52 A TREATISE ON NUT CULTURE. 



varieties of European and Japan nuts, though some prefer the American seed- 

 lings of Spanish Chestnuts for this purpose, claiming greater vigor. 



Chinquapin, (Castanea Pumila,} is a smaller growing tree, 

 sometimes attaining twenty to thirty feet; growth short jointed. 

 Leaves smaller and narrower than the Chestnut. Burrs pro- 

 duced in racemes or clusters and containing one nut each. Nuts 

 small, pointed, acorn shaped, with dark brown, mahogany 

 colored shell; kernel very sweet and excellent. Burrs open in 

 four sections. This nut is found in the Southern markets, but 

 CHIfaQLAPiN. se idom reaches our northern cities. It ripens earlier than the 

 American Chestnut, and with selected, improved varieties it should become 

 worthy of cultivation. 



Bush Chinquapin (Castanea Nana.} A low growing shrub or bush attain- 

 ing a height of eight to ten feet. General appearance much the same as the 

 foregoing, though wood of shorter growth. Burr and nuts very similar, though 

 the burr opens in two sections; found along the lower Atlantic Coast. 



European Chestnut (Castanea Vesca.} Trees large, stocky, heavy wooded, 

 low headed, with broader spread in proportion to height; buds more promi- 

 nent; leaves larger and thicker; burrs very large, with thick heavy husk, 

 which is quite an objection, as, during rain storms, they absorb a great deal 

 of water, and become very heavy, rendering them liable to break and mutilate 

 the trees when bearing a full crop. Nut large and generally three to a burr; 

 shell of nut thick and dark brown, with fuz around the point or stem; kernel 

 is covered with thick skin, very bitter, and should be removed before eating; 

 flesh coarse grained, dry and rich, though not so sweet as the American. 



Japan Chestnut ( Castanea Japonica. ) This is of moderate growth and as 

 none are known to have come to maturity in this country we cannot state 

 definitely their size, though in Japan they rarely exceed fifty feet. They 

 appear to thrive in the lower New England and the Middle States and all down 

 the chestnut region of the coast to middle Florida, where they make a luxu- 

 riant growth, and at this writing, February ist, are retaining last years foliage, 

 rank and green, which they will cast upon forming new growths, making it 

 practically an evergreen tree. It is not thought it will endure as great a degree 

 of cold as the American Chestnut. They are of long slender growth, with 

 small buds, closely set and on opposite sides of the branch, though not 

 exactly opposite each other. Leaves long and narrow, much like Peach leaves, 

 finely serrate, indentations shallow, pale green above and lighter underneath. 

 Burrs small, with very thin husk and short spines. Nuts very large, usually 

 three to a burr, though sometimes five to seven. Shell thin, of light brown 

 color, very smooth and entirely free from fuz. Skin thin and bitter. Kernel 

 rather fine grained and sweet. 



