77 



building and commercial purposes in the form of packing cases, casks, 

 etc. And here we are, a country forty times larger than Germany, 

 and forced to de])end on countries such as Canada and Norway for 

 Wflod pulj) ont of which wc manufacture a great many grades of 

 paper. 



Some twenty jears ago 1 had a political friend introduce a bill 

 during a meeting of the state legislature, which made it mandatory for 

 the road overseeer to plant nut trees along the right of way all over 

 the state; but like many meritorious bills, it was pigeon-holed until 

 the next meeting of the legislature. It seemed an impossibility to 

 resurrect this and an exceptionally fine forestry bill. 



Unfortunately I promised to preside at a meeting of conservation- 

 ists and it is for that reason that I am unable to meet and be with your 

 lionorable body, for I would like so much to be permitted in a humble 

 capacity to assist in carrying on the work which you gentlemen are do- 

 ing, as it is going to mean so mucli to future generations. I am sure 

 that each of you feels as I do in this matter and that is that "He wlio 

 serves others, best serves himself." 



When the matter comes up for consideration I would like very 

 much to have your next convention here in the Middle West, either in 

 St. Louis or Alton, 111., which is only a few miles north of St. Louis 

 and in the vicinity of a splendid nut-producing section, particularly 

 the pecan. 



THE CHESTNUT 

 C. A. Reed, U. S. Department of Agriculture 



No discussion of the nut industry in the North at this time would 

 be complete without a brief review of the chestnut situation. The de- 

 struction wrought by blight in wiping out practically all of the native 

 chestnut trees within its path, with almost equally fatal results to the 

 European species has for the time being all but tliuiinatcd tlic chest- 

 nut from the consideration of planters in the eastern part of the 

 country. 



The chestnut bark disease has cost the country untold millions of 

 dollars, and no wonder the public pauses for a second thought before 

 investing in eastern-grown chestnut trees. Nevertheless, it is not 



