut was located almost
on the outskirts of Toronto. At five years from planting this tree bore
one-half bushel of fine, thin-shelled nuts.
In my last paper I stated that filberts had not done well in Ontario. I
am glad to state that I will now have to retract that statement and
inform you that good filbert trees have been found near Ancaster, which
is close to Hamilton. These trees were about fifty years old, the
largest specimen being nearly a foot in diameter at the base and about
25 feet tall. The trees bore well, but on account of the hordes of black
and grey squirrels very few nuts were harvested. A fine lot of filberts
was also found at Tyroconnell, a small hamlet on the north shore of Lake
Erie, in Elgin County. These trees are nearly fifty years old and bear
excellent nuts. Much to my surprise I found a fine clump of filberts
growing quite near the campus of the O. A. C. at Guelph. These trees
were introduced from England about sixteen years ago and at first they
did not appear to be hardy, but eventually they established themselves
and are now doing well in growth and fruitfulness. I was somewhat amused
to think that I was searching so diligently for valuable nut trees all
over the Province and did not even know of the existence of these trees,
until a year and a half after I made my initial attempt to discover
valuable nut trees.
I will have to correct another statement made at the last meeting, to
the effect that almonds do not grow well in Canada except on Vancouver
Island. Since then I have found a few, good, hard-shelled almond trees
growing and yielding well in the Lake Erie country. This leads me to
believe that almonds can be grown, with reasonable success, anywhere in
the peach belt, particularly in the lake district.
In addition to my efforts to locate good trees I persuaded the
authorities at the O. A. C. to establish small plantings of some of the
best black walnuts, hickories, Japanese walnuts, and Chinese chestnuts.
I also obtained about five bushels of Chinese walnuts and one bushel of
Chinese chestnuts from northwest China for testing at the experiment
stations, and by other interested individuals. Owing to the length of
time the nuts were in transit the majority of them were unfit for
germination. A few have grown, however, and we hope to get good results
from these.
A collection of nuts containing 60 plates and 21 different species was
prepared and exhibited at the Royal Winter Fair at Toronto and also at
the Livestock Show at Guelph. I was in attendance almost constantly at
Toronto, and endeavored to give all the information possible on nut
culture. Both exhibits attracted a great deal of attention and called
forth favorable comments from visitors and the press.
Experimental plantings of English, Japanese, Chinese, and American
walnuts, filberts and hickories, have been established at the
Horticultural Experiment Station. Mr. W. J. Strong pollenated about 200
black walnut blossoms with pollen of the English walnut. Apparently a
good number (approximately 75%) have set fruit.
A graduate of the Ontario Agricultural College, who has become
interested in nut culture, procured 2,000 black walnut seedlings from
the Forestry Station at St. Williams. These trees were budded, in August
last, with local grown English walnuts, but unfortunately only a few
buds took. An attempt will be made next spring to whip graft the trees
that did not set buds this summer.
There is a marked increase in the interest in nut culture shown by the
public during the past year. This is shown by numerous requests for
information and addresses on nut growing and by the public endorsement
of nut culture by three important horticultural organizations. The
Ontario Horticultural Council, the Federal Horticultural Council and the
Ontario Horticultural Societies Convention each passed a resolution
asking the Dominion Department of Agriculture to appoint a man to
investigate the possibilities of nut culture in Canada. No definite
action has been taken as yet, but it is expected that an appointment
will be made in the near future.
We are giving the boys and girls of Ontario an opportunity to assist us
in our work by hunting for good nut trees, and as an incentive we have
offered prizes of $5.00 each for the best specimens of our various
native and introduced nut trees. This should bring results, because if
there is anyone in this wide world who knows where good nuts are, it is
the small boy.
The work during the past year has generally been encouraging, but like
every other line of human endeavor there have been disappointments. For
example, one bushel of Chinese walnuts was stolen, and a number of good
specimens of other kinds mysteriously disappeared from my exhibition
collection.
Another disappointing feature has been the apathy, and even hostility,
shown by some officials. I do not intend, however, to let these
difficulties discourage me in the least, but plan to carry on and preach
the gospel of beauty and utility as exemplified in our best nut trees.
ADDRESS BY DR. L. C. CORBETT