74: STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



planted to stand closer together than thirty to forty feet, after reaching 

 twenty years of age. They can be readily transplanted when one or two 

 years old. There is a strong probability that some of these varieties will 

 be found hardy enough for sheltered locations in the fruit belt. Where it 

 is possible they should be planted in the vicinity of black walnut trees to 

 insure fertilization of the blossoms. California growers are planting the 

 black walnut and several other species in their Persian walnut orchards to 

 accomplish this result. 



The recently introduced Japanese walnut {Juglans sieboldiana) , 

 resembles the Persian walnut in appearance of nut, though the tree is more 

 like that of the butternut. Those that I have had under observation start 

 into growth in the spring even earlier than the Persian walnut and are 

 therefore more likely to be injured by frost. Unless there are other types 

 of this nut which bloom later it is of doubtful value to the Michigan 

 grower. 



Were it not for a somewhat mysterious disease to which the leaves are 

 subject, the filbert could be recommended as likely to succeed in Michigan. 

 And in view of the ease with which it is propagated, both by seeds and 

 suckers, it is perhaps worthy of experiment. It will thrive on dryer and 

 poorer ground than any other nut tree save the chestnut, though a moder- 

 ately rich loam suits it best. As a shrub for the lawn where alow mass of 

 green is desired, this can be planted. After becoming well established it 

 should be pruned back in spring, taking care that the fruit spurs and cat- 

 kins be not removed. They new growth requires some thinning out in 

 summer to prevent a too vigorous growth of sprouts in the middle of the 

 bush. The hazel, unlike the chestnut, thrives on limestone land. Named 

 varieties have been but little grown in this country. The writer has 

 received from Mr. A. S. Fuller of northern New Jersey some very good 

 nuts grown from seed obtained by him from England. It is probable that 

 varieties suited to our climate could be developed in a few years by grow- 

 ing seedlings in this way. 



What seems to me to be the most promising nut tree for Michigan is 

 the chestnut. As already noted, this is native in but few localities in the 

 state. Beal and Wheeler's Flora record it as occurring naturally only in 

 Monroe, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties. But the tree thrives ill most 

 of the lower four tiers of counties when planted in suitable soil. It 

 prefers a somewhat elevated slope, with a dry, sandy or gravelly soil, con- 

 taining little or no limestone. It is therefore suitable for planting on 

 many sites not suited to other nuts. All native bearing trees should be 

 carefully preserved. Were quality the only point to be considered, the 

 American species would be the best one to plant. But productiveness 

 and large size are important factors, and in these particulars the native 

 nut is inferior to the Japanese and European types. When large fruited 

 varieties of the native nut are discovered (and there is good reason to 

 believe that they exist), the native nut will probably lead all others in the 

 market plantations. But until these come to light, the planter should 

 confine his efforts mainly to a few of the best varieties of the foreign types. 

 Of these it may be said that the Japanese varieties are more dwarf in 

 growth, bear earlier, and furnish the largest nuts, though they are often 

 of very poor quality. The European type is of larger growth, bears at 

 a comparatively early age, and furnishes nuts of fair quality. The 

 Numbo is perhaps the best of the tested imported varieties. Paragon and 



