The Chinese chestnut requires much the same conditions of climate soil,
and soil moisture as does the peach, but there are indications that it
will succeed somewhat farther both north and south. As with the peach
air drainage must be good and frost pockets must be avoided, for while
at the latitude of the District of Columbia, the flowering period is
from late May until toward the end of June, growth begins early and may
be badly damaged in April. This is especially true during such seasons
as those of 1945 and 1946 in the middle Atlantic States when summer
temperatures prevailed during a great part of March, and new shoot
growth up to two inches had developed when sub-freezing temperatures
killed all new growth and so injured the buds that at Beltsville,
Maryland, and general vicinity there were no crops in either year. In
some cases young trees were killed out-right as were occasional older
trees that had become devitalized in some way.
Young trees are so sensitive to lack of soil moisture that sometimes
whole plantings are killed by drought. Spring growth is rapid as long as
the soil is moist but root development is shallow during the first few
years and, unless watered, trees are likely to fare badly in case of
prolonged drought. Another serious type of injury, especially to newly
planted trees, is sunscald on the exposed sides of the trunks. Probably
the best means of prevention is to head the trees low enough to provide
for shading by the tops.
It is said[1] that at the altitude of 2200 feet in West Virginia, snow
and ice frequently cause much injury to young trees. It is a notable
characteristic of the species for young trees to retain their leaves
during much of the winter. Unless these are removed soon after turning
brown, they are apt to become heavily weighted with wet snow and to
cause severe breakage. Hail and spring freezes also cause much damage in
that locality. The last, however, is not peculiar to high altitude alone
as frost injury is frequent at much lower elevations. It was generally
in evidence in central Maryland during the springs of 1945 and 1946 as
has already been mentioned. This type of injury is easily overlooked,
but the cambium will be found dark if a cut is made through the outer
bark. Recovery usually takes place rapidly if the injured trees are left
undisturbed, but healing will be slow if they are dug up for
transplanting or the tops are severely cut back in preparation of the
stock for grafting.
[Footnote 1: Verbal statement by Mr. Authur Gold, of Cowen, W. Va., made
during April, 1946.]