113 



number of specimens sent was small. Of 27 specimens from Iowa 

 16, or 59%, received consideration and i, or 15%, prizes. Of 162 

 specimens from Ohio 45, or 28%, had consideration, and 6, or 3.7% 

 took prizes. Of 157 specimens from Illinois 30, or 19%, had consider- 

 ation and 4*, or 2.5%, took prizes. Similar figures for the other 

 prize winning states are: Indiana, 96 specimens, 22, or 23% con- 

 sideration and 2, or 2% prizes. North Carolina, 81 specimens, 13, or 

 16% consideration and 1, or 1.2% prizes. Virginia, 97 specimens, 

 20, or 20% consideration and 2, or 2% prizes. Kentucky 60 speci- 

 mens, 11, or 18% consideration and 3, or 5% prizes. Pennsylvania, 

 7'i specimens, 14, or 19% consideration, 1, or 1.3% prizes. 



The noteworthy fact is the marked preeminence of Iowa in the 

 percentage of nuts getting consideration and winning prizes accord- 

 ing to our standards. Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Virginia, 

 Pennsylvania and North Carolina followed in that order in percentage 

 of prizes won. Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama, ^Maryland, 

 Georgia, West Virginia and South Carolina, although sending many 

 specimens, won no prizes. Delaware sent only 3 specimens. Mr. 

 Bixby thinks that the work of Mr. Snyder and Dr. Dennis has edu- 

 cated the people of Iowa to know good nuts. 



For future contests we should determine some simple tests of merit 

 thnt can be quickly applied for the preliminary elimination, for, of 

 course, Mr. Bixby's time consuming scientific tests and mathematical 

 calculations are out of the question, except for a small number of final 

 selections. I ask the suggestions of the convention as to what these 

 preliminary tests should be. Those that I had in mind and used 

 were as follows : 



It has become evident that black walnuts are to be judged on their 

 merits for cracking by machinery. Therefore form and color of nut 

 are of little importance. 



Size. Nuts can hardly be too large if there is little sacrifice of 

 proportion of kernel. Great size of nut may sometimes go with lack 

 of tree productiveness, but one can tell very little about productive- 

 ness in judging nuts sent to a contest. Statements of contestants in 

 regard to this all important character are probably of little value. On 

 the other hand nuts much below medium size are usually undesirable 



