organizations have labored for years to extend interest in nut culture.
The files of the secretary of this association will show in heaps of
letters and piles of newspaper clippings the marked success in view of
the means that were at hand. And it has all been upon a high plane. The
campaigns have been marked by the utmost degree of conscientious effort
to arrive at the truth regarding, adaptability of varieties and cultural
methods. This work is still in progress--indeed, the need for it will
never end. But in the opinion of the writer there should from this day
go hand in hand with investigation and experiment a very practical
application to orchard purposes of what has been learned. The sooner
northern nut trees come into bearing in grove form the sooner will
general interest in nut culture increase. I would urge constant effort
in that direction; even, if need be, to the exclusion of some of the
further study on varieties.
There are now grown in northern nut tree nurseries approved by this
association named varieties of pecans, Persian walnuts, black walnuts,
hickories and some other nuts amply sufficient to start orchards. The
pecan growers of the southern states selected and experimented and
discussed for a time--and then they planted. Mistakes were made, but
these were discovered quicker by grove planting. Now they are shipping
improved varieties of pecans by the carload, at $12,000 per car.
Naturally interest in pecan culture in the South is widespread. With
bearing orchards of nut trees in the northern states, similar interest
will be manifested; and then we shall all see the real progress which
comes of producing commercial results. Has not the time arrived to put
into practical operation what has been learned in the last eight years?
I believe this association could wisely consider the policy of confining
discussion in the open session of its annual meetings to topics relating
to behavior of varieties in orchard form and commercial cultural
methods--at least to the handling of the planted tree by the public,
whether isolated or in orchard rows--and reserve for executive sessions
the discussion of varieties and methods not yet at a stage for formal
endorsement by the association. It seems to me that any other policy
obscures the issue which, I take it, is to foster the extension of nut
culture. How can nut culture be practically extended if the public is
constantly confronted with features of the experimental stage? Persons
mildly interested in nut culture, as the result, perhaps, of association
propaganda, drift into our meetings or make ad interim inquiry and
receive for membership enrollment, or otherwise, printed matter relating
almost wholly to experimentation in nut work. No wonder their interest
wanes a short time afterward and many of them are not heard from again.
What most of them expected was information as to varieties of improved
nut trees available, where to get them and how to treat them when
planted. Discussion by the experts is not for them; they will reap the
result of that in due time.
Now, the extent of the hardy nut tree nursery industry is directly
dependent upon all this. If that extent is not yet great, it is due
undoubtedly to the newness of the industry. But it is also due in part
to conditions which have been referred to. I wish especially for the
purposes of this address that this association were an incorporated body
so that I could speak of it as such and not seem to be criticising
individuals. What has been done by our officers and members has been
very necessary. It is of the future that I speak.
Nut brokers, wholesale grocers and manufacturers of confectionery are
calling for crop and market reports of nuts. A letter from a large
commission house in San Francisco, importers and exporters, says that
what is wanted is information as to growing crops of nuts and market
conditions. Other brokers and dealers ask the same thing. The _American
Nut Journal_ has given crop and market conditions of southern pecans and
California walnuts and almonds; and, in peace times, of foreign nut
crops. What else is there to give? The native nut crop? But that
concerns this association about as much as the blueberry and huckleberry
crops of the Michigan and Minnesota barrens concerns the horticultural
societies and the National Apple Growers. What the brokers, wholesale
grocers and commission merchants want is crop and market reports on
cultivated nuts. But where are they? The public and the middlemen are
calling for nuts. And these people write that they are not interested in
cultural methods.
The hardy nut tree nursery business is what it is and will be what it
will be just in proportion to the character of the crop and the market
report. Interest in nut culture generally will lag or increase in just
the same ratio. This is the eighth annual convention of this
association. Will the sixteenth annual meeting see a greatly augmented
membership without a practical incentive?
I have said that this association has recommended to some extent the
planting of nut trees--the named varieties. I believe that what is
needed is a publicity campaign bearing upon the planting of the
varieties now on the market. When other varieties come on they may
receive proper attention. Native nuts are in great demand. The varieties
considered by this association are the best of the natives. Is that not
sufficient basis to proceed on? Has not this association officially
endorsed the varieties grown by the nut tree nurserymen we have referred
to, by officially endorsing those nurserymen? Having endorsed the named
varieties grown for sale by the nurserymen on its approved list can this
association consistently do otherwise then to urge without hesitation
the planting of those varieties by the public?
DR. MORRIS: Mr. Olcott spoke on the almonds of the Pacific
Coast. Here in the east it was said yesterday that only hard shelled
almonds would thrive. That has been my experience with one exception. I
got from a missionary some soft shelled almonds of very high quality and
thin shelled. There were about twenty of those almonds, I ate two and
planted the rest. The ants enjoyed the sprouting cotyledons of all but
one. That one lived and thrived and grew in two years to a height of
about four feet. In its third winter it was absolutely killed. Now that
means that somewhere in Syria there is a soft shelled almond of very
high quality that will live three years in Connecticut according to
accurate record. It may live fifty years here if well started and
protected when young.
THE CHAIRMAN: You showed us some hard shelled almonds I believe
from your place.
DR. MORRIS: The hard shelled almonds do pretty well on my place
if looked after. I have had trees that bore nearly a bushel each, but
the chief difficulty is due to the leaf blights. Almond trees are quite
subject to leaf blights. As long as I sprayed the almond trees
frequently they did well but I had several other things to do and
couldn't keep it up.
A MEMBER: The Association has a list of nurserymen who are
reliable and who will furnish reliable trees. It occurred to me in line
with the spirit of Mr. Olcott's paper, if it would be practicable, for
the Association to get up a little paper on approved varieties of trees
for planting. That may seem foolish to suggest but a good many members
who come in here are very green on the subject of nut growing. It may
have been done but if it has I am not familiar with it.
THE SECRETARY: A good many requests are received by the
secretary for information as to what nut trees to plant. My advice
usually is that they get the catalogues of all the different nurserymen
on our approved list and select from those catalogues as many nut trees
of each variety recommended by the nurserymen as they wish and give them
the best cultural conditions they can. I don't see that we can recommend
any particular varieties. There are few enough grafted varieties of nut
trees obtainable, and I do not see that we can, as an association,
recommend any particular varieties. I would like to have suggestions.
MR. OLCOTT: I Don't Think It Is Advisable for the Association
To go into that detail. I think that as the association has endorsed a
list of nurserymen, so long as those nurserymen keep within boundary and
retain that endorsement that is sufficient guarantee to the public.
MR. REED: We cannot recommend the different varieties because
they have not been tested out and fruited. In the National Nut Growers'
Association data are obtainable because they have been worked out by
experiment stations and by individuals. But in this association where
varieties are just being discovered and have not been disseminated and
tried we have got to test them. We haven't got developed beyond the
infant class in this Northern Nut Growers' Association.
A MEMBER: I realize that the thing is in an experimental stage,
but since I have been at this meeting I have been asked by two
different people here if I could give them any information as to what
varieties to plant. That is a very live question for a person here for
the first time and he wants a primer.
THE SECRETARY: We had a circular, now exhausted, giving the
best information known at that time. It gave the method of procedure
from the cultivation of the land until the nut trees were advanced
several years in their growth, covering it in detail in so far as it lay
in the secretary's ability to give it at that time. The same advice
perhaps would not be given now but it would be practically the same
thing. It may be desirable that we reprint something of the kind for the
person who wants to begin the cultivation of nuts and has no knowledge
on the subject.
MR. JONES: I think the association might do something of the
kind. We could have a map of the states for instance, and have that
outlined in belts and varieties specified that would be somewhat likely
to succeed in those belts.
MR. CHAIRMAN: I think it is only a question of time when that
will be done. In the National Association that has been worked out, what
they plant in Florida what they plant in west Georgia, what they plant
in Mississippi, and what they plant in all the different sections. I
think it is only a question of time when it will be worked out by this
association. Every year will bring in new data. You will find in the
National Nut Growers' Association that good reports on new varieties of
nuts from year to year keep accumulating. From that we get data very
definite for certain varieties. I expect the members of this association
will know lots of them. They have become past history in nut growing in
the south. We have got past those poor things and in to something that
is definite and satisfactory.
MR. BARTLETT: Would it be possible and advisable for the
association to have such a thing as an experimental orchard, provided
they could get somebody to take care of such a place? There is a man in
this room who has plenty of room and facilities for taking care of an
orchard.
THE CHAIRMAN: That is worthy of attention but I do not know
whether the association is in a position to take care of it. In my paper
yesterday I spoke about putting it up to the experiment stations.
COL. VAN DUZEE: The experiment stations are at the service of
the people and if you will call upon your stations repeatedly they will
respond eventually. It is going to take some little time but it seems to
me that they are the logical people to carry it out. We have found in
the south that the behaviour of varieties in different localities was
so different that we have been obliged to wait until each locality had
something of history to guide us. I suppose it would be a very good plan
if all who are interested in nut culture in the North would convey the
information to their experiment stations that they are desirous of
having these orchards established. Eventually the country could be
covered with little experimental plots where the information obtained
would be reliable, where the work could be under the supervision and
inspection of people who are paid by the state for that purpose.
Now in regard to the publicity. We have followed a plan for a number of
years in the South of publishing frequently what we call Nut Notes. They
were gathered together by the editor of the Nut Grower. Whenever an item
of interest to the public came to him in his exchange and from any other
source, he made a paragraph of it and then at the end of the month, or
perhaps two months, he would publish a little circular "Nut Notes," and
that would be run off in some large number, and distributed to the
nurserymen, or other interested people, and they would simply enclose it
in their correspondence. They would send them to the local papers all
through the South so that the things that were found worthy of
dissemination in the way of new records and new ideas were constantly
being sent to the local papers and to the interested people in that way.
I have a vast sympathy for Dr. Deming. He is not drawing a princely
salary and he has a lot of things to do. I know his heart is in this
work and he would be glad to do these things but he must have help.
These two ways I suggest to you are ways we have found in the South to
accomplish a considerable work. Make a demand upon your experiment
stations that this work be taken up and get Mr. Olcott to print the
slips and then get the nurserymen who are interested and the local
newspaper people to publish the nut notes that become available from
time to time.
MR. OLCOTT: I have knowledge of these circulars of Nut Notes
sent out by Dr. Wilson in the South and have thought of doing something
like it but have not gotten at it yet. I have exchanges and notices
coming in that could be summarized just that way and even more
extensively but I haven't had time to do this work.
THE SECRETARY: I think this proposal of Mr. Bartlett's is very
important and I promise Mr. Bartlett and Mr. Barrows that all the
members of this association will help. I am sure Dr. Morris will be glad
to give advice about planting this orchard. I haven't the slightest
doubt that Mr. Reed will go there in his position as Nut Culturist of
the Department of Agriculture. I think we ought to go ahead and do that
without waiting for the Connecticut authorities, but at the earliest
opportunity begin to try to interest them. They are not interested
enough to go into it now. Some of the members of this association have
got to start this thing and then we have got to interest the men at the
agricultural experiment station. Two of them were here yesterday and
have expressed their interest in the subject. We hope eventually that
they will take full charge of such work which really ought to be in the
hands of self perpetuating institutions and not in the hands of
individuals. I can assure Mr. Bartlett of the hearty co-operation of
this association in any planting of that kind and I wish that the steps
might be taken at once to begin such a planting.
DR. MORRIS: I would be only too glad to give him some trees to
start with.
MR. JONES: The nurseries growing these trees would be glad to
cooperate and supply these trees at reduced prices for this experimental
orchard.
THE CHAIRMAN: There seems to be lots of interest in this matter
but it ought not to be on a voluntary basis. It might be interesting to
you to have an idea of how we have done that further south. In North
Carolina we have definite nut projects on our experiment station's list.
The work is outlined and funds appropriated for carrying it out, and
workers and funds are assigned to that particular project. They have a
regular definite program and when a project is once begun that project
has to be reported on. It cannot be discontinued. It has to be continued
until it is worked out. In that way we are getting something definite
and we have some machinery to work with. At first we had no commercial
nut growing. We instituted a nut survey of the state. We issued
instructions for our extension men to look out for nut trees on the
farms. Then we made a list of the growers and orchards. There we made
experimental planting and we made them in every section of the state so
as to find out what varieties were best for the different sections. We
had difficulty in finding varieties for all of our conditions. We had
experiment orchards in all of the various sections of the State which
have been conducted now for ten years and we have very definite data.
The man who writes in to me for information can be answered shortly.
Every year we are getting new data. I think every tree that we can get
from any nursery catalogue that I can find is in those experimental
orchards. Every year eliminates a few. If the stocks are good we work
them over. There is no uncertainty about it. It is either a positive or
a negative result. These results are published just as soon as they can
be. It is part of our experiment work just as we experiment with cotton
or apples or corn. I made a suggestion in my paper for work of this kind
here and I thought it would be picked up by the Committee on
Resolutions, but it was not acted on. To get this matter crystallized
and get it to the attention of the experimental station I think that the
secretary ought to be empowered to write officially to the directors of
the experiment station in the various states asking that a nut survey be
made of those states and that nut projects be entered upon and
especially the testing of the varieties that have been found in the
various states.
DR. BRITTON: Representing the Connecticut station I can say
that the men there will be glad to help you, but they are in the same
position as Dr. Deming, doing all they can at present, more than they
ought to do, and most of the funds for that reason are arranged for in
definite projects. That being the case, it will be necessary to provide
for a future appropriation. During his war we are all short handed. I
have four young men working in my department who have not had a day's
vacation this summer--more work than they can do. At present we have no
one connected with the station who is a specialist on nuts, and it would
mean getting in a man to work up this subject. But I think that can be
brought about in time. Of course if the legislature is asked for any
appropriation, this association or those interested in growing nuts
would have to help get the appropriation for the state.
THE SECRETARY: Prof. Hutt is State Horticulturist of his state
and he is also a specialist on nuts. He lives in a state where nut
culture is much further advanced than it is here, consequently it has
been, it seems to me, a good deal simpler for him to accomplish results
there than it is for us here. I approve of grasping this opportunity and
going ahead with it and at the same time following up the suggestions of
Dr. Britton of trying to get the appropriation in order to enable the
agricultural experiment station to take action.
MR. OLCOTT: I move that the secretary be asked to communicate
with the experiment stations in the various states along just the lines
you suggested for the purpose of getting started.
The motion, duly seconded, was passed.
MR. OLCOTT: I would like to make another motion that the
association do whatever it can to take advantage of this opportunity
that Mr. Bartlett has just spoken about, and I would move that the
matter be put in the hands of the secretary with power to act.
Mr. Webber seconded the motion and it was carried.
NUT TREES FOR SHADE.
FRANCIS A. BARTLETT, CONNECTICUT.
Were we to limit our shade trees to those trees which alone produce
edible nuts we would then have a greater assortment of trees than one
could hardly suppose, and not only would be varieties be numerous but
they would embrace many of our most noble and most beautiful trees.
Let us consider the varieties from which we may draw. In so doing let me
ask why, with all these trees, we really need other trees which in
themselves are no more ornamental and are non-producing.
Of the oaks there are many, while the nuts or acorns are seldom eaten by
man, yet they have often composed his diet when other foods have failed.
In many parts of the South this nut has been the principal food used in
the fattening, or possibly the sustaining food, of the native razor-back
hog.
Our native beech produces the small triangular nuts which have been
sought by the boys and girls of centuries and are as popular today as of
hundreds of years ago. The beech will grow to immense size and may live
sometimes for centuries. A beautiful bright smooth foliage makes it very
desirable as a park tree and it does not lose its charm in winter. On an
extensive lawn it makes a very desirable tree but in close proximity to
the house the one objection there may be is that the dead foliage seems
to cling to the twigs sometimes the entire winter. This objection is
more pronounced, however, in the younger trees than in the older ones.
Our native black walnut is a magnificent tree which can compare
favorably with the finest oak in size, in shape, in picturesqueness and
above all, in its huge nuts, which are both wholesome and delicious.
Were it not for the great value of its wood for making gun stocks and
for cabinet work we would today have hundreds of these trees growing,
where now but few can be found; yet there are individual specimens with
spread of over 150 feet and as magnificent and majestic as the finest
oak.
Our native chestnut; let us not think of it in memory only, though the
pride of our forests seems to have left us after the scourge of the
chestnut blight. Unless the history of all scourges has been upset we
will find some tree somewhere sometime that is blight resistant and then
from this tree we will produce and propagate the chestnut back to its
own. At least, as far as an ornamental and useful nut-producing tree is
concerned. Should we find no tree in all this huge area which is
disease-resistant we have at least one hope in the chestnut brought from
China, where for probable centuries this disease has been present, but
unable to destroy its host, the chestnut. Already in this country there
are thousands of these seedlings growing which are apparently
disease-resistant. The tree itself compares very favorably with our
native tree. We will yet grow our favorite chestnuts and our children
will yet enjoy them as we have done in the days of our youth.
We must not forget the chinkapin, the little brother of the chestnut,
but a better fighter of its enemies, for this latter tree is almost
resistant to the blight and will bloom and bear nuts while only a little
tree, and the nuts are sweet and good. Then, too, it is not necessary to
climb the tree to gather the nuts for the tree being small the nuts can
almost be gathered from the ground. For planting over rocky banks and
hillsides nothing is more handsome. The dark green foliage dotted here
and there with the bright green burrs always attracts favorable
attention and comment.
Our butternut, too, cannot be omitted, for there are few better flavored
nuts than the butternut. Though hard to crack, this fault, if it may be
a fault, will soon be overcome, for we will find a tree with
thin-shelled nuts somewhere. They are no doubt present and when we do
find such a tree we may all propagate from it. Though the tree is a
rather irregular grower and is susceptible to certain bark diseases yet
it has its place in the home planting for its compound leaves and light
bark always shows prominently in the landscape. This tree sometimes
grows to an immense size. At my early home in Massachusetts one huge
butternut stood in the yard. Though the tree died long before I became
especially interested in old trees I remember that we counted the
annular rings and as near as I can recall the figures for its
measurements and rings were 13 ft. in circumference and 80 annular
rings. The trunk was perfectly solid and showed no signs of decay. Many
bushels of nuts were gathered from this one tree yearly and I can
remember the long winter evenings when we sat in the kitchen cracking
the nuts from this old tree. Some have said the butternut is
unsatisfactory as an ornamental tree but let me add--do not neglect it
in the planting plan for it will give you much pleasure, and, too, the
meats are well worth the trouble in cracking the nuts even though a
bruised finger may result.