530 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



saw over iu your freight station yesterday apples all covered with 

 smut and they are not the kind that will pay but will give a fellow 

 the fits. 



THE PKESIDENT.— We have two topics that must be held over 

 until this afternoon. The first business after dinner will be the re- 

 port of the Nominating Committee. Before we adjourn I wish to 

 remind the audience that any person who wishes to join is welcome. 

 We will be glad to have you. The Treasurer is going away this 

 afternoon and he will be glad to see you at this time, if you desire 

 to become members. 



On motion, the hour of adjournment was fixed at 12:30 instead 

 of 12 o'clock. 



Prof. Surface, of committee to wait upon Governor Stuart and 

 invite him to our meeting, rejjorted having had an interview with 

 the Governor, but that he was exceedingly busy at (his time and 

 was unable to come to the Hall. He stated, however, that he would 

 be glad to meet the members personally after adjournment or at 

 such time as may be mutually agreed upon. It was decided that 

 the matter be further considered during the afternoon session. 



The following paper was read by the Secretary: 



CHESTNUT CULTURE IN PENNSYLVANIA. 



By C. K. SOBER. Lewisburg, Pa. 



The importance of the nut-growing industry in the United States 

 is attracting more and more attention each year and the chestnut 

 is gradually finding its place among the valuable nuts. In 1896 I 

 began the experiment with cultivated chestnuts. With me chest- 

 nut cultivation is no longer a theory. On the hillsides of the beau- 

 tiful Irish valley, near Shamokia, I have more than three hundred 

 acres of young Paragon chestnut trees, nearly one hundred thou- 

 sand of which have already been grafted. The Paragon has proven 

 to be the best nut for cultivation. The nuts sell readily at from |5.00 

 to 18.00 per bushel, although it is thought that the prices will de- 

 crease as the supply becomes larger. It is claimed that even at 

 |2.50 per bushel, the crop will pay better than wheat. An acre of 

 land will grow twenty-five busliels of wheat in a year if properly 

 cultivated. A like area of chestnut trees will produce many times 

 as many bushels of equally nutritious food yearly, for an indefinite 

 period, and require no outlay for cultivation, planting or fertiliza- 

 tion. More than this, the chestnut is generally not much affected 

 by spring frosts, beating rains, and summer droughts, which are a 

 constant meance to a wheat crop. Why then do we allow Southern 

 Europe to exact a large tribute from us annually for the nuts we 

 import? 



Two methods of chestnut culture are offered. The Chestnut Grove 

 and the Chestnut Orchard, The grove is possibly only where there 



