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vigorous attack on the Park Board. In this connection I would like 

 to read the letter from Miss Riehl, which is a very interesting one to 

 me. She is carrying on the business which was established by her 

 father, and that business is the most successful chestnut enterprise in 

 Illinois if not in the United States. 



Godfrey, Illinois, 

 August 28, 1926. 

 Dear Mr. Spencer: 



Your idea of a nut arboretum in the city park is indeed a splendid 

 one. If people could have the opportunity of seeing the trees growing 

 and bearing before deciding what to plant, they would be spared many 

 a disappointment. The nut industry being comparatively young, some- 

 body has got to do some pioneering. I can understand that it would be 

 much less expensive, on the whole, and progress would be made much 

 quicker, if your plan could be carried out, than if each planter had to 

 do his own experimenting. And it need not be very expensive. Half a 

 dozen trees of each species, — two each of the three best varieties, 

 would be enough to show what they can do. I think Dr. Anderson 

 would be a good one to ask about the cost of the after care of such 

 a grove. 



First of all I would plant black walnuts and chestnuts, because it 

 has been proven that they bear regular and profitable crops in this 

 section of the country. Next, I would get some of the best hickories 

 and pecan-hickory hybrids (hiccans). Judging from our grafting ex- 

 periences last spring these latter are very promising. I do not think 

 so well of planting the true pecans here though of course we should 

 do some experimenting. Those most likely to be profitable are the 

 varieties that originated in Iowa and Indiana. (Ask Mr. Snyder and 

 Mr. Wilkinson). By all means try some filberts. They seem to suc- 

 ceed in a great variety of soils and locations, and also climates. The 

 Japanese walnuts grow and bear ver}' well here and add interest to a 

 collection, but there is no commercial demand for them. By rights, in 

 an arboretum that is for the benefit of the public, it would be well to 

 plant some of everything, including Japanese heartnuts, hard-shell 

 almonds, hazelnuts, butternuts, and even English walnuts. 



I started with the most promising kinds, from a commercial point 

 of view, and ended with those we know lea.st about. The same applies 

 to your own problem. If I were after money, rather than knowledge 

 and experience, I would stick pretty closely to walnuts and chestnuts, 

 and let the other fellows do the experimenting, although I do believe 

 there is a promising future for other nuts also, when people wake up 

 to their value. 



In regard to what is best to grow between the trees, I can give 

 little in the way of advice, as that is a question we have not yet settled 



