THE CHESTNUT 71 



These hybrid varieties graft readily on the 

 native stock. They may be counted on to bear 

 abundantly the second season. It may be well, 

 however, to pick off the burs as soon as formed 

 during the first year or two, in order that the 

 energies of the tree may be given over to the 

 production of branches. 



Even where the blight has destroyed the chest- 

 nut, the sprouts that spring up everywhere about 

 the stumps of the trees may be grafted and trees 

 of more satisfactory qualities than the old ones 

 and far more productive may thus be developed 

 in the course of a few years. 



Where the chestnut orchard is developed from 

 the seed or by transplanting seedlings, it is rec- 

 ommended that it should be located on a well- 

 drained sandy or gravelly soil. The trees thrive 

 well on rocky hillsides, and even on rather poor 

 sand, but observation has shown that they are 

 somewhat uncertain of growth on stiff clay soils 

 in the east, although Italian chestnuts in Cali- 

 fornia are said to thrive on heavy clays. In gen- 

 eral, it is more important to have a thoroughly 

 drained soil than soil of a particular character. 



It will be recalled that my new varieties were 

 developed on the foundation of stocks imported 

 from Japan. It will also be understood, as a 

 matter of course, that selections with this tree as 



