24 



though the superior cracking of the heartnut type is a great asset. 

 The lack of character in the flavor of the kernel is the chief defect, 

 but possibly it may develop more flavor in cooking. Mr. Hess could 

 tell us about that. The tree, on account of its rapid growth, beauty 

 and ease of culture, early bearing and productiveness will always be 

 useful. These desirable qualities should be seized upon either in 

 heartnuts of improved size and quality, or for hybridizing with other 

 walnuts. 



The walnut weevil, which is so destructive in some places, I be- 

 lieve does not thrive except in a neglected environment. 



Chestnut 



The past of the chestnut is one of high faith dashed to earth by 

 the blight. The present is an inspired battle for victory, the future 

 a great faith in that victory. What are our forces for battle ? Chiefly 

 the experiments now being conducted by the U. S. Dept. of Agricul- 

 ture with mollissima and other Asiatic varieties and their hybrids with 

 the chinquapin. Distribution of mollissima has been made this year 

 quite widely in quantities enougli to plant from 1-2 to 3 acres and 

 numerous smaller distributions have been made in the past eight or 

 ten years with promising results. Hope of a conquering hero to arise 

 from the ranks of our native chestnuts to lead us on to victory is widely 

 held but so far with doubtful foundation. Decline of virulence and 

 fighting power in the enemy is possible. Immunization, a la Zimmer- 

 man, is a faint hope. I do not know that high culture and intensive 

 feeding have ever been tried with the special purpose of making the 

 chestnut more resistant to blight. If not, it should be tried. I have 

 European, mollissima, and Japanese chestnuts and Van Fleet hybrids 

 bearing yearly and with no care in spite of all being blighted. I want 

 to speak a good word for the American chinquapin. In a park in 

 Hartford, Conn., there is a group of a half dozen bushes known to 

 have been there over 25 years and known to me to have borne large 

 crops every year at least for the past three or four years. One of these 

 bushes bears a good sized nut. The chinquapin is well worth planting 

 on the home place. 



Why it is that people living on farms outside the range of the 

 native chestnut are not tumbling over each other to plant the new varie- 



