416 - YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Springs, Miss., about 1890, he renamed the variety Van Deman, in 

 honor of Prof. H. E. Van Deman, then Pomologist of the Department 

 of Agriculture. Since 1892 it has been widely advertised and dis- 

 tributed under that name, which has now become so firmly fixed in 

 the literature of the subject as to make a return to the earlier local 

 name inadvisable at this time. 



About 1900, nuts and grafted trees of the variety were placed on the 

 market by Herbert Post, Fort Worth, Tex., under the name Paragon. 



The original tree still stands in the Mire garden, close to the Missis- 

 sippi River levee, at Union Post-Office, La., and when inspected by 

 the writer in October, 1902, was a beautiful, thrifty tree, measuring 7 

 feet 6 inches in circumference, and bearing from 200 to 300 pounds of 

 nuts per annum. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Size large to very large, averaging 45 to 55 nuts per pound; form 

 long, compressed, with a rather sharp base and a long, sharp apex, often 

 slightly curved; color rather dark, reddish brown; slightly splashed 

 with purplish black, especially toward apex; shell moderately thin, 

 partitions rather thick but brittle; cracking quality fair; kernel long, 

 narrowly grooved, generally plump, except at tip; color bright, clean, 

 attractive; texture firm, fine grained; flavor delicate, rich; quality very 

 good. 



The Van Deman tree is of strong, moderately erect habit, with 

 grayish-green young wood showing inconspicuous dots, and is a reg- 

 ular and abundant bearer in the locality of its origin. It does not thus 

 far appear to be as productive elsewhere nor to fill out its kernels 

 as well. 



The specimens illustrated on Plate LVII were grown by Mr. Paul 

 E. Bourgeois, Central, La. 



