85 



Some could be used, of course, for pulp wood; but notice, among 

 the old stumps, there are a few sprouts coming up. These are 

 sprouts of the native chestnut, and it was upon these sprouts 

 that Mr. Sober conceived the idea of grafting. Of course, it had 

 been done elsewhere, but not upon his four hundred acres. That 

 was the beginning of his Paragon chestnut. 



As we approach the grove at the present time, you will see the 

 mountain side in Irish Valley from this view. This shows on 

 the hillside from a distance a portion of the four hundred acres, 

 which is now grafted, and from one end of the picture to the 

 other represents a distance of over a mile. 



In the next view, as we approach the farm, coming near to the 

 buildings, you can see the nature of the surrounding country, 

 the hillside. Back in the centre of the picture, at the top, is 

 ninety acres now grafted to the Paragon chestnut. 



In the next view we see the farm buildings and, starting from 

 the buildings, we will now visit the grove as it appeared last 

 October. 



Driving up the road you notice along the roadside everywhere 

 seedlings grafted to the Paragon. They have been transplanted, 

 and all along the road w r herever you drive, you will see these 

 trees. 



As we approach the grove, you can see its condition in this 

 view. Tliis is a portion of the four hundred acres. There are 

 shown in the view about three hundred acres. Above you see the 

 the mountain side, as this grove would now have been had he not 

 cleared it. 



A nearer approach to the grove shows the grafted trees, and 

 above them the native chestnut principally. This land was ori- 

 ginally covered with, I suppose, white pine. That was removed 

 and later hard woods came in its place, oak, chestnut, and other 

 hard woods-. Now it meant considerable work removing and 

 clearing and grafting these trees, and I wish to show you the 

 various stages as we pass along. 



As we enter the grove, it is harvest time, as shown in this view. 

 They are gathering the nuts, which have been placed in bags at 

 this particular portion, so fhnt we are just entering the grove. 



