A TREATISE ON NUT CULTURE. 51 



THE CHESTNUT. 



The Chestnut ( European ) is supposed to be a native of Asia Minor and 

 derived its name Castanea from a city of that name, and from there was in- 

 troduced into Southern Europe and disseminated throughout Greece, Italy, 

 France, Spain and Great Britain. The Japan and American varieties are 

 thought by some to be distinct species from the so-called European, though 

 others claim them to be varieties of the same species. 



The American Chestnut (Castanea Americana} is found 

 in Southern Maine, Southern Vermont, New Hampshire, 

 in Southern and Central New York, Province of On- 

 tario, Canada, through Michigan and Indiana, continu- 

 ing South through Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi 

 and Northeastward throughout Georgia, Carolinas, West 

 Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New 

 Jersey, finding most congenial soil and climate along 

 the Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains and succeed- 

 ing well at an altitude of three thousand feet. 



It thrives best in high, dry, sandy, gravelly soil, well drained, with little 

 or no limestone, though we have reports of fair success when planted 

 in soil containing some limestone. While on prairie lands and rich river bot- 

 tom soils it has met very little success, partially on account of its vigorous 

 growth, immature wood and liability to winter kill. On the foothills of the 

 Pacific slope it is also found to thrive and is being extensively planted. 



In the Southern States we find another species known as the Chin- 

 quapin, ( Castanea Pumila,} which is found to some extent in Southern New 

 Jersey, Southern Pennsylvania and continuing on South and Southwest cover- 

 ing the Southern regions occupied by the American Chestnut. 



The American Chestnut is a rapid growing, handsome tree, attaining very 

 large proportions when standing alone with room for development. Leaves 

 oblong, lanceolate and pointed, acute at the base, with coarsely dentate margin, 

 smooth and green on both sides when mature. Branches long, slender and 

 upright in growth. Burr small and opens in four sections. Nuts small, very 

 sweet and delicate quality, with very thin skin. Hull generally covered to a 

 large extent with fuz, in some cases very heavy, which feature gives them a 

 stale, musty appearance, and is very objectionable to buyers. This, however, 

 is partially removed by a process of rolling or scouring in barrels or in a sieve. 



The American Chestnut makes a magnificent tree for lawn or roadside plant- 

 ing, and the young trees are valuable for stocks, on which to graft the improved 



