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|DISCLAIMER |
| |
|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. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
NORTHERN
NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION
REPORT
OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE
SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK
SEPTEMBER 1 AND 2
1915
NORTHERN
NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION
REPORT
OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE
SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK
SEPTEMBER 1 AND 2, 1915
CONCORD, N.H.
THE RUMFORD PRESS
1916
CONTENTS
PAGE
Officers and Committees of the Association 4
Members of the Association 5
Constitution of the Association 10
By-laws of the Association 11
Proceedings of the Meeting held at Rochester, New York,
September 1 and 2, 1915 13
Report of the Secretary-Treasurer 14
The Relation of Forest Conditions in New York to Possibilities
of Nut Growing, Dr. Hugh P. Baker, New York 17
New Tree Crops and a New Agriculture, Dr. J. Russell Smith,
Pennsylvania 30
Notes on the Hazels, Dr. Robert T. Morris, New York 36
An Appeal to Owners of Hardy Nut Trees, C. A. Reed,
Washington, D. C. 51
Northern Pecan Trees, and Notes on the Observation of
Propagated Trees, W. C. Reed, Indiana 58
Walnut Observations in California, L. D. Batchelor, California 63
Pruning the Persian Walnut, J. G. Rush, Pennsylvania 69
Report on Nut Growing in Canada, G. H. Corsan, Toronto 71
Appendix:
Present at the Sixth Annual Meeting 73
Program for Automobile Trips September 1 and 2, 1915 74
Exhibits 75
Resolutions 76
Bibliography of the Year 77
OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
_President_ J. RUSSELL SMITH University of Pennsylvania
_Vice-President_ W. C. REED Indiana
_Secretary and Treasurer_ W. C. DEMING Georgetown, Connecticut
COMMITTEES
_Auditing_ C. P. CLOSE, C. A. REED
_Executive_ T. P. LITTLEPAGE, R. T. MORRIS, AND THE OFFICERS
_Finance_ C. P. CLOSE, T. P. LITTLEPAGE, W. C. DEMING
_Hybrids_ R. T. MORRIS, J. R. SMITH, C. P. CLOSE
_Membership_ HARRY R. WEBER, G. H. CORSAN, C. H. PLUMP,
LEON D. BATCHELOR, W. C. REED, R. T. OLCOTT,
F. N. FAGAN, THOMAS L. ENGLEBY, W. O. POTTER,
W. O. RIDGWAY, W. C. DEMING
_Nomenclature_ W. C. REED, R. T. MORRIS, E. R. LAKE, C. A. REED,
R. L. McCOY
_Press and
Publication_ RALPH T. OLCOTT, T. P. LITTLEPAGE, W. C. DEMING
_Programme_ THE PRESIDENT, THE SECRETARY, THE EDITOR OF THE
_American Nut Journal, ex-officio_; C. A. REED,
W. N. HUTT
_Promising
Seedlings_ T. P. LITTLEPAGE, C. A. REED, J. RUSSELL SMITH
STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS
Arizona C. R. Biederman Garces
California Prof. Leon D. Batchelor Riverside
Canada G. H. Corsan University of Toronto
Connecticut Charles H. Plump West Redding
Delaware E. R. Angst Wilmington 527 Dupont Bldg.
Florida H. Harold Hume Glen Saint Mary
Georgia J. B. Wight Cairo
Illinois E. A. Riehl Alton
Indiana J. F. Wilkinson Rockport
Iowa Wendell P. Williams Danville
Kansas Durrett Winsborough Argentine R. 2 Box 118
Kentucky A. L. Moseley Calhoun
Maryland Prof. C. P. Close College Park
Massachusetts James H. Bowditch Boston 903 Tremont Building
Michigan Miss Maude M. Jessup Grand Rapids 440 Thomas St.
Minnesota Col. C. A. Van Duzee St. Paul
Missouri P. C. Stark Louisiana
New Jersey C. S. Ridgway Lumberton
New Mexico E. A. Clemens Magdalena
New York Th. E. Wile Rochester 37 Calumet St.
North Carolina Prof. W. N. Hutt Raleigh
Ohio Harry R. Weber Cincinnati 601 Gerke Bldg.
Pennsylvania J. G. Rush West Willow
Texas R. S. Trumbull El Paso M.S.R.R. Co.
Utah M. A. Pendleton Lehi
Virginia John S. Parish Eastham
Washington Dr. A. E. Baldwin Kettle Falls
West Virginia B. F. Hartzell Shepherdstown
MEMBERS OF THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION
ARIZONA
C. R. Biederman, Garces
CALIFORNIA
Batchelor, Leon D., Riverside
Dawson, L. H., Llano
Tucker, T. C., Manager California Almond Growers'
Exchange, 311 California St., San Francisco
CANADA
Corsan, G. H., University of Toronto
Dufresne, Dr. A. A., 1872 Cartier St., Montreal
CONNECTICUT
Barnes, John R., Yalesville
Deming, Dr. W. C., Georgetown
Deming, Mrs. W. C., Georgetown
Hungerford, Newman, Torrington, R. 2, Box 76, for circulars,
Box 1082, Hartford, for letters
Ives, Ernest M., Sterling Orchards, Meriden
Lay, Charles Downing, Wellesmere, Stratford
Miller, Mrs. Charles, 32 Hillside Ave., Waterbury
* Morris, Dr. Robert T., Cos Cob, R. 28, Box 95
Plump, Charles H., West Redding
White, Gerrard, North Granby
Williams, W. W., Milldale
DELAWARE
Angst, E. R., 527 DuPont Building, Wilmington, Del.
Lord, George Frank, care of DuPont Powder Company, Wilmington
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Close, Prof. C. P., Pomologist, Department of Agriculture, Washington
Goddard, R. H., Farm Management, Department of Agriculture,
Washington
Lake, Prof. E. R., Pomologist, Department of Agriculture, Washington
* Littlepage, T. P., Union Trust Building, Washington
Orr, Herbert R., Evans Building, Washington
Reed, C. A., Nut Culturist, Department of Agriculture, Washington
FLORIDA
Hume, H. Harold, Glen Saint Mary
Simpson, Ray C., Monticello
GEORGIA
Wight, J. B., Cairo
ILLINOIS
Dickey, Samuel, 4 Chalmers Place, Chicago
Fletcher, Joe, Zion City
Keely, Royal R. 4720 Clarendon Ave., Chicago
Poll, Carl J., 1009 Maple St., Danville
Potter, Hon. W. O., Marion
Riehl, E. A., Alton
Webster, H. G., 450 Belmont Ave., Chicago
INDIANA
Burton, Joe A., Mitchel
Hutchings, Miss Lida G., 118 Third St., Madison
McCoy, R. L., Lake
Reed, M. P., Vincennes
Reed, W. C., Vincennes
Schmidt, Hugh C., Evansville
Simpson, H. D., Vincennes
White, Paul, Boonville
Wilkinson, J. F., Rockport
IOWA
Williams, Wendall P., Danville
KANSAS
Winsborough, Durrett, Argentine, R. 2, Box 118
KENTUCKY
Matthews, Prof. C. W., Horticulturist, State Agricultural Station,
Lexington
Moseley, A. L., Bank of Calhoun, Calhoun
MARYLAND
Darby, R. U., Suite 804, Continental Building, Baltimore
Hayden, Chas. S., 200 E. Lexington St., Baltimore
Heapes, J., Granville, Street
Henshaw, Mrs. H. C., Adamstown
Keenan, John N., Brentwood
King, W. J., 232 Prince George St., Annapolis
Murray, Miss Annie C., Cumberstone
Newcomer, Aaron, Smithburg, R. 1.
MASSACHUSETTS
* Bowditch, James H., 903 Tremont Building, Boston
Gilbert, Ralph D., 9 Ridgefield Road, Winchester
Hoffman, Bernhard, Overbrook Orchard, Stockbridge
Rich, William P., Secretary State Horticultural Society, 300
Massachusetts Ave., Boston
Smith, Fred A., 39 Pine St., Danvers
Vaughan, Horace A., Peacehaven, Assonet
White, Warren, Holliston
MICHIGAN
Copland, Alexander W., Strawberry Hill Farm, Birmingham
Jessup, Miss Maud M., 440 Thomas St., Grand Rapids
Kellogg, J. H., Battle Creek
Linton, Wm. S., Pres. Board of Trade, Saginaw
Staunton, Gray, Muskegon, Box 233
MINNESOTA
Powers, L. L., 1018 Hudson Ave., St. Paul
Van Duzee, Col. C. A., St. Paul
MISSOURI
Bauman, X. C., Ste. Genevieve
Buffam, Frank W., Commissioner of Highways, Jefferson City
Johnson, Alfred E., McBaine, R. 1
Koontz, E. J., Richards
Stark, P. C., Louisiana (Mo.)
NEW JERSEY
Black, Walter C., of Jos. H. Black, Son & Co., Hightstown
De Cou, Howard F., Truesdale Farm, Merchantville
Dietrick, Dr. Thomas S., 12 West Washington Ave., Washington
Henderson, Howard W., 603 Spooner Ave., Plainfield.
Lovett, J. T., Little Silver
Marston, Edwin S., Florham Park, Box 72
Mechling, Edward A., Wonderland Farm, Moorestown
Putnam, J. H., Vineland
Ridgeway, C. S., Floralia, Lumberton, N.J.
Roberts, Horace, Moorestown
Young, Frederick C., Palmyra, Box 335
NEW MEXICO
Clemens, E. A., Magdalena
NEW YORK
Abbott, Frederick B., 419 Ninth St., Brooklyn
Ackerly, Orville B., 243 W. 34th St., New York City
Atwater, C. G., Manager Agricultural Department, American Coal
Products Company, 17 Battery Place, New York City
Baker, Dr. Hugh P., Dean of State College of Forestry, Syracuse
Baker, Prof. J. Fred, Director of Forest Investigations, State
College of Forestry, Syracuse
Baker, Wm. A., North Rose
Bixby, Willard G., 46th St. and 2nd Ave., Brooklyn
Brown, Ronald J., 320 Broadway, New York City
Ellwanger, Mrs. W. D., 510 East Ave., Rochester
Felt, Henry W., 238 William St., New York City
Foote, Avery L., Newark, Wayne Co.
Fullerton, H. B., Director Long Island Railroad Experiment Station,
Medford, L.I.
Haywood, Albert, Flushing
Hickox, Ralph, 3832 White Plains Ave., New York City
Hicks, Henry, Westbury, L.I.
Holden, E. B., Hilton
* Huntington, A. M., 15 W. 81st St., New York City
Jackson, Dr. James H., Dansville
Keeler, Charles E., Chichester and Briggs Aves., Richmond Hill
Morse, Geo. A., Fruit Acres, Williamson, N.Y.
Nelson, Dr. James Robert, 23 Main St., Kingston-on-Hudson
Olcott, Ralph T., Ellwanger & Barry Building, Rochester
Palmer, A. C., New York Military Academy, Cornwall-on-Hudson
Pomeroy, A. C., Lockport
Rice, Mrs. Lillian McKee, Adelano, Pawling
Stephen, Prof. John W., Assistant Professor of Agriculture, State
College of Forestry, Syracuse
Teele, A. W., 30 Broad St., New York City
Teter, Walter C, 10 Wall St., New York City
Thomson, Adelbert, East Avon
Tuckerman, Bayard, 118 E. 37th St., New York City
Turner, K. M., 220 W. 42nd St., New York City
Ulman, Dr. Ira, 213 W. 147th St., New York City
Wile, M. E., 37 Calumet St., Rochester
Williams, Dr. Charles Mallory, 48 E. 49th St., New York City
* Wissmann, Mrs. F. de R., Westchester, New York City
NORTH CAROLINA
Glover, J. Wheeler, Morehead City
Heely, Dr. O. J., Andrews, R.F.D.
Hutt, Prof. W. H., State Horticulturist, Raleigh
Van Lindley, J., J. Van Lindley Nursery Company, Pomona
OHIO
Dayton, J. H., Storrs & Harrison Company, Painesville
Denny, Mark E., Middletown
Evans, Miss Myrta L., Briallen Farm, Oak Hill, Jackson County
Miller, H. A., Gypsum
Weber, Harry R., 601 Gerke Building, Cincinnati
Witte, O. F., Amherst, R. 2
Yunck, E. G., 710 Central Ave., Sandusky
PENNSYLVANIA
Ballou, C. F., Halifax
Corcoran, Chas. A., Wind-Rush Fruit Farm, New Albany
Creasy, Wm. T., Catawissa
Doan, J. L., School of Horticulture, Ambler
Druckemiller, W. C., Sunbury
Fagan, Prof. F. N., Department of Horticulture, State College
Grubbs, H. L., Fairview, R. 1
Hall, Robt. W., 133 Church St., Bethlehem
Heffner, H., Highland Chestnut Grove, Leeper
Hile, Anthony, Curwensville National Bank, Curwensville
Hoopes, Wilmer W., Hoopes Brothers and Thomas Company, Westchester
Howell, Lardner, Girard Trust Company, Philadelphia
Hutchinson, Mahlon, Ashwood Farm, Devon, Chester County
Jenkins, Charles Francis, Farm Journal, Philadelphia
* Jones, J. F., Lancaster, Box 527
Leas, F. C., 882 Drexel Building, Philadelphia, Mountain Brook
Orchard Company, Salem, Va.
Leeds, Sarah B., Westchester, R. 4
Middleton, Fenton H., 1118 Chestnut St., Philadelphia
Moss, James, Johnsville, Bucks County
Murphy, P. J., Vice-President L. & W.R.R.R. Company, Scranton
Myers, C. N., Hanover
O'Neill, Wm. C., 1328 Walnut St., Philadelphia
Pelton, Joseph L., North Girard, R. 1
Rick, John, 438 Pennsylvania Sq., Reading
Rush, J. G., West Willow
Ryan, Charles D., Spring Mount, Montgomery County
Smedley, Sam'l L., 902 Stephen Girard Building, Philadelphia
Smitten, H. W., Rochester Mills, R. 2
* Sober, Col. C. K., Lewisburg
Spackman, H. B., Lukens Iron Company, Coatesville
Thomas, Joseph W., Jos. W. Thomas & Sons, King of Prussia P.O.
Walter, Dr. Harry, Spring Mount
Weaver, Wm. S., McCungie
Webster, Mrs. Edmund, 1324 S. Broad St., Philadelphia
Wister, John C., Wister St. and Clarkson Ave., Germantown
Wright, R. P., 235 W. 6th St., Erie
TEXAS
Trumbull, R. S., Agricultural Agent, El Paso & S.W. System, Morenci
Southern Railroad Company, El Paso
UTAH
Pendleton, M. A., Lehi
Smith, Joseph A., Providence (Edgewood Hall)
Stayner, Horace, 1844 S. State St., Salt Lake City
VIRGINIA
Carver, W. N., Cismont, Albemarle County
Crockett, E. B., Monroe
Dodge, Geo. P., Lovingston, R. 1
Engleby, Thos. L., 1002 Patterson Ave., Roanoke
Lee, Lawrence R., Leesburg
Miller, L. O., Miller & Rhodes, Richmond
Parish, John S., Eastham, Albemarle County
Shackford, Theodore B., care of Adams Brothers-Paynes Company,
Lynchburg
Smith, Dr. J. Russell, Roundhill
WASHINGTON
Baldwin, Dr. A. E., Kettle Falls
WEST VIRGINIA
Hartzell, B. F., Shepherdstown
~* Life members.~
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 and a
secretary-treasurer, who shall be elected by ballot at the annual
meeting; and an executive committee of five persons, of which the
president, two last retiring presidents, vice-president and
secretary-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 a majority of the executive committee or two of
the three 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._ The fees shall be of two kinds, annual and life. The former
shall be two dollars, the latter twenty dollars.
ARTICLE III
_Membership._ All annual memberships shall begin with the first day
of the calendar quarter following the date of joining the
association.
ARTICLE IV
_Amendments._ By-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of
members present at any annual meeting.
Northern Nut Growers Association
SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 1 AND 2, 1915
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK
The sixth annual convention of the Northern Nut Growers Association was
called to order in the convention hall of Powers Hotel, Rochester, New
York, on Wednesday, September 1, at 10:15 A.M., the president,
Dr. J. Russell Smith, presiding, and thirty-two people being assembled.
THE PRESIDENT: Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Northern
Nut Growers Association, the meeting will please come to order.
With an organization of this sort, the main purpose of the meeting is
the dissemination of information, but it is necessary that certain
business shall be conducted to keep the organization going. Some
business is dry; usually the reports of our secretary-treasurer are not,
and the first order of business, I think, should be to hear from our
secretary-treasurer.
MR. LITTLEPAGE: I should be glad to have the floor for a
moment, Mr. President. In the Congressional Library at Washington City
are many very beautiful and attractive inscriptions and quotations, one
of which has always appealed to me as a lawyer, and I have repeated it
many times:
"Of law there can be no less acknowledged than that her voice is
the harmony of the world."
Mr. President, I have noted very many times that the voice of the law is
sometimes silent. It speaks only through those in authority and there
should always be some emblem of authority. I therefore took the liberty,
Mr. President, of having made for you a gavel from the wood of an
Indiana pecan tree, where as a youth I lived and learned of this most
delicious of all the nuts, and I take pleasure in presenting it to you,
and if anyone doubts the hardiness or hardness of the Indiana pecan, I
authorize you to demonstrate both.
I am presenting you duplicate gavels, Mr. President, one of which I
desire to have you turn over to your successor in office as an official
emblem of his authority, to be used at future meetings; the other I am
presenting to you as a personal tribute for your most excellent work in
behalf of northern nut culture. This gavel I shall ask you to place
among the trophies in your beautiful mountain home, where the birds sing
sweetly, the sun shines brightly, and the breezes murmur softly; and
where the days are made to rest and the nights are made to sleep.
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Littlepage, not being prepared for this, and
not being naturally eloquent, I am unable to make a speech. However, as
a part of the way out of the difficulty, I accept this one officially
with great pleasure, and personally accept the other with deep
gratitude, and desire to express the appreciation of the meeting.
The pecan is calling the walnut meeting to order. Last year we went to
see the pecan; this year we come to see the walnut, which, has done more
than any other nut in the East.
We will now listen to the report of our secretary-treasurer.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-TREASURER
Balance on hand, date of last report $7.23
Receipts:
Dues $379.30
Advertisements 42.00
Contributions 42.50
Sale of report 22.40
Contributions for prizes 40.00
Miscellaneous 1.05
-------
$534.48
Expenses:
Printing report $233.76
Miscellaneous printing 51.80
Postage and stationery 41.09
Stenographer 2.00
Express, freight, carting 3.74
Prizes 10.00
Check J.R.S. expenses, circulars 37.30
Bills receivable 10.00
Miscellaneous 4.55
-------
$394.24
-------
Balance on hand $140.24
This is the best financial report that the treasurer has ever been able
to transmit, and this is chiefly due to the efforts of our president
who, during the year, has sent out numerous notices of, and articles
about, our Association, its purposes, and the desirability of finding
and propagating our best nut trees. He also offered three prizes of $5
each for a nut contest and did the work necessary to get publicity for
this contest. He sent letters to the members of the horticultural
societies of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Ohio
which resulted in our getting 24 new members, mostly from the state of
Pennsylvania. Twenty-five dollars of the cost of this circularizing the
president paid out of his own pocket. The rest was more than made up by
the fees of new members. The president also had printed an educational
leaflet on nut growing for distribution by Mr. Cobb with the nut trees
which he sends to the schools and farmers of Michigan. With Professor
Close he was on the finance committee which sent a circular letter to
the members of the Association for funds to help pay for the printing of
the annual report, and obtained advertisements for the report. As stated
in the treasurer's report contributions for this purpose amounted to
$42.50 and advertisements brought in $42.00.
_Prizes_
The Association offered last year prizes of $5 each for the best
shagbark hickory nut, black walnut and hazel nut sent in.
Something over a hundred specimens were received and the prize for
hickory nut was awarded to J. K. Triplett of Elkins, W. Va. The prize
for black walnut was awarded to J. G. Rush of West Willow, Pa. Mr. Rush
returned his prize to be used for the purposes of the Association. No
prize for hazels was awarded as only one or two insignificant specimens
were sent in.
Perhaps the stimulation of this contest accounts for our being able to
offer such substantial prizes for this year. In addition to the $80
worth of prizes already announced the secretary has received from a life
member, James H. Bowditch of Boston, a check for $25 as a prize to be
offered by the Association for a hickory nut under such conditions as
the Association may decide. A circular announcing these prizes has been
sent out to agricultural and other papers to the number of 200, the
expenses of which have been borne by another member, Mr. Chas. H. Plump
of Connecticut. A committee on competitions should be appointed or the
direction of them delegated to some already existent committee.
_Membership_
Seventy-four members were added during the interval between this meeting
and the last, one less than in the previous year. Since its organization
287 persons have joined the Association. We have at present 153 paid up
members, 21 more than last year. There are a few members whose dues are
unpaid who are active workers and will eventually pay, probably.
Four members have resigned, though none in anger, and we have lost one
by death, the late Prof. H. E. Van Deman.
_Annual Dues_
Some way should be found out of the difficulties arising from the
dissatisfaction of members who join late in the year when they receive a
notice for dues soon after having once paid.
It is desirable to take in members at all times during the year. At the
same time some method should be found to give the late comer something
for his money. Shall membership continue to date from the calendar year?
Or shall we make some change? Some societies date memberships from the
opening of the annual meeting. It would not be impossible to make
memberships date from the beginning of the quarter year immediately
following date of joining. This would give every member a full year at
least before he would again receive a notice for dues.
It would be quite inconvenient to date each membership from the day of
joining. It would not be so bad if members paid promptly on receipt of
notice.
Or a rebate might be made for each month of the year elapsed before new
members' dues were paid.
_Meetings_
No field meeting was held this year. It has been suggested, and would
seem to be a favorable subject for discussion, that it might be well to
hold our annual meeting late in the year in some central location, such
as New York City, Philadelphia or Washington, for our business and
formal program of papers and discussions, and the study of the nuts sent
in, perhaps for judging any competition that might be held, if the
meeting were late enough for that; and a summer meeting of informal
nature at some place where nut trees with their crops growing could be
studied.
_Nut Journal_
Our official organ, the _American Nut Journal_, has done its part well
through the past year and is becoming, as it should, a very important
element in the success of the purposes of this Association. Most new and
old members of the Association have availed themselves during the year
of the offer of membership and the _Journal_ for $2.50. In spite of the
reduction of 25 cents on each membership, the receipts for dues have
increased from $273 to $331. I would suggest that the membership fee be
still further reduced by 25 cents, when combined with subscription to
the _Journal_, if the editor is willing to continue the present
arrangement whereby the price of the _Journal_ is reduced to 75 cents
when subscribed to with membership, so that the two together will cost
$2.25. Another year it may be possible to make a similar reduction. The
object toward which we ought to work is membership for $1, and
membership with the _Journal_$2. I should like to hear the opinions of
the members as to the advisability of working to reduce our dues to $1
annually.
_How Members May Help_
At the risk of monotony I will repeat my concluding remarks of last year
and ask that each member help increase the prosperity and usefulness of
the Association by enlisting new members, by advertising his business in
the annual report, and by paying his dues promptly. The secretary would
much rather spend his time answering questions and imparting such
information as lies in his power, than to have to send repeated notices
to members in arrears for dues.
The secretary will be happy at all times to learn of the plans and
progress of the members.
* * * * *
THE PRESIDENT: You have heard the report of the secretary.
There are two things to be done with it. It is, as you will notice,
first a report of the year's business and, second, it has certain
suggestions for your consideration. I think that as a business report we
can discuss and move its adoption, amendment or rejection. After that we
may take up the suggestions.
[Adoption moved, seconded and carried.]
He has brought before our consideration the amount of dues, and the
question of their payment. I doubt the advisability of a lengthy
discussion in this business meeting. I think it better to refer it to
the executive committee. Unless I hear further suggestions, I will take
that action. The next piece of business is the matter of the report on
the amendments to the constitution. Professor Close and the secretary
were appointed a committee for this matter, and as Professor Close
cannot be here, we will hear from the secretary on the matter. (See
amended constitution.)
DR. SMITH: I am now glad to announce that we have covered the
necessary business ground, and now come to the real meat of the meeting.
We have with us this morning Dr. Baker, Dean of the State College of
Forestry, at Syracuse, who is going to address us on the subject of "The
Relation of Forestry Conditions in New York to Possibilities of Nut
Growing."
THE RELATION OF FOREST CONDITIONS IN NEW YORK TO POSSIBILITIES OF NUT
GROWING
DR. HUGH P. BAKER, DEAN OF THE NEW YORK STATE COLLEGE OF FORESTRY AT
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
The forester presumes to come before your organization because he is
concerned with one of the greatest of the natural resources of this and
other states of the Union and not with the idea of bringing information
as to details in nut culture. Possibly nut culture as a business is more
closely related to agriculture than forestry. Forestry is not
subordinate to agriculture in this country but co-ordinate with it.
Together they will come as near solving the soil problems of the country
as is possible for man to solve them.
The forester is interested and concerned with the wild nut trees
wherever he has to do with the forests or forest lands of the country.
Throughout the great hardwood sections of the East there are many native
nut-bearing trees, and in the proper utilization of the trees which make
up the forests the forester is concerned not alone with the lumber which
may come from these trees, but he is concerned as well with the value of
the by-products of the forest and the influence of the utilization of
these by-products upon the forest.
In view of the forester's interest in all of the trees which make up our
forests, my purpose of addressing you today is to bring before you the
question of the most effective use of the forest soils of this state. I
shall also attempt to make some suggestions to your organization in the
matter of interesting the man on the street in nut growing. This
profession and the business of forestry have been passing through a
period of general educational work in this country. Some of the lessons
which we have learned through our efforts to interest the people in
their forests may be of help to you in interesting the people both in
the consumption and the production of nuts.
_New York as a Great Forest State_
Twenty-five years ago New York was one of the leading lumber-producing
states of the Union. Today some twenty other states produce more lumber
than comes from the forests and woodlots of New York. Statistics given
out recently by the United States Census Bureau and the Conservation
Commission of New York show that, out of the land acreage of over
thirty-two millions in New York, but twenty-two millions are included
within farms. This leaves something over eight millions of acres outside
of farms and presumably non-agricultural. The forests of the Adirondacks
and Catskills and the woodlots of the rougher hill counties in the
southern and southwestern part of the state come within this vast area
of eight millions of acres. Without doubt with increasing population
there will come some increase in the use of what are now
non-agricultural lands for the practice of agriculture, but with three
hundred years of agricultural history back of us in this state it does
not seem likely that there will be much change in the relation of
non-agricultural to agricultural land during the next half-century.
Out of the twenty-two millions of acres of farm lands in the state but
fifteen millions are actually under cultivation, leaving, therefore,
from six to eight millions of acres within the farms of the state but
lying idle. That is, we have a Massachusetts enclosed within our farms
which is non-productive as far as direct returns are concerned. Yet
there is really no waste land in New York, as every square foot of the
state which is covered with any soil at all is capable of producing good
forest trees. It is this great area of idle land enclosed within our
farms which seems to have unusual promise in the development of nut
culture in the state. There is a great deal of land now idle in the form
of steep hillsides or ridges or rocky slopes upon which we may grow with
comparative ease our walnuts, butter-nuts, hickories, hazelnuts, in the
wild form at least.
The fact that the state is in really rather serious condition
financially should be a strong reason for our association to urge upon
the farmers of the state the planting of nut-bearing trees that the
returns from the farms may be increased by annual sales of nuts which
should in the aggregate in the next fifty years be a large sum of money.
It has been estimated that the total debt of the State of New York, that
is, the state, county and municipal debts, are equal to $47 for every
acre of land, good and bad. On top of this condition the legislature
last year laid a direct tax of eighteen millions of dollars upon our
people, and there is every indication that it will be several years
before it becomes unnecessary to lay a direct tax either larger or
smaller than that put upon us last year. There is ever-increasing
competition among the farmers of the state as the standards in animal,
milk and fruit production are ever increasing. In view of the amount of
idle land and of our financial condition it seems to be an unusually
opportune time for those interested in nut culture to bring before the
farmers and other landowners of the state the idea of planting nut
trees, the products of which will add to the annual income from the
land.
_The State of New York is Somewhat Ignorant of the Value of its Forest
Lands_
When the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse began its
studies of forest conditions in New York in 1911 it turned its attention
immediately to the very large areas of farm woodlots and woodlands
within farms. There has been a good deal of general information current
among our people regarding the forest conditions of the state, but there
is really very little accurate information except such little as the
college has secured since 1911. As a first step in the taking of stock
of our forest resources and especially the amount of timber in our farm
woodlots and what is coming from these woodlots in the way of annual
return to their owners, the State College of Forestry in 1912 began, in
co-operation with the United States Forest Service, a study of the
wood-using industries of the state. This study has resulted in a very
comprehensive bulletin issued by the College of Forestry upon the
wood-using industries of the State of New York. From these studies it
was determined for the first time that New York was spending annually
over ninety-five millions of dollars for products of the forest.
Unfortunately for the state, we are sending over fifty millions of
dollars of this vast amount out into other states to the south and to
the west for timber which New York is capable of producing in amount, at
least, in its forests and on its idle lands. The report shows further
that New York is producing very large quantities of pine and hemlock and
the hardwoods, and, much to the surprise of those interested in forest
conditions in the state, it was shown that a large proportion of the
hardwoods come from the woodlots in the farms of the state. This would
seem to indicate that there is a real opportunity for the growing of
such hardwood timber as black walnut, butternut, and hickory, not only
on the idle lands of the state which are not covered with forest now,
but also in the woodlots of the farms. That is, it would not be a
difficult matter to show the farmers through publications and possibly
through public lectures that it would be very advantageous to them to
favor nut-growing trees and to plant them where they are not now
growing, both because of the value of the nuts which they produce and of
the value of their wood.
If the people of a great state like New York are more or less ignorant
of the extent and value of their forest holdings, how much more ignorant
are they of the character and the value of a particular species which
make up their forest lands. How few people are able to go into the
forest and say that this tree is a shagbark hickory or that that is a
butternut or that that is a red pine, and if this is the case, as you
will agree with me that it is, is it not time that propagandist or
general educational work be done that will bring forcibly to the
attention of the wage-earners of the state that it is a financial
necessity for the state to consider better use of its forest lands, so
that all of the soils of New York may share in the burden of the support
of the commonwealth rather than a few of the soils which are now being
given up to agricultural use? The wage-earner should know also that nuts
used as food are conducive to health and that possibly a more extensive
use of nuts with less of meat will mean a considerable difference over a
period of a year in the amount that is saved in the living expenses of
an individual or a family.
It is often difficult for the forester to interest the average farmer in
the planting of trees, even though those trees may add to the beauty and
value of the farm or the comfort of the home buildings, but your
organization will make a place for itself most decidedly if it will go
to the farmer or to a group of farmers and show them that they can
actually save money in the purchase of their needed lumber and wood of
other kinds if they will cut their woodlots co-operatively and produce
in the woodlots trees of greatest possible value and trees which will
give such by-products as nuts as well as direct returns from the lumber.
Just as soon as you can reach the pocket-book of the average
wage-earner, it makes little difference whether it is nuts or books or
clothing, they are going to be interested in a thing that will allow
them to get more for the amount which they make from their day's labor.
_The Association May Accomplish Much by Demonstrating the Value of Nut
Trees as Trees and the Value of Their Products as Food_
Many organizations in our Eastern States are becoming interested in the
beautification of communities and the tremendous development in the use
of the automobile is interesting even more organizations in the
beautification of rural highways. It would not be a difficult thing for
the Nut Growers Association to interest civic associations or women's
clubs in the planting not only of forest trees alone along rural
highways but a certain number of nut trees. We are literally in the age
of the "Movie" and if a man who walks or drives along our highways can
see as he passes the growing nut trees and the bountiful harvest which
they may be made to yield, he is being convinced that not only elm and
maple are of value along our highways, but that the nut-producing trees
may give equal satisfaction in beauty of form and comfort of shade and
at the same time yield fruit of very definite value.
Even though the fruit of the nut-bearing trees of our woodlands and
highways may not give an annual return to the town or village or county
it will bring immeasurable joy and possibly better health to the boys
and girls of the future. In many ways the children of this country are
educating their parents and it is not an impossible idea to think of the
parents of the future being converted by the influence of their children
to the desirability if not the necessity of growing trees and nut trees,
the fruit of which will give pleasant healthfulness and at the same time
aid in the saving of the daily wage and in the support of the
commonwealth. I wish to emphasize this idea of considering not alone the
financial return from the trees and the forests of this state. As the
son of a lumberman and as a forester I am, of course, most vitally
interested in the growing of trees as a business proposition, but I feel
that such an organization as yours, especially, should look at this
matter not alone from actual financial returns, but because of indirect
benefits such as the making of outdoor people of us Americans. This can
be done, I believe, to a very considerable extent by giving our people,
especially the boys and girls, a purpose for getting out into the
woodlot and the forests wherever they occur in the state.
The women of this state are interested vitally these days not only in
their own welfare as possible citizens, but in the improving of living
conditions and opportunities of our people. We should have more women
interested in the work of this association and interested in seeing that
the future value of nuts is appreciated by the wage-earners of the
state, both because of their healthfulness and because of the
possibility of cheapening somewhat the cost of living. I urge upon the
organization a campaign of education, a campaign which will reach
through the women's clubs, civic organizations, schools and state
associations in a way that will cause the people to demand more nuts for
food and more nut trees as an absolutely indispensable part of the
complete utilization of both the agricultural and forest soils of the
state. The agencies working for agriculture and forestry in a state like
New York understand these problems, but often it remains for an
organization like yours to bring these forces into active play and to
produce the results for which you are working. Before you can achieve
lasting results and results commensurate with the time and effort which
you are putting into the organization, you must get hold of the man and
the woman who spend the dollars for the living of our people.
_The State College of Forestry at Syracuse Experimenting with Nut
Culture_
Soon after the organization of the New York State Forest Experiment
Station south of Syracuse the college took up the matter of growing nut
trees and of improving the quality of nuts of native species. On the New
York State Forest Experiment Station just south of Syracuse, where the
college is growing a million forest trees a year, there is a woodlot of
thirty acres. In this woodlot were a number of native nut trees and
these have been set aside for the purpose of grafting and improving to
see what can be done in helping out native nut trees of different ages
and sizes.
In 1913 the college purchased a thousand acres of cut-over land two
hours south of Buffalo in Cattaraugus County. At the same time it
purchased one hundred and thirteen acres lying along the main line of
the New York Central Railroad at Chittenango in Madison County. This
past spring nut trees were ordered from nurseries in Pennsylvania and
planted in the heavy soils on the Chittenango Forest Station and also on
the State Forest Experiment Station at Syracuse. At the Salamanca
station young nut trees are being staked so that they may be protected
and cared for with a hope of developing them as nut-producing trees. The
college plans, as a part of its work in the Division of Forest
Investigations, to see what can be done in the way of grafting chestnut
sprouts and in introducing nut-growing trees for the purpose of
demonstrating that idle lands within farms may be used profitably for
nut culture. The college will be very glad, indeed, to learn of any
native nut trees of unusual value anywhere in New York as it is anxious
to get material for grafting to native stock already growing on its
various forest stations.
DR. SMITH: It was an exceedingly great pleasure to me to listen
to that address by the Dean of the New York State College of Forestry. I
want to assure you that his address marks an epoch. He tells us that the
State of New York is going to experiment in nut growing, give place,
time and money; and this is what I have been long waiting for. I shall
defer my discussion until this evening, when I use the screen and
lantern.
I rejoice exceedingly that the State of New York is not alone in the
march of progress; the State of Pennsylvania is also in line and comes
next on the program. Professor Fagan has been making a survey of
Pennsylvania with particular reference to ascertaining what it has in
nut trees. He will now give us a report.
* * * * *
PROFESSOR FAGAN: The President has caught me rather unprepared.
I did not expect to talk at this time. I had our walnut survey tabulated
in regard to county locations, so that you could see the results of our
work in the state this past summer. This report is in my grip so I will
talk only from memory.
The necessity for this work in Pennsylvania has been increasing right
along. The State Experiment Station has been receiving letters nearly
every week from parties wanting information in regard to the Persian
walnut. The calls for information have been increasing more and more
each year for the past three years.
Our people ask questions about the right kind of soils for the
nuts--what varieties are best suited for Pennsylvania--how to topwork
their standing black walnut--and, in fact, almost any question.
The Experiment Station does not have a nut plantation and it was thought
best to study the growing Persian walnut trees throughout the state.
A publicity campaign was started through the agricultural press and our
daily and weekly newspapers. In this way we have been able to learn the
location of some 1,800 to 2,000 bearing trees in Pennsylvania. I tried
to visit the trees this summer but time would not permit.
Trees are reported in twenty-five different counties. Erie County
reported, likely, the two largest plantings. Here we have two seedling
groves, at least one is a seedling grove. The seedling grove is fourteen
years old and contains 250 trees. They are seedling Pomeroy trees and
this year show their first real crop of nuts.
Since they are seedlings we naturally find all types and variations
among the trees. We see a difference in their foliage, habit of growth,
shape and size of nuts. The trees show no effects of ever having been
winter-killed. The trees have always been farmed so the owner, Mr. E. A.
Silkirk of North East, Pa., has been able to receive returns from his
land. Grapes and berries have been grown between the trees as
intercrops. The trees are planted on the corners of a 50-foot square and
cover about fourteen acres.
In four different counties of the mountain section of the state, bearing
trees are to be found. From these trees we hope to find something at
least fairly good but above that something hardy. Some of these trees
have been winter-killed to a more or less degree, but so have the common
peach trees in the same sections.
The southeastern part of the state reports the largest number of trees.
From Harrisburg east and south the trees become more common. In this
section we find Dauphin, Adams, York, Lancaster, Chester, Philadelphia,
Bucks, Lebanon, Lehigh and Berks counties. In these counties the Persian
walnut is not at all uncommon. They are often called Dutch nuts as well
as English walnuts.
Just north of the above section we find Northampton County reporting a
large number of trees, and even in the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton section
with a higher elevation the nut is growing and yielding good crops.
I asked nearly all walnut tree owners whether or not they thought the
business could be developed, and in most cases they believed it
possible.
I have come to more or less of the conclusion from what I have been able
to see, that the business will not be developed in our so-called
mountain land or upon the waste lands. The better soil should be used
for the walnut groves.
As time goes on we are going to find more and more groves of the nuts
being planted in our state.
I came here to learn rather than to lecture. If I can answer any
question I will be glad to do so. Tonight I will gladly show you a few
pictures with the lantern.
I might say that the Experiment Station plans to have a small grove in a
few years; with this and co-operative work we hope to be able to give to
our growers and interested people some idea of the culture and care of
the Persian walnut in Pennsylvania.
DR. MORRIS: I don't like to speak so often here, but it is in
the spirit of setting a pace rather than of giving expression to my own
views.
In the first place, I would like to ask Professor Fagan if he has looked
up the matter of the introduction of any of the oriental walnuts into
Pennsylvania. According to the knowledge of the botanists, all species
of plants from the northeastern Orient are better adapted to the eastern
states of America than are any trees from the central or western
portions of the Old World. Pacific coast plants do well in England, but
not in New England as a rule.
Next I would suggest, _apropos_ of the nature of the seedling orchard
reported by the last speaker, that no nut tree of any sort be sold under
a varietal name for propagation, excepting that it be accompanied by the
statement that it is a seedling. This is perfectly proper and fair to
all parties.
Going back to the remarks of Professor Baker, a number of very
interesting points arose. One reason why the great waste lands of the
state have not been covered with forests of nut trees is because we must
leave something for the people who are to come 5,000 years after us. We
must not accomplish everything in civilization this year. Be generous;
leave something for others to accomplish later. Nut trees grown in
forest form say to themselves: "Here are trees enough. We shall store up
cellulose." Therefore the trees store up cellulose, make great trunks
and timber, and little fruit. A nut tree on the other hand which is
growing alone in a field says, "Here are not trees enough. I shall be
fruitful," and therefore it bears much fruit. Consequently, nut trees to
be grown as forest are out of the question as nut producers, but may be
very valuable for timber.