124 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



when the entire yield was some 250 bushels, about one-fourth of 

 which were worthless on account of the weevil. Last year (1900) 

 the fire destroyed it and only about ten bushels were gathered, 

 fully fifty per cent, of which were wormy. The land ui>on which 

 the grove is located is on a hillside, rough, rocky and useless for 

 farming or any purpose except timber, and notwithstanding it is 

 comparatively barren and in spots well nigh inaccessible, the trees 

 were making a fine growth until destroyed. It is surrounded on 

 three isides bv forest, mostlv of chestnut timber, and to this I at- 

 tribute the great destruction of nuts by the weevil. While at first 

 the loss was small, only five to ten per cent., it has increased annu- 

 ally, and the outlook for profitable crops in the future is not encour- 

 aging. On trees which are isolated and growing about the buildings 

 on my father's farm the nuts are finer and there is a small percent- 

 age of loss. In my opinion the only successful method of growing 

 chestnuts is to plant them in orchards away from the wild forests, 

 give them cultivation and attention, and as far as possible destroy 

 all wormv nuts as thev fall to the ground. Grown in this wav thev 

 will bear almost annual crops and yield a fair profit. 



Wm. H. Moon. — The greatest diftlculty seem to be in transplanting. 

 Unless frequently transplanted in the nursery it is difficult to get 

 a fair proportion to grow. 



Mr, Bartram. — I would cut the top roots when two years old. 

 Have lo.'^t but few when treated in this way. 



Samuel C. Moon. — I do not believe any money has been made in 

 growing and grafting chestnut trees in the nursery. They are sea- 

 sons when 75 per cent, of graft® will grow; other seasons not over 

 25 per cent. Then, in selling trees, those that die out are expected 

 to be replaced, 



Mr, Garretson. — I have had some experience with chestnuts, but 

 only partial success. Have found the Japan varieties more easily 

 growm than others, but not so good as Paragon. 



Samuel C. Moon. — Out of some fifty seedlings raised by my father, 

 onlv three were considered worthv of dissemination. Most of them 

 bore small nuts. One of the most valuable had a peculiar habit 

 of dropping its burrs before they opened, 



Mr. Suavely. — If in order, I suggest that the matter of spraying 

 be discussed. 



The Chair, — We will have a talk on that subject to-morrow by 

 Mr. Cooper, and the discussion had better be postponed until then. 



Mr. Wertz. — It seems to me a more important question is how 

 to get rid of the scale. It is one of our most destructive enemies, 

 and if not checked will some day drive us out of business. It is 

 evident that additional legislation is necessary, and I hope some 



