67 



money. The only basis we have for telling them what crops will pay 

 is that of" what crops have already done. Speaking more to your point, 

 let us imagine a place near Easton, owned by a man who has decided 

 to plant nut trees. He would not find a large number of varieties from 

 which to make a selection. He would have to consult the catalogs 

 of Mr. Jones, Mr. Snyder and Mr. Hershey. He would find that he 

 could get black walnut trees of Stabler, Ohio, Ten Eyck, Thomas and 

 perhaps a i'ew other varieties, but they are the black walnuts more 

 higlily recommended. I have known of a Stabler tree near Washing- 

 ton for ten years and during that time it has had only about three good 

 crops. At least two-tliirds of the time the crops of nuts have 

 been practically complete failures. Last year it had about five bushels ; 

 this year it has no crop whatever. Mr. T. P. Littlepage has some 30 

 or 35 Stabler trees set out in 1918. Last season, during their ninth 

 year, altogether they bore perhaps six bushels of hulled nuts. The 

 Stabler is the best cracker of any of these varieties. 



Mr. O'Connor: Yes, Mr. Littlepage's trees bore six bushels of 

 hulled nuts last year. 



Dr. Smith: About how much corn would the land make? 



Mr. O'Connor: About four barrels per acre. 



Dr. Smith : What is the character of the soil about the old 

 Stabler tree ? 



Mr. Reed: I would say that both its fertility and moisture supplj^ 

 are considerably better than average. 



]Mr. Weber : How far is it removed from other walnut trees ? 



Mr. Reed: It is practically alone, although there is a small tree 

 some 200 feet distant. 



Mr. Weber: Would that have something: to do with the bearing? 



Mr. Reed: Perhaps so, but the fact that during certain years 

 the tree bears well would tend to discount any theory of lack of pollen. 



Mr. O'Connor: Perhaps late freezes in the spring may have 

 "omething to do with it. 



]Mr. Walker: Before Mr. Reed leaves the floor I would like to 

 congratulate him on the talk he has given. I have attended a great 

 ">iany conventions and usually the speakers like to give the best side 

 of the subject under discussion. Mr. Reed has given us a heart to 

 heart talk. We are indebted to a man who will come before us and tell 

 ns frankly both sides of a matter in which we are interested. 



Mr. Hemming. I have listened with a great deal of pleasure to 



