THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



41'l 



CHESTNUTS IN BUTTE COUNTY. 



By Earlb Mills, County Horticultural Commissioner, Oroville, Cal. 



Owing to the destruction throughout the Eastern states by the chestnut bark 

 disease, of both commercial plantings and forests of chestnut trees, the available 

 supply of this nut is materially lessened each year. Nor is it anticipated that this 



disease will soon be brought under control in those 

 sections already infected. 



This industry so long neglected in our state bids 

 fair to come into its own, largely because this disease 

 has curtailed the output of the Eastern sections, 

 formerly producing the bulk of the crop, and because 

 of the rigid quarantine measures in force causing the 

 planters to feel more assured that the new plantings 

 of chestnuts will continue to be thrifty. 



The predominating red clay soils characteristic of 

 the foothills of the eastern portion of Butte county 

 are exceptionally well adapted to the production of 

 large thrifty trees, which produce quantities of supe- 

 rior chestnuts, as is attested by the numerous small 

 plantings scattered over this area. These red clay 

 soils of our foothills are pre-eminently adapted to 

 chestnul culture, but by no means is it the only type 

 of soil upon which chestnuts will thrive, as these 

 trees may often be seen growing upon soil that is 

 unsuited for most other kinds of commercial trees: 

 even very stony ground will grow good chestnut 

 trees. So aside from its desirability as an orchard tree it can be strongly com- 

 mended for steep hillsides and in pastures, or other places where beauty as well as 

 profit may be desired. , 



The varieties chiefly grown in Butte County are the so-called 'Spanish, 1< rencn 

 and "Italian." the latter variety largely predominating. Occasional trees of the 

 "Japanese" type are met with ; this variety, however, is not in great favor, chiefly 

 on account of the nut being less sweet and of inferior quality to the others ; in fact, 

 its onlv points of merit are the large size of nut, and the trees' dwarf habit of 

 growth". The native American chestnut is only represented by a few trees in this 

 locality, for although the nut is quite sweet it is rather small, and the tardiness of 

 the tree to come into bearing it also in disfavor. 



As with the date, and a few other fruits, so also with the chestnut, the male and 

 female blossoms are born upon separate trees. The burs containing the chestnuts 

 are from the female trees. There may be a few burs from female trees which contain 

 I 



Fig. 134. 



Leaf, flower and fruit o£ the Spanish chestnut, Caslaneu aativa. 

 (State Comm. of Hort. ) 



occasional nuts, when no male tree is within miles of the producing tree, but no 

 one familiar with the industry would think of plauting out any acreage without 

 including a few male trees. 



A few of the older plantings were made as close as twenty feet apart, but con- 

 sidering the fact that, when these trees become twenty years of age they will each 

 have au immense spread, and if they have been planted so close they will lose all 

 lateral branches, it must be deemed a serious mistake to crowd them so close. In 



