In one of the previous bulletins of the NNGA, there appeared an
eighteen-point program formulated by the Ohio Nut Growers. No doubt you
are wondering what has been done and is being done to make this program
function. We have eliminated one point, the one on the pollen bank. At
the time our program was being prepared we assumed that nut pollen could
be stored for several weeks or months: Since nut pollen does not remain
viable in storage, we shall substitute a point on the use of lime,
fertilizers of various formulas and the use of trace elements in nut
culture.
The Ohio Forestry Association on January 18, 1944, passed a resolution
approving our eighteen-point program.
As you are well aware, the war put a damper on many activities, nut and
otherwise. Here in Ohio, the nut crops of 1944 and 1945 were virtually
failures; even the crop of 1946 is decidedly spotty. Yet in spite of the
war and adverse weather conditions, the Ohio growers are looking
forward, and planning for the future. As a group we are directing our
efforts to the attainment of two specific objectives.
In the first place, we have almost $300 collected as prize money for
State nut contests. I take this opportunity to announce a donation of
$105 from Mr. John Davidson, of Xenia, Ohio. With the aid of such a
generous contributor, we are able to offer a first prize of $50; second
prize of $25; third prize of $15; fourth prize of $10; fifth prize of
$5; and five one-dollar prizes for black walnuts.
In three or five years we intend to have another contest; either a
sweepstakes of $110, or a repetition of the amounts offered this year.
We may keep the contest open next year and the year after for those
wishing to enter nuts for the final awards. In this way, too, we include
black walnuts which are not bearing this year.
Our follow-up will work something like this: We intend to keep a record
over the years of the performance of each of the ten prize winners and
the ten honorable mentions of the 1946 contest. To that end we have made
a score card. The first section of this card will contain information
useful to the Department of Forestry and to nut culture in general, but
it will not be a factor in selecting the prize winner unless a virtual
tie might result in the sweepstakes contest. This section will include:
1. Location--owner, County, rural route, village, town, state
route, etc.
2. Location of Tree--isolated, moderately crowded, in dense woods,
farm, pasture, city lot, fence row, general ecology; types of other
trees in neighborhood, air drainage, exposure.
3. Size of Tree--circumference 4-1/2 ft. from the ground, probable
age, height, limb spread; shape, tall, short; symmetry or lack of
it.
4. Type of Soil--bottom land, slope and direction, upland; clay,
loam, alluvial; presence or absence of humus; acidity; sod or
cultivated, mulch or not; depth and kind of subsoil.
5. Moisture Conditions--presence of stream or tile drain, proximity
to to stream, lake, pond, etc.
6. Fertility Conditions--wild natural state, near barnyard,
fertilized or not with manure or commercial fertilizers,
application of lime, etc.
The second section will contain information that will aid in awarding
the final prizes. Superior rating under this head might, in the final
judging, make an "honorable mention" of the 1946 contest the best all
around performer three or five years hence. This section will include: